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NFL (American Football)

Travis Dermott Claimed by Minnesota Wild After Edmonton Oilers Waive Defenseman Amid Injuries

Travis Dermott, a defenseman for the Edmonton Oilers, was claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Wild. Dermott had appeared in 10 games for the Oilers, posting no points and a minus-three rating. His departure came after the Oilers claimed defenseman Alec Regula from the Boston Bruins, which led to Dermott’s placement on waivers. The Wild quickly moved to add Dermott to their roster, adding depth to their defense as they faced injuries to key players.

Minnesota’s need for defensemen increased after a series of injuries. Wild defenseman Jake Middleton was injured during a game against the Oilers, leading to his placement on long-term injury reserve. In addition, Jonas Brodin has been sidelined with an upper-body injury. With both defensemen unavailable, Dermott’s arrival is timely, and he could provide much-needed support on the left side of the defense. Wild general manager Bill Guerin mentioned that despite the quick acquisition, Dermott could make his debut against the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.

Travis Dermott Claimed by Minnesota Wild After Edmonton Oilers Waive Defenseman Amid Injuries
Travis Dermott Claimed by Minnesota Wild After Edmonton Oilers Waive Defenseman Amid Injuries

Dermott, 27, is in the final year of a one-year, $775,000 contract. The Wild are hoping he can step into the lineup and help fill the gaps left by the injured players. The decision to claim Dermott also reflects the Wild’s ongoing need to bolster their defensive corps, ensuring they have enough healthy bodies to compete effectively. Dermott’s ability to provide depth on defense could be crucial as the team navigates through the injury struggles.

Meanwhile, the New York Islanders placed two players, Pierre Engvall and Oliver Wahlstrom, on waivers. Engvall, 28, has had a mixed season with three goals and six points in 20 games. He started the season in the AHL but was called up due to injury concerns among the Islanders’ forwards. Acquired by the Islanders in a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs in February 2023, Engvall signed a seven-year, $3 million per year contract with the team last offseason. If unclaimed, he could be reassigned to the AHL’s Bridgeport Islanders.

Oliver Wahlstrom, the Islanders’ first-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, was also placed on waivers. Wahlstrom, 24, has struggled to make a significant impact in the NHL, with his best season yielding just 24 points. This year, he has posted two goals and two assists in 27 games, but his ice time has dropped to around 10 minutes per game. Wahlstrom signed a one-year, $1 million contract in the offseason. The Islanders’ decision to place both players on waivers is likely a move to free up cap space and roster spots, potentially signaling changes or the opportunity for other players to step up in their absence.

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Leon Draisaitl tallied four points to lead the Edmonton Oilers to a dominant victory over the Minnesota Wild

Leon Draisaitl had an impressive four-point performance, scoring one goal and providing three assists, as the Edmonton Oilers easily defeated the Minnesota Wild 7-1 on Thursday night in Saint Paul, Minn.

Six other players also scored for the Oilers, who extended their winning streak to four games. Connor Brown contributed a goal and an assist, while Connor McDavid, Darnell Nurse, Evan Bouchard, and Vasily Podkolzin each had two assists.

Frederick Gaudreau scored the only goal for Minnesota. Brock Faber and Marcus Johansson each recorded an assist as the Wild lost the first game of their five-game homestand.

Oilers goaltender Calvin Pickard made 29 saves on 30 shots, improving his record to 7-3-0.

Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson allowed five goals on 26 shots before being replaced in the third period by Marc-Andre Fleury, who stopped seven out of nine shots.

Edmonton took a 2-1 lead in the first period. Zach Hyman opened the scoring with a power-play goal at 6:59, and Kasperi Kapanen made it 2-0 with an even-strength goal at 4:20.

Minnesota Wild’s Kirill Kaprizov in the 1st half

Gaudreau scored a power-play goal with 1:11 left in the period to make it 2-1, his sixth goal of the season.

The Oilers extended their lead with three more goals in the second period, bringing the score to 5-1.

Brown started the scoring with a short-handed goal just 1:55 into the second. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins added a power-play goal at 7:04, and Draisaitl scored his league-leading 21st goal at 4:06.

Fleury couldn’t stop the Oilers’ attack in the third period.

