Hanafin scores 2 as Golden Knights rally to beat Oilers 4-2 in McDavid's return

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Noah Hanifin scored twice and the Vegas Golden Knights rallied to beat the Edmonton Oilers 4-2 on Wednesday night, spoiling Connor McDavid's return to the lineup.

Jack Eichel had a goal and two assists and Mark Stone also scored for the Golden Knights (9-3-1), who got their first road win of the season and sixth of their last seven overall. Adin Hill stopped 27 shots.

Brett Kulak and Zach Hyman scored for the Oilers, who have lost two straight. Stuart Skinner had 31 saves.

Golden Knights: With an assist on Vegas’ second goal, William Karlsson has recorded at least a point in all five games he has played this season (two goals, four assists).

Oilers: McDavid was a surprise starter for the Oilers, coming back just nine days after suffering an ankle injury in Columbus and initially being expected to miss two to three weeks. The star forward came into the contest with 11 points (three goals, eight assists) during a six-game point streak versus the Golden Knights, but was held without a point.

With just 48.4 seconds left to play, the Golden Knights won a race to the corner and Ivan Barbashev was able to send it out to a hard-charging Hanifin, who sent a shot glove-side that beat Skinner for his second goal of the third period and third of the season.

Hyman got his third goal in the last four games after the veteran forward went scoreless in his first 10 games this season following a 54-goal campaign last year. Hyman now has five goals in his last six games against Vegas.

Golden Knights visit Seattle on Friday, and Oilers visit Vancouver on Saturday.

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Edmonton Oilers' Leon Draisaitl (29), Zach Hyman (18) and Evan Bouchard (2) celebrate a goal against the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024 in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vegas Golden Knights' Zach Whitecloud (2) tries to get the puck from Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid (97) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024 in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Edmonton Oilers' Adam Henrique, left to right, Connor Brown, Darnell Nurse and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins celebrate a goal against the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024 in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vegas Golden Knights' Brett Howden (21) chases Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid (97) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024 in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vegas Golden Knights' Brett Howden (21) tries to defend against Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid (97) as he gets the shot off during second period NHL action in Edmonton on Wednesday, November 6, 2024. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vegas Golden Knights' Noah Hanifin (15) and Edmonton Oilers' Corey Perry (90) battle for the puck during second period NHL action in Edmonton on Wednesday, November 6, 2024. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vegas Golden Knights' Alex Pietrangelo, left, and Edmonton Oilers' Leon Draisaitl (29) battle for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024 in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vegas Golden Knights' Ivan Barbashev (49) and Noah Hanifin (15) celebrate a goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024 in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vegas Golden Knights' William Karlsson (back left) and Nicolas Roy (10) react as the puck goes in for a goal against Edmonton Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner (74) during third period NHL action in Edmonton on Wednesday, November 6, 2024. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Edmonton Oilers' goalie Stuart Skinner (74) makes a save against the Vegas Golden Knights during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024 in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vegas Golden Knights' Mark Stone (61) get the open net goal as Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid (97) tries to stop him during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024 in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

BOSTON (AP) — Golden State coach Steve Kerr was reminded Wednesday during pregame introductions that Boston’s fans didn’t like his playing time for Celtics' star Jayson Tatum at this past summer’s Paris Olympics.

Kerr was loudly booed after the Warriors' starting lineup was introduced to the TD Garden crowd.

Tatum scored 32 points in Boston’s 118-112 loss to the Warriors.

“It wasn't on my mind,” Tatum said of the Olympics. “It was just another Wednesday, another game, another opportunity to be the best player I can be. Another day to try and get a win.”

He's said before that after the Olympics people were telling him how he should react and what he should do, but he went into Wednesday trying not to overact to the first meeting against Kerr.

He explained that as he's matured, listening to others isn't going to change what he does.

“That's part of this job. That's what I've been dealing with my entire career,'' he said. ”People are going to be loud, people are going to be mean, whatever. ... I'm going to approach things how I want to approach them, what I feel is sincere and who I am as a person."

Tatum, on the gold medal winning team along with teammates Jrue Holiday and Derrick White, didn’t play either game against Serbia.

“I don’t give it a whole lot of thought other than I didn’t enjoy not playing Jayson against Serbia, not playing Joel (Embiid) against South Sudan,” Kerr said when asked if he had any regrets.

“Those are not fun decisions, but our guys were all amazing,” he said. “They committed to each other, they committed to winning the gold medal. They brought the gold home for their country.”

He seemed to expect the reaction when he was asked what's the loudest he's been booed.

“I don’t think anybody actually cared about me to boo me,” he said.

Tatum’s first basket came when he was fouled after hitting a jumper in front of the Warriors' bench late in the opening quarter, bringing loud cheers. He scored 17 points in the third quarter, helping Boston wipe out most of an 11-point halftime deficit.

Kerr said before the game that some fans might be cheering him, too.

“We’ll see how it goes tonight. I’m sure a lot of Celtics fans are going to cheer me for being part of Team USA, winning a gold medal for the country,” he said. “I’m a patriotic American. I love my country. Three Celtics on the team, who won a world championship, and two months later won a gold medal. Pretty incredible stuff.”

But, if they were, it was drowned out by loud boos.

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Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, left, drives to the basket against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, left, drives to the basket against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr calls to his players during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr reacts during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in San Francisco, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr yells from the sideline during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets, Saturday Nov. 2, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)