The Edmonton Oilers emerged victorious in a thrilling contest at Canadian Tire Centre, securing a crucial 3-2 overtime win over the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night. The victory, which came courtesy of defenseman Jake Walman’s power-play marker in the extra frame, ended a three-game losing streak that had threatened to derail the Oilers’ early-season momentum. Playing in his first game of the 2025-26 campaign after missing the opening six contests with an undisclosed injury, Walman provided the heroics needed to salvage what could have been a disastrous five-game road trip for the reigning Western Conference champions.
The game served as a night of milestones for the Oilers organization. Captain Connor McDavid finally broke through with his first goal of the season, ending the longest goalless drought to start a regular season in his illustrious career. Rookie Isaac Howard netted his first NHL goal with assists from both McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, a memory he’ll cherish for a lifetime. Meanwhile, goaltender Stuart Skinner reached 100 career wins, becoming just the sixth netminder in franchise history to achieve the century mark. Forward Adam Henrique also celebrated his 1,000th career NHL game in front of family and friends, adding to the evening’s special significance.
How Jake Walman’s return sparked the Edmonton Oilers 3-2 overtime win over Ottawa Senators
Jake Walman couldn’t have scripted a better return to action. After watching from the press box for six consecutive games while recovering from injury, the 28-year-old defenseman made an immediate impact in the most crucial moment of the contest. With just 2:36 remaining in overtime and Tim Stützle serving a hooking penalty, Walman stepped up and delivered what would become the game-winning goal.
The sequence unfolded quickly following an offensive-zone faceoff. Rookie Matt Savoie, who had replaced Andrew Mangiapane after the latter was kicked out of the circle, won the draw cleanly. Mattias Ekholm received the puck and immediately tapped it into Walman’s path, setting up the game-winning opportunity. With seconds ticking away on the power play, Walman unleashed a thunderous slap shot that found its way under the crossbar, beating Linus Ullmark cleanly and sending the Oilers bench into celebration.
“It was a long time sitting out, so probably a little relief,” Walman said postgame. “I’m just happy to be back, and we’ve got a great team. I thought we played a good game and we were fortunate to win it.” His humility belied the significance of his contribution, as the goal not only secured two points but also provided a much-needed confidence boost for a team that had struggled in recent outings.
The Edmonton Oilers had dominated much of the contest, building a 2-0 lead through the first 40 minutes before the Senators mounted their comeback. Walman acknowledged the adjustment period ahead, noting that it would likely take a couple of games before he felt completely comfortable again. However, his mental preparation during his absence clearly paid dividends when the team needed him most.
For Walman, the goal represented vindication after a frustrating start to his Oilers tenure. Acquired during the offseason to bolster the team’s defensive depth, he had been forced to watch as his new teammates struggled through early-season adversity. His presence on the second power-play unit added a dimension that had been missing, particularly his ability to generate offense from the point with his powerful shot.
Connor McDavid breaks through in Edmonton Oilers 3-2 overtime win over Ottawa Senators
The wait finally ended for Connor McDavid, and it happened in spectacular fashion. With 3:29 remaining in the first period, the Oilers captain unleashed a signature one-timer from the left circle that beat Ullmark cleanly to the top corner, giving Edmonton a 1-0 lead and ending his six-game goalless streak to open the season. The tally marked the longest McDavid had gone without a goal to start a regular season in his career, making the relief palpable when the puck crossed the goal line.
The power-play marker came together with beautiful precision. Evan Bouchard, registering his first point of the season, reversed the puck along the halfboards to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins approximately 50 seconds into the man advantage. Nugent-Hopkins took possession and moved behind the Ottawa net before threading a perfect pass to McDavid in his office – that dangerous area inside the left faceoff circle. Without hesitation, McDavid fired a laser beam past Ullmark’s glove, demonstrating why he remains one of the most lethal snipers in the game when given time and space.
The goal held significant historical context beyond simply ending McDavid’s drought. It was his 25th point (nine goals) in 13 career appearances at Canadian Tire Centre, reinforcing his dominance against the Senators throughout his career. Additionally, the power-play tally was McDavid’s 88th career goal with the man advantage, moving him within one of Mark Messier (89) for sixth place on the Oilers’ all-time list.
Despite not finding the back of the net in his first six games, McDavid had hardly been invisible. He entered the Ottawa contest with seven assists and had been generating chances at his typical elite rate. Sunday’s 4-2 defeat to the Detroit Red Wings had also ended his impressive 22-game point streak dating back to the 2024-25 season, adding extra motivation for the captain to rediscover his scoring touch.
