Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins have feasted on National Hockey League goaltending in recent years.
At the beginning of this NHL campaign, however, the top-six Edmonton Oilers forwards are weathering puck-luck famines.
Hyman, 32, led the Oilers in goal-scoring last season with a career-high 54, good for third in the league and converting 18.6 per cent of his shots.
Two years ago, Nugent-Hopkins recorded 37 goals – also a career high for the 31-year-old – while scoring at an 18.6-per-cent rate.
So far in 2024-25, both are languishing in the red-lamp-lighting department and well back of the league average shooting percentage of 10.5.
Hyman sports a 5.9-per-cent shooting percentage on three goals, while Nugent-Hopkins sits at 4.6 per cent on two goals scored.
Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said Tuesday “a lot of luck and a lot of circumstances” dictate a player’s success scoring goals.
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