The Edmonton Oilers kicked off a new year with a hard-fought victory, defeating the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 at Rogers Place on Sunday, December 21, 2025. The win marked a significant achievement as it was the team's first triumph of the year on the second night of a back-to-back set.
A Game of Two Halves
The match unfolded as a classic tale of two halves. The Oilers came out with dominant energy, controlling the play for the first thirty minutes and building a substantial lead. However, the final frame required resilience as they weathered a fierce push from Vegas to secure the two points.
Connor McDavid was, without question, the most dynamic player on the ice. His speed and skill were on full display, creating chances and dazzling the home crowd. Yet, significant credit for the win also goes to goaltender Connor Ingram, who secured his first victory as an Oiler in his debut with the club.
Standout Performances and Player Grades
The Oilers' success was built on several key individual efforts. Here’s a breakdown of the standout performances from the Sunday night contest.
Connor Ingram (Grade: 7): The netminder was impressive in his first start for Edmonton, turning aside 28 shots for the win. He was sharp early, making key blocker saves to settle into the game. While he had little chance on Vegas's first goal and spilled a rebound on the second, he was not at fault on the 4-3 marker. Ingram made strong stops in the third period and handled the puck capably to aid his defencemen, making for a very encouraging debut.
Connor McDavid (Grade: 9): The captain was absolutely flying. He opened the scoring with a spectacular highlight-reel goal, taking a feed from Leon Draisaitl, blowing past three defenders, and finishing with a deft deke. He later drew a power play and earned a secondary assist on the 2-0 goal. McDavid also set up Ryan Nugent-Hopkins for the 3-0 marker. He finished with five shots in 19:44 of ice time, operating at the peak of his powers.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Grade: 8): He continued his excellent run of play. Nugent-Hopkins buried a hard Draisaitl pass for the 2-0 goal and showed patience to wrist home the 3-0. He also chipped in with a secondary assist on the fourth goal and was a reliable presence, blocking a key shot late in the second period.
Zach Hyman (Grade: 8): Hyman was a constant threat, ringing a shot off the post early. He was credited with an assist on the third goal after the puck glanced off his skate in front, and he backhanded home the 4-0 marker on a nice finish. With four shots, his strong two-way play continues to make a compelling case for Team Canada consideration.
Evan Bouchard (Grade: 5): The defenceman had a solid enough night, moving the puck with confidence. He was partially at fault on Vegas's first power-play goal and was bailed out by Ingram after being walked late in the second. However, he drew a third-period power play and was on the ice for just one High-Danger Chance against at 5-on-5, adding three blocked shots.
Sealing the Deal
Despite being outshot 12-3 in a tense third period, the Oilers managed to cling to their lead and emerge with the 4-3 victory. The win provides a positive start to the year and highlights the depth of contribution needed to succeed, from star power to crucial debut performances. The combination of McDavid's offensive genius and Ingram's steady presence in net proved to be the winning formula against a tough Pacific Division rival.