Troy Stecher scored from long range at 13:05 to make it 6-1. Derek Ryan finished the scoring with his first goal of the season with 2:34 left.

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NFL (American Football)

Leon Draisaitl is at the top of the NHL’s goal-scoring chart and playing a key role in the Edmonton Oilers’ success at both ends of the rink

The Edmonton Oilers wasted no time in Minnesota, scoring just five seconds into their first power play of the game. Connor McDavid made a great cross-slot pass to Leon Draisaitl, who took a perfect one-timer shot past Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson.

The goal was later credited to Zach Hyman, who had been near the post and deflected the puck into the net after Draisaitl’s shot.

“I turn and he shoots it and you feel it, but you’re kind of like, ‘Ehhh,’” Hyman said. “But Leon was the first to say, ‘It was yours.’ It didn’t matter.”

Draisaitl scored a goal of his own in the second period. The Oilers scored a season-high seven goals in their fourth straight win on Thursday, with Draisaitl contributing three assists.

“Good karma for him, obviously. I think he’s been playing unbelievably, both ends of the ice,” Hyman said. “I think he’s not getting enough credit for what he’s doing on the other end. Obviously he’s scoring lots of goals and making plays, but defensively he’s been unbelievable.”

Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Hartman in the 2nd period

Draisaitl now has 21 goals and 21 assists for 42 points in 29 games, putting him on track for 118 points, just 10 short of his career high from the 2022-23 season. Draisaitl, who has four goals and six assists in his last four games, did not speak with reporters after the game.

The German-born player, who was drafted third overall in 2014, helped the Oilers come within one win of a Stanley Cup title last season. With him and McDavid, the three-time NHL MVP, leading the team, and other key players like Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins supporting the top lines, Edmonton looks ready for another strong playoff push.

The Oilers are focused on making the most of their star players, especially after signing Draisaitl to an eight-year, $112 million contract extension, the highest salary cap hit in league history.

Their tough start to the season, which saw them lose three games by a combined score of 15-3, is now behind them. The team has won eight of their last 10 games, including a dominant victory over the Wild, who came into the game with the best record in the NHL.

“Leon was really good. I think all of our players really stood out tonight. I can’t say that anybody had an off game. Everyone was really good, but Leon really was at another level,” said coach Kris Knoblauch.

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NHL (National Hockey League)

Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid lead the Edmonton Oilers to a win over the Tampa Bay Lightning

Leon Draisaitl scored a goal and had an assist, while Connor McDavid extended his successful run against Tampa Bay, leading the Edmonton Oilers to a 2-1 victory on Tuesday night. The win stretched their streak to three games.

Draisaitl scored a fortunate goal in the second period that turned out to be the game-winner. The Oilers now have four straight wins at home and are 9-3-0 in their last 12 games against the Lightning in Edmonton.

McDavid, in his 13th game against Tampa Bay, scored his 12th goal against them. Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner made 21 saves to improve to 4-1-0 in his last five starts.

Jake Guentzel scored for Tampa Bay, his fourth consecutive game with a goal. Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 24 shots, but the Lightning fell to 1-1-0 on their four-game road trip.

Tampa Bay is now 6-6-1 on the road and lost for the first time to a Pacific Division team this season (4-1-0).

McDavid had a breakaway in the first period at 14:48 but Vasilevskiy stopped his backhanded shot. Mattias Ekholm also had a shot that beat Vasilevskiy, but it was called back after a challenge for offside.

Tampa Bay Lightning and San Jose Sharks

After Edmonton killed off a power play, McDavid scored at 17:31, splitting two defenders and netting his 14th goal.

In the second period, a failed clearing attempt by the Oilers led to Nikita Kucherov passing to Guentzel, who scored his 13th goal with a shot off Kucherov’s assist.

Draisaitl scored a quirky goal at 11:58 of the second period. His breakaway backhander was stopped by Vasilevskiy, but the puck bounced off defenseman Victor Hedman and past the goalie for Draisaitl’s 20th goal of the season.

In the final minutes, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was called for tripping, giving Tampa Bay a six-on-four advantage with Vasilevskiy pulled for an extra attacker. Nick Paul thought he had scored with less than 10 seconds left, but the goal was waved off because of a high stick, and the Oilers held on for their sixth win in seven games.

