Morgan Rielly is having a career year and on Saturday, the now 25-year-old made his season even more special by scoring a power-play goal on his birthday.
With 14 seconds left in the first period, John Tavares' pass did not connect with Auston Matthews and went right to Rielly at the point. The defenseman stepped into the puck and fired it off the leg of Oilers center Kyle Brodziak and past goaltender Anthony Stolarz, who was making his first start since being acquired via trade in February.
Rielly has now doubled his previous career high for goals, which was nine in the 2015-16 season. He has registered 18 power-play points this season, but the goal was only his second with the man advantage.
Morgan Rielly's evolution into 'elite' defenseman for Maple Leafs nearly complete
With his NHL-leading goal total among defensemen, 47 assists and a plus/minus of plus-31, the 2012 first-round pick is making a strong case for being a finalist for the Norris Trophy. Prior to Saturday's games, he was second in points among defensemen, behind only the San Jose Sharks' Brent Burns. Rielly did not receive a vote for the award from the Professional Hockey Writers' Association in his first five seasons