Edmonton Oilers left winger Zach Hyman rejoices following his goal against the Dallas Stars during the second period of Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs on Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Dallas.
However, the Edmonton Oilers forward has transformed into one of the league’s top goal-scorers, poised to contend for his inaugural Stanley Cup this season. Hyman clinched the game-winning goal in a 2-1 triumph on Sunday, as the Oilers sealed their victory over the Dallas Stars in six games, advancing to the Cup Final against the Florida Panthers.
His power-play tally with 4:18 left in the opening period marked his league-leading 14th postseason goal, extending the Oilers’ lead to 2-0. Playoff points leader Connor McDavid threaded a pass to Hyman in the slot, who then unleashed a wrist shot over goalie Jake Oettinger’s blocker.
Although Dallas narrowed the gap to one goal at the 9:18 mark of the third period and dominated play in Edmonton’s zone for much of the period, the Oilers persevered despite being outshot 35-10.
“Every playoff series you play, you gain experience and you’re able to play in moments like today when we we’re getting absolutely shelled and it’s 2-1 with 10 minutes left,” Hyman commented postgame. “Maybe another year we crack and they score but not this year. I think (Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner) stands on his head; we have guys throwing their body in front of pucks. It’s not the prettiest win, but these are the games that we haven’t won in the past, so it’s a huge win.”
The Oilers clinched the final three games of the series and improved to a 6-3 home record during the postseason. This marks their first appearance in the final since 2006, aiming for their first championship since 1990.
After spending the initial six years of his career with his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs, Hyman inked a seven-year, $38.5 million deal with Edmonton before the 2021-22 season. He has consistently raised his career-high goal count in each of his first three seasons with the Oilers, reaching 27, 36, and 54 goals this year, ranking third in the league.
Despite over 100 former Wolverines having played in the NHL, Hyman holds the distinction of being the first to achieve a 50-goal season.
With 203 goals and 196 assists in 580 career regular-season games, Hyman boasts a strong postseason presence, with 33 goals and 25 assists in 78 playoff games.
“I remember as a kid watching Edmonton growing up and my brothers and I were like, ‘Whoa, that building is crazy, like it is the loudest building I’ve ever seen on TV,'” Hyman recalled. “I vividly remember talking to my brother Spence about it when we signed, like, ‘Man, I hope we get an opportunity to go to the Stanley Cup Final in front of these fans. It was crazy loud for Game 6 for the close-out game, and I expect it to be bonkers (against Florida). It’s gonna be wild and this is why you come to a market like this to play in front of fans like this. This is what you dream of.”