McDavid’s breakthrough goal set the tone for the Oilers, providing the early lead they desperately needed after dropping three consecutive games. His presence on the scoresheet seemed to lift the entire team’s energy level, creating momentum that would carry through most of the contest. The secondary assist from Nugent-Hopkins continued his productive stretch against Ottawa, giving him six points in his last six meetings with the Senators.
Isaac Howard’s memorable first NHL goal highlights Edmonton Oilers 3-2 overtime win over Ottawa Senators
Just 49 seconds into the second period, Isaac Howard experienced a moment he’ll treasure for the rest of his life. The 21-year-old rookie, coming off the penalty box after serving a late first-period holding minor, found himself in the perfect position to capitalize on some exceptional playmaking from Edmonton’s dynamic duo. Leon Draisaitl fed Howard a perfect pass in the slot, and the youngster made no mistake, firing a one-timer five-hole on Ullmark to extend the Oilers’ lead to 2-0.
The sequence began with relentless back pressure from Connor McDavid in the Ottawa defensive zone. The captain tracked down Ridley Greig and separated him from the puck with a textbook defensive play that doesn’t appear on the scoresheet but proved crucial to the goal’s development. McDavid’s work ethic allowed Draisaitl to jump into the play, creating a three-on-two rush opportunity that caught the Senators flat-footed.
Howard’s reaction to his milestone moment was endearing in its authenticity. Rather than an immediate explosion of emotion, the former Michigan State Spartan dropped to one knee before unleashing a celebratory fist pump as Draisaitl skated over to congratulate him in the corner. McDavid, ever the professional, retrieved the puck from the net to present to his young teammate as a keepsake of the special occasion.
“That’s obviously super cool,” Howard reflected after the game. “It’s gonna be a moment I’ll remember forever, and to have those two guys in on the goal is pretty special. A couple of great plays by them.” His humble acknowledgment of the setup work from two generational talents demonstrated maturity beyond his years and showed he understood the unique privilege of his situation.
Last season’s Hobey Baker Award winner as the NCAA’s top player became the 421st player in franchise history to score a goal for the Oilers. At 21 years and 205 days old, he also became the 56th youngest player in team history to register his first NHL tally. The youngest remains Sam Gagner, who scored his first goal at just 18 years and 71 days old against the Calgary Flames in 2007.
Howard acknowledged that seeing the puck cross the goal line helped him relax and find his rhythm. “It’s just nice to see a puck go in,” he explained. “I thought after that, I had some other good looks. The puck came to me a little bit more effortlessly, so I think I’ve just got to run with that momentum and keep it going.” His confidence visibly grew throughout the remainder of the contest, nearly adding a second goal late in regulation when he had multiple chances around the Ottawa crease.
Stuart Skinner’s milestone performance anchors Edmonton Oilers 3-2 overtime win over Ottawa Senators
While the offense provided the goals necessary for victory, Stuart Skinner’s steady presence between the pipes proved equally vital to the Edmonton Oilers’ 3-2 overtime win over Ottawa Senators. The 26-year-old netminder made 19 saves in the victory, with several coming at absolutely crucial moments when the game hung in the balance. Most importantly, the win represented his 100th career victory, making him just the sixth goaltender in franchise history to reach that prestigious milestone.
One save in particular stood out as a potential game-saver. Less than six minutes into the second period, with the Oilers protecting their 2-0 advantage, former Edmonton forward David Perron found himself with a golden scoring opportunity. Dylan Cozens kept the puck in at the blueline and fired it toward the net, where Perron used excellent hand-eye coordination to knock it down. The puck quickly transitioned to Ridley Greig, creating a dangerous two-on-one situation in tight.
Perron received a return pass on the right side with what appeared to be a certain goal, but Skinner had other ideas. In a display of athleticism and desperation, the Whitehorse, Yukon native lunged across his crease and extended his glove to make a remarkable stop. He then made another save on the rebound before clearing the puck from danger, preserving the two-goal cushion in spectacular fashion.
“I feel like this is a really good floor for me – the new floor for me – and I think I just have to continue my game, stay in the same mind frame here and just give the guys a chance to win,” Skinner said postgame. His comments reflected a goaltender who has found his confidence and established a consistent level of performance that his team can rely upon night after night.
