<p>The Edmonton Oilers earned a point but came up short in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Detroit Red Wings last game, but overall, they won 10 of 14 games in January, including five come-from-behind victories.</p>
<p>January had its share of intriguing moments — <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/oilers-fans-react-to-goal-scored-with-nachos-on-the-ice">like a tray of nachos hitting the ice</a> against the Washington Capitals on Jan. 21 and even an octopus made an appearance last game against the Red Wings. But beyond the antics, it was a month filled with spectacular plays and incredible saves. Here are 10 of the Oilers&#8217; finest moments.</p>
<p></p>
<h2>Draisaitl Scores with 1:35 Remaining to Beat the Ducks</h2>
<p>The Oilers blew a 3-1 lead to the Anaheim Ducks on Dec. 29 and lost 5-3. When <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/throwback-thursday-looking-at-the-two-playoff-series-between-the-oilers-and-the-ducks">the California team visited Rogers Place on Jan. 3,</a> they tied the game with 12 minutes left in the third. Yet, on the brink of surrendering another win to the Ducks in five days, Leon Draisaitl took charge.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">EDM ANA G37. January 3, 2025. Leon Draisaitl goal. 3-2 EDM. 🎥: Sportsnet <a href="https://t.co/JhWRjX5hyC">pic.twitter.com/JhWRjX5hyC</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Nation Network Media (@NationNMedia) <a href="https://twitter.com/NationNMedia/status/1875399305366007977?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Darnell Nurse centred the puck to Zach Hyman, who purposely tipped it to his linemate. The puck went airborne, and the German centerman showed off his soccer skills—his country’s number one sport—by kicking it down to his stick before ripping <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/instant-reaction-oilers-hold-off-ducks-comeback-attempt-in-3-2-win">a ridiculously accurate shot over Lukas Dostal&#8217;s glove</a> with only 1:35 remaining in the game. Draisaitl&#8217;s goal was the eventual game-winner which sealed the 3-2 victory and at the time, extended his point streak to 13 games.</p>
<h2>McDavid Turns on the Jets, Dekes and Scores Breakaway Goal Against the Bruins</h2>
<p>Against <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/gdb-40-0-bruins-success-hilarious-laws-draisaitl-streaking-and-more">the Boston Bruins on Jan. 7</a>, the Oilers were on the power play when Stuart Skinner made a massive stop on Pavel Zacha’s shorthanded breakaway chance. The play then went the other way as Ryan Nugent-Hopkins intercepted a pass and threaded a picture-perfect pass between two Bruins to his captain.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">EDM BOS G40. January 7, 2025. Connor McDavid goal. 2-0 EDM. 🎥: Sportsnet <a href="https://t.co/LrINM6k20f">pic.twitter.com/LrINM6k20f</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Nation Network Media (@NationNMedia) <a href="https://twitter.com/NationNMedia/status/1876801626003976398?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Connor McDavid was sprung on a breakaway and pulled off Charlie Conway’s signature triple-deke move—only at warp speed—<a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/the-day-after-40-0-oilers-flip-the-script-on-the-bruins-as-henrique-and-both-skinners-shine">to beat netminder Jeremy Swayman</a> and make it 2-0. It was hockey at its peak—a big stop at one end followed by a superb goal at the other, all in one sequence, on a night when the Oilers won 4-0.</p>
<h2>Skinner Denies the Kings With an Incredible Glove Save</h2>
<p>The <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/gdb-43-0-a-king-sized-battle-edmonton-oilers-los-angeles-kings-730pm-mt-snw">Los Angeles Kings paid a visit to Rogers Place</a> on McDavid’s birthday, Jan. 13th, and his netminder, Skinner, treated him to an early gift during the game.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Stuart Skinner made the save and then the puck landed on top of the net 😳 <a href="https://t.co/9Q8yIiFAp6">pic.twitter.com/9Q8yIiFAp6</a></p>
<p>&mdash; B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) <a href="https://twitter.com/BR_OpenIce/status/1878998672945320357?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe, two of L.A.’s most dangerous offensive players, went in on a 2-on-1 attempt. Kopitar passed it over to Kempe, likely the Kings&#8217; most dangerous shooter, and he unleashed a one-timer. Skinner came up big with a huge glove save, and that stop would prove to be a difference-maker.</p>
<h2>Draisaitl Outhustles Moore and Sets up McDavid’s Goal vs. The Kings</h2>
