The Edmonton Oilers’ domination over the Seattle Kraken continued on Saturday night (March 22) as they won 5-4 at Rogers Place. In 14 games versus the new expansion team, the Oilers have a 12-2-0 record, including victories in nine straight meetings. The Oilers were without Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl due to injuries, but despite that, they scored five goals, all from forwards. This was an excellent team win and something to build on moving forward. Here are three takeaways from this high-scoring victory.
Nugent-Hopkins Scores Hat Trick
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has been red-hot lately, culminating with the fourth hat trick of his career, and the first one an Oiler has recorded this season. He has four goals and nine points in his last four games since being put on a line with Vasily Podkolzin and Viktor Arvidsson. That line has found instant chemistry and is providing a much-needed scoring touch. The 31-year-old is up to 20 goals and 48 points through 69 games.
“Ryan’s been playing well, especially since we moved him to centre. The transition has been easier for him, he’s got the puck more, he’s moving, he’s a great disher, and the two guys he’s playing with are playing well, too. Those three have been having great chemistry, and once you get some points, you feel a lot better about your game,” head coach Kris Knoblauch stated during his postgame presser. Despite the injuries to his best players, the coach made the right decision, not separating this trio. What makes this line successful is Podkolzin’s ability to get on the forecheck and win puck battles for his teammates. He had a team-high six hits and was relentless in the offensive zone. His game has had a positive impact on Nugent-Hopkins, and that line is playing with a ton of confidence.
Oilers’ Depth Forwards Step Up
With McDavid and Draisaitl out of the lineup, someone needed to step up and seize the opportunity. Nugent-Hopkins’ hat trick was clutch, but the Oilers also got strong performances from the third line of Jeff Skinner, Mattias Janmark, and Connor Brown. Brown set up Skinner in the high slot, who ripped a shot upstairs for his third goal in his last two games. Skinner’s confidence is growing, and he’s been great since the trade deadline. The team needs his production down the stretch and into the postseason, and hopefully, Knoblauch will utilize him in better situations, especially when their superstars return.
Coach Knoblauch had positive comments about that new third line. “I thought they were really good, and that might’ve been our best line. Every time the puck was on Skinner’s stick, I thought he was making some good plays, and Janmark and Brown were, too. I was very happy with those guys, and we will keep them together for a little while. I can’t give them enough praise.” Brown made that great play on Skinner’s goal, and Janmark had a great chance by using his speed to take the puck to the net, but he was denied by the Kraken netminder. That line generated quality looks, and they each played north of 17 minutes.
Adam Henrique also had a solid game, culminating with a power-play marker to open the scoring for his ninth of the season. The 35-year-old veteran has struggled this season, but he stepped up in this one in the absence of the star players. Hopefully, these injuries are a blessing in disguise because these depth players need to get going and find some confidence heading into the playoffs. If they can contribute consistently, especially when the team is fully healthy, this is a dangerous group.
Oilers Maintain Pace With Golden Knights & Kings
The Oilers needed this win to keep pace with the Vegas Golden Knights and Los Angeles Kings in the Pacific Division. Both those teams won earlier in the night, which put pressure on Edmonton to get the job done. They did and as a result, they maintained the second seed in the division, three points behind the Golden Knights for the top spot, and two points ahead of the Kings. However, Los Angeles has two games in hand, and Vegas has one. The Oilers play the Golden Knights once more, on April 1 in Vegas, and the Kings two more times, on April 5, in Los Angeles, and April 14, in Edmonton’s final home game of the regular season. The race for the Pacific Division title should come down to the wire with some massive games ahead.
The Oilers have a few days off before concluding their four-game homestand on Wednesday (March 26) against the Dallas Stars in the rubber match of their three-game season series.