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NHL (National Hockey League)

Oilers rely on their goaltenders as they prepare for showdown with Lightning

The Edmonton Oilers are known for their strong offensive play with stars like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, but lately, they have been getting noticed for their goaltending as well.

Goalies Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard will lead the Oilers as they face the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday night in a matchup between two high-scoring teams.

Skinner ended last season on a rough note, allowing the goal that ended the Oilers’ chance to win the Stanley Cup in Game 7 of the Final. The goal, scored by Sam Reinhart of the Florida Panthers, put the Panthers ahead 2-1 in the second period, and Edmonton couldn’t recover.

Even after that tough moment, Skinner has bounced back this season. He is 3-1-0 with a 1.52 goals-against average and a .945 save percentage in his last four games.

Skinner wasn’t chosen for Canada’s 4 Nations Face-Off roster, with goalies Jordan Binnington (St. Louis Blues), Adin Hill (Vegas Golden Knights), and Sam Montembeault (Montreal Canadiens) making the team instead. However, Skinner has not been bothered by this.

“He’s been outstanding,” said Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch. “You look at the games we’ve won, and our goaltenders, including Pickard, have usually been better than the goalie on the other side.”

Edmonton is 6-2-0 in its last eight games, most recently defeating St. Louis 4-2 on Saturday.

Tampa Bay Lightning

On the other hand, the Tampa Bay Lightning kicked off a four-game road trip with a 4-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday. Brayden Point led the team with two goals and two assists, and Nikita Kucherov, who had missed two games due to an injury, returned to score one goal and add two assists.

Despite the win, Lightning coach Jon Cooper was not fully satisfied with his team’s performance and wants a faster start on Tuesday. Tampa Bay didn’t score in the first period and only had seven shots on goal, falling behind 1-0.

“Not pleased with our effort level. We lost every battle. I think we were lucky to be down just 1-0. It’s tough,” Cooper said. “We flew in here (Monday), got a little skate in, and then we have to play an afternoon game. I’ll give them a mulligan on that first period, but they really came out in the second and pushed.”

Brayden Point was named the NHL’s Second Star of the Week after having back-to-back games with at least four points. He now has 10 career four-point games and has reached 300 assists. He is also just one power-play goal away from 100 career goals on the power play.

There is some bad news for the Lightning, as center Anthony Cirelli may miss Tuesday’s game. Cirelli suffered an injury on Sunday against Vancouver and did not practice on Monday.

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NHL (National Hockey League)

Oilers keep winning, defeat Blues by a wide margin

Connor McDavid scored one goal and added an assist to lead the Edmonton Oilers to a 4-2 win over the St. Louis Blues on Saturday night.

Corey Perry, Zach Hyman, and Troy Stecher also scored for the Oilers, while Leon Draisaitl had two assists. Goalie Stuart Skinner made 30 saves as the Oilers won five of their last six games.

For the Blues, Dylan Holloway and Jake Neighbours scored. The Blues lost in regulation for the first time in six games, a streak that started when Jim Montgomery became their coach. Goalie Jordan Binnington stopped 18 shots.

Perry gave the Oilers a 1-0 lead with his fifth goal of the season at 12:25, deflecting a shot-pass from Darnell Nurse.

McDavid extended the lead to 2-0 at 5:19 in the second period with his 13th goal of the season. After a clearing attempt from Philip Broberg bounced off a skate, McDavid was in the perfect spot to score.

Hyman made it 3-0 at 14:37 of the second with a power-play goal. McDavid passed the puck to him for an easy redirection into the net, Hyman’s sixth goal of the season.

St. Louis Blues and Calgary Flames

McDavid now has 123 assists in 2023, including both regular season and playoffs. Only Wayne Gretzky has more in a calendar year, with a personal best of 167 assists in 1985.

Holloway got the Blues on the board at 5:02 in the third period, scoring with a one-timer for his ninth goal of the season. He extended his career-best point streak to six games.

Neighbours made it 3-2 with 6:51 left when a shot by Jordan Kyrou deflected off him and went in.

However, Stecher restored the Oilers’ two-goal lead 69 seconds later with his first goal since November 11, 2023, with a sharp-angled shot.

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NHL (National Hockey League)

The streaking Oilers aim to keep their momentum going during an important home stretch against the Blues

The Edmonton Oilers began an important stretch of home games with a strong win and will try to build on it when they host the St. Louis Blues on Saturday.

