Top 3 Oilers studs from comeback 4-3 win versus the Wild

1) Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins received the game’s second star on the night, but for us, he was the best overall player. This was also his best game of the season, as he was involved in all four Oilers goals.

Nugent-Hopkins finished with four assists, three of which were primary helpers. Interestingly, the four assists is one off his career-high, which was achieved all the way back during his rookie season in 2011-12.

The 30-year-old’s best assist was arguably his first. He looked calm and collected, as he took his time before setting up Bouchard with a pinpoint pass.

The second goal was mostly all about McDavid’s aforementioned magic. However, the Oilers captain doesn’t get the opportunity without Nugent-Hopkins’ probing cross-ice pass to his teammate flying down the right wing.

In the lead-up to the third goal, the Oilers were almost passing the puck for fun while looking for the right opening. In the end, it was Nugent-Hopkins who set up Draisaitl’s heat-seeking missile into the net.

The 2011 first overall draft pick completed his night, by being involved with the secondary assist on the winning goal. And while he missed a couple of good opportunities to score himself, it doesn’t take away from his impressive game.

Afterwards, Nugent-Hopkins was asked about the confidence the team has displayed of late. Speaking to the media, he said:

"“We’re starting to get to the game we want to see, night-in, night-out. I think the way we started was a super-fast pace, we were putting pucks behind them and making them turn. It starts to back them off a little bit, which is the way we want to play. We’re tracking back hard, (which) is kind of our MO and when we play our best, we’re a tough team to handle.”"

Overall, the Oilers improved to 2-0 in this six-game homestand and moved to within five points of a playoff spot in the Western Conference. Next up, they will host the New Jersey Devils on Sunday afternoon.