Oilers Rally from 3-0 Hole to Stun Sharks in Overtime, Finally String Together Three Straight Wins
For the tenth time this season, the Oilers had a shot at winning three games in a row. Nine times, they came up short.
But Thursday night at Rogers Place? That was different.
Down 3-0 early, Edmonton clawed all the way back and capped off a wild comeback with a 4-3 overtime win over the San Jose Sharks. It wasn’t pretty early, but by the end, it was a gutsy, emotional win-and maybe, just maybe, a turning point.
Let’s break down how it all unfolded.
A Nightmare Start
This game couldn’t have started much worse for Edmonton. Just 26 seconds in, a pair of failed clears in their own zone turned into a nightmare. Will Smith found Colin Graf wide open in front, and with no one near him and the net yawning, Graf made it 1-0 Sharks.
The Sharks didn’t wait long to double their lead. Less than a minute later, Ty Emberson turned the puck over at the red line, and with Jake Walman heading off for a change, Adam Gaudette was sprung on a breakaway. He went backhand over Connor Ingram’s pad-2-0 Sharks before most fans had even found their seats.
Midway through the first, things got worse. A two-on-one rush ended with Ingram making the initial stop, but the puck ricocheted off Evan Bouchard and into the net. Just like that, it was 3-0 San Jose.
The Oilers were reeling, and the first period ended with the home crowd stunned into silence.
The Long Climb Back
After a scoreless second period, the Oilers finally broke through early in the third. Bouchard let a shot go from the point, and while Yaroslav Askarov got a piece of it, the puck trickled behind him. Leon Draisaitl was right there to tap it in and give the Oilers a pulse.
Down 3-1 with time running out, Edmonton pulled Ingram with just under four minutes left. The gamble paid off. After a minute of sustained pressure, Connor McDavid found space in the faceoff circle and snapped a shot past Askarov to make it a one-goal game.
Then came the déjà vu moment. Just like they did against the Sharks last season, the Oilers tied it in the dying seconds.
Bouchard, once again at the point, let it rip. This time, it found twine cleanly.
Tie game. Overtime.
Hyman Ends It in OT
With momentum fully on their side, the Oilers didn’t waste much time in the extra frame. A fortunate bounce off a San Jose defender landed right in Zach Hyman’s wheelhouse. He buried the one-timer, sealing the comeback and giving Edmonton the elusive third straight win they’d been chasing all season.
Key Takeaways
1. A Win’s a Win-But the Starts Have to Be Better
Let’s be honest: the Oilers can’t keep spotting teams three-goal leads and expect to come out on top. This wasn’t the first time they’ve stumbled out of the gate-just look back to Tuesday’s sluggish start against the Devils.
That night, they waited too long to get going and couldn’t recover. Against San Jose, they pulled off the miracle, but this isn’t a sustainable formula.
2. Bouchard’s Impact Is Growing
Evan Bouchard continues to evolve into a key piece on the blue line. He tied the game late, added two assists, and was involved in the play all night.
He’s showing more poise and confidence, especially in big moments. When Bouchard is on, the Oilers’ offense flows that much better from the back end.
3. Draisaitl and McDavid Do What Stars Do
Draisaitl matched Bouchard with a goal and two assists, while McDavid notched his 34th of the season and added a helper of his own. These two continue to carry the offensive load, and when the team needed a spark, it was no surprise they were the ones to provide it.
4. Hyman Keeps Producing
Zach Hyman’s game-winner was his 22nd goal of the season-and his 22nd in his last 30 games. He’s been a consistent force in the top six and continues to find ways to contribute in big moments.
5. The Fourth Line Keeps Grinding
The trio of Mattias Janmark, Curtis Lazar, and Trent Frederic once again brought energy and smart, responsible hockey. In just over six minutes of five-on-five play, they controlled nearly 90 percent of the expected goal share and didn’t allow a single scoring chance against. That’s the kind of depth performance playoff teams need.
Frederic, in particular, is starting to look like his old self after battling through a high ankle sprain. His skating is improving, and he’s making plays with confidence again. If he keeps trending upward, that’s a big boost for Edmonton’s bottom six.
6. Line Blender in Full Effect
With the team chasing for most of the night, the Oilers mixed up their lines constantly-eight different forward combinations saw at least two minutes at five-on-five. One line that didn’t click?
Matt Savoie and Jack Roslovic. That pairing struggled again, and it might be time to split them up.
7. Ingram Settled In After a Rough Start
Connor Ingram had a brutal opening 90 seconds, giving up two quick ones. But to his credit, he settled in and made some key stops as the game progressed. Still, it marks his second straight game with a sub-.900 save percentage-something to monitor moving forward.
What’s Next?
Depending on how the Vegas-Dallas game shakes out, the Oilers could end the night in first place in the Pacific Division. Regardless, they’ll be back at it Saturday night against the Minnesota Wild, looking to make it four straight and keep the momentum rolling.
This comeback win wasn’t perfect, but it showed grit, resilience, and a refusal to quit. And for the first time all season, the Oilers can finally say they’ve won three in a row.