The Oilers are coming off a 6-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday, which started a stretch where they will play eight of their next nine games at home before the Christmas break.

Edmonton has a 6-6-1 record at home, but they’ve won four out of their last five games, scoring 20 goals during that stretch.

“Leading into the game, we were No. 2 in expected goals for, and we’ve been pretty much two or three all season long,” said Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch. “And just this last week or so, we’ve been able to put the pucks in the net. A little bit is about generating chances, and we’ve generated chances, but it’s also about having the skill to finish.”

As expected, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have been leading the offensive push during Edmonton’s winning streak after a slow start. The Oilers also got a big boost with the return of Zach Hyman, who had missed five games due to injury. Hyman scored twice in his first game back.

Hyman, who scored 54 goals last season, had only three goals in his first 20 games this season.

“Being back is the best,” Hyman said. “To get a win and being able to contribute feels good. I think it was a good reset. I obviously didn’t have the greatest start. When I say not the greatest start, I just wasn’t scoring. I thought I was playing pretty good and getting looks and getting chances and whatnot. Eventually, they were going to go in.”

St. Louis Blues and New Jersey Devils

The Blues are coming off a wild 4-3 overtime win over the Calgary Flames on Thursday, where they lost leads of 2-0 and 3-2 before recovering to secure the victory.

“We didn’t have it for whatever reason, but we believe we’re a good team and good teams find ways to do it on the road, whether it’s overtime, whether it’s late in the game,” said St. Louis forward Robert Thomas, who scored once and had two assists. “We just fought and found a way to get a win.”

Since Jim Montgomery became the coach on Nov. 24, the Blues have gone 4-0-1 and have won the first two games of a four-game road trip, starting with a 4-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets.

“I think just everyone’s committed to giving their best effort,” said St. Louis goaltender Jordan Binnington. “I think system-wise it’s been a positive change, and he finds a way to get the best out of his guys, encouraging, good meetings and his sense of humor. … It’s fun playing hockey right now and just getting those two points. You could see the excitement on our team.”

This game also marks the return of forward Dylan Holloway and defenseman Philip Broberg to Edmonton. Both players left the Oilers after signing offer sheets with the Blues that the Oilers did not match.

Broberg, who had two assists in Calgary, has 12 points in 15 games this season, while Holloway is on a five-game point streak with four goals and four assists.

“I’ve been thinking about it for a bit. It should be fun,” said Holloway, who expects Edmonton fans to boo him. “It’ll be different playing on the opposite side, but at the same time, it’ll be a fun experience.”

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NHL (National Hockey League)

Oilers dominate Blue Jackets with four-goal explosion in the second period

Zach Hyman had a strong return to the ice, scoring two goals to lead the Edmonton Oilers to a 6-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday.

Hyman had missed the Oilers’ last five games because of an injury. Before that, he was struggling, with only three goals in the first 20 games, despite scoring 54 goals last season.

Along with Hyman, other key players for the Oilers contributed to the win. Leon Draisaitl scored twice, tying Florida’s Sam Reinhart for the most goals in the league with 19, while Connor McDavid had a season-high four assists. Jeff Skinner had a goal and an assist, and Evan Bouchard, Adam Henrique, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins each assisted on two goals.

Kevin Labanc gave Columbus an early lead, scoring just 2:31 into the game. Hyman’s first goal tied the game midway through the period.

Edmonton took control in the second period, scoring four goals. Draisaitl put the Oilers ahead with 17:38 remaining, assisted by Bouchard and McDavid. A failed Blue Jackets challenge led to a delay-of-game penalty, which Mattias Ekholm took advantage of with a power-play goal, making it 2-1.

Columbus Blue Jackets vs New York Islanders (NHL)

Columbus has allowed a power-play goal in 11 consecutive games.

Hyman made it 4-1 less than three minutes later, with assists from McDavid and Nugent-Hopkins.

Damon Severson and Cole Sillinger scored for Columbus.

Edmonton, which went 2-for-5 on the power play, took 37 shots, while Columbus had just 22.

Oilers goalie Calvin Pickard made 19 saves, and Columbus’ Daniil Tarasov, playing for the first time since November 16, stopped 31 shots.

