Post by : Maya Rahman

In a dramatic finish, Vasily Podkolzin netted a backhand goal with just 1:09 on the clock, propelling the Edmonton Oilers to a thrilling 6-5 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night. This goal marked Podkolzin's first of the season, and he also contributed an assist.

Connor McDavid was instrumental, recording three assists that aided the Oilers in overcoming a 5-3 deficit. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins joined in with a goal and an assist, while David Tomasek, Adam Henrique, Andrew Mangiapane, and Leon Draisaitl added to the scoreline. Meanwhile, Darnell Nurse and Jake Walman each provided two assists, and goalie Calvin Pickard made 22 saves.

The Canadiens saw Cole Caufield and Alex Newhook each scoring twice, with Josh Anderson contributing another goal. Lane Hutson and Oliver Kapanen each had two assists, but Sam Montembeault's 23 saves weren't enough for victory, especially after a previous overtime win in Calgary.

Montreal opened the scoring at 7:28 of the first period when Newhook capitalized on a rebound from a Hutson shot. Edmonton quickly replied towards the end of the period, with Tomasek netting his inaugural NHL goal on a slap shot that deflected off Newhook.

In the second period, the Oilers surged ahead to a 3-1 lead, thanks to goals from Henrique and Mangiapane, both assisted by Walman and Nurse. However, the Canadiens countered strong, scoring three goals in just 1:52—Caufield netting two and Anderson one—taking a 4-3 lead into the third.

Newhook scored once more early in the third, extending Montreal's lead to 5-3. Edmonton responded swiftly, with Draisaitl and Nugent-Hopkins scoring power-play goals in under a minute, thanks to assists from McDavid, leveling the score before Podkolzin clinched the win.

This high-octane game was highlighted by McDavid's precise playmaking, Podkolzin’s late-game heroics, and the impressive performances of Caufield and Newhook, captivating fans throughout. With this victory, the Oilers secured their second win in a row, while the Canadiens faced only their second defeat in their last eight outings.

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