Edmonton Oilers complete dramatic 6-5 comeback over Montreal Canadiens

The Edmonton Oilers orchestrated one of the most thrilling comebacks of the young NHL season on Thursday night at Rogers Place, erasing a two-goal third-period deficit to defeat the Montreal Canadiens 6-5 in a wild back-and-forth affair. Vasily Podkolzin emerged as the hero, scoring his first goal of the season with just 1:09 remaining in regulation to cap off a memorable all-Canadian showdown that saw the teams combine for 11 goals and multiple momentum swings.

The victory marked back-to-back wins for Edmonton following a three-game losing streak, while the Canadiens saw their impressive stretch of six wins in seven games come to an end in dramatic fashion. Connor McDavid orchestrated the offensive attack with three assists, reminding everyone why he’s considered the best player in the world, while the Oilers’ power play once again proved to be the difference-maker when they needed it most.

Tomasek’s fortunate first as Edmonton takes early lead

The opening period saw Montreal strike first when Alex Newhook found the back of the net at 7:28, giving the Canadiens an early advantage. However, the Oilers responded before the intermission with a fortunate goal that would start a night of rookie milestones. David Tomasek, who led the Swedish Hockey League in points last season with 57 for Färjestad BK, recorded his first NHL goal in memorable fashion.

With just under four minutes remaining in the opening frame, Noah Philp wrapped a dump-in around the boards to Vasily Podkolzin, who quickly turned and fired a cross-ice pass to Tomasek entering the zone. The 29-year-old Czech forward unleashed a low slapshot through traffic that appeared destined to miss the net, but it deflected off Newhook’s skate and slowly trickled past Sam Montembeault to tie the game at 1-1.

The goal marked the third first-time NHL scorer for Edmonton this season, joining Isaac Howard from Tuesday’s overtime victory against Ottawa. Philp, who appeared to get a possible touch on the play, made sure to let Tomasek know the goal belonged to him during the celebration. The fortunate bounce gave the Oilers momentum heading into what would become a chaotic second period.

Podkolzin’s assist on the goal added to what would become a memorable night for the Russian winger, who had been playing through personal tragedy following the passing of his father during the preseason. His contributions were far from over.

The second-period rollercoaster that defined the Edmonton Oilers vs Montreal Canadiens 6-5 game recap

The middle frame delivered exactly the kind of chaos that makes hockey so captivating, with five goals scored and complete momentum swings that left fans breathless. Edmonton appeared to take control when Adam Henrique, fresh off celebrating his 1,000th NHL game two nights earlier in Ottawa, deflected Jake Walman’s chest-high shot past Montembeault at 9:23 to give the Oilers a 2-1 lead.

Henrique’s deflection showcased the veteran’s positioning and hand-eye coordination, with the secondary assist going to Mattias Ekholm. Walman’s helper extended his point streak to two games after scoring the overtime winner in his season debut following a six-game injury absence. The Oilers weren’t finished yet, extending their lead to 3-1 just 2:51 later when Darnell Nurse quickly recovered a missed back-door opportunity created by McDavid and chipped the puck in front for Andrew Mangiapane.

Mangiapane’s conversion marked his third goal in three home games this season, and with 6:32 remaining in the period, the Oilers appeared to be cruising toward a comfortable victory. Then the Canadiens unleashed an absolutely stunning sequence that turned the game on its head. What happened next will be remembered as one of the most explosive stretches of the season for Montreal.

Josh Anderson started the comeback with a snipe from in front of the crease, burying Brenden Gallagher’s feed from below the goal line top shelf on Calvin Pickard. Just 1:03 later, Cole Caufield displayed his elite skill by dangling Pickard on the rush and tucking the puck inside the right post to tie the game. Before the crowd at Rogers Place could even catch their breath, Caufield struck again only 49 seconds later with a snap shot under Pickard’s arm from the right circle, giving Montreal an improbable 4-3 lead. The Canadiens had scored three goals in just 1:52 of play, completely flipping the script on what looked like an Edmonton runaway.

Third-period drama intensifies in this Edmonton Oilers vs Montreal Canadiens 6-5 game recap

If the second period wasn’t wild enough, the final frame delivered even more drama as both teams traded goals and momentum shifts. The Canadiens appeared to have delivered the knockout punch when Newhook scored his second of the night just 2:10 into the third period, extending Montreal’s lead to 5-3 and seemingly putting the game out of reach for the home side.

