Ryan Nugent-Hopkins' OT goal lifts Oilers over Utah

Field Level Media|published: Sat 30th November, 24:07 2024

Nov 29, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Edmonton Oilers goaltender Calvin Pickard (30) blocks a shot by Utah Hockey Club center Nick Bjugstad (17) during the second period at the Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Creveling-Imagn Images

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored the overtime winner as the Edmonton Oilers edged the host Utah Hockey Club 4-3 on Friday night.

Hopkins stripped Matias Maccelli of the puck and beat Karel Vejmelka stick-side for his third of the season at 1:18 of the extra frame.

Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl each had a goal and an assist and Vasily Podkolzin also scored for the Oilers, who have won back-to-back games and improved to 6-2-1 over their last nine.

Calvin Pickard made 28 saves in the win.

Alexander Kerfoot, Logan Cooley and Lawson Crouse responded for the Utah Hockey Club, which has lost five of its last seven (2-4-1).

Vejmelka stopped 28 shots.

Crouse tied it 3:42 into the third to force overtime, snapping a shot past Pickard for his fourth of the season, snapping a 14-game drought and forging a 3-3 tie.

Utah outshot Edmonton 13-5 and led 2-0 after one period.

Kerfoot opened the scoring one-timing a Kevin Stenlund two-on-one feed past Pickard for his fourth of the season at 6:17.

Utah took a 2-0 lead at 17:15 as Cooley scored his fifth of the season, tapping in the rebound off Juuso Valimaki's point shot.

Edmonton bounced back, scoring three times in the middle frame to take the lead.

Podkolzin got the Oilers on the board at 9:44 of the second, beating Vejmelka for his second of the season.

Edmonton tied it on a power play as Draisaitl one-timed a McDavid feed past Vejmelka at 14:01 for his team-leading 17th goal. Draisaitl has goals in four straight games.

With his 12th goal of the 2024-25 campaign, McDavid gave the Oilers its first lead on a power play at 18:22, beating Vejmelka short side.

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

The Oilers recalled Drake Caggiula from the AHL's Bakersfield Condors on Thursday. The forward started Friday on the fourth line with Derek Ryan and Corey Perry.

Friday was the first of three meetings between the clubs. Utah visits Edmonton on Dec. 31, and the teams conclude the season series on March 18 in Edmonton.

--Field Level Media

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