Oilers 4, Kraken 0: Skinner Slams the Door

The Edmonton Oilers needed something steady after a week that felt like they were wobbling off a cliff, and Stuart Skinner delivered it. The last time we saw him, he was being yanked after giving up four goals on eight shots to Dallas. Tonight in Seattle, he looked like the kid who grew up wanting to be Grant Fuhr. And by the end of the game, he even tied him on the franchise shutout list. That’s quite a turnaround in four days.

From the opening puck drop, Edmonton settled into the kind of low-drama, high-control rhythm they’ve been searching for. The Kraken struggled badly on the power play, but the Oilers had plenty to do with that. They were sharp on their rotations, cleaner on their exits, and Skinner erased whatever chaos slipped through. It was just calm, composed hockey — something that hasn’t always been in supply lately.

What made this one especially encouraging was that Edmonton didn’t sag after taking the lead. They built their lead the way good teams do: one smart play at a time. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins returned after nine games out and instantly gave the power play some needed patience and poise. By the time Connor McDavid iced it in the third, the only question left was how many more key saves Skinner had in him.

Key Point One: Oilers’ Skinner Responds Like a Pro

Stuart Skinner has taken his share of heat this season, but tonight he answered every bit of it. A 26-save shutout against a team with six power plays — including nearly two minutes of 5-on-3 — is as strong a response as a goalie can deliver.

Key Point Two: Oilers’ Power Play Finds Its Touch Again

With Ryan Nugent-Hopkins back, the man advantage finally looked connected. His opening goal settled the group down, and Zach Hyman’s second-period goal showed the unit was reading plays instead of forcing them.

Key Point Three: Oilers’ Stars Lead the Way

Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid each had a goal and an assist, but more importantly, they dictated the pace. Every time Seattle threatened, Edmonton’s top players pushed the game back in the direction they needed it to go.

Final Thoughts from the Oilers' Perspective

This win doesn’t magically erase the inconsistency that’s plagued Edmonton, but it does reset the temperature. Skinner needed a night like this, and the Oilers needed to see it just as badly. Their stars drove the offense, their penalty kill stood tall, and the group finally looked like it trusted its structure.

If this is a turning point, it won’t be because of the goals — it’ll be because of the calm. Edmonton looked composed again, something they haven’t been able to say often this year. Now the challenge is doing it twice in a row.