On March 22, 2025, the Edmonton Oilers secured a thrilling 5-4 victory over the Seattle Kraken at Rogers Place, even without their star players, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who were sidelined due to injuries. This matchup served as a true test of the Oilers' depth and capabilities, and they were found to be more than up to the challenge.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins led the way for Edmonton with a spectacular hat trick, showcasing not only his skill but also the team's resilience in the face of adversity. In an ironic twist, Nugent-Hopkins remarked after the game, "I thought everybody stepped up and did a great job tonight," underlining the collective effort that enabled the Oilers to triumph.
Ushering in the opening period, Adam Henrique struck first with a powerful shot from the top of the left circle, putting the Oilers ahead at the 14:30 mark. Just 79 seconds later, Kaapo Kakko of the Kraken equalized, capitalizing on a rebound to show that the Kraken would not go down without a fight.
As the second period unfolded, the game continued to swing back and forth. Nugent-Hopkins restored the lead for the Oilers early in the frame, his shot bending around one of the Kraken's defenders to find the back of the net at 3:48. Yet Kakko, who has quickly emerged as a star for Seattle, tied things up once again at 7:01 with a skillful backhand deke on a breakaway.
Jeff Skinner, contributing effectively, netted his third goal in two games at the 12:31 mark, and before the end of the period, Nugent-Hopkins fired in another from a similar angle, extending the Oilers' lead to 4-2 during a power play.
The Kraken never gave up, trimming the lead to just one goal after Andre Burakovsky scored at 5:57 of the third period. This gave Seattle hope as they pushed for an equalizer, especially interesting given that the team had been on a recent slide.
Despite mounting pressure, the Oilers were able to handle it admirably, particularly with goaltender Stuart Skinner standing strong between the pipes with a total of 27 saves. As the clock wound down and with Seattle pulling their goalie for an extra attacker, Nugent-Hopkins sealed the win with an empty-net goal at 2:17, marking the culmination of a thrilling contest.
Reflecting on the win, defenceman Jake Walman stated, "We have to show what we’re made of, show how deep we can be. We’re not always going to be able to rely on two guys. We have to step up and everyone has to prove it.” The Oilers unquestionably did just that, proving their mettle in the absence of their superstars.
This contest was particularly significant for the Kraken, who have historically struggled against the Oilers with a dismal all-time record of 2-11-1, including their last victory recorded on January 3, 2023. Although they fought valiantly, the Kraken were unable to secure the win, despite noteworthy contributions from Kakko, who scored two goals and significantly impacted the game.
As the stakes rise in the Pacific Division, this matchup serves as both a marker for the Oilers’ depth and a moment to reflect for the Kraken, who will certainly look to regroup after a close loss as they strive for playoff contention.
In the end, while the Oilers celebrated their success, the essence of this game was about more than just the scoreline; it was a testament to teamwork, resilience, and the promise of both franchises moving forward in the season.
