EDMONTON — The Edmonton Oilers secured a thrilling 5-4 victory over the Seattle Kraken on Saturday, March 22, 2025, despite the absence of their star forwards, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, both sidelined with injuries. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins stole the show with a remarkable hat trick, marking his fourth career hat trick and becoming the first Oiler this season to score three goals in a game.
Nugent-Hopkins, who has been on fire with nine points in his last four games, noted the resilience of the squad. “We obviously believe in ourselves and our group no matter who’s in or out of the lineup. We understand that when you lose two of the best players in the world that you’re going to feel it,” said Nugent-Hopkins. “But I think the way that you play as a team shouldn’t matter too much, who’s in and who’s out. Obviously, we want them in, of course, but I thought the guys did a great job of stepping up and playing our game.”
Adam Henrique and Jeff Skinner also contributed to the Oilers' scoresheet, propelling Edmonton to a commendable 41-24-5 record with this win. Edmonton’s head coach, Kris Knoblauch, praised the players for stepping into bigger roles amid the absence of their star players. “Absolutely, they're excited. The most important part is they're engaged more, they look at the shifts coming up and they know they're going to be playing regularly,” he explained.
The Kraken, currently 30-36-5, initiated scoring in the game with Kaapo Kakko’s power-play goal, but despite additional efforts, they couldn’t withstand the Oilers’ pressure. Kakko scored twice, his second bringing the game to a 2-2 tie before the Oilers surged ahead. Narrowly holding onto the lead, Nugent-Hopkins scored his hat-trick goal while the Kraken pulled their goalie for a sixth attacker, resulting in both a crucial short-handed goal and a tense finish for the Oilers.
“Confidence plays a big part in this game and sometimes when it doesn’t go for you, you can lack some confidence,” Nugent-Hopkins reflected on his recent performances. At the moment, he totalled 48 points this season, trailing behind his impressive 104-point season during 2022-2023. As the game progressed, it became clear that his confidence had manifested on the ice.
Skinner acknowledged satisfying moments in his gameplay. “Sometimes that’s just the way it goes. That’s the way the game is. Sometimes you get a lot of chances and they don’t go in for you and sometimes it just bounces off you and it goes in,” he explained.
Oilers’ defensemen Mattias Ekholm and Darnell Nurse were instrumental in setting up goals, each earning two assists throughout the match. This depth scoring provided Edmonton the momentum they needed to secure the victory, extending their unbeaten streak to 4-0-1 in the last five games.
“The puck just seems to find him right now,” Ekholm remarked on Skinner’s renewed energy during the game. “He looks rejuvenated. He’s always worked, but sometimes with players like that, they’re almost like a magnet to the puck.”
Despite the defeat, the Kraken showcased their depth, with Kakko stepping up to tally his two goals, placing him just shy of achieving a career-high 40 points from his previous season with the New York Rangers. The young talent from Finland was assisted by Jani Nyman, who recorded his first two NHL assists in just his sixth game, highlighting the promise within Seattle’s ranks.
Nyman was recently recalled from the Coachella Valley Firebirds on March 14, 2025, and he’s quickly made an impact, creating scoring opportunities and solidifying his place on the first line.
With the Oilers edging closer to a playoff spot, this recent tenacity and displayed teamwork could provide them an edge moving forward in the season.
The Kraken are set for their next game against the Calgary Flames on March 25, 2025, as they seek to bounce back from this setback. Meanwhile, the Oilers will look to continue their winning ways against the Dallas Stars on March 26, 2025.
It has been noted that this was the first instance since McDavid was drafted, that both he and Draisaitl were absent due to injuries. Historically, the duo has proven detrimental to the Kraken, with McDavid and Draisaitl each having amassed substantial points against Seattle prior to this game.
As the teams progress into the later stages of the season, the Oilers will need to capitalize on the momentum built from this match, while the Kraken aim to recover and re-establish their offensive strategy.
