Journeyman goalie Matt Tomkins stars for the Oilers in just his seventh NHL start
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Matt Tomkins' hockey journey started in the Edmonton suburb of Sherwood Park. Along the way, he tended goal at Ohio State, played for teams like the Indy Fuel and Rockford IceHogs in the minors and Frolunda and Farjestads BK in Sweden and became Canada's starter at the 2022 Olympics in the Beijing bubble when the NHL pulled out at the last minute.“It’s been a long road, for sure," Tomkins said. “It’s taken me a lot of different places.”He finally debuted in the top league in the world in 2023, a few months after turning 29. Now 32, he is back with his hometown Oilers and Sunday was spectacular in backstopping them to an 11th win in 15 games to start the season.Making his first start since April 17, 2024 and seventh in the NHL, Tomkins was the first star of the game for stopping 27 of the 28 shots he faced and beating the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. “He was awesome for us,” said captain Connor McDavid. "He just gave us a chance to win. ... He was just solid, honestly: mad