Tomkins Saves 27 Shots to Lead Oilers Past Rangers

Matt Tomkins stopped 27 of the 28 shots directed at him on Sunday to lead the Edmonton Oilers to a victory over the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. The win marked the Oilers' 11th in their first 15 games of the season. Tomkins was named the game's first star for the performance.

This was Tomkins' first start since April 17, 2024. It was also only his seventh start in the NHL. He is 32 years old. He made his NHL debut in 2023, a few months after turning 29. Before joining the top league, he played for teams in the American Hockey League and the ECHL, as well as for Frolunda and Farjestads BK in Sweden.

Tomkins grew up in Sherwood Park, a suburb of Edmonton. He attended Ohio State University. He also served as Canada's starting goaltender at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing when the NHL withdrew from the event. "It's been a long road, for sure," Tomkins said. "It's taken me a lot of different places."

Since his previous NHL start in the 2023-24 regular season finale, Tomkins played in 74 games in the AHL for the Syracuse Crunch and Bakersfield Condors. That span covered 928 days. He was uncertain whether he would receive another call to the NHL. "The human element, there's maybe a little bit of doubt," Tomkins said. "Not from your ability, but more so just the opportunity. There's only 64 jobs at any given time and incredible goalies all over the world are fighting for them every single day."

Injuries to Oilers goaltenders Devon Levi and Frederik Andersen created an opening for Tomkins. The team scheduled games on consecutive days this weekend, necessitating a backup. Tomkins took advantage of the chance to play for the franchise he supported as a child.

Captain Connor McDavid praised Tomkins' performance. "He was awesome for us," McDavid said. "He just gave us a chance to win.. He was just solid, honestly: made the saves he needed to and gave us a chance." McDavid noted that Tomkins worked hard during the summer in Edmonton. "He's a great dude, an unbelievable dude," McDavid added. "I'm happy for him."

Tristan Jarry is coming off back-to-back shutouts. Levi and Andersen are working to return to the lineup. This situation may limit Tomkins' future opportunities during this call-up. He focused on the present moment during the game. "It's been a couple of years since I've played in the league, so definitely excited to get the nod," Tomkins said. "Just tried to enjoy the day and take it all in and do my part to contribute and help the team win."

Tomkins has played for numerous teams at the junior, college, and professional levels. He described the journey as tough but enjoyable. "I love to play, and my career has taken me all over the world, and I've enjoyed every step," he said. He concluded that ending up in Edmonton was a special outcome for an Oilers fan.