Oilers 4, Hurricanes 3: Edmonton Looks Like Edmonton Again

Having worked at the University of Alberta for over 40 years, I’ve watched a lot of Oilers hockey. Some nights, you know early whether the big dogs are awake. Last night on the road in Raleigh, the Oilers’ big dogs were not only awake — they were chewing through the leash. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl didn’t just put up points; they played like two guys tired of hearing about slow starts, blown leads, and moral victories.

You could feel it from the first shift. The Hurricanes push and push, and usually they crack you by the middle of the game. But this time, Edmonton’s top end refused to fold. And when that happens, everything else trickles down the bench a little easier.

The Oilers’ Big Story Was How They Handled the Hurricanes’ Second-Period Push

What stood out most wasn’t even the goals — although the overtime winner was vintage hockey theatre, McDavid buzzing the length of the ice before gifting Draisaitl a puck he could hammer home. What really stuck with me was how Edmonton handled the Hurricanes’ second-period surge. Carolina is a beast of a team, coached by one of the best NHL coaches from just up the road from me on Vancouver Island - Rod Brind’Amour.

His team loves to overwhelm you with tempo, and they had the Oilers pinned for stretches and outshot them badly. But Edmonton didn’t panic. Stuart Skinner (for all the heat he takes) made the saves he had to make, and the team bent without breaking. That’s a shift in personality. Earlier this year, those stretches spiraled into three goals against. Tonight, they hung in long enough for McDavid to take the game back.

Three Key Points from the Oilers’ Point of View

Key Point One: Edmonton’s Best Players Were Exactly That. This is the key point of the whole night. McDavid put up three points. Draisaitl put up three points. The OT winner came from their sticks. When those two decide the game, Edmonton becomes a different animal.

Key Point Two: Stuart Skinner Quietly Stole the Middle Frame. The Hurricanes threw 16 shots at Skinner in the second. If even one more sneaks through, this could have turned into another “almost” night. Instead, Skinner kept the lid on just long enough.

Key Point Three: Zach Hyman’s Return Matters More Than One Assist. Zach Hyman didn’t look rusty. He looked determined. After months of rehabbing a nasty wrist injury, he brought an emotional lift that players feel and coaches lean on. This guy’s a keeper.

A Final Thought from the Oilers’ Side of the Ice

These are the kinds of wins that can settle a team. Not perfect, not pretty, but earned because the stars led and everyone else followed. The Oilers have been searching for their identity early this season; tonight, for the first time in a while, they looked like a group that remembered exactly who they are.