Zach Hyman of the Edmonton Oilers celebrated his second-period goal against the Boston Bruins with teammate Leon Draisaitl at the bench during Thursday night’s NHL game in Edmonton, December 19, 2024. (Photo by Timothy Matwey, The Canadian Press)
Edmonton witnessed a thrilling night on Thursday as Leon Draisaitl's exceptional play helped the Oilers claim a dramatic 3-2 overtime victory against the Boston Bruins. Draisaitl notched assists on all three Oilers goals, reaching an impressive career milestone of 900 points. The achievement comes amidst his current hot streak, marking multipoint games in seven consecutive outings, with 18 points across those matches.
The decisive moment came 1:04 into overtime when Ryan Nugent-Hopkins picked up a rebound from Draisaitl’s shot and set up Mattias Ekholm, who fired in the winning goal. Ekholm, celebrating his fourth goal of the season, praised Draisaitl's all-around game, calling him a cornerstone for the Oilers both offensively and defensively.
Draisaitl, now 29, reflected on his milestone, acknowledging the hard work and support from teammates, coaches, and the organization. “It feels good,” he shared. “This is a tough league; every day is a chance to learn and grow. I’m proud, but this is a shared achievement.”
In just 751 games, Draisaitl has reached the 900-point mark, making him the fifth-fastest player born outside North America to achieve the feat. Teammate Nugent-Hopkins highlighted Draisaitl’s dedication, noting, “You see the effort he puts in every day. It’s remarkable to see him achieve this at his age.”
Draisaitl continues to dominate the NHL, leading with 23 goals and sitting second with 50 points this season. Meanwhile, Zach Hyman, returning strong from injury, added a goal and an assist, bringing his tally to eight goals in seven games. Connor McDavid also contributed a goal, solidifying the Oilers’ momentum with nine wins in their last 11 games.
Goalie Stuart Skinner made 24 saves to secure the win for the Oilers. The Bruins, who entered the game on a two-game winning streak, found solace in the performances of Elias Lindholm and Mark Kastelic, who both scored. Bruins’ goalie Jeremy Swayman recorded 23 saves but couldn’t hold off the Oilers’ relentless attack in overtime.
Boston’s Mark Kastelic acknowledged the need for improvement, saying, “We got on our heels and let them dictate the game. It’s a lesson for us moving forward.”
For the Oilers, this victory against one of the NHL’s top teams fuels their confidence. As Draisaitl put it, “It shows we can compete with anyone on any night. That’s something we can build on.”
