NEW YORK, NY – It’s Madison Square Garden, may as well put on a show.
The Oilers and Dylan Holloway did just that, with the rookie playing a large part in Saturday’s epic third-period comeback, scoring his first NHL goal in dramatic fashion.
The 21-year-old collected the puck, sauntered his way into the Rangers zone, and fired a laser of a shot off the post and behind Vezina Trophy winner Igor Shesterkin to tie the game and complete the Oilers third period comeback.
“It’s pretty special, a cool moment. It’s definitely a memory and a goal that I’ll remember forever, so I’m just really excited,” Holloway said about the marker.
Video: EDM@NYR: Holloway scores his first NHL goal
After an electric preseason where Holloway scored four goals and two assists in four games – a performance which saw the nickname “Hollywood” bandied about – the Oilers had to wait a while for the curtain to finally drop. It finally did on Saturday and it couldn’t have come at a more perfect time for the Blue & Orange.
“It took me a little bit, but I’m happy to get the first one out of the way,” Holloway said. “It’s definitely in my head a little bit, but I’m really just happy to get the first one out of the way, it’s a great feeling and hopefully I’ll get some more.”
Edmonton found themselves in a very similar situation to the one they were in on Wednesday against the Islanders, trailing 3-0 with the team pressing hard for a positive result. The Oilers had been shutout since the 16:08 mark of the third period against the New Jersey Devils and were desperate for someone to break the drought.
It would be the trio of Holloway, Ryan McLeodand Evan Bouchard that came up clutch. Bouchard notched his first two goals of the year, showing off his trademark shot that helped the young defender pot 12 tallies in his first full season. McLeod, who was centering the line with Holloway, added three assists.
While Holloway only appeared once on the stat sheet, he was a major factor on all three goals that led to the third period tie game.
“For Dylan Holloway to get his first goal, I thought that was excellent. I also thought he was a major factor on the first two goals that Bouchard scored,” Head coach Jay Woodcroft said. “Bouchard shoots those pucks, but Dylan Holloway is going to a hard area and going through the goaltender’s eyes, which I thought was excellent.”
The 14th-overall-pick in 2020 has had an up and down start to his rookie year. Holloway came out of training camp riding shotgun on a line Leon Draisaitl, however a few rookie mistakes lead to some goals against, and his ice time began to wane. The Calgary, AB native had been moved all over the lineup — playing center, playing wing, and on every line except the first. Now the monkey is finally off Holloway’s back, after an exceptional showing in one of the game’s most iconic venues. With a couple of solid players out of the lineup Evander Kane and Kailer Yamamotothe Oilers could use more performances like the one today.
“I’ve just been trying to establish myself and try to fill a role, and I think tonight felt pretty good. Playing at MSG for the first time, it’s a pretty special feeling, so had a little adrenaline going out of the game, but I thought it was a good game,” Holloway said. “I thought our team played well even though we didn’t score in the first two periods, it kind of just came together in the third.”