McDavid milestone, Skinner’s 26 saves, and more: 3 reasons why Edmonton Oilers won 4-1 over Utah Hockey Club

The Edmonton Oilers ended 2024 on a high note, defeating the Utah Hockey Club 4-1 on New Year’s Eve at Rogers Place. With the victory, the Oilers tied the LA Kings for second place in the Pacific Division, settling in four points ahead of the third-place Calgary Flames.

Mattias Ekhom, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Troy Stetcher and Leon Draisaitl scored for the Oilers. Meanwhile, Jack McBain responded for the Utah Hockey Club. Stuart Skinner made 26 saves for the win.

So, here’s a look at the three key reasons why the Edmonton Oilers won 4-1 over the Utah Hockey Club on New Year’s Eve.

3 reasons why Edmonton Oilers won over Utah Hockey Club

#3 Depth scoring

The goals from Elkholm, Nugent-Hopkins and Stetcher were more than welcome, as depth scoring has been a consistent issue for the Edmonton Oilers this season. While Draisaitl scored and Connor McDavid registered two assists, getting contributions across the lineup is something the club needs to ensure it remains competitive.

It’s worth pointing out that Connor Brown notched two assists with Ty Emberson also getting on the board. Moving forward, the Oilers hope to get more contributions from their depth as the team heads into the tough part of the schedule.

#2 Skinner’s 26 saves

Stuart Skinner continues to have a quiet turnaround this season. After starting the year showing relative inconsistency, Skinner has turned things around, transforming himself into one of the most solid starting netminders in the Western Conference.

On New Year’s Eve, Skinner faced one of the most exciting, young teams in the league. He was able to keep the Oilers in the game as the club railed off three unanswered goals to take the two points home.

Most importantly, Skinner’s performance has provided the Oilers with the confidence they need to play effectively. That confidence is something that cannot be easily obtained when the team does not have confidence in the goalie playing behind them.

#1 Connor McDavid’s historic night

Connor McDavid capped off a historic 2024 with another milestone: His two points propelled him into third place on the all-time Edmonton Oilers scoring list. McDavid now has 1,036 points, surpassing Mark Messier for third with 1,034.

Ahead of McDavid is Jari Kurri with 1,043. It’s quite feasible that McDavid will catch Kurri within the next few games. However, it may be a while before McDavid reaches Wayne Gretzky, who leads the Oilers with 1,669 points. Of course, that record is certainly within reach. However, fans may need to wait a few more seasons before that record falls.

The Oilers will get a break the next couple of days before hosting the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night.