<p>It was a playoff-like game against the Kings, with back-and-forth chances all game, which included the enormous stop by Skinner. When it went to 4-on-4, Draisaitl—a likely candidate <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/stretch-without-connor-mcdavid-an-opportunity-for-leon-draisaitl-to-strengthen-hart-trophy-case">for the Hart Trophy this season</a>—turned on the jets. He’d been on the ice for over a minute and managed to beat out Trevor Moore, a quick player who had just gotten on.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The most impressive part about this burst from Draisaitl is it came 1:18 into his shift while Moore had been on for less than 10 seconds.  <a href="https://t.co/zU00I8bi0b">pic.twitter.com/zU00I8bi0b</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Jason Gregor (@JasonGregor) <a href="https://twitter.com/JasonGregor/status/1879571927830077458?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>His Jedi-like fake made Moore drop to the ice, and Draisaitl created time and space before centring to Nurse. The D-man’s rebound <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/connor-mcdavid-celebrates-birthday-with-game-winner-stuart-skinner-gets-the-shutout-and-the-oilers-lack-of-power-play">bounced over to the birthday boy</a>, McDavid, who scored his 17th of the season, the game-winner, on a night when the captain turned 28 years old.</p>
<h2>Calvin Pickard Robs the Wild on a Point Blank 2-on-0</h2>
<p>The Oilers fell behind 2-0 in the first period to the Minnesota Wild on Jan. 15 but responded with two late goals in the period to tie the game.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">CALVIN PICKARD 🙅‍♂️</p>
<p>He denies the 2-on-0 attempt early in the second period! </p>
<p>🇺🇸: <a href="https://twitter.com/NHL_On_TNT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NHL_On_TNT</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsonMax?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SportsonMax</a> ➡️ <a href="https://t.co/4TuyIATi3T">https://t.co/4TuyIATi3T</a><br />🇨🇦: <a href="https://twitter.com/Sportsnet?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Sportsnet</a> or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ <a href="https://t.co/4KjbdjVctF">https://t.co/4KjbdjVctF</a> <a href="https://t.co/teYA6iOM97">pic.twitter.com/teYA6iOM97</a></p>
<p>&mdash; NHL (@NHL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NHL/status/1879724749674123593?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>In the opening minutes of the second period, with the game tied, the Oilers made an abysmal line change. As a result, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/penalty-kill-issues-connor-mcdavid-with-two-big-goals-and-the-oilers-resilient-in-series-win-over-the-wild">Ryan Hartman and Joel Eriksson Ek went in on a 2-on-0</a>. The two Wild players were in all alone, and Hartman slid the puck over to Eriksson Ek. Calvin Pickard slid across and made a desperate blocker save, keeping the game tied at two apiece. The stop proved pivotal, as the Oilers went on to win 5-3.</p>
<h2>McDavid Powers His Way to Even the Score Against the Avalanche</h2>
<p>The Oilers <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/oilers-game-notes-45-0-edmonton-visits-colorado-avalanche-for-second-leg-of-back-to-back">visited the Colorado Avalanche on Jan. 16,</a> and stop me if you’ve heard this one before—they fell behind in the game, this time 3-0 just over halfway through the first period. But, as usual, the comeback started brewing. With the score 3-2 in the second, McDavid went one-on-one with former Av <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/theres-some-belief-they-can-make-that-happen-oilers-signing-mikko-rantanen-isnt-that-far-fetched-of-an-idea">Mikko Rantanen</a> in Colorado’s zone.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">My favourite part of this McDavid goal is how he straight-up decides to go mano a mano with Rantanen, and the 6-foot-4 Avs forward bounces off him onto the ice before McDavid scores a beauty. <a href="https://t.co/6EHr4nP2sf">pic.twitter.com/6EHr4nP2sf</a></p>
<p>&mdash; seanpangs (@seanpangs) <a href="https://twitter.com/seanpangs/status/1880111050974196213?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 17, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>The 6-foot-4 Rantanen bounced off McDavid and dropped to the ground. The Oilers captain passed the puck off of him, and it trickled toward Draisaitl, who ripped a shot. McDavid caught the rebound, quickly dropped it, and elevated the puck into the net, tying the game 3-3.</p>
<h2>Bouchard Blasts the Puck Past Blackwood for the Eventual Game-Winner</h2>
