SEATTLE, WA – In a stunning turn of events, the Seattle Kraken decisively defeated the Edmonton Oilers 6-1 on Thursday night at Climate Pledge Arena, breaking a nine-game losing streak against their division rivals. The Kraken scored five unanswered goals in a dominating second period, showcasing their offensive prowess and capitalizing on the Oilers' struggles without their star players.
Jaden Schwartz was the standout performer for Seattle, scoring two goals, while linemates Jani Nyman and Matty Beniers each added to the scoreline just 16 seconds apart. Joey Daccord, making his mark as the starting goaltender, made 36 saves to secure the victory, snapping a three-game skid for the Kraken.
The Oilers, who were missing key players Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl for the third consecutive game, struggled to find their rhythm. Zach Hyman managed to score Edmonton's only goal, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Kraken's onslaught.
The first period began with both teams exchanging chances but ended without a score. The Oilers thought they had taken the lead when Jeff Skinner found the back of the net late in the period, but the goal was disallowed after a successful coach's challenge by Seattle for a high stick by Connor Brown.
As the second period unfolded, the Kraken quickly took control. Just 1:18 in, Schwartz opened the scoring by tipping in a shot from Andre Burakovsky. The momentum shifted heavily in Seattle's favor as Schwartz struck again at 3:24, rifling a shot past Oilers goaltender Calvin Pickard, who had a tough night, allowing five goals on 29 shots before being replaced by Olivier Rodrigue for the third period.
Seattle continued to pile on the pressure, with Nyman scoring his first NHL goal at 10:50, tipping in a shot from Adam Larsson. Beniers added another at 11:06, extending the lead to 4-0, before Burakovsky capped the second-period scoring at 12:41.
Despite the Oilers' best efforts to regroup, they struggled defensively, allowing the Kraken numerous scoring opportunities. Head coach Kris Knoblauch expressed his disappointment, stating, "We just stopped working, made too many mistakes and they capitalized on a bunch of them. The foundation of our game is work; if we’re not working, especially with the guys out of the lineup, we don’t have a chance."
In the third period, Hyman finally broke through for Edmonton, scoring his 27th goal of the season. However, the Oilers' efforts were too little too late, as Jared McCann responded with a goal for the Kraken to seal the 6-1 victory.
"The effort for the past few games has been really good, but tonight we definitely didn’t deserve to win," Knoblauch added. "Hopefully, it’s just a one-off. Overall I’ve really liked the effort of our guys, so hopefully we can turn the page and move on."
With this loss, the Oilers remain two points behind the Los Angeles Kings for second place in the Pacific Division. They will need to quickly regroup as they prepare to face the Calgary Flames in a critical matchup on Saturday.
The Kraken, on the other hand, will look to build on this momentum as they host the Dallas Stars in their next game. Schwartz's performance, along with the contributions from Nyman and Beniers, has given Seattle a much-needed boost as they aim for a strong finish to the season.
As the playoffs approach, both teams are facing pivotal moments in their respective seasons. The Oilers need to find a way to overcome injuries and recapture their winning form, while the Kraken will seek to maintain their newfound confidence and continue their push for a playoff spot.
In a league where every point matters, the Oilers' recent struggles highlight the importance of depth and resilience. With only ten games left in the regular season, the pressure is on for Edmonton to step up and deliver.
