Nugent-Hopkins' hot start means McDavid and Draisaitl can play together, Woodcroft says
He's the longest-serving Oiler, a fan favourite, and right now the key to Edmonton unleashing its dynamic duo.
At age 29, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is on pace to set career highs in both goals and assists.
He also has nine points in seven games as the second-line centre since superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl were paired on the top line Nov. 26 in New York City.
"I don't think you can do that unless Ryan is playing at the level that he's played at," head coach Jay Woodcroft said Friday.
"Certainly playing Connor and Leon together, we do that because Nuge is playing at the level that he's playing at."
McDavid has 17 points in those seven games and Draisaitl has 13.
Woodcroft wouldn't say how long he'll keep them together, but Nugent-Hopkins' ability to drive another line is a major factor in the decision.
"We reserve the right to move our chess pieces around the board, but they've done a lot of really good things and, obviously, when they play together, it is special," the coach said.
McDavid said Nugent-Hopkins always finds a way to contribute, but lately his offensive game has also been elite. Nugent-Hopkins scored twice Wednesday against Arizona.
"He's making great plays and when he's getting those chances, he's burying them. Like those two shots the other night were great shots, all-world shots, so he's playing well and it's good to see," the captain said of his assistant.
Edmonton is looking to break a seven-game losing streak to Minnesota Friday night.
The Oilers have three games in three weeks against Minnesota. The Wild won the first 5-3 last week.
"They're a good team. They're gonna test us and challenge us and we're gonna be ready for them tonight," Woodcroft said.
"It's almost like a small playoff series, because it's about finding ways to adjust."
Edmonton is coming off a 8-2 victory over the Coyotes Wednesday. Woodcroft said the team has done a better job lately of finishing chances and playing defence.
"We definitely owe them a good game," McDavid said of the rematch with the Wild.
The puck drops at Rogers Place shortly after 7 p.m. MT.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.