Nugent-Hopkins scores decisive goal, McDavid and Brown gets 2 assists each and Oilers top Utah 4-1

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored the go-ahead goal early in the second period, Connor McDavid and Connor Brown each had a pair of assists, and the Edmonton Oilers beat the Utah Hockey Club 4-1 on Tuesday night.

Mattias Ekholm, Troy Stecher and Leon Draisaitl also scored for the Oilers, who have won eight of their last 11 and 12 of their last 16. Stuart Skinner was made 26 stops in net for the Oilers.

Jack McBain scored for Utah, which has now lost five straight. Leading scorer Clayton Keller was a late scratch.

Rookie goalie Jaxson Stauber made 34 saves.

Utah: Logan Cooley picked up an assist to give him points in eight of his last nine games and 15 of his last 18. It also extended his road point streak to 11 games, the longest active road point streak in the NHL.

Oilers: With his two assists, McDavid extended his points streak to 12 games, recording 23 points in that span. It is the 14th time that McDavid has had a streak of 11 games or more, hitting his personal best of 17 in 2022.

The Oilers took a 3-1 lead with goals coming just 20 seconds apart early in the second period. Before the five-minute mark of the middle frame, Edmonton executed a nice three-way passing play with McDavid sending it across to Nugent-Hopkins, who had an easy tap-in for his eighth of the season. Then before that goal could be announced, Connor Brown dropped it back to Stecher, who scored.

Brown picked up assists on both early-second period goals, giving him 10 points in his last nine games. He now has 16 points this season after getting just 12 points in 71 games last season.

Utah: Visits the Calgary Flames on Thursday night.

Oilers: Host the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Edmonton Oilers' Darnell Nurse (25), Connor Brown (28), Troy Stecher (51), Connor McDavid (97) and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (93) celebrate a goal against the Utah Hockey Club during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton, Alberta on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Utah Hockey Club's Juuso Valimaki (4) and Edmonton Oilers' Corey Perry (90) battle for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton, Alberta on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Edmonton Oilers' Leon Draisaitl (29) celebrates a goal against the Utah Hockey Club during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton, Alberta on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Utah Hockey Club goalie Jaxson Stauber (33) makes the save as Edmonton Oilers' Vasily Podkolzin (92) and Michael Kesselring (7) battle in front during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton, Alberta on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Utah Hockey Club's Michael Carcone (53) and Edmonton Oilers' Evan Bouchard (2) battle for the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton, Alberta on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Utah Hockey Club's Michael Kesselring (7) checks Edmonton Oilers' Darnell Nurse (25) during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton, Alberta on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Utah Hockey Club goalie Jaxson Stauber (33) is scored against by Edmonton Oilers' Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (93) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton, Alberta on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The new Los Angeles County District Attorney met with the Menendez brothers' family as he continues to review their bid for freedom 35 years after they were convicted of killing their parents.

Nathan Hochman, who took office in December, said Friday that he had a “productive session” with the family members, who shared their thoughts with him on whether the brothers should be released. The meeting lasted about three hours.

Brothers Lyle and Erik Menendez were found guilty of murdering Jose and Kitty Menendez in 1989 and sentenced to life in prison without parole. Now in their 50s, they began their bid for freedom in recent years after new evidence of their father’s sexual abuse emerged in their case. Their lawyers filed a habeas corpus petition — a request for a court to examine whether someone is being lawfully detained — in May 2023, asking a judge to consider the evidence.

The brothers have the support of most of their extended family, who have said they deserve to be free after decades behind bars. Several family members have said that in today’s world — which is more aware of the impact of sexual abuse — the brothers would not have been convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life.

In October 2024, then-District Attorney George Gascon recommended the brothers be resentenced to 50 years to life, which would make them immediately eligible for parole. Hochman, who was running against Gascon, called it a “desperate political move.”

“By releasing it now, Gascon has cast a cloud over the fairness and impartiality of his decision,” he said at the time.

A judge delayed the brothers' resentencing hearing, originally set for early December, to the end of January. Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic said he needed time to review extensive evidence and give Hochman time to weigh in on the case.

Hochman said Friday he was still reviewing thousands of pages of prison records to “analyze the rehabilitation aspect of resentencing.” Evidence of rehabilitation could include not engaging in illegal activity while in prison, starting organizations that helped other prisoners, and using that time to improve oneself, he said.

At the brothers' original trials, their defense attorneys argued that they had been sexually abused by their father. Prosecutors denied that and accused them of killing their parents for money. In the years that followed, they repeatedly appealed their convictions without success.

The brothers are being held at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman talks about the resentencing of Erik and Lyle Menendez for the murders of their parents decades ago during a news conference in downtown Los Angeles, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman talks about the resentencing of Erik and Lyle Menendez for the murders of their parents decades ago during a news conference in downtown Los Angeles, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman talks about the resentencing of Erik and Lyle Menendez for the murders of their parents decades ago during a news conference in downtown Los Angeles, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman talks about the resentencing of Erik and Lyle Menendez for the murders of their parents decades ago during a news conference in downtown Los Angeles on Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman talks about the resentencing of Erik and Lyle Menendez for the murders of their parents decades ago during a news conference in downtown Los Angeles on Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Attorneys Mark Geragos, center, and Bryan Freedman, left, leave before a news conference held by Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman regarding resentencing of Erik and Lyle Menendez for the murders of their parents, in Los Angeles on Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)