In a riveting matchup on Saturday night, March 22, 2025, the Edmonton Oilers achieved a thrilling 5-4 victory over the Seattle Kraken at Rogers Place, securing their eighth consecutive win against their division rivals. Although the Oilers were without their superstar forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl due to injuries, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins stepped up to lead the charge, scoring a hat trick that ultimately propelled his team to victory.
The game unfolded with swift exchanges of goals, showcasing the competitiveness both teams brought to the ice. Adam Henrique opened the scoring for the Oilers on a power play at 14:30 in the first period. He took a shot from the top left faceoff circle, expertly beating Kraken goaltender Joey Daccord, marking his ninth goal of the season.
However, the Kraken quickly responded; just over a minute later, Kaapo Kakko capitalized on a rebound, netting his 12th goal of the season after a shot attempt was deflected by Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner. The game was tied 1-1 at the end of the first period, with the Kraken slightly edging out the Oilers in shots, 11 to 10.
As the second period unfolded, the Oilers regained their lead at 3:48 with Nugent-Hopkins scoring his first of the evening. Assisted by Kasperi Kapanen, Nugent-Hopkins's shot deflected off Kraken defenseman Brandon Montour’s stick and found its way past Daccord.
Kakko was eager to contest, and he again responded for Seattle, tying the game at 7:01 into the second period. After a strong defensive play from new linemate Jani Nyman allowed him a breakaway, Kakko deftly executed a backhand shot to beat Skinner. The dynamic play was an impressive display of cooperation between the two forwards, as it marked Nyman's first two assists in his young NHL career.
Seizing the momentum back, the Oilers surged ahead once more as Jeff Skinner scored, making it 3-2. Shortly thereafter, Nugent-Hopkins found the back of the net again on a double minor power play, pushing the score to 4-2. His shot, a steely wrist shot from the left circle, evaded a screen to beat the Kraken goalie.
The third period commenced with the Kraken mounting a comeback effort. Andre Burakovsky brought Seattle back to life by scoring six minutes into the period, closing the gap to 4-3. Meanwhile, the Kraken experienced a minor setback when their potential goal early in the third was overturned after a successful coach’s challenge cited goaltender interference.
As time waned and the Kraken sought to equalize, they pulled Daccord to create a 6-on-4 situation with the hope of scoring a tying goal. Nugent-Hopkins, however, differently billed as he completed his hat trick with an empty net goal at the 2:17 mark of the third period, solidifying the Oilers' 5-3 lead.
Despite the burgeoning score, the Kraken refused to back down; Jaden Schwartz scored with 2:03 remaining, cutting the Edmonton lead to one once more. Although the Kraken pushed hard for an equalizer, they fell short as time expired, marking a tough continuation of their losing streak against the Oilers.
Tactically, Kraken coach Dan Bylsma praised Nyman's contributions, asserting, "Jani — I don’t know if it’s the language or not, but fit right in with that group tonight." His rookie presence has been crucial to easing the impact of injuries, while Kakko garnered attention for his aggressive play and sense of urgency, stating, “Scored a couple goals, got some good chances.”
As the Kraken head into their upcoming game against the Calgary Flames on Tuesday, March 25, they must regroup from this narrow defeat while seeking to finally secure a victory against a rival they haven’t beaten since January 2023. The Oilers, now with a few days off before facing the Dallas Stars on March 26, continue to build momentum in their season. Their resilience is evident, and with talent such as Nugent-Hopkins stepping up, they are well-positioned for a strong push in the remaining weeks.
With the next match in their season series scheduled for March 27 in Seattle, both teams will look to uphold their competitive edge and earn crucial points as playoff positioning heats up.
