Tom Wilson, Matt Roy and Pierre-Luc Dubois scored and Logan Thompson made 30 saves during a 3-2 win over the Connor McDavid-less Oilers.

The difference in the game was great goaltending from Washington’s Logan Thompson — who was strangely left off of the Team Canada roster — and the fact that the Edmonton power play without McDavid was anemic, with not one Grade A shot in three opportunities.

Two of the National Hockey League’s top teams will tangle at Rogers Center in Edmonton, Alberta, on Tuesday night. The Washington Capitols, which top all NHL teams with 67 points, will open a five-game road trip against the Oilers (29-14-3, in the Pacific Division), one of six teams with at least 60 points.

The Edmonton Oilers have gotten their fair share of greasy goals over the years, but this one was just plain cheesy. Trailing 3-1 to the top-ranked Washington Capitals nearing the five-minute mark of the third quarter at Rogers Place on Tuesday,

As they get set to tangle with the Oilers in Edmonton in the trip opener, the Caps have rolled up a strong 18-4-4 record in their last 26 games, a record exceeded only by Edmonton’s 19-5-1 mark in its last 25 games.

The Oilers may have come up just short against the Capitals on Tuesday night, but they scored one of the strangest goals of the season.

Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid believes the NHL might have been a bit excessive in issuing him a three-game suspension for cross-checking

Second Period_3, Washington, Roy 2 (Dubois, McMichael), 8:14. Third Period_4, Washington, Dubois 9 (Thompson, Eller), 3:49. 5, Edmonton, Perry 8 (Draisaitl), 4:50. Shots on Goal_Washington 3-6-5_14. Edmonton 10-16-8_34. Power-play opportunities_Washington 0 of 3; Edmonton 0 of 3.

The Oilers nonetheless emerged from a travel-laden slate of 9 games in 15 days across all 4 of the league’s divisions and time zones with a 7-2-0 record. In a hectic six days this past week, the stretch included hard-fought wins over Los Angeles Kings,

When Brendan Morrison played for the Washington Capitals in 2009-10, he was amazed by the goal-scoring prowess of a young Alex Ovechkin. But a road trip in Edmonton solidified just how much of a presence the captain was off the ice as well.

Alexander Ovechkin is thrilled that his Washington Capitals will face an Edmonton Oilers team without Connor McDavid.