Oilers' Noah Philp Given Team Award After Fantastic NHL Debut
26 year old Oilers rookie Noah Philp made his NHL debut last night, and his great game continued his incredible story of a developing player.
Philp played the fourth line center role with veterans Drake Caggiula and Corey Perry on his wings. In 11:57 seconds of ice time, Philp and the fourth line had a great game with chances in the Predators zone. Corey Perry scored a goal assisted by Philp, notching his first career NHL point. Philp lived up to his billing of playing a 200 foot game with a high level of compete.
The Oilers teammates awarded Philp the belt for the player of the game, along with Vasili Podkolzin getting the hard-hat for his hardcore fight against Jeremy Lauzon.
Philp was incredibly grateful for the opportunity and reflective on taking time away from hockey for the last calendar year. Philp earlier explained he had a gut feeling to step away from hockey last year. When asked how he would respond last year if he knew he'd score an NHL point next year, Philp gave an inspiring answer of «nothing's impossible.»
Leon Draisaitl and Coach Knoblauch raved about Philp's play and himself as a person as well. Draisaitl even mentioned that coming back after a year off feels like it would be impossible, but Philp is proving everyone wrong.
Philp's story of being such a late bloomer in the NHL, to taking a year away from hockey, and then returning to training camp on a mission to make the team is an incredible story of work ethic paying off. Philp had an incredible game last night, and if he keeps up this level of play, he'll be sticking in the lineup for the rest of the year.
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