<p>Edmonton had been pressing since tying the game 3-3 against the Avs, applying pressure late in the third period, looking for the go-ahead goal. With the &#8216;Supernova&#8217; line of McDavid, Draisaitl, and Hyman loaded up, the captain feathered the silkiest of passes from behind the net, teeing it up for Evan Bouchard.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">EDM COL G45. January 16, 2025. Evan Bouchard goal. 4-3 EDM. 🎥: Sportsnet <a href="https://t.co/b8I55MlF2Z">pic.twitter.com/b8I55MlF2Z</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Nation Network Media (@NationNMedia) <a href="https://twitter.com/NationNMedia/status/1880118411134640381?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 17, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Bouchard, who had been beaten one-on-one by Nathan MacKinnon earlier, <em>totally redeemed</em> himself and buried the McDavid pass, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/instant-reaction-oilers-overcome-3-0-deficit-to-beat-avalanche">scoring his first goal in nine games</a> at the time, which turned out to be the game-winner.</p>
<h2>Draisaitl Launches a Backhand Pass To Hyman, Who Buried Against the Canucks</h2>
<p>All eyes<a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/oilers-game-notes-48-0-edmonton-hosts-canucks-for-final-time-in-regular-season"> were on the Oilers and Canucks on Jan. 23</a>, as both McDavid and Tyler Myers had been suspended just five games earlier due to cross-checks to the head. With that, added pressure was on Draisaitl to lead the team without the captain in the lineup.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">That pass by future-Hart Winner Leon Draisaitl is ridiculous <a href="https://t.co/ToWCTxSkC0">pic.twitter.com/ToWCTxSkC0</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Baggedmilk (@jsbmbaggedmilk) <a href="https://twitter.com/jsbmbaggedmilk/status/1882615095433547863?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Draisaitl’s play on the opening goal should be included in the video montage if (when) he wins the Hart Trophy this season. The Canucks were applying pressure, but the centerman stayed calm under fire. Instead of passing to his D-men, he made a quick cut back, created space, and <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/oilers-3-stars-of-the-week-perry-puts-on-a-mind-games-masterclass-nugent-hopkins-scores-clutch-goals">then launched a 68-foot pass to Hyman</a>, who barreled toward the net and scored his 16th of the season on a night when the Oilers won 6-2.</p>
<h2>Nugent-Hopkins Roofs the Eventual Game-Winner Against Buffalo</h2>
<p>In what should’ve been a blowout in the matinee matchup against <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/oilers-game-notes-49-0-edmonton-continues-homestand-against-basement-dwelling-sabres">the Buffalo Sabres on Jan. 25</a>, the Oilers found themselves playing catch-up once again (shocker), but Nugent-Hopkins tied the game late in the second period.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">ryan nugent-hopkins is on hatty watch. 👀 <a href="https://t.co/tACBMg0wP5">pic.twitter.com/tACBMg0wP5</a></p>
<p>&mdash; zach (@zjlaing) <a href="https://twitter.com/zjlaing/status/1883294104429457523?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Playing center on a line with Connor Brown and Mattias Janmark, &#8216;Nuge&#8217; was huge— he started the play by sending the puck back to the blue line. Nurse found the centerman in the slot, and Nugent-Hopkins roofed the puck past James Reimer to complete the tic-tac-toe play. It was his second tally of the game and the eventual game-winner. Also, by defeating the Sabres, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/instant-reaction-oilers-grab-first-place-in-pacific-division-with-3-2-win-over-sabres">the Oilers climbed into first place in the Pacific Division</a> for the first time in five years.</p>
<h2>Perry Breaks in All Alone and Slips One Five-Hole Against the Kraken</h2>
<p>The <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/oilers-game-notes-50-0-connor-mcdavid-returns-as-edmonton-hosts-the-seattle-kraken">Seattle Kraken paid a visit to Rogers Place on Jan. 27th</a>, marking McDavid’s return to the lineup after a three-game absence due to a suspension. No plot twists here, but the Oilers fell behind once again in the game, but the captain tied it up early in the second period.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">corey perry couldn’t have been more open for this breakaway goal. <a href="https://t.co/Sv2c0cFLEo">pic.twitter.com/Sv2c0cFLEo</a></p>
<p>&mdash; zach (@zjlaing) <a href="https://twitter.com/zjlaing/status/1884087377020555670?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>That said, halfway through the period, Corey Perry found himself completely wide open with so much room for activities—Dale and Brennan from <em>Step Brothers</em> would&#8217;ve been thrilled. Perry received a tremendous 75-foot pass from Nurse and went mano-a-mano with Joey Daccord, beating him five-hole and that tally stood as the game-winner.</p>
<p>That&#8217;s a wrap on the Oilers&#8217; top 10 plays from January! With so many highlights to choose from, which one was your favourite?</p>