McDavid now has 49 regular season games with three or more assists and holds the record for most four-assist games among active players.

Additionally, McDavid became just the fourth player in NHL history to record 120 assists in a calendar year, including the postseason. Wayne Gretzky did this 11 times, and Adam Oates and Mario Lemieux did it once each.

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Adin Hill was outstanding in goal as the Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Edmonton Oilers 1-0

Adin Hill made 28 saves for his second shutout of the season as the Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Edmonton Oilers 1-0 on Tuesday night in Las Vegas.

This was Hill’s ninth career shutout. Ivan Barbashev scored for Vegas, netting his fifth goal in the last six games. The win increased the Golden Knights’ lead in the Pacific Division to four points over the Los Angeles Kings, who were idle, and seven points over the Oilers, who are in fifth place.

Stuart Skinner made 15 saves for Edmonton, which saw its three-game win streak come to an end. This was the fourth time the Oilers have been shut out this season.

Vegas had just suffered their worst home loss in team history, a 6-0 defeat to the Utah Hockey Club on Saturday. In contrast, they played a strong game against Edmonton, limiting the Oilers to just three shots on goal and taking a 1-0 lead in the first period on Barbashev’s 13th goal of the season.

Edmonton Oilers and Utah Hockey Club

The goal came at 10:47 after Leon Draisaitl turned over the puck in his own zone. Barbashev and Jack Eichel then broke out on a two-on-one. Barbashev attempted to pass to Eichel, but Evan Bouchard blocked it. Barbashev quickly regained the puck and fired a wrist shot past Skinner’s five-hole.

The Oilers had only 12 shots through two periods, with their best chance coming at 14:05 in the second period. Bouchard set up Connor Brown with a pass, but Brown’s one-timer missed the net.

Edmonton pulled Skinner for an extra attacker with 2:44 left in the game and fired several shots, but Hill stopped them all. This marked Vegas’ first 1-0 win since October 13, 2022, against the Chicago Blackhawks.

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NFL (American Football)

Oilers dominate final two periods to defeat Avalanche

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored a goal and had an assist, while Brett Kulak, Kasperi Kapanen, and Vasily Podkolzin also scored to help the Edmonton Oilers beat the Colorado Avalanche 4-1 in Denver on Saturday night.

Stuart Skinner made 27 saves for Edmonton, who won their third consecutive game.

Nikolai Kovalenko scored for Colorado, and Alexandar Georgiev stopped 28 shots. The Avalanche has lost three out of their last four games.

Earlier in the day, Colorado made a change in their goaltending, acquiring Scott Wedgewood from the Nashville Predators in exchange for goalie Justus Annunen and a 2025 sixth-round pick. Wedgewood arrived in Denver on time to serve as Georgiev’s backup. The Avalanche also announced that forward Miles Wood will be out for a “significant amount of time” due to an upper-body injury.

Despite the changes, Colorado took the lead early in the game with a power-play goal. Artturi Lehkonen passed to Kovalenko, who scored with a one-timer at 7:02 of the first period for his fourth goal of the season.

Colorado Avalanche players celebrate after scoring

Edmonton responded quickly when Connor McDavid made a pass across the crease to Kapanen, who scored into an open net at 11:48. It was Kapanen’s second goal of the season.

The game stayed tied until late in the second period when Podkolzin deflected Troy Stecher’s shot from the point at 13:48, scoring his third goal of the season.

Colorado had several opportunities to score early in the third period, but it was the Oilers who scored next. They passed the puck around in the Avalanche zone, and Kulak’s shot from the left point found its way past Georgiev at 3:56. It was his fifth goal of the season.

With Georgiev pulled for an extra skater, Nugent-Hopkins scored into the empty net at 18:28 for his fourth goal of the season.

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NHL (National Hockey League)

The Oilers and Avalanche are poised to challenge each other in Denver

A team is usually at a disadvantage when playing the second game of a back-to-back, but the Edmonton Oilers and Colorado Avalanche will be on equal ground for their game in Denver on Saturday night.

Both teams played away games on Friday, but the Oilers had a positive trip to Colorado after their 4-3 overtime win against Utah. The Avalanche, on the other hand, came up short in a 5-3 loss to Dallas.

