Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Troy Stecher scored just 20 seconds apart in the second period, leading the Edmonton Oilers to a 4-1 victory over the Utah Hockey Club on Tuesday night to close out the 2024 calendar year.
With the game tied 1-1, Nugent-Hopkins scored the go-ahead goal at 4:53 on a break, and Stecher quickly added another to give the Oilers a two-goal lead. Mattias Ekholm and Leon Draisaitl also scored for Edmonton, which improved to 9-1-0 in their last 10 home games.
Connor McDavid and Connor Brown both had two assists, and goaltender Stuart Skinner made 26 saves to earn his 14th win of the season.
Jack McBain scored for Utah, and Jaxson Stauber made 34 saves in the losing effort. The club has now lost five straight games (0-4-1). Utah’s top scorer, Clayton Keller, missed the game due to illness.
Ekholm opened the scoring for the Oilers at 4:26 of the first period with a slapshot from the left circle. Utah quickly responded, with Dylan Guenther assisting Jack McBain for the equalizer at 5:60.
Edmonton took control in the second period, with Nugent-Hopkins scoring off a turnover and a pass from McDavid, followed by Stecher’s goal shortly after.
In the third, Utah failed to score on its second power play opportunity, and Draisaitl sealed the win with an empty-net goal at 18:58.
