Brown’s overtime goal secures the Oilers’ win in St. Louis

Connor Brown’s overtime goal lifts the Oilers to a 3-2 victory over the Blues, with McDavid and Draisaitl contributing in a strong team performance.

Edmonton Oilers right wing Connor Brown (28) is congratulated by defenseman Darnell Nurse (25) after scoring the game-winning goal against the St. Louis Blues in overtime at Enterprise Center on February 4, 2025, in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Photo by Jeff Curry/Imagn Images

By Randy Ahmad and Yuni Utomo

Connor Brown scored just 2:33 into overtime, securing a 3-2 victory for the Edmonton Oilers against the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday night. The game, filled with dramatic moments, saw Connor McDavid contribute a goal and two assists, while Leon Draisaitl added a goal and an assist. Goaltender Stuart Skinner made 20 saves, earning the win for the Oilers, who improved to 4-1-1 in their last six games.

On the other side, the Blues, who are now 1-4-1 in their last six outings, received goals from Jordan Kyrou and Colton Parayko. Goaltender Jordan Binnington faced 38 shots, making 35 saves, but it wasn’t enough to secure a victory for St. Louis.

The game started with the Oilers asserting themselves early, controlling possession for much of the scoreless first period. Edmonton outshot St. Louis 13-3, generating several high-quality scoring opportunities. Draisaitl had two one-time shots from the right side, while Corey Perry had a point-blank chance and Brown fired a shot from close range on the left. However, Binnington stood tall in goal, denying the Oilers’ attempts to break the deadlock.

St. Louis had a couple of chances to get on the board, with Robert Thomas firing a one-time blast from the left faceoff circle and a weak-side follow shot, but Skinner was sharp in net for Edmonton, keeping the Blues off the scoreboard.

The Oilers continued their pressure in the second period, with Evan Bouchard ringing a shot off the post and Viktor Arvidsson testing Binnington on a 2-on-1 rush. The Blues had another opportunity to even the score, but Skinner made a crucial stop on Jake Neighbours’ breakaway attempt.

Edmonton’s persistence paid off at 5:50 of the second period when McDavid received the puck in the left circle, spun, and fired a shot past Binnington to put the Oilers up 1-0. The power-play goal came after Zach Hyman drew a penalty breaking in on the right wing, setting up McDavid’s opportunity.

The Blues had a chance to even the score in the third period when they were awarded a power play early. With just 61 seconds gone in the period, Binnington stopped Hyman’s shot from the low slot, keeping St. Louis within striking distance. After killing the penalty, the Blues capitalized on their own power play with a goal to make it 1-1. Dylan Holloway’s shot from the right circle was saved by Skinner, but Brayden Schenn poked the rebound to the left post. Kyrou was in the right place at the right time, tapping in the puck to tie the game.

St. Louis then took a 2-1 lead with 11:02 remaining when Parayko scored off a cross-ice pass from Thomas. Parayko one-timed the pass from the left circle, beating Skinner for the go-ahead goal.

Oilers strike late, force overtime

With time winding down, the Oilers pulled Skinner for an extra attacker, hoping to force the game into overtime. The gamble paid off with just 2:14 left in the third period when Draisaitl blasted a shot from the right faceoff circle. McDavid, who had assisted on the goal, played a key role by driving to the net and passing the puck to Draisaitl for the tying goal.

As the game entered overtime, the Oilers quickly capitalized on the opportunity, with Brown scoring the game-winning goal. McDavid threaded a backhanded pass to Brown, who powered the puck past Binnington, sealing the victory for Edmonton.

The Oilers’ victory was marked by key individual performances and strategic plays. McDavid’s two assists and goal, along with Draisaitl’s goal and assist, highlighted the offensive depth that Edmonton brings to the ice. Despite the tight game, the Oilers’ offense showed resilience and created crucial scoring chances at critical moments.

On the defensive side, Skinner made key saves to keep his team in the game. His stop on Neighbours’ breakaway in the second period proved pivotal, as it denied the Blues an opportunity to tie the game early in the contest. Skinner’s performance in net, along with the team’s offensive firepower, was enough to overcome the Blues.

St. Louis, meanwhile, struggled to maintain momentum throughout the game. Despite their power-play goal and Parayko’s strong performance in the third period, the Blues were unable to capitalize on several opportunities. Binnington’s efforts, including 35 saves, kept St. Louis competitive, but the team couldn’t secure the win as the Oilers’ late-game push proved too much.

The victory over St. Louis is a strong showing for the Oilers, who continue to build momentum with a 4-1-1 record in their last six games. As the season progresses, Edmonton will look to build on this success and continue to rely on McDavid and Draisaitl to drive the offense. With Skinner providing stability in net and the team clicking offensively, the Oilers are positioned well for the upcoming challenges.

Meanwhile, the Blues face a tough road ahead as they continue to struggle with consistency. With a 1-4-1 record in their last six games, St. Louis will need to regroup and address their defensive and offensive issues if they hope to turn things around in the coming weeks.

As both teams move forward, the Oilers will be eager to maintain their form, while the Blues will look for ways to bounce back from their recent setbacks.