Voracek entered a game last night at Edmonton with eight goals, 22 assists and a plus-10 rating. His 30 points were fifth among NHL rookies.

"You have to realize, he's playing in his first pro season," left winger Rick Nash said. "It's a lot different up here than it is in junior hockey. It's a huge adjustment. He's been great handling that, and he's definitely been overlooked."

Voracek would have drawn more headlines early in the season if it weren't for rookie center Derick Brassard and his point-a-game pace. By the time Brassard was lost to a season-ending shoulder injury, rookie goaltender Steve Mason was all the rage.

Voracek, 19, is on pace to break Nash's club record for points by a rookie. The captain had 17 goals and 22 assists in 2002-03.

"I didn't know what to expect (in the NHL)," Voracek said. "I didn't know how the season was going to go, how hard it was going to be. It's definitely a hard league. But there's a reason I'm playing as a 19-year-old. I wanted to play at this level, they thought I was ready for it, and now I'm just showing what I can do."

Before the season, general manager Scott Howson compared Voracek to Oilers winger Ales Hemsky. He expected Voracek to have ups and downs, to be a healthy scratch in 15 or so games this season.

It hasn't quite happened like that. Voracek went through a lull about two months into the season, but he has been cruising ever since.

"Jake's ahead of where we thought he'd be," Howson said. "He's really having, by any measure, a terrific rookie season."

Against the Oilers last night, he was elevated to the No. 1 line, playing with center Jason Williams and Nash.

"Jake's a different kind of player," coach Ken Hithcock said. "He already might be one of the best back-hand passers in the league. Now, playing with Nash, he's going to get a little different opportunity. It'll be interesting to see how he handles playing against the other club's top lines."

Voracek shrugged and smiled.

"I think it's going to be fun," Voracek said. "But it's not about me and Nasher, and it's not about R.J. Umberger and Kristian Huselius. It's about the team. It's about the two points. We gotta get 'em."

Slap shots

Left winger Jason Chimera (groin) was a scratch from last night's game. Center Jiri Novotny and defenseman Christian Backman were healthy scratches.

aportzline@dispatch.com