EDMONTON, Alberta -- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored three goals for his fourth career hat trick, and the Edmonton Oilers held on to beat the Seattle Kraken 5-4 on Saturday night. This victory underscores the Oilers' tenacity as they continue to perform well despite the absence of their star forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
Nugent-Hopkins was a standout player, achieving the notable milestone of scoring at even strength, during a power play, and while short-handed. His contributions were pivotal as the Oilers improved their record to 4-0-1 in their last five games, showcasing a depth of talent that is often overlooked when discussing the team.
Throughout the match, Adam Henrique and Jeff Skinner also found the back of the net, with each contributing to the team's offensive efforts. Defensively, Mattias Ekholm and Darnell Nurse each delivered two assists, proving that the Oilers' strength is not only in scoring but also in creating opportunities.
Stuart Skinner stood tall in the goal, making 27 saves and ensuring the Oilers remained competitive. The Oilers' defense allowed them to control the pace of the game effectively. Meanwhile, for the Kraken, Kaapo Kakko delivered a strong performance with two goals, supported by contributions from Jaden Schwartz and Andre Burakovsky, who also scored, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Oilers.
The first period saw Henrique and Kakko exchanging power-play goals that led to a 1-1 tie after the first twenty minutes. However, once the second period rolled around, the momentum shifted in favor of the Oilers. Nugent-Hopkins and Kakko once again exchanged goals early in the period, but it was Skinner's goal that gave the Oilers a critical lead with 7:30 left in the second.
Nugent-Hopkins scored a power-play goal shortly thereafter, extending the Oilers' lead to 4-2; however, in thrilling fashion, Burakovsky pulled the Kraken within one goal just over five minutes into the third period, re-energizing their hopes.
Closing out the game, Nugent-Hopkins scored his third goal short-handed with just 2:17 left on the clock. That unexpected strike restored the Oilers’ two-goal cushion, pushing the score to 5-3 before Schwartz's power-play goal capped the scoring only 14 seconds later. The Kraken fought valiantly, pulling their goalie for an extra attacker on a power play, hoping for a last-minute surge, but Nugent-Hopkins sealed his hat trick by sending the puck the length of the ice into the empty net.
Notably, this match marked a historic moment for the Oilers, as it was the first time since McDavid was drafted that both he and Draisaitl were out of the lineup with injuries. This highlights the growing depth the Oilers have achieved as they continue to win consistently.
From the Kraken’s perspective, Kakko is now just a point shy of his career high, which he achieved during the 2022-2023 season with the New York Rangers. Additionally, Jani Nyman, who has recently been elevated to the first line during just his sixth NHL game, managed to secure his first two assists of his career.
The Edmonton Oilers continue to dominate their rivalry against the Kraken, marking nine straight wins against Seattle and outscoring them 38-21 in that stretch. As both teams look towards their next matches, the Kraken are set to visit Calgary on Tuesday, March 25, while the Oilers will host Dallas on Wednesday, March 26.
This game showcased the Oilers' ability to pull together and perform under pressure, effectively communicating their potential to be a formidable team as the season progresses.
