Matt Savoie took advice from Skinner on Edmonton Oilers breakaway goal
Stuart Skinner did not play in Thursday’s 9-4 Edmonton Oilers victory over the Seattle Kraken, but he found a way to make an impact.
Edmonton found a way to exorcize their scoring demons in a big way, putting nine goals into the net just two days after getting shut out by the Minnesota Wild. Connor McDavid notched the team’s first hat trick of the season in a four-point performance, while Leon Draisaitl tallied a goal and three assists of his own.
Rookie Matt Savoie also had a memorable performance, recording the first multi-goal game of his young NHL career. That first goal was a beauty, as he potted a shorthanded breakaway goal to give the Oilers a 4-2 lead early in the second period.
This came after he was stopped on a breakaway in the opening frame, opting to shoot the puck. The scoring play saw the 21-year-old Savoie deke to his backhand, an idea he said was suggested to him by Stuart Skinner in the first intermission.
“Had a lot of time in the intermission to think [about the one I missed],” Savoie told reporters after the game. “Had some ideas, but it was actually Stu that mentioned maybe to go backhand [next time], just something he saw. Credit to Stuey.”
Matt Savoie shorthanded! 😲 pic.twitter.com/pwaXY1wUfP
— NHL (@NHL) December 5, 2025
The goals have not come easily for Savoie, who has looked good at the NHL level but has struggled to get on the score sheet consistently. The hope is that this two-goal performance is the start of something special for the former first-round pick.
He mentioned that it’s not often that you get two breakaways in a single game, and he wanted to make sure that he capitalized on at least one of them.
“I think it was only my third or fourth breakaway of the season,” Savoie said. “To get two in the same game, you have to capitalize on your chances.”
"I feel good right now, I’m just looking to build on that."
After a two-goal effort in tonight’s #Oilers victory, Matt Savoie shares his thoughts. @Enterprise | #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/3UGyvMqhJM
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) December 5, 2025
Savoie’s impacts were entirely on special teams against the Kraken. The first breakaway goal was shorthanded, while his second, and the Oilers’ ninth of the night, came on the power play late in the game.
It was a wicked one-timer that was set up by Adam Henrique, poking the puck to Savoie from in front of the net.
Matt Savoie – Edmonton Oilers (5)
Power Play Goal pic.twitter.com/2gbwO5lS1X— NHL Goal Videos (@NHLGoalVideos) December 5, 2025
Skinner, meanwhile, had a great view of both goals from the bench. The Edmonton native shut out the Kraken with a 26-save performance on the weekend, and he continued to have an impact off the ice in this one as well.