WATCH: Oilers prospect Philip Broberg goes coast-to-coast to score game winning goal for AHL Condors

Philip Broberg’s season continued exceptionally Friday night, as the 22-year-old defenceman scored a beautiful goal to give the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors a victory.

Taking on the Pacific Division-leading Coachella Valley Firebirds, the Condors had taken a 2-0 lead in the first period in thanks to goals from Phil Kemp and Carter Savoie, only to cough up two quick ones in the third.

It led the game to overtime, where Broberg would seal it.

He took the puck from behind his own blue line, blistering out of the Condors’ zone before two Firebird forecheckers could reach the same line. He entered the offensive zone on a two-on-one with winger Raphael Lavoie opposite him, racing towards the faceoff circle.

While the Firebirds defenceman was forced to respect the pass, given Lavoie’s lethal shot which has netted him 27 goals on the year, Broberg let one of his own go, blowing it by Chris Driedger.

The goal was Broberg’s fifth of the AHL season, which going along with his 29 assists, gives him 34 points in 48 games on the season. He’s continued to play a big role on the Condors this year, getting ice time in all situations and being able to produce, too.

This goal was a special one, however, as it truly highlights what the Oilers were wooed with when they drafted him eighth overall in the 2019 draft: his size, speed, and skating ability.

It was always going to be a longer road of development with Broberg, and that was something the club knew from day one. While the Oilers haven’t done him or themselves any favours over the last number of years with a blunderful development program for the 6’3 blue-liner, Broberg’s seemed to have taken a significant step forward this year.

And given the fact the Oilers need to clear some cap space this summer with a laundry list of items to take care of, it’s not unreasonable to think that the 22-year-old could find himself a member of next years opening day roster.

Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@thenationnetwork.com.