Edmonton Oilers Leon Draisaitl scores game winner over Anaheim Ducks

The Edmonton Oilers earned a point but came up short in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Detroit Red Wings last game, but overall, they won 10 of 14 games in January, including five come-from-behind victories.

January had its share of intriguing moments — <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/oilers-fans-react-to-goal-scored-with-nachos-on-the-ice">like a tray of nachos hitting the ice</a> against the Washington Capitals on Jan. 21 and even an octopus made an appearance last game against the Red Wings. But beyond the antics, it was a month filled with spectacular plays and incredible saves. Here are 10 of the Oilers' finest moments.


<h2>Draisaitl Scores with 1:35 Remaining to Beat the Ducks</h2>
The Oilers blew a 3-1 lead to the Anaheim Ducks on Dec. 29 and lost 5-3. When <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/throwback-thursday-looking-at-the-two-playoff-series-between-the-oilers-and-the-ducks">the California team visited Rogers Place on Jan. 3,</a> they tied the game with 12 minutes left in the third. Yet, on the brink of surrendering another win to the Ducks in five days, Leon Draisaitl took charge.

https://twitter.com/NationNMedia/status/1875399305366007977

Darnell Nurse centred the puck to Zach Hyman, who purposely tipped it to his linemate. The puck went airborne, and the German centerman showed off his soccer skills—his country’s number one sport—by kicking it down to his stick before ripping <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/instant-reaction-oilers-hold-off-ducks-comeback-attempt-in-3-2-win">a ridiculously accurate shot over Lukas Dostal's glove</a> with only 1:35 remaining in the game. Draisaitl's goal was the eventual game-winner which sealed the 3-2 victory and at the time, extended his point streak to 13 games.
<h2>McDavid Turns on the Jets, Dekes and Scores Breakaway Goal Against the Bruins</h2>
Against <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/gdb-40-0-bruins-success-hilarious-laws-draisaitl-streaking-and-more">the Boston Bruins on Jan. 7</a>, the Oilers were on the power play when Stuart Skinner made a massive stop on Pavel Zacha’s shorthanded breakaway chance. The play then went the other way as Ryan Nugent-Hopkins intercepted a pass and threaded a picture-perfect pass between two Bruins to his captain.

