Oilers Blank Blues 5-0 as Nugent-Hopkins Hits 1,000-Game Milestone in Style
EDMONTON - The Edmonton Oilers kicked off their critical eight-game homestand with authority on Sunday night, shutting out the St. Louis Blues 5-0 in a game that had a little bit of everything: milestone moments, offensive fireworks, and a goaltending clinic.
Zach Hyman continued his torrid scoring pace, netting two goals and adding an assist, while Connor Ingram turned away all 27 shots he faced to earn the shutout. Edmonton has now gone 5-1-2 in its last eight games and is starting to look like a team hitting its stride at the right time.
But the night belonged to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who played in his 1,000th regular-season NHL game - all with the Oilers - and marked the occasion with a goal. It was a fitting tribute to a player who’s quietly been one of the franchise’s most consistent and respected contributors for over a decade.
Nugent-Hopkins Joins Elite Company
Before the puck even dropped, the Oilers honored Nugent-Hopkins in a pre-game ceremony, and he responded the best way a player can - by scoring. He became just the 63rd player in NHL history to record a goal in his 1,000th game and the first in Oilers history to play all 1,000 games with the franchise. Only Kevin Lowe has suited up for more games in an Oilers sweater, with 1,037 appearances during his two stints in Edmonton.
Taken first overall in the 2011 NHL Draft, Nugent-Hopkins has now become the first player from that draft class to hit the 1,000-game mark. His career totals - 283 goals, 503 assists, 786 points - speak to his consistency and value, especially considering he’s done it under nine different head coaches. That kind of longevity and adaptability doesn’t happen by accident.
Hyman Keeps Rolling
Zach Hyman is on a heater, plain and simple. With his two-goal, one-assist performance Sunday, he now has 17 goals in his last 20 games - more than any player in the league since December 11. He’s not just scoring, he’s scoring in bunches and in big moments.
Hyman’s first goal came on a textbook finish, and his second showed off the kind of chemistry that’s developed between him and Connor McDavid. When Hyman’s rolling like this, it adds a dangerous layer to an already potent Oilers offense.
A Statement Start to the Homestand
The Oilers opened the scoring and never looked back - and that’s been a winning formula all season. Edmonton is now 21-1-4 when scoring first, and they wasted no time setting the tone against St. Louis.
Connor McDavid, who had two assists on the night, made one of the game’s highlight-reel plays early in the third period. After getting knocked down, he popped back up, regained control, and delivered a cross-ice pass to Vasily Podkolzin, who hammered home his 12th goal of the season just 1:19 into the period. That made it 5-0 and effectively ended any hopes of a Blues comeback.
Podkolzin also added an assist, while Mattias Ekholm chipped in two helpers of his own. Andrew Mangiapane joined the party with a goal, rounding out a balanced offensive effort from the Oilers.
Ingram Slams the Door
While the offense was humming, Connor Ingram quietly stole the show in net. His 27-save shutout was a steady, composed performance - the kind that gives a team confidence from the crease out. The Blues had a few pushes, but Ingram was locked in, tracking pucks cleanly and controlling rebounds.
Blues Streak Snapped
St. Louis came into the game riding a modest two-game win streak, but they couldn’t generate much against a structured and hungry Oilers squad. Jordan Binnington made 23 saves in the loss, but the Blues struggled to match Edmonton’s pace and execution throughout the night.
On a brighter note for St. Louis, forward Dylan Holloway returned to the lineup after missing 15 games with an ankle injury. Acquired via offer sheet from Edmonton last summer along with defenseman Philip Broberg, Holloway has posted eight goals and 17 points in 34 games this season.
What’s Next
The Oilers will look to keep the momentum rolling when they host the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night, continuing their pivotal homestand. The Blues, meanwhile, head north to face the Winnipeg Jets, hoping to bounce back and regain some footing in the Western Conference race.
If Sunday night was any indication, the Oilers are starting to look like a team that’s ready to make a serious push - and with players like Hyman red-hot and veterans like Nugent-Hopkins hitting milestones, the timing couldn’t be better.