onference campus this season after an 80-67 loss for las

DETROIT -- Connor McDavid didnt need a shot on goal Sunday night to deliver for the Pacific Division-leading Edmonton Oilers.McDavid perfectly set up Ryan Nugent-Hopkins for a go-ahead goal late in the second period, giving Edmonton a 2-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings.On a night where the team was more important than the individual and Connor was a little bit quiet, he still found a way to have an impact on maybe the most important play of the game, Oilers coach Todd McLellan said. A lot of guys wouldve shot that puck. He had enough patience to find Nugent for a wide-open goal.McDavid made the goal happen, starting with a faceoff he won in the left circle. After the draw, the 19-year-old center skated toward the net before subtly finding a spot on the bottom of the right circle. McDavid got the puck back, drew three Detroit players, and threaded a pass between two of them to Nugent-Hopkins on the inside of the left circle, where he shot into an empty net.If that pass gets picked off or knocked down, were having a different debate on why I didnt shoot it, McDavid said. I saw a play. Lucky it worked out.McDavid has five goals and nine assists in 13 games in his second NHL season, and his skill seems a bigger factor than good fortune.He made a great play, said Detroits Justin Abdelkader, who scored his teams only goal. He froze everyone.Edmontons Tyler Pitlick scored a tying goal late in the first period on a wraparound and Jonas Gustavsson made 22 saves, helping hold off his former teammates with a one-goal lead in the final period.We played real well, especially in the third, Gustavsson said. We didnt open up, kept it real simple and didnt give them a lot of chances to tie it up. We played a real mature period.The Oilers have won two straight, playing their first set of back-to-back games this season, after losing three in a row.Abdelkader put the Red Wings up 1-0 midway through the first period on a power play, making them the first team to score with an extra skater at home against the Oilers, who rank among the NHL leaders in penalty killing.Jimmy Howard made 26 saves for the Red Wings, who have has lost five straight after winning six consecutive games.We got off to a good start and got the lead, but then we spent too much time outside, Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg said.Detroit pulled Howard with a minute left and a faceoff in the Edmonton end but couldnt score to send the game to overtime.There are too many times where we are passing up shots and trying to take an extra pass, Abdelkader said. Sometimes, the best play in hockey is putting the puck on the net.Game notes Gustavsson, a former Red Wing, played in just his second game this season to give Cam Talbot a break. ... Detroit F Thomas Vanek missed his sixth game with a lower body injury. ... The Oilers scratched F Zack Kassian and F Jesse Puljujarvi.UP NEXTOilers: Edmonton plays at Pittsburgh on Tuesday night.Red Wings: Detroit plays at Philadelphia on Tuesday night. Authentic Jerseys Cheap . -- The Sacramento Kings are set to become the first major professional sports franchise to accept Bitcoin virtual currency for ticket and merchandise purchases. NFL Jerseys Discount . 10 VCU 85-67 on Thursday night at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. The Seminoles (4-0) have scored at least 80 points in each of their games. http://www.cheapwholesalejerseyschina.com/ . 10 Texas A&Ms offence dominated as usual against SMU. Cheap Stitched NFL Jerseys . The team also announced Tuesday that the Braves will wear a commemorative patch on the right sleeve during the season. The patch, shaped like home plate, carries the number 715, Aarons autograph and a "40th Anniversary" banner. Cheap Jerseys USA . Jason Zucker and Matt Cooke also scored for Minnesota, which has won five of six. Kuemper made five saves in the first, nine in the second, and nine in the third. The rookies best save came with 2:17 left in the third period when he denied former Wild forward Matt Cullen from just outside of the crease on the right side. DURHAM, N.C. -- Even with a rash of injured players often dominating the conversation about Dukes basketball team for the first few weeks of the season, theres another identity thats more relevant for coach Mike Krzyzewski in describing the Blue Devils.I have tough kids, Krzyzewski said. I have really tough kids.Thats what the No. 5 Blue Devils have been counting on as theyve rung up a 7-1 record. Only six players were used in Tuesday nights victory against Michigan State.Playing six guys is never going to be easy, fifth-year senior forward Amile Jefferson said. But guys have to always be tough.A deeper bench is likely to be in use Saturday when Duke wraps up a four-game homestand by taking on Maine (2-5) at Cameron Indoor Stadium.Krzyzewski said with Jefferson and guards Matt Jones and Grayson Allen there are enough veteran players to help the Blue Devils through rough patches.Theyve been in big-time games, Krzyzewski said. Theyve had adversity. ... Theyve earned it. It is not inherited wealth, lets put it that way. Its stuff theyve earned.Playing with grit is something thats endearing in some ways for the Blue Devils.We have this inner toughness, Jefferson said. A toughness of the heart and the spirit more than physical. Our guys have always come ready to play.Duke owns a five-game winning streak, but Jones said the 78-69 victory against Michigan State was particularly satisfying because the Blue Devils had to dig deep.I think were growing as a team, especially winning that game, he said. Its definitely a confidence booster. WWe just have to keep it going.ddddddddddddJones received rave reviews after the last game from Krzyzewski because of his defense. The effort on the defensive end was needed because Jones ended up with just two points for his first time short of double figures this season.It became Dukes first game this season without five players in double-digit scoring.Maine is coming off an 82-61 home loss to Central Connecticut State on Wednesday night. That opponent has the Blue Devils nickname as well -- yet with the game attracting an announced attendance of 836 it means Saturdays game should result in a drastically different setting for the Black Bears.This will be Maines second visit to an Atlantic Coast Conference campus this season after an 80-67 loss for last months opener at Virginia Tech.The Black Bears, wholl face Duke for the first time, were picked to finish last in the America East preseason poll. That didnt sit well with third-year coach Bob Walsh.The truth is, it bothers me, Walsh said. It bothers our players. But that is a good thing. All Black Bear programs show up with something to prove when we play, with a pride and toughness that is evident.The great thing about competition is we get to play the games and the results speak for themselves.Black Bears freshman forward Andrew Fleming, who was the top high school player in Maine last season, posted a season-best 20 points in the teams last outing. ' ' '