Edmonton, Alberta – The Edmonton Oilers have turned the tide after their recent winning streak came to fruition with a 3-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators, putting an end to Ottawa's impressive six-game run on December 22, 2024.
After being absent for 15 games due to injury, Viktor Arvidsson made his presence felt right from the start, contributing significantly with both a goal and an assist. He opened the scoring at 14:26 of the first period, tapping home Connor McDavid's cross-ice pass. "I was just trying to play my game, play with the puck and work hard. I think I created a lot of chances, so I’m happy withthat," said Arvidsson, reflecting on his performance.
Ottawa quickly answered back with Nick Cousins netting the equalizer just 25 seconds after the first intermission, cutting through the defense and firing past Stuart Skinner on the breakaway. But the Oilers were not to be denied. Zach Hyman restored their lead with a power-play goal, sweeping up the rebound from Arvidsson’s shot at 14:05 of the second period. Hyman, who has been on fire lately, extended his goal streak to six games. "It was just a 20-game kind of blip," commented Hyman, acknowledging his earlier struggles.
The Oilers’ Adam Henrique sealed the victory with another goal at 1:38 of the third period, scoring off Mattias Janmark’s assist. Stuart Skinner stood tall for the Oilers, stopping 20 shots and earning praise from his teammates. "It was just a really, really good, mature win by us. The guys played fantastic defensively," Skinner noted, adding to the team's upbeat atmosphere heading back heading to the holiday break.
Ottawa’s loss came not without its challenges. Linus Ullmark, who started the game but was injured after the first period, made just six saves before making way for Leevi Merilainen. The Senators managed to keep pace with the Oilers but could not find the offensive power to break through once they fell behind. "It’s frustrating, especially the way we’ve been playing. We expected more out of ourselves tonight," commented defenseman Thomas Chabot, underlining the emotions after the game.
Despite the disappointing loss, the Senators remain competitive with eight wins in their last ten games before this defeat. They had strung together impressive wins during their recent road trip, which had concluded positively up until Edmonton. Coach Travis Green recognized the growth they showed but acknowledged, "We came up a little short. We had a good checking game, but Edmonton found ways to capitalize on their chances."
For the Oilers, the performance was another notch on their belt as they climbed to second place in the Pacific Division, fueled by strong offensive contributions from their star players. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl continued their impressive scoring streaks, with both players extending their point runs to nine games, solidifying their roles as top contributors for the team.
Heading forward, the Oilers will aim to carry this momentum with them as they prepare for their upcoming battle against the Los Angeles Kings, offering them the chance to solidify their stance within the playoff picture. Meanwhile, the Senators will look to bounce back against the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday, trying to regroup after this loss.
Both teams will return to action next week, carrying lessons learned from this tightly contested affair.
