Edmonton native stops 27 shots in return to NHL

Matt Tomkins stopped 27 of 28 shots on Sunday to lead the Edmonton Oilers past the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. The victory marked the 11th win for the Oilers in their first 15 games of the season. Tomkins received the first star of the game for his performance.

It was Tomkins' first start since April 17, 2024. He made only his seventh start in the National Hockey League. The last time he played in the NHL was for the Tampa Bay Lightning during the 2023-24 regular season finale. Since that game, he played in 74 games for the Syracuse Crunch and Bakersfield Condors in the American Hockey League.

Captain Connor McDavid praised the goaltender after the game. McDavid said Tomkins gave the team a chance to win. The captain noted that Tomkins made the necessary saves and remained solid throughout the contest. McDavid described his teammate as a great and unbelievable person who worked hard during the summer in Edmonton.

Tomkins grew up in Sherwood Park, a suburb of Edmonton. He played hockey at Ohio State before moving through various minor league teams in the United States and Canada. He also spent time in Sweden with Frolunda and Farjestads BK. In 2022, he served as Canada's starter at the Beijing Olympics after the NHL withdrew from the tournament at the last minute.

He entered the NHL for the first time in 2023, a few months after his 29th birthday. Now 32, he returned to his hometown team due to injuries to fellow goaltenders Devon Levi and Frederik Andersen. The Oilers also scheduled games on consecutive days this weekend, which increased the need for an available backup.

Tomkins acknowledged the difficulty of finding a spot in the league. He said there are only 64 jobs available at any given time. He noted that incredible goalies around the world compete for those positions daily. He admitted to having some doubt about the opportunity rather than his own ability during his time away from the NHL.

The goaltender expressed excitement about getting the nod after a couple of years out of the league. He said he tried to enjoy the day and contribute to the team's win. With Tristan Jarry returning from back-to-back shutouts and Levi and Andersen recovering, Tomkins may have limited future opportunities in this call-up.

Tomkins reflected on his career path, which included bus rides and stops at various junior, college, and professional teams. He said the journey has been tough but enjoyable. He described the experience of playing for the Oilers as an incredible and fun opportunity for someone who grew up as a fan in Edmonton.