However, the Canadiens made a critical mistake: they kept taking penalties against a team that has historically owned one of the NHL’s most lethal power plays. Mike Matheson had already been called for interference late in the second period, then compounded his troubles with a tripping penalty on McDavid midway through the third frame. This time, the Oilers’ power play delivered.

McDavid found his favorite target, Leon Draisaitl, wide open in front from below the goal line, and the German sniper made no mistake. His fifth goal of the season cut the deficit to 5-4 with 8:41 remaining, breathing new life into the comeback attempt. As the Oilers celebrated, Josh Anderson was whistled for unsportsmanlike conduct after shooting the puck down the ice, sending Edmonton right back to the power play.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, the longest-tenured player on the Oilers roster, completed the comeback just 1:07 into the ensuing advantage. Carrying the puck through the neutral zone off a feed from Evan Bouchard, Nugent-Hopkins moved it to McDavid, who carried his line deep into Montreal’s zone. The captain then delivered a brilliant feed behind the Canadiens’ defense, and Nugent-Hopkins backhanded it over Montembeault’s left shoulder for his fifth goal of the season. According to ESPN’s game recap, the two power-play markers in a 58-second span completely changed the complexion of the contest.

With the game tied 5-5 and under eight minutes remaining, someone was destined to play hero. That someone would be wearing number 92 for the Oilers.

Podkolzin’s emotional winner caps unforgettable comeback

With momentum firmly back on their side and Rogers Place rocking, the Oilers pressed for the winner at even strength. Vasily Podkolzin, who had been playing through unimaginable grief following his father’s tragic passing during the preseason, delivered the moment he and his teammates will never forget.

With 1:09 remaining in regulation, Darnell Nurse found Podkolzin with a quick pass while backed up against Mike Matheson in front of Montreal’s crease. Despite the pressure, the 24-year-old Russian winger shrugged off the defender, rolled to his left, and delivered a perfect backhand that beat Montembeault top shelf. The goal sent the home crowd into a frenzy and gave Edmonton a 6-5 lead they would not relinquish.

Podkolzin’s winner was about more than just two points in the standings. It represented his first goal of the season and his first since experiencing the loss of his father, making it an incredibly emotional moment for both the player and his teammates. His contributions throughout the game, including the assist on Tomasek’s first NHL goal, demonstrated his value to the team even during such a difficult personal period.

The Canadiens couldn’t muster any more magic in the final 69 seconds, and the official Oilers game recap confirmed what everyone at Rogers Place already knew: they had just witnessed something special. Calvin Pickard finished with 22 saves to earn the win, while Montembeault made 23 stops in a losing effort despite Montreal’s offensive explosion.

What this Edmonton Oilers vs Montreal Canadiens 6-5 game recap means moving forward

This remarkable victory provides the Oilers with crucial momentum as they head back on the road for back-to-back games against the Seattle Kraken and Vancouver Canucks this weekend. After suffering three consecutive losses earlier in the week, Edmonton has now strung together two straight wins, both featuring dramatic comeback elements that showcase the team’s resilience and star power.

The performance highlighted several key strengths that will serve the Oilers well throughout the season. McDavid’s three-assist night once again demonstrated his ability to take over games even without finding the scoresheet himself, while the power play proved it remains one of the league’s most dangerous weapons when given opportunities. Depth scoring from players like Tomasek, Henrique, and Mangiapane also provides optimism that this team won’t rely solely on its superstars to generate offense.

For Montreal, the loss stings despite coming on the second night of a back-to-back after defeating Calgary in overtime the previous evening. The Canadiens’ ability to score five goals against any opponent shows their offensive potential, with both Caufield and Newhook recording two-goal performances. However, their defensive breakdowns in the final period and costly penalties proved to be their undoing against elite players like McDavid and Draisaitl.

The emotional component of Podkolzin’s winner cannot be understated. In a season where the Oilers have Stanley Cup aspirations, moments like these can galvanize a roster and create memories that bond teammates together. As Edmonton heads to the Pacific Northwest for their weekend road trip, they do so with renewed confidence and proof that they can overcome adversity. While it’s early in the season, games like this Edmonton Oilers vs Montreal Canadiens 6-5 thriller serve as reminders of why hockey remains the most exciting sport on ice, where no lead is safe and heroes can emerge from unexpected places in the most crucial moments.