FIRST PERIOD
EDMONTON
Matt Tomkins’ first-ever save for the Oilers saw the 31-year-old netminder make a strong left-pad save to turn aside winger Joel Farabee on a breakaway in the first minute after defenceman Kevin Bahl made a strong half-ice pass from deep in the Calgary zone.
“That’ll get you in the game quick,” he said. “That was nice though. Sometimes, that’s good just to get a touch early, and you never draw it up like that, but you’ll take it as it comes as a goalie.”
The Edmonton-born netminder signed a two-year contract with the Oilers this offseason to serve as the club’s third option between the pipes behind another local product in Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard, and is projected to serve as the starter in the AHL with the Bakersfield Condors after spending the last two years in the Tampa Bay Lightning organization.
Tomkins had a 12-10-5 record with a 2.55 GAA and .907 SV% in 26 AHL starts for the Syracuse Crunch the previous year and most recently played six games in the NHL for the Lightning during the 2023-24 campaign (3-2-1, 3.33 GAA, .892 SV%).
“It was great. Just nice to be playing hockey again,” Tomkins said. “An eager summer, ready to get going, and super excited about the opportunity here, so I just tried to take it all in and enjoy the game, and it’s fun to be part of this group and the organization. Just really excited to get started with the year.”
Another recent arrival in forward David Tomasek – for the first time in his career in North America – showed some of his professional quality as the points leader in the SHL last season with Färjestad BK on a line with two veterans in Mattias Janmark and Seth Griffith, side-stepping a Calgary defender with speed and ripping a hard shot on goal in the first few minutes of play in the opening frame.
“I think one of them I should have put it in. I didn’t get the spot I wanted, but for me, I try to look at it as a good thing to get the shots, get in the chances, and keep trying to do it. Also, I’m happy for some defensive plays.”