Oilers Overcome Sharks in Thrilling Overtime Victory, Show Resilience
The Edmonton Oilers have been showing remarkable resilience in recent games, thriving in close encounters and finding ways to seal victories even in the most dramatic circumstances. Their recent 3-2 overtime win over the San Jose Sharks on December 21, 2024, serves as a prime example of their ability to handle pressure and turn games around at the last minute. This win came just two days after a similar 3-2 overtime victory against the Boston Bruins, which showcased the Oilers’ knack for handling tight situations.
The game against the Sharks unfolded in a heart-pounding manner. With just 18 seconds left in the third period, the Oilers were trailing 2-1. But Edmonton didn’t give up. With their goalie pulled, Corey Perry made a quick pass to defenceman Mattias Ekholm, who fired the puck into the net for his fifth goal of the season, tying the game and sending it into overtime. Then, in the extra period, Leon Draisaitl, who had earlier hit the post on an open net, sealed the victory by scoring just 18 seconds into overtime. This marked his league-leading 24th goal of the season and extended his point streak to eight games. Over that span, Draisaitl has amassed an impressive seven goals and 19 points.
Draisaitl, ever the calm and focused player, expressed his thoughts on these thrilling games: "These are always exciting and fun, if they go your way, of course. I thought we’ve done a good job the last two nights of finding a way to put away the game. You have to find a way to win any kind of hockey game in this league and the last two nights we certainly won two the same way."
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This victory was particularly special for Draisaitl, as his overtime goal marked his 17th in franchise history, surpassing Connor McDavid for the most in Oilers’ history. It was also the 99th time that McDavid and Draisaitl have combined for the game-winning goal, an NHL record. Only the Sedin twins, Daniel and Henrik, have recorded more such combinations in league history.
While the Oilers’ offensive stars shone, Zach Hyman also played a crucial role. Hyman, who has been on a tear since returning from an injury, scored a goal in this game, his ninth in his last eight contests. He now has 12 goals for the season after a slower start, showing how the team’s depth is really clicking.
On the other hand, the Sharks, who have been struggling, managed to hold their ground for most of the game. Rookie goalie Yaroslav Askarov was a standout, making 41 saves and frustrating the Oilers’ shooters for over 59 minutes. His performance earned praise from his teammates, with defenseman Cody Ceci stating, “He kept us in that game the whole way. It’s great to see, especially from a young guy, to have that much composure and play against some high-end talent.”
Despite Askarov’s stellar effort, the Sharks’ struggles continued as they suffered their fourth consecutive loss and seventh in their last eight games. Their two goals came from Luke Kunin and Jan Rutta, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Oilers’ late-game heroics.
The Oilers’ ability to thrive in close games is a promising sign for their season, and while they might not want to rely on dramatic finishes every time, the way they have been executing in crunch time speaks to their mental toughness and skill. With this win, the Oilers improve to 20-11-2 and have now won 10 of their last 12 games, positioning themselves as a formidable force as the season progresses.
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