Edmonton Oilers’ rookie Matt Savoie delivered the first multi-goal performance of his NHL career Thursday night — and he almost had three — and made sure he credited an unlikely source for a breakout beauty. Savoie was asked about the short goal and gave credit to goaltender Stuart Skinner.
In the Oilers’ explosive 9-4 victory over the Seattle Kraken, Savoie scored a beautiful shorthanded goal, a smooth backhand move early in the second period. It was his second attempt at scoring a breakaway, the first coming in the first period. In that case, he chose to shoot and was denied.
When asked what prompted him to take a completely different route on the second attempt, Savoie says the idea came from his backup goalkeeper. He said they talked during the break, and he had plenty of time to think about how the first one didn’t quite work.
“Stu even said he might go backhand next time,” Savoie said after the match. “Just something he saw. Thanks to Stuey.”
The advice paid off immediately, and Savoie wasn’t done with it yet. He added a power-play one-timer late in the third, giving him two goals on the night. It was a bold call by the coach to use the second unit’s power play for the entire 5-on-3 in the third. It worked, and if it pushed Savoie to score more, it was, as Savoie likes to say, 100% the right decision.
Connor McDavid recorded a hat trick and four points in the game, while Leon Draisaitl added a goal and three assists.
The breakthrough was already too late for Savoie. It is not surprising that one goalkeeper can read another goalkeeper well. One wonders if he will talk to his netminders much more often and get their advice on which goaltender the team will face on any given night.
Next: Seattle Kraken looks for offensive boost as trade market heats up
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