NEW YORK (AP) — 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: made the saves he needed to and gave us a chance.”
Tomkins wasn't sure he'd get this chance again, let alone for the team he grew up cheering for. During the 928 days since he started for the Tampa Bay Lightning in their 2023-24 regular-season finale, he'd played in 74 games in the American Hockey League for the Syracuse Crunch and Bakersfield Condors.
“The human element, there’s maybe a little bit of doubt,” Tomkins said. “Not from your ability, but more so just the opportunity. There’s only 64 jobs at any given time and incredible goalies all over the world are fighting for them every single day.”
It took injuries to fellow goalies Devon Levi and Frederik Andersen, plus the scheduling of games on back-to-back days this weekend to get Tomkins this opportunity. Taking advantage of it brought joy to not only him but his teammates out of appreciation for what it has taken for Tomkins to reach this point.
“So nice,” McDavid said. "He’s a great dude, an unbelievable dude. He worked so hard this summer in Edmonton and just so happy for him. Obviously, it’s a cool place — a cool place to play, a special building. Really cool. I’m happy for him.”
With Tristan Jarry coming off back-to-back shutouts and Levi and Andersen working their way back to being available, this may be Tomkins' only chance in his latest call-up. With the spotlight shining on him, he took full advantage.
“It’s been a couple of years since I’ve played in the league, so definitely excited to get the nod,” Tomkins said. "Just tried to enjoy the day and take it all in and do my part to contribute and help the team win.”
Tomkins has had a lot of teams over the years at the junior level, in college and in the ECHL and AHL. He's not complaining one bit about those bus rides and pit stops along the way after authoring a memorable performance in a place known as the world's most famous arena.
“It’s been tough, but it’s been enjoyable at the same time,” Tomkins said. "I love to play, and my career has taken me all over the world, and I’ve enjoyed every step. Obviously, to end up here today and growing up in Edmonton, being an Oilers fan, and to have this opportunity, it’s just been an incredible and really fun journey.”
See AP’s full NHL coverage here
Edmonton Oilers goaltender Matt Tomkins (90) stands in the goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
Edmonton Oilers goaltender Matt Tomkins (90) stands in the goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
DENVER (AP) — The one thing the Denver Broncos do really well is win close games.
They stretched their winning streak in one-score games to 15 over the last two seasons by rallying past the Kansas City Chiefs 28-24 on Sunday and dropping Patrick Mahomes to 80-3 in his career when leading by double digits in the fourth quarter.
“Obviously a big win,” Denver coach Sean Payton said after his 200th career victory. “And I'm proud of the grit.”
Malcolm Roach sacked Mahomes on fourth-and-goal on the final play, preserving Denver's win that vaulted Broncos (6-2) into first place in the AFC West, a half-game ahead of Kansas City (5-2), which lost its second straight.
The Broncos trailed 24-13 early in the fourth quarter, but Bo Nix threw a 2-yard TD pass to tight end Nate Adkins and found Jaylen Waddle for the 2-point conversion to pull Denver within 24-21.
After Kansas City's scuffling kicker Harrison Butker missed wide right on a 54-yard field goal attempt in a steady rain with 2 1/2 minutes remaining — one play after Alex Singleton sacked Mahomes for a 6-yard loss — the Broncos needed just two plays and 35 seconds to take the lead.
Nix hit rookie running back Jonah Coleman for a 51-yard gain on first down. Coleman ran for a 5-yard touchdown on the next snap.
“It's always fun to throw it short and they run for a long time,” Nix said after recording his 15th career game-winning drive in the fourth quarter or overtime and surpassing Dak Prescott (14 games) for the most such drives by a QB in his first three seasons since the 1970 merger.
After the Broncos pushed ahead, Mahomes had just under 2 minutes to mount his own comeback.
A 44-yard kickoff return by Emmett Johnson, who scored on a 73-yard reception in the first half, and a 32-yard catch by Travis Kelce, along with several big runs by Kenneth Walker III, helped the Chiefs get inside the Denver 5-yard line with 35 seconds left.
Patrick Surtain II stopped Walker at the 1 after a 3-yard run on first down.
Mahomes was pressured by Que Robinson and threw incomplete on second down.
On third down, third-string safety J.L. Skinner stuffed Walker for no gain.
On fourth-and-goal from the 1, Mahomes threw what he thought was the game-winner to Rashee Rice over the middle, but the play was wiped out by a false start penalty on right tackle Jaylon Moore.
“If you could tangibly point to a crowd win,” that was it, Payton said. “The false start, I mean that's like just from a play-caller standpoint, 1 to the 6 and you're in another ZIP code with plays. That was huge.”
Said Mahomes: “I mean, at the end of the day, you got to go with whatever’s called. But a lot of times in those big moments, the little stuff doesn’t get called like that.”
On the do-over, Mahomes took the snap with 4 seconds left but Roach broke through the line alongside Nik Bonitto and smothered Mahomes for a 6-yard loss.
“They have a good defensive line,” Mahomes said. “I wish I had done a better job of getting the ball out, give somebody a chance.”
Nix was just as nervous as the 76,831 fans in attendance watching Denver's goal line stand.
“The fourth down was another crazy play by our defense,” Nix said. “And I'm very thankful for the illegal shift that allowed them to snap it again. And it's just an incredible stand by them. They just battled and battled on that drive and came out on top.”
Mahomes was also kicking himself for taking the sack before Butker's miss.
“I can’t put him in that position,” Mahomes said.
The Broncos went three-and-out on all three of their drives in the third quarter, but Nix directed touchdown drives on both of Denver's fourth-quarter possessions.
Nix finished 20 of 32 for 222 yards with two TDs and no interceptions. Mahomes was 30 of 41 for 321 yards, three TDs and no interceptions after struggling last week in a loss to Seattle.
Walker ran for 69 yards on 21 carries after rumbling for 173 yards against Denver in the opener, when the Broncos missed two dozen tackles in a 31-10 loss that left them smarting.
“It was personal,” Bonitto said. “It wasn’t that we lost, it was how we lost.’’
Chiefs: DL Peter Woods (neck) got hurt in the first quarter.
Broncos: CB Kris Abrams-Draine (ankle) left in the second quarter and S Brandon Jones (hamstring) was ruled out at halftime.
Chiefs: Host the New York Jets next Sunday.
Broncos: Visit the Carolina Panthers next Sunday, where they'll hope to improve on their third-down conversion rate. Over their last four games, all wins, the Broncos are just 10 for 48 on third down.
See AP’s full NFL coverage here
Denver Broncos' Pat Surtain II breaks up a pass intended for Kansas City Chiefs' Xavier Worthy during the second half of an NFL football game in Denver, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Denver Broncos' Courtland Sutton catches a pass in front of Kansas City Chiefs' Chamarri Conner during the first half of an NFL football game in Denver, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Denver Broncos' Alex Singleton sacks Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes during the second half of an NFL football game in Denver, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Kansas City Chiefs' Noah Gray celebrates his touchdown catch with Patrick Mahomes during the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos in Denver, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Denver Broncos' Alex Singleton sacks Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes during the second half of an NFL football game in Denver, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
