Edmonton Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins authored a storybook ending to a major career milestone on Sunday night. In his 1,000th regular-season NHL game, the veteran scored the overtime-winning goal to seal a victory for his team against the visiting St. Louis Blues.
A Milestone Night at Rogers Place
The special occasion was celebrated at Rogers Place in Edmonton on January 18, 2026. Nugent-Hopkins, wearing his familiar number 93, was honoured in a pre-game ceremony for reaching the exclusive 1,000-game club, a testament to his durability, skill, and dedication to the franchise that drafted him first overall in 2011.
The game itself was a tightly contested battle. While the Oilers' top line of Connor McDavid, Zach Hyman, and Nugent-Hopkins connected for a goal during the first period, as seen in celebrations captured by The Canadian Press, the Blues fought back to force extra time. This set the stage for a dramatic finish.
The Perfect Ending in Overtime
With the three-on-three overtime period underway, Nugent-Hopkins found himself in the right place at the right time. Capitalizing on a play, he fired the puck past the St. Louis goaltender, instantly transforming the arena into a roar of celebration. The goal secured the two points for the Oilers and provided a perfect, cinematic capstone to the evening dedicated to his career.
Teammates, including captain Connor McDavid, immediately swarmed Nugent-Hopkins to congratulate him on the dual achievement: the milestone and the game-winning play. The moment highlighted his enduring value to the team's core and his ability to deliver in clutch situations.
Legacy of a Franchise Pillar
Scoring the decisive goal in such a significant personal game underscores Nugent-Hopkins' integral role in the modern era of Oilers hockey. Having spent his entire career with Edmonton, he has been a constant through periods of rebuilding and resurgence, evolving into a versatile and respected leader on and off the ice.
This victory adds another memorable chapter to the Oilers' season and solidifies the night as one Nugent-Hopkins and Oilers fans will long remember. It was a powerful demonstration of a player rising to the occasion, marking a numeric career achievement not just with ceremony, but with a tangible, winning contribution on the scoresheet.