Colorado didn’t just lose the game in Dallas—they also lost defenseman Josh Manson. He left in the second period with an upper-body injury and didn’t return. Coach Jared Bednar didn’t provide an update on Manson but expressed his frustration with the constant injuries to his players.

“It’s definitely frustrating … it just seems like we’re having a tough time getting through a game right now healthy,” Bednar said.

If Manson is out for any time, he’ll join the list of injured Avalanche players. Some players have returned from injuries, such as Artturi Lehkonen, who missed the first 13 games after shoulder surgery, and Jonathan Drouin, who returned after missing 16 games but is hurt again. Ross Colton is also out with a fractured foot.

Even with these injuries, Colorado had won eight of their last 11 games before losing to Dallas. The team’s top players have been carrying the load. Mikko Rantanen has 11 goals and eight assists in November, star defenseman Cale Makar is on track to record 100 points this season, and Nathan MacKinnon leads the team with 36 points despite not scoring a goal in his last nine games.

Edmonton Oilers players in the 2nd period

Edmonton is also doing well. The Oilers are 6-2-1 in their last nine games after starting a three-game road trip in Utah. They have moved up the standings and managed to win a few games even without their star center, Connor McDavid, who is now back in the lineup.

“We’re in a fine position,” said Leon Draisaitl of Edmonton. “It’s not exactly where we want to be, but we’re certainly within striking distance of where we want to be. It’s just a matter of stringing them together a little bit, finding a couple of win streaks that last a little longer than two games. That’s our plan, that’s what we’re looking to do.”

Draisaitl leads the team in goals (17) and points (32), while McDavid, who missed three games earlier this season due to an ankle injury, leads the team with 18 assists.

Saturday night’s game will be the first of three meetings this season between the teams that faced off in the 2022 Western Conference finals. The Avalanche swept the Oilers in that series on their way to winning the Stanley Cup, and both teams are still aiming for a championship this season.

The Oilers almost won their sixth Stanley Cup last spring but lost in Game 7 to the Florida Panthers after making a comeback from a 3-0 series deficit.

Edmonton is hoping that winger Zach Hyman will return during the three-game road trip. Hyman, who has been out since November 19 with an undisclosed injury, practiced with the team on Thursday and is traveling with them on the trip.

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NHL (National Hockey League)

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored in overtime to give the Edmonton Oilers a 4-3 victory over the Utah team

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored the game-winning goal in overtime, leading the Edmonton Oilers to a 4-3 victory over the Utah Hockey Club on Friday night.

Nugent-Hopkins took the puck from Matias Maccelli and fired it past Karel Vejmelka for his third goal of the season at 1:18 of overtime.

Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl each had a goal and an assist, while Vasily Podkolzin also scored for Edmonton, who won their second straight game and improved to 6-2-1 in their last nine. Calvin Pickard made 28 saves for the Oilers in the win.

For Utah, Alexander Kerfoot, Logan Cooley, and Lawson Crouse scored, but they have now lost five of their last seven games (2-4-1). Vejmelka stopped 28 shots in the loss.

Crouse tied the game at 3:42 into the third period with his fourth goal of the season, snapping a 14-game goal drought. His shot beat Pickard, making it 3-3 and sending the game into overtime.

Edmonton Oilers players in the 2nd period

Utah had the advantage in shots, outshooting Edmonton 13-5 in the third and leading 2-0 after the first period. Kerfoot opened the scoring with a one-timer off a Kevin Stenlund pass at 6:17 for his fourth goal of the season. Cooley extended Utah’s lead to 2-0 at 17:15 with a rebound goal from Juuso Valimaki’s shot.

Edmonton responded in the second period with three goals to take the lead. Podkolzin got the Oilers on the board at 9:44, scoring his second goal of the season. Draisaitl tied it on a power play at 14:01 with a one-timer off a McDavid pass, marking his team-leading 17th goal. McDavid gave Edmonton its first lead at 18:22, also on the power play, scoring his 12th goal of the season.

McDavid has accumulated 20 points (9 goals, 11 assists) in his last nine games.

The Oilers recalled Drake Caggiula from the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors on Thursday, and he played on the fourth line with Derek Ryan and Corey Perry.

This was the first of three games between the two teams. Utah will visit Edmonton on December 31, and the season series will conclude on March 18 in Edmonton.