Remarkably, Skinner wasn’t even aware he was approaching the century mark for victories until Head Coach Kris Knoblauch congratulated him after the final horn. “I actually had no idea,” he admitted. “Knobber surprised me with that news, and it was pretty cool hearing that. It’s a great accomplishment to reach 100 wins. I know there’s a lot more to come, and I’m at a great point right now and looking forward to keeping my play up and keeping it going.”
The statistical context of Skinner’s achievement makes it even more impressive. With 178 games played, he became the third-fastest goaltender to reach 100 wins in Oilers history, trailing only Andy Moog (163 games) and Grant Fuhr (174 games). He reached the milestone faster than other franchise stalwarts like Cam Talbot (212 games), Tommy Salo (221 games), and Bill Ranford (231 games), demonstrating his efficiency and consistency since breaking into the NHL.
Ottawa’s third-period comeback tests resolve in Edmonton Oilers 3-2 overtime win over Ottawa Senators
The Senators refused to surrender quietly, mounting a spirited comeback that briefly threatened to derail Edmonton’s victory plans. In a devastating span of just 1:36 early in the third period, Ottawa erased what had been a comfortable two-goal deficit to tie the game and completely shift the momentum at Canadian Tire Centre. The sequence served as a stern test of the Oilers’ mental fortitude after they had dominated the opening 40 minutes.
The unraveling began just 13 seconds into the final frame while Edmonton was still killing off a late second-period penalty to Darnell Nurse for tripping Tim Stützle. Drake Batherson won a crucial battle inside the Oilers’ blueline and poked the puck to Dylan Cozens cutting to the inside. The former Buffalo Sabre walked in virtually uncontested and fired a shot far side past Skinner for his fourth goal of the campaign, cutting the deficit to 2-1 and giving the home crowd renewed hope.
Before the Oilers could fully recover from that blow, Ottawa struck again. Defenseman Thomas Chabot collected the puck at the top of the offensive zone and unleashed a shot through heavy traffic. The puck weaved its way through multiple bodies stationed between the circles before beating a screened Skinner at the 18:11 mark of the third period, knotting the score at 2-2 and completely silencing the visiting bench.
Head Coach Kris Knoblauch immediately called timeout to settle his rattled group and provide the coaching staff additional time to consider a potential goaltender interference challenge. After careful deliberation, they opted against using their review, choosing instead to focus on regaining their composure and reasserting control over the contest. Play resumed with the game tied and plenty of time remaining for either team to find a winner in regulation.
“It started in the second period, taking the penalty and giving them a power play,” Knoblauch explained afterward. “They capitalized on the power play, and they made a nice play in the second period and we sat back. After it was 2-2, we responded and played pretty well after that. I thought the last 18 minutes of the game were probably our best, but I didn’t like that we were starting the second or third period shorthanded.”
The Oilers credit belongs with their response to adversity. Rather than wilting under pressure, they regrouped and controlled play throughout the remainder of regulation. Ullmark was forced to make several outstanding saves, including robbing Evan Bouchard on a one-timer near the midway point of the period. Matt Savoie nearly scored his first NHL goal on two separate occasions late in the frame, first losing the handle on the puck beside an open Ottawa net before failing to convert a rebound opportunity on the same shift.
Edmonton outshot Ottawa 9-3 in the third period, demonstrating their ability to weather the Senators’ storm and impose their will when it mattered most. That resilience would ultimately be rewarded when Walman’s overtime heroics secured the extra point and validated the team’s refusal to surrender despite surrendering their lead.
The Edmonton Oilers return home with renewed confidence and momentum after salvaging their lengthy road trip with a character-building victory. The team improves to 3-3-1 on the season and will look to build on this performance when they host the Montreal Canadiens at Rogers Place on Thursday before embarking on another challenging stretch with back-to-back games against the Vancouver Canucks and Seattle Kraken this weekend. With McDavid finally on the scoresheet, Skinner playing at an elite level, and young players like Howard finding their footing, the pieces appear to be falling into place for the Oilers as the season progresses.
The victory also provided validation for the organization’s depth acquisitions, particularly Walman’s impactful return. As the schedule intensifies in the coming weeks, having a full complement of healthy defensemen who can contribute offensively will prove crucial. For now, the Oilers can celebrate a hard-earned victory that demonstrates their championship pedigree and ability to persevere through adversity – qualities that will serve them well throughout what promises to be a long and challenging campaign.
Par Mike Jonderson
Mike Jonderson is a passionate hockey analyst and expert in advanced NHL statistics. A former college player and mathematics graduate, he combines his understanding of the game with technical expertise to develop innovative predictive models and contribute to the evolution of modern hockey analytics.