Nail Yakupov displayed he can help win a game with one shot.
The Edmonton Oilers’ sophomore forward, maligned at times this season as a healthy scratch and a concussion, scored the game winner on a rocket of a slap shot with less than two minutes remaining in regulation against the New York Rangers on Thursday. The goal broke a 1-1 deadlock, as the Oilers came away with the 2-1 win.
Of course, the goal would not have without the work down low behind the net by Taylor Hall and Sam Gagner, the subject of trade rumors in connection with the L.A. Kings.