Talbot denies old team, Wild top Oilers 4-1 for 7th straight

Cam Talbot made 38 saves against his former team and the Minnesota Wild shut down the Edmonton Oilers 4-1 on Tuesday night for their seventh straight victory.

Joel Eriksson Ek had a goal and an assist. Marcus Foligno, Victor Rask and Dmitry Kulikov also scored for the Wild (18-6-1), off to the best start in franchise history with 37 points through 25 games.

Jesse Puljujarvi scored for the Oilers (16-8-0), who have lost three in a row.

Minnesota Wild goalie Cam Talbot (33) makes a save as Edmonton Oilers' Zack Kassian (44) and Jordie Benn (8) work in front of the net during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason FransonThe Canadian Press via AP)

The Oilers once again found themselves down early as Minnesota opened the scoring just 1:11 in on the power play. Eriksson Ek poked in a puck that Edmonton goalie Mikko Koskinen had jammed against the post with his skate for his 10th goal of the season.

The Wild made it 2-0 seven minutes into the first period as Matt Dumba made a nice feed to a hard-charging Foligno, who redirected the puck into the net for his 11th.

Edmonton got a goal back 6 1/2 minutes into the second as Connor McDavid fed Puljujarvi during a battle in front, and he sent the puck past Talbot.

Minnesota Wild's Dmitry Kulikov (29) scores on Edmonton Oilers goalie Mikko Koskinen (19) dduring the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason FransonThe Canadian Press via AP)

The Oilers outshot Minnesota 20-6 in the period.

Minnesota restored its two-goal lead 5 1/2 minutes into the third as Jonas Brodin sent the puck through to Rask, who had a wide-open net to shoot at before Koskinen could get across.

The Wild put the game away with five minutes remaining as Kirill Kaprizov sprung Kulikov for a rare defenseman breakaway and he made the most of it, undressing Koskinen for his third goal of the season.

Minnesota Wild players celebrate a goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason FransonThe Canadian Press via AP)

NOTES: Wild captain Jared Spurgeon (lower body) missed his eighth game, while teammate Frederick Gaudreau was out due to COVID-19 protocol. Missing from the Oilers' lineup were G Mike Smith (lower body), Slater Koekkoek (lower body), Duncan Keith (upper body) and Cody Ceci (COVID-19 protocol). ... Oilers forward Devin Shore returned after missing 13 games with a lower-body injury. Edmonton put forward Brendan Perlini on waivers to make room on the roster. ... Edmonton has scored the first goal in only nine of 24 games this season, winning all nine.

UP NEXT

Wild: At the San Jose Sharks on Thursday, the second stop on a four-game trip.

Minnesota Wild players celebrate a goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason FransonThe Canadian Press via AP)

Oilers: Host the Boston Bruins on Thursday in the third game of a six-game homestand.

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Minnesota Wild's Marcus Foligno (17) checks Edmonton Oilers' Zach Hyman (18) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason FransonThe Canadian Press via AP)

Minnesota Wild's Jon Merrill (4) and Edmonton Oilers' Kailer Yamamoto (56) vie or the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason FransonThe Canadian Press via AP)

Minnesota Wild's Kirill Kaprizov (97) is checked by Edmonton Oilers' Evan Bouchard (75) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason FransonThe Canadian Press via AP)

Minnesota Wild goalie Cam Talbot (33) gives up a goal to the Edmonton Oilers during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason FransonThe Canadian Press via AP)

Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid (97) and Jesse Puljujarvi (13) celebrate a goal against the Minnesota Wild during during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason FransonThe Canadian Press via AP)