2023 was an interesting year to be an Edmonton Oilers fan. The team entered the year fourth place in the Pacific Division, tied with the Seattle Kraken for a wildcard spot. The year didn’t start great, as the Oilers lost their first game of the new year to Seattle, putting them in the last wildcard spot, only one point above the reigning Stanley Cup Champion Colorado Avalanche.
The Oilers would overcome the deficit, however, en route to second place in both the Division and Western Conference.
After winning the first round, the Oilers would lose to the eventual Cup champions, the Vegas Golden Knights, in the second round, in what was a disappointing end to the playoffs.
The start of the 2023–24 season has not been kind to the Oilers either, with a terrible start and coaching change, although a high of an eight-game winning streak offered some reprieve.
But in between all of that, what were some of the top moments in Oil Country for the year? Let’s take a look.
Connor McDavid’s 60th Goal
After losing out on the Hart Trophy to Auston Matthews in 2022, mostly due to the fact that Matthews scored 60 goals in only 73 games (including a stretch of 50 goals in 50 games in the middle of the season), it would appear that McDavid took that personally *insert Michael Jordan meme here*.
Well actually, maybe it was Leon Draisaitl who took it personally on behalf of his teammate and captain.
On March 23, 2023, McDavid got a breakaway pass from Draisaitl in OT against the Arizona Coyotes, with a chance to not only win the game but pot his 60th goal of the season. Uncharacteristically, McDavid would hit the post instead of scoring after deking out the goalie.
Less than 10 seconds later, though, Draisaitl would set him up again, and McDavid got a literal re-do, as he used the exact same move, but potted the winner this time:
This was McDavid’s 60th goal in his 72nd game, besting Matthews’ previous year by one game. McDavid would go on to score 64 goals in the season, the highest since Alex Ovechkin’s 65 in 2007–2008.
Matt Berlin as the EBUG
On January 28, 2023, Stuart Skinner had to be pulled out of the lineup just before puck drop against the Chicago Blackhawks due to illness. As a result, the Emergency Backup Goaltender (or EBUG) had to suit up to sit on the bench while Jack Campbell got the start.
The EBUG that night was University of Alberta Golden Bears’ goalie Matt Berlin. Because the game had not yet started, the Oilers signed Berlin to an amateur try-out contract in order for him to suit up, rather than the usual process of an EBUG just getting dressed when a goalie gets injured during the game.
That made all the difference.
With the Oilers up 7–3 with 2:26 left in the third period, Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft pulled Campbell from the crease, not because he wasn’t playing up to snuff, but so that Berlin could realize his NHL dream for a few minutes:
(Side note: with how cool those pads are, how sick would it be if the Oilers did a third jersey using the green and gold that the Golden Bears, Pandas, and Edmonton Elks use?)
Berlin would stop the only shot he faced, making him the Oilers franchise leader in both GAA and save percentage (I assume. I haven’t checked but I’m like 99% sure you can’t do better than a 0.00 GAA and 1.00 save percentage).
Had Berlin not be signed to an actual contract, the Oilers would not have been able to put him in unless Campbell suffered an injury. Although, let’s be honest, Campbell is such a good guy he probably would have faked an injury to allow Berlin to come in.
Apparently Berlin was in the midst of studying for a psychology mid term he had in a couple days when he got the call. That is one hell of a study break.
Kailer Yamamoto series winner
The first round rematch between the Oilers and the Los Angeles Kings was a doozy. Three games went to OT, with the Oilers winning the other two games by two and three goals respectively.
Game 6 was just as much of a nail biter, as the Oilers took three different leads, only for LA to tie it back up each time. With just over three minutes to go in the third period, it looked like yet another OT period was inevitable.
And then Kailer Yamamoto showed up:
It wasn’t the nicest goal by any means, but that seeing eye shot ended up being the series winner.
You can see the emotion on the bench, as this was an intense series. We also know Yamamoto was a team favourite who had been struggling, so seeing his first of the playoffs be the series winner was pretty great.
This ended up being Yamamoto’s final goal in an Oilers jersey, which is bittersweet, but what a way to go out.
Sam Gagner’s return
Sam Gagner attended Oilers training camp to start the 2023 season, coming off double hip surgery. He ended up signing an AHL contract with the Bakersfield Condors, scoring five points in three games.
That performance earned Gagner an NHL contract, signed on October 31, 2023.
He would play his first game back in an Oilers uniform on November 2 against the Dallas Stars.
The Oilers did not play well that game, and were down 4–1 with ten minutes to go.
Gagner ended up pushing in a rebound for his first goal, and brought some life back to Rogers Place who at least could cheer on the return of the fan favourite.
Three minutes later, Gagner would pot another goal to cut the lead to 4–3.
Unfortunately, the Oilers couldn’t complete the comeback, but it did signal the comeback of Gagner, who has gone on to score nine points in 18 games so far this season.
James Hamblin’s first NHL goal
James Hamblin is a born and raised Edmontonian, who has worked his way to the hometown Oilers team despite never being drafted.
In that instance, his first NHL goal would be a feel good story in its own right.
But the story behind Hamblin’s career leading to that first goal tugs the heart strings even more. For the full details, see this great Daniel Nugent-Bowman article.
As mentioned, Hamblin was passed over in the NHL draft, but did receive an invite to the Boston Bruins rookie camp in 2017.
Hamblin’s mother was fighting cancer at that time, and he was understandably torn on whether to leave her at that time. His mother told him in no uncertain terms to go to the camp to fulfill his dreams. Unfortunately, she passed away while Hamblin was at the camp.
On November 18, 2023, Hamblin scored his first NHL goal:
After scoring the goal on a wicked wrister, Hamblin thumped his heart and pointed to the sky, mouthing “that’s for you mom.”
The Oilers may have lost that game, but that doesn’t take away from what was an especially special first ever NHL goal.
FAFO
The Oilers faced the Golden Knights in the second round last season, and like the one against the Kings, it was a fiery one. After all, it was the two best teams in the conference facing off, and with the reigning champion Colorado Avalanche and the record setting Boston Bruins both knocked out, it seemed like the winner of this series would be the favourite to win the cup (which indeed did happen).
Nothing epitomized that intensity more than Game 2 of the series.
After Brett Kulak and Brett Howden get into a scrap, a scrum ensued between the two teams on the other side of the ice, likely because Nick Bjugstad took a shot on net as the fight was starting.
Evander Kane and Keegan Kolesar tussled during the scrum, and after separating out, Kane landed a few body shots on Kolesar as he was on the ice.
This became an even bigger moment post game for two reasons.
First, it led to an amazing picture of Kane blowing kisses to an angry Vegas fan flipping him the bird, which the Oilers social media admin used in an even more amazing way:
Second, Kane had quite the soundbite in his post game comments when being asked about the body shots:
FAFO became a theme for the Oilers faithful after that, with even the team store getting in on the action.
Sure, the series didn’t end in the Oilers favour, but at least we still got something good out of it.
Those are just a few of my favourite moments from this year. Let us know yours in the comments!
Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire
