Diana: Matt Tomkins has made seven NHL starts. This past Tuesday, he stopped twenty-seven of twenty-eight shots to lead Edmonton to a four-one victory in New York. The journeyman goalie is now the hottest story in hockey.
Adam: It’s not just the save percentage. It’s the composure. He’s handling the Rangers’ forecheck with the kind of calm we usually only see from Vezina-caliber netminders. That changes the entire dynamic for this team.
Diana: Welcome to Beatline, America’s number one daily sports podcast network. I’m Diana, and joining me is Adam. We are live on November third, 2026, and the Edmonton Oilers are sitting pretty at eleven wins and two losses. They are first in the Western Conference.
Adam: Eleven-two. It looks easy on paper, but the injuries have been relentless. We lost Zach Hyman, Sean Durzi is day-to-day, and the goalies are dealing with their own issues. Yet here they are, still atop the standings.
Diana: That resilience is what we’re breaking down today. First, we’ll look at tonight’s matchup against the New Jersey Devils. Second, we’ll dive into the Connor McDavid factor—his assist streak is now fifteen games long—and how the line combinations are shifting with the injuries. And finally, we’ll give you our keys to the game and a bold prediction for this Tuesday night tilt in Newark.
Adam: Fifteen games. That is historic territory. If he gets an assist tonight, he ties or breaks records depending on how you count it. But more importantly, his presence forces defenses to collapse, opening up space for everyone else.
Diana: Let’s get right into it. Segment One: The Matchup. The Oilers travel to face the New Jersey Devils. New Jersey is nine and five in the Metropolitan Division. They are coming off a gritty win where Gritsyuk scored two goals. This feels like a physical test for Edmonton.
Adam: Absolutely. The Devils are not a pushover. They play a heavy, disruptive style. If Edmonton wants to keep their pace, they need to win the neutral-zone battle early. New Jersey loves to trap and force turnovers in that middle ice area.
Diana: Right, and we saw yesterday how tough the Rangers were, even though Edmonton won four-one. The Devils will likely bring similar energy. How do you think Edmonton handles that pressure without Hyman?
Adam: They have to be smarter with zone entries. Without Hyman’s net-front presence, they can’t rely as much on tip attempts. They need to use Evan Bouchard’s point shot more effectively. He had an assist last night against New York, and he needs to be the hub of the power play again.
Diana: Bouchard is crucial. Last night, he led the team in points. But what about the defensive side? Sean Durzi is listed as day-to-day. Does that open the door for someone else to step up on the blue line?
Adam: It definitely does. Ty Emberson or Jake Walman could see increased minutes. The key is maintaining the gap. If the Devils get quick passes behind the net, Edmonton’s defensemen need to close gaps fast. One mistake there leads to high-danger chances.
Diana: So speed and precision in the neutral zone. No lagging back. Let’s talk about the other big storyline. Matt Tomkins. He was phenomenal against the Rangers. Twenty-seven saves out of twenty-eight. Is this a fluke, or has he found his footing?
Adam: It’s not a fluke. Look at his positioning. He’s cutting down angles aggressively. Against the Rangers, he didn’t chase the puck; he made the net small. That’s textbook goaltending. If he keeps that up, Edmonton becomes incredibly hard to beat.
Diana: Hard to beat, yes. But can he handle the volume? New Jersey has shooters. Can Tomkins sustain that level of focus for sixty minutes? Or do we see fatigue set in?
Adam: Fatigue is always a risk for a goalie making his seventh start this season. But if the forecheck is tight, he won’t see many high-volume sequences. The Oilers’ penalty kill needs to be elite tonight. Every shorthanded shift is a chance for Tomkins to rest.
Diana: Excellent point. Tighten the forecheck, protect the goalie. We’ll be right back after this break. Stick with us.
Diana: We are back. Segment Two: Key Players and Lineups. Let’s talk about the forwards. With Hyman out, who is taking those top-six minutes? And we have to mention Connor McDavid. His assist streak is at fifteen games.
Adam: McDavid is playing at a different level. He’s seeing the ice before anyone else. Against the Rangers, he had a goal and an assist. Tonight, if he gets another assist, he’s tying some incredible records. But the real question is the supporting cast.
Diana: Colton Dach scored a goal against New York. Leon Draisaitl is obviously always a threat. But where do we see the new chemistry forming?
Adam: I’d watch the second line. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has been scoring lately—he had two goals against the Rangers earlier in the week. If he pairs with McDavid and Draisaitl, or maybe shifts around, the offensive output should remain high. Also, Trent Frederic brings energy. He’s not a scorer, but he clears the crease.
Diana: Frederic is essential for cleanup. What about the bottom six? Filip Hallander and Alex Formenton have been getting looks. Are they ready for this kind of pressure against a team like New Jersey?
Adam: They have to be. New Jersey will try to match lines. If Hallander can win board battles and Formenton can drive play forward, Edmonton can wear them down. It’s about grinding out possession in the offensive zone.
Diana: Speaking of injuries, let’s address the elephant in the room. Zach Hyman is on injured reserve. Sean Durzi is day-to-day. Igor Shesterkin is also on IR for the Rangers, which helps our transition game slightly. How does this roster depth hold up?
Adam: It’s thin, Diana. But the coaches have done a good job mixing and matching. Matt Savoie and Alec Regula are on IR too, so the call-ups are being tested heavily. The key is discipline. No cheap penalties. If Durzi is out, the pairing might be Ekholm and Walman. That’s a solid duo, but they need to stay disciplined.
Diana: Ekholm and Walman. Big bodies. Good skaters. If they can limit New Jersey’s power play opportunities, Edmonton stays in control. But what about the power play itself? With Bouchard leading the charge, how effective is it going to be?
Adam: Very. Bouchard’s shot from the point is lethal. If he finds Dach or Nugent-Hopkins in the slot, it’s a goal. Last night proved it. He orchestrated the attack beautifully. Tonight, New Jersey will try to block shots, but Bouchard’s release is too quick.
Diana: Lethal release. We love to hear it. Before we move on to our final segment, we want to take a quick moment to connect with you, our listeners. If these daily breakdowns are part of your morning routine or commute, a small tip through the link in the episode description is what keeps this show free and daily for everyone. Thank you for helping us keep the puck moving.
Diana: Segment Three: Keys to the Game and Bold Prediction. We’ve talked about Tomkins, McDavid, and the injuries. Now, what are the three things Edmonton must do to secure this win against the Devils?
Adam: Number one: Win the faceoffs in the offensive zone. New Jersey will want to clear the puck quickly. If Edmonton wins draws, they can cycle and tire out the Devils’ defense.
Diana: Solid. Number two?
Adam: Number two: Protect Tomkins. Limit high-danger chances. If he sees twenty-five shots or fewer, he’s winning most nights. And number three: McDavid’s vision. Use him as the decoy and the distributor. Let him make the plays he’s been making all season.
Diana: Decoy and distributor. Love that. So, bold prediction time. We predicted a win against the Islanders, then the Rangers. What are you thinking for tonight? Adam, you go first.
Adam: I’m going with a 4-2 Oilers victory. I expect Tomkins to stop eighteen of twenty shots. McDavid adds an assist, pushing his streak to sixteen games. The defense holds strong against Gritsyuk’s line.
Diana: Interesting. I’m going slightly lower on the score but same result. I predict a 3-1 Oilers win. Nugent-Hopkins scores twice again, riding his hot streak. And Bouchard picks up another assist. McDavid gets the goal.
Adam: Three-one or four-two, the point stands. Edmonton has the depth and the talent to handle New Jersey. As long as Tomkins is sharp, the Devils don’t have enough firepower to overcome that.
Diana: There you have it. Tomkins is hot, McDavid is historic, and the Oilers are ready for Newark. Tune in tomorrow for our recap. If you enjoyed this preview, please subscribe, rate, and review us wherever you listen. Share this episode with a fellow Oilers fan.
Adam: Stay tuned for the action. Go Oilers.
Diana: This is Beatline. We’ll see you on the ice.