Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Comes Up Clutch In Oilers' First-Ever Win In Utah

Finn Marceau

Nov 30, 2024, 12:51

Finn Marceau

Nov 30, 2024, 12:51

The Oilers got crucial contributions from the powerplay and top-six in an overtime win over the Utah Hockey Club.

Edmonton Oilers. - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Comes Up Clutch In Oilers' First-Ever Win In Utah

It wasn't always pretty, but the Oilers came away from their first-ever visit to the Beehive State with a much-needed two points.

The Oilers weathered an early 2-0 deficit and a blown third-period lead to come up with a huge overtime win over the struggling Utah Hockey Club on Friday night, thanks to a raft of clutch goals from unlikely sources.

An Oilers win seemed incredibly unlikely after 20 minutes. The Oilers were clearly rusty after a five-day layoff, getting outshot 12-5 and being lucky to be down only 2-0 at the first intermission. Connor McDavid had an especially tough start, including a rough neutral-zone turnover that led to Utah's first goal of the game.

The Oilers bounced back slightly in the second period, though it still took them until halfway through the frame to finally get on the board. That first marker came from none other than Vasily Podkolzin, shaking off his long goal-less streak with his second goal in as many games on a wicked wrister that beat Utah netminder Karel Vejmelka five-hole.

While the Oilers improved at even strength, it took their special teams to really get them going. Their first powerplay of the game was one of their best of the season, as the top unit looked much more like the world-beaters of past years than the anemic group we've seen thus far this season. Leon Draisaitl finally capitalized on a deflected pass with his patented one-timer to tie the game at 2.

They were back on the powerplay just a couple of minutes later, and Draisaitl came inches away from his second goal of the game on another one-timer that was blocked by Mikhail Sergachev. Thankfully, Connor McDavid picked up his teammate and made up for his lacklustre first period with a powerplay marker of his own to give the Oilers the lead heading into the third period.

It wouldn't be an Edmonton Oilers game without some third-period drama, however. This time, it came from struggling Utah winger Lawson Crouse, who beat Oilers goalie Calvin Pickard early in the period to tie the game with his first point in 14 games. The Oilers threatened late on a frantic powerplay in the final five minutes, but Utah held on to force overtime.

The extra frame didn't last long. Just over a minute into OT, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins stripped Utah's Mattias Maccelli of the puck in the neutral zone and raced down the ice to fire the game-winner past Vejmelka and start the Oilers' three-game road trip off with two huge points and hopefully turn his season around. Final score, 4-3 Oilers.

Player of the Game: The Oilers Powerplay

The Oilers were not at their best on Friday night. McDavid struggled at even strength, Draisaitl was largely invisible, and Calvin Pickard was solid but not spectacular.

Where the Oilers did shine, however, was on the powerplay. Their strangely bland and anemic powerplay has been a major cause of concern all season long, but on Friday night they finally looked like their old selves. They were moving their feet, connecting passes together, and generating chances in a way we haven't seen since the 2024 playoffs.

They were rewarded with two huge goals on three chances, as well as a very dangerous two minutes at the end of regulation where they nearly won the game. One game is far from a trend, but their first game with two powerplay goals is undeniably a cause for celebration.

Play of the Game

What a huge goal for Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. He's had a very trying start to the season, not only for a lack of production (3 goals and 7 assists in 23 games) but just generally being invisible for long stretches, even on Connor McDavid's wing. Hopefully, this goal can provide him with the confidence and momentum to bounce back and be the player the Oilers need him to be.

This is the kind of game the Oilers haven't been able to win this season. Sure, you'd love to dominate every night, but you also need to be able to win when you're not at your best, and they finally did that on Friday.

The McDavid-era Oilers have always been able to count on their powerplay for a goal or two when nothing else is working, and that's been missing so far this year. If Friday night was the start of a turnaround for the powerplay, watch out.

The Oilers will be back in action tonight on Hockey Night in Canada, facing the Colorado Avalanche at 8:00 PM MT.

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