Edmonton @ New Jersey preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 13, 2019 ) New Jersey 6, Edmonton 3

The Edmonton Oilers are among the NHL's top offensive teams just over one week into the season, which they've begun with three straight victories for the first time since 2008-09. They look to extend their winning streak when they continue a four-game road trip Thursday against the winless New Jersey Devils.

Edmonton has scored a total of 14 goals in their wins after beginning its trek Tuesday with a 5-2 triumph over the New York Islanders. James Neal has netted a league-leading six tallies as he recorded his seventh career hat trick and finished with a career-high four goals in the victory over New York. The Devils continued to sputter offensively on Wednesday as they were blanked 4-0 in Philadelphia for their third straight setback to start the season. New Jersey, which plays seven of its next eight games at home, has been outscored 15-2 since recording the first four goals in its season-opening shootout loss against Winnipeg.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, Sportsnet West (Edmonton), MSG Plus (New Jersey)

ABOUT THE OILERS (3-0-0): Getting off to a fast start is nothing new to Neal, who scored six goals in his first four games for Vegas in 2017-18. The 32-year-old left wing, who registered at least 21 tallies in each of his first 10 NHL seasons before netting only seven in 63 contests with Calgary last campaign, set Edmonton's franchise record for most goals through the team's first three games with Tuesday's performance. Zack Kassian has begun the season with a three-game goal-scoring streak, the third-longest such run in team history behind Wayne Gretzky's eight-game string in 1983-84 and Mark Messier's four-gamer in 1989-90.

ABOUT THE DEVILS (0-2-1): Jack Hughes failed to register a shot in Wednesday's loss as he remains in search of his first career point after being selected first overall in this year's draft. The 18-year-old center has recorded three shots and a minus-3 rating while going 9-12 on faceoffs in his first three NHL contests. After scoring a career-high 22 goals last season, Blake Coleman has notched team highs of two tallies and three points for New Jersey, which has gone 0-for-9 on the power play.

OVERTIME

1. Oilers C Connor McDavid notched three assists against the Islanders for his second straight performance with at least three points and 42nd since the start of the 2015-16 season - the most in the league in that span.

2. New Jersey RW Kyle Palmieri's next game will be his 500th in the NHL.

3. Edmonton coach Dave Tippett is tied with Marc Crawford for 21st place on the all-time wins list with 556.

PREDICTION: Oilers 5, Devils 2