Matt Tomkins Stops 27 Shots in Oilers Victory Over Rangers

Goaltender Matt Tomkins stopped 27 of 28 shots to lead the Edmonton Oilers to a win against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.

Matt Tomkins stopped 27 of the 28 shots he faced on Sunday to lead the Edmonton Oilers to a victory over the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. The win marked Edmonton's 11th victory in their first 15 games of the season. Tomkins, a 32-year-old native of Sherwood Park, was named the game's first star in what was his seventh career NHL start.

The appearance was Tomkins' first NHL start since April 17, 2024. During the 928-day interval between starts for the Tampa Bay Lightning and this appearance for Edmonton, the goaltender appeared in 74 American Hockey League games for the Syracuse Crunch and Bakersfield Condors. His professional career has also included stints with the Indy Fuel, Rockford IceHogs, Frolunda, and Farjestads BK, as well as serving as Canada’s starter during the 2022 Beijing Olympics.

Edmonton turned to Tomkins following injuries to goaltenders Devon Levi and Frederik Andersen, combined with a schedule featuring games on back-to-back days. The start came as Tristan Jarry entered the weekend following consecutive shutouts. Captain Connor McDavid noted that Tomkins provided the team a chance to win during the veteran's first league appearance in over two years.