Matt Tomkins leads Oilers past Rangers in New York

Matt Tomkins made 27 saves against the New York Rangers on Sunday at Madison Square Garden. The goaltender started his seventh game in the National Hockey League. The Edmonton Oilers won the match to improve their record to 11 wins and four losses this season.

Tomkins, 32, had not started an NHL game since April 17, 2024. He had not played in the league for 928 days. During that period, he appeared in 74 games in the American Hockey League. He played for the Syracuse Crunch and the Bakersfield Condors.

The Oilers gave Tomkins the start because of injuries to teammates Devon Levi and Frederik Andersen. The schedule also placed games on back-to-back days this weekend. Tristan Jarry had just recorded two consecutive shutouts. McDavid, the team captain, said Tomkins was awesome for the group.

“He just gave us a chance to win.. He was just solid, honestly: made the saves he needed to and gave us a chance,” McDavid said. The captain added that Tomkins worked hard in Edmonton during the summer. McDavid described the arena as a cool place to play.

Tomkins began his hockey career in Sherwood Park, a suburb of Edmonton. He played college hockey at Ohio State. He spent time in the minor leagues with the Indy Fuel and the Rockford IceHogs. He also played for Frolunda and Farjestads BK in Sweden.

Tomkins served as Canada’s starting goaltender at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. The NHL withdrew its players from the tournament at the last minute. Tomkins debuted in the NHL in 2023 after turning 29. He returned to the Oilers, the team he supported as a child, for this assignment.

The goaltender expressed uncertainty about receiving another chance at the professional level. He noted that only 64 positions exist for goaltenders in the league. “The human element, there’s maybe a little bit of doubt,” Tomkins said. He explained that the doubt concerned opportunity rather than ability.

Tomkins said he tried to enjoy the day and take in the experience. He aimed to contribute to the team's victory. “It’s been a couple of years since I’ve played in the league, so definitely excited to get the nod,” he said. He described the journey as incredible and fun.

Tomkins has played for numerous teams at the junior, college, ECHL, and AHL levels. He did not complain about the travel and time in the minor leagues. He said he loved playing and enjoyed every step of his career. “It’s been tough, but it’s been enjoyable at the same time,” Tomkins said. He credited his love for the game with sustaining him through the long path to the NHL.