3 most impressive Edmonton Oilers players from 3-2 win over Anaheim Ducks feat. Leon Draisaitl 

The Edmonton Oilers are officially in the 2025 portion of their schedule, and they were hoping to start the new year off with a bang.

They found themselves matched up against the visiting Anaheim Ducks at Rogers Place, and wanted to avenge their frustrating loss to the Ducks at Honda Center on Dec. 29; the Oilers blew a multi-goal lead and lost by a 5-3 final score.

The scoring was opened on the power play by forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who notched his ninth goal of the season to give the Oilers the 1-0 lead.

Shortly before the midway point of the second period, defenseman Darnell Nurse doubled Edmonton's lead with his fourth goal of the season. But the Ducks would fight their way back into the contest when Brett Leason tallied.

Jackson LaCombe scored on the power play in the third period for the Ducks, once again knotting the score.

But just as he's done so often throughout his career, superstar forward Leon Draisaitl came through in the clutch. He scored the go-ahead goal with just 1:36 remaining in the third period, and it stood up as the game-winner.

Stuart Skinner made 27 saves for the Oilers in a winning effort, while Lukas Dostal was limited to 23 saves on 26 shots.

3 most impressive Edmonton Oilers players from 3-2 win over Anaheim Ducks

#1. Leon Draisaitl

There's no getting around it – Leon Draisaitl is one of the best handful of players in the National Hockey League today.

Oilers fans will feel fortunate that they get to watch him not only suit up regularly for their team, but alongside his superstar teammate, Connor McDavid.

Draisaitl took control of the game when it mattered most and scored the winning goal, giving him a total of 28 on the season.

#2. Darnell Nurse

The Oilers defenseman settled in nicely from a crucial error that he made that resulted in a goal in Edmonton's previous matchup against the Ducks, scoring a goal with an assist.

He also blocked one Ducks shot attempt.

#3. Stuart Skinner

A goaltender who has been fighting inconsistency and whom many question is the right figure to lead the Oilers to the promised land, Skinner played well on Friday night against the visiting Ducks.

He stopped all three shots he faced from the ever-dangerous Troy Terry, along with four shots from Mason MacTavish.

For the night, he finished with a solid 1.21 goals-against average and a .931 save percentage.

Skinner and Co. will be in action again when they take on the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena on Saturday.