https://twitter.com/NationNMedia/status/1876801626003976398

Connor McDavid was sprung on a breakaway and pulled off Charlie Conway’s signature triple-deke move—only at warp speed—<a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/the-day-after-40-0-oilers-flip-the-script-on-the-bruins-as-henrique-and-both-skinners-shine">to beat netminder Jeremy Swayman</a> and make it 2-0. It was hockey at its peak—a big stop at one end followed by a superb goal at the other, all in one sequence, on a night when the Oilers won 4-0.
<h2>Skinner Denies the Kings With an Incredible Glove Save</h2>
The <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/gdb-43-0-a-king-sized-battle-edmonton-oilers-los-angeles-kings-730pm-mt-snw">Los Angeles Kings paid a visit to Rogers Place</a> on McDavid’s birthday, Jan. 13th, and his netminder, Skinner, treated him to an early gift during the game.

https://twitter.com/BR_OpenIce/status/1878998672945320357

Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe, two of L.A.’s most dangerous offensive players, went in on a 2-on-1 attempt. Kopitar passed it over to Kempe, likely the Kings' most dangerous shooter, and he unleashed a one-timer. Skinner came up big with a huge glove save, and that stop would prove to be a difference-maker.
<h2>Draisaitl Outhustles Moore and Sets up McDavid’s Goal vs. The Kings</h2>
It was a playoff-like game against the Kings, with back-and-forth chances all game, which included the enormous stop by Skinner. When it went to 4-on-4, Draisaitl—a likely candidate <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/stretch-without-connor-mcdavid-an-opportunity-for-leon-draisaitl-to-strengthen-hart-trophy-case">for the Hart Trophy this season</a>—turned on the jets. He’d been on the ice for over a minute and managed to beat out Trevor Moore, a quick player who had just gotten on.

https://twitter.com/JasonGregor/status/1879571927830077458

His Jedi-like fake made Moore drop to the ice, and Draisaitl created time and space before centring to Nurse. The D-man’s rebound <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/connor-mcdavid-celebrates-birthday-with-game-winner-stuart-skinner-gets-the-shutout-and-the-oilers-lack-of-power-play">bounced over to the birthday boy</a>, McDavid, who scored his 17th of the season, the game-winner, on a night when the captain turned 28 years old.
<h2>Calvin Pickard Robs the Wild on a Point Blank 2-on-0</h2>
The Oilers fell behind 2-0 in the first period to the Minnesota Wild on Jan. 15 but responded with two late goals in the period to tie the game.

https://twitter.com/NHL/status/1879724749674123593

In the opening minutes of the second period, with the game tied, the Oilers made an abysmal line change. As a result, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/penalty-kill-issues-connor-mcdavid-with-two-big-goals-and-the-oilers-resilient-in-series-win-over-the-wild">Ryan Hartman and Joel Eriksson Ek went in on a 2-on-0</a>. The two Wild players were in all alone, and Hartman slid the puck over to Eriksson Ek. Calvin Pickard slid across and made a desperate blocker save, keeping the game tied at two apiece. The stop proved pivotal, as the Oilers went on to win 5-3.
<h2>McDavid Powers His Way to Even the Score Against the Avalanche</h2>
The Oilers <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/oilers-game-notes-45-0-edmonton-visits-colorado-avalanche-for-second-leg-of-back-to-back">visited the Colorado Avalanche on Jan. 16,</a> and stop me if you’ve heard this one before—they fell behind in the game, this time 3-0 just over halfway through the first period. But, as usual, the comeback started brewing. With the score 3-2 in the second, McDavid went one-on-one with former Av <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/theres-some-belief-they-can-make-that-happen-oilers-signing-mikko-rantanen-isnt-that-far-fetched-of-an-idea">Mikko Rantanen</a> in Colorado’s zone.

