McDavid Leads Oilers Comeback as Mammoth’s Streak Ends in Edmonton
It was a night that reminded everyone why Connor McDavid remains one of hockey’s most electrifying players. The Edmonton Oilers, after a sluggish start, roared back to life with a stunning second-period surge to defeat the Utah Mammoth 6–3, snapping the Mammoth’s impressive seven-game winning streak.
The game began in favor of Utah, who looked every bit the confident team riding high on momentum. Logan Cooley and JJ Peterka each found the back of the net in the first period, putting the visitors up 2–0. The Oilers, meanwhile, seemed out of sync, their passes off-target and their energy flat. Head coach Kris Knoblauch later admitted that the team turned the puck over far too often — 16 times during line rushes in the opening frame alone — which completely stifled their offensive rhythm.
But everything changed after the first intermission. The Oilers came out determined, almost as if someone had flipped a switch. Just 22 seconds into the second period, Mattias Ekholm got Edmonton on the board with a rocket from the left circle. That goal sparked what turned into an avalanche of offense. Isaac Howard tied it moments later, Leon Draisaitl buried a rebound to make it 3–3, and within seconds, Ty Emberson scored his first of the season to give the Oilers their first lead of the night.
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Then came the McDavid show. The captain delivered a trademark one-timer late in the second period to extend the lead, before sealing the deal with an empty-netter in the third — his second of the night. The comeback was complete, and the Oilers’ bench erupted in celebration.
For a team that had dropped two straight games and struggled to find consistency early this season, this performance felt like a turning point. “We kind of needed a wake-up call,” admitted veteran forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. “That first period wasn’t us, but we responded. Sometimes you need to give yourself a little kick and get going.”
Ekholm echoed that sentiment, saying the players knew it was time to raise their effort level. “Everybody felt enough was enough,” he said. “We needed to start putting our work boots on — and we did. This has to be our standard moving forward.”
Stuart Skinner made 20 saves for Edmonton, while Evan Bouchard quietly put together a stellar three-assist performance from the blue line.
Despite the loss, the Mammoth can take solace in their strong road trip, collecting six of eight possible points. But on this night, it was Edmonton’s relentless second-period push that stole the spotlight — and reminded the league that the Oilers, when they find their rhythm, can be as dangerous as ever.
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