CHICAGO (AP) — Connor McDavid extended his career-high point streak to 19 games, helping the Edmonton Oilers beat the short-handed Chicago Blackhawks 4-1 on Monday night.
McDavid picked up a secondary assist on Edmonton's first two goals. He has 19 goals and 25 assists during his point streak.
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Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Wyatt Kaiser (44) moves the puck against Edmonton Oilers center Trent Frederic (10) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)
Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Spencer Knight defends against the Edmonton Oilers during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)
Chicago Blackhawks right wing Ilya Mikheyev (95) moves the puck against Edmonton Oilers center Jack Roslovic (28) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)
Edmonton Oilers center Curtis Lazar, right, flips the puck past Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Artyom Levshunov (55) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)
Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) moves the puck against Chicago Blackhawks center Ryan Donato (8) and defenseman Alex Vlasic (72) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)
Evan Bouchard had two goals and an assist as the Oilers won for the third time in four games. Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman also scored, and Connor Ingram made 29 saves.
Chicago played without center Connor Bedard, who was scratched because of an illness. Fellow forward Teuvo Teravainen missed the last two periods with an upper-body injury.
Blackhawks defenseman Artyom Levshunov had a second-period shift that lasted more than 5 1/2 minutes. He skated for 24 1/2 minutes on the night.
Tyler Bertuzzi scored his team-best 24th goal for Chicago in the opener of a four-game homestand. Spencer Knight stopped 33 shots.
Bertuzzi trimmed Edmonton's lead to 2-1 when he knocked in a rebound with 5:14 left. Hyman then had a goal waved off when the referees ruled that he used his right leg to kick it in.
But the Oilers closed it out on Bouchard's empty-netter with 53 seconds left, and Draisaitl added his 24th of the season.
Edmonton controlled the action for most of the first period. Kasperi Kapanen had a prime scoring opportunity in the low slot at 12:59, but he was robbed by Knight on a terrific glove save.
Hyman put the Oilers in front when he tipped home Bouchard's pass at 14:41. Hyman held off Blackhawks defenseman Alex Vlasic while picking up his 14th goal of the season.
Bouchard made it 2-0 on a bank shot off Knight from behind the net 16 seconds into the second. It was the defenseman's third goal during a five-game point streak and No. 10 on the year.
The Oilers visit the Nashville Predators on Tuesday night. The Blackhawks host the Calgary Flames on Thursday night.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Wyatt Kaiser (44) moves the puck against Edmonton Oilers center Trent Frederic (10) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)
Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Spencer Knight defends against the Edmonton Oilers during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)
Chicago Blackhawks right wing Ilya Mikheyev (95) moves the puck against Edmonton Oilers center Jack Roslovic (28) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)
Edmonton Oilers center Curtis Lazar, right, flips the puck past Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Artyom Levshunov (55) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)
Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) moves the puck against Chicago Blackhawks center Ryan Donato (8) and defenseman Alex Vlasic (72) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)
Houston's stingy defense knocked Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers out of the NFL playoffs, sending the Texans to the divisional round to complete wild-card weekend.
The Texans sacked Rodgers four times, scored two defensive touchdowns and held Pittsburgh to 175 yards in a 30-6 victory on Monday night. It was Houston's 10th straight win and the franchise's first on the road in the playoffs.
Mike Tomlin and the Steelers lost their seventh consecutive playoff game, and Rodgers may have played the last game of his Hall of Fame career.
Houston (13-5), the AFC's No. 5 seed, will face the No. 2 seed New England Patriots (15-3) next Sunday at 3 p.m. EST. The No. 2 seed Bears (12-6) will host the No. 5 seed Rams (13-5) in the second game Sunday.
The divisional round will kick off with the No. 6 seed Bills (13-5) at the No. 1 seed Broncos (14-3) on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. The No. 6 seed 49ers (13-5) will face the top-seeded Seahawks (14-3) in the night game.
In Sunday's wild-card games, Brock Purdy tossed a 4-yard TD pass to Christian McCaffrey with 2:54 remaining to lift the 49ers to a 23-19 comeback win at Philadelphia. McCaffrey also caught a 29-yard TD pass from wide receiver Jauan Jennings.
The Patriots sacked Justin Herbert six times and held Los Angeles to just 207 yards in a 16-3 win on Sunday night.
Josh Allen led Buffalo to a 27-24 comeback victory in Jacksonville in Sunday's first game. Allen scored on a 1-yard run late in the fourth quarter and Cole Bishop intercepted Trevor Lawrence's pass to secure Buffalo's first playoff win on the road since the 1992 AFC championship game at Miami.
On Saturday, the playoffs kicked off with two wacky games.
The Bears trailed the Green Bay Packers 21-3 at halftime and 27-16 with just under seven minutes left in the fourth quarter before Caleb Williams threw a pair of touchdown passes. His 25-yard TD toss to D.J. Moore put Chicago ahead 31-27 with 1:43 remaining. Then Jordan Love's desperation heave into the end zone from the Bears 28 was knocked down as time expired to secure Chicago's first playoff win since the 2010 season.
Williams finished with 361 yards passing, two TDs and two interceptions for the Bears.
In the opener on wild-card weekend, Matthew Stafford threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Colby Parkinson in the final minute and Los Angeles rallied to beat the Carolina Panthers 34-31 in a game that was much closer than expected.
The Rams were double-digit favorites on BetMGM Sportsbook against the Panthers (8-10). The Rams jumped to a 14-0 lead, but couldn’t take advantage of first-half turnovers and allowed Carolina to get within 17-14 at halftime.
Stafford, who earned All-Pro honors for the first time in his 17-year career on Saturday, threw for 304 yards, three TDs and had one pick. Puka Nacua, who was a unanimous All-Pro selection, had 10 catches for 111 yards and one TD and also had a 5-yard TD run.
The Rams are back in the divisional round for the second straight season. Last year, they were 13 yards away from eliminating Philadelphia before a sack and an incomplete pass ended their season with a 28-22 loss.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
New England Patriots defensive end Milton Williams (97), linebacker Christian Elliss (53) and linebacker Robert Spillane (14) celebrate Williams' sack of Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) in the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey scores a touchdown during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) celebrates his touchdown with tight end Dawson Knox (88) during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Chicago Bears' Caleb Williams looks to throw during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Green Bay Packers Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Huh)
Chicago Bears' Caleb Williams celebrates after an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Green Bay Packers Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (12) reacts after a first down during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Carolina Panthers, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)
Los Angeles Rams tight end Colby Parkinson, center left, celebrates his touchdown catch with wide receiver Puka Nacua (12) during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Carolina Panthers, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) throws a pass during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Carolina Panthers, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Rusty Jones)