https://twitter.com/seanpangs/status/1880111050974196213

The 6-foot-4 Rantanen bounced off McDavid and dropped to the ground. The Oilers captain passed the puck off of him, and it trickled toward Draisaitl, who ripped a shot. McDavid caught the rebound, quickly dropped it, and elevated the puck into the net, tying the game 3-3.
<h2>Bouchard Blasts the Puck Past Blackwood for the Eventual Game-Winner</h2>
Edmonton had been pressing since tying the game 3-3 against the Avs, applying pressure late in the third period, looking for the go-ahead goal. With the 'Supernova' line of McDavid, Draisaitl, and Hyman loaded up, the captain feathered the silkiest of passes from behind the net, teeing it up for Evan Bouchard.

https://twitter.com/NationNMedia/status/1880118411134640381

Bouchard, who had been beaten one-on-one by Nathan MacKinnon earlier, <em>totally redeemed</em> himself and buried the McDavid pass, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/instant-reaction-oilers-overcome-3-0-deficit-to-beat-avalanche">scoring his first goal in nine games</a> at the time, which turned out to be the game-winner.
<h2>Draisaitl Launches a Backhand Pass To Hyman, Who Buried Against the Canucks</h2>
All eyes<a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/oilers-game-notes-48-0-edmonton-hosts-canucks-for-final-time-in-regular-season"> were on the Oilers and Canucks on Jan. 23</a>, as both McDavid and Tyler Myers had been suspended just five games earlier due to cross-checks to the head. With that, added pressure was on Draisaitl to lead the team without the captain in the lineup.

https://twitter.com/jsbmbaggedmilk/status/1882615095433547863

Draisaitl’s play on the opening goal should be included in the video montage if (when) he wins the Hart Trophy this season. The Canucks were applying pressure, but the centerman stayed calm under fire. Instead of passing to his D-men, he made a quick cut back, created space, and <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/oilers-3-stars-of-the-week-perry-puts-on-a-mind-games-masterclass-nugent-hopkins-scores-clutch-goals">then launched a 68-foot pass to Hyman</a>, who barreled toward the net and scored his 16th of the season on a night when the Oilers won 6-2.
<h2>Nugent-Hopkins Roofs the Eventual Game-Winner Against Buffalo</h2>
In what should’ve been a blowout in the matinee matchup against <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/oilers-game-notes-49-0-edmonton-continues-homestand-against-basement-dwelling-sabres">the Buffalo Sabres on Jan. 25</a>, the Oilers found themselves playing catch-up once again (shocker), but Nugent-Hopkins tied the game late in the second period.

https://twitter.com/zjlaing/status/1883294104429457523

Playing center on a line with Connor Brown and Mattias Janmark, 'Nuge' was huge— he started the play by sending the puck back to the blue line. Nurse found the centerman in the slot, and Nugent-Hopkins roofed the puck past James Reimer to complete the tic-tac-toe play. It was his second tally of the game and the eventual game-winner. Also, by defeating the Sabres, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/instant-reaction-oilers-grab-first-place-in-pacific-division-with-3-2-win-over-sabres">the Oilers climbed into first place in the Pacific Division</a> for the first time in five years.
<h2>Perry Breaks in All Alone and Slips One Five-Hole Against the Kraken</h2>
The <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/oilers-game-notes-50-0-connor-mcdavid-returns-as-edmonton-hosts-the-seattle-kraken">Seattle Kraken paid a visit to Rogers Place on Jan. 27th</a>, marking McDavid’s return to the lineup after a three-game absence due to a suspension. No plot twists here, but the Oilers fell behind once again in the game, but the captain tied it up early in the second period.

https://twitter.com/zjlaing/status/1884087377020555670

That said, halfway through the period, Corey Perry found himself completely wide open with so much room for activities—Dale and Brennan from <em>Step Brothers</em> would've been thrilled. Perry received a tremendous 75-foot pass from Nurse and went mano-a-mano with Joey Daccord, beating him five-hole and that tally stood as the game-winner.

That's a wrap on the Oilers' top 10 plays from January! With so many highlights to choose from, which one was your favourite?

Top 10 Oilers Plays from January: Draisaitl’s dominance, big saves, and game-winners

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