Oilers 9, Kraken 4: A Game Where Everything for Edmonton Worked
Some games feel like a reset button, and this 9–4 win over the Seattle Kraken might be exactly that for the Edmonton Oilers. After opening the homestand by getting goalied in a 1–0 loss, the Oilers needed a night that reminded them of who they can be when their stars drive the bus, and the supporting cast fills in the rest. They got it in waves—goals early, answers when the game tightened, and a third period that put everything out of reach.
And at the center of it all was Connor McDavid, looking like a player who decided the night would run at his speed. A hat trick, an assist, touches all over the ice, and that unmistakable sense that when he feels the wind at his back, everyone else’s job gets easier.
The Kraken pushed early and made it 3–2 late in the first, but even then, the Oilers looked like the faster, cleaner team. Once the second period opened with Matt Savoie’s short-handed goal, the whole tone changed. From there, Edmonton skated downhill.
Key Point One: The Oilers’ McDavid Restores the Pulse
This was Connor McDavid at his sharpest—three goals in three different ways, plus playmaking that forced Seattle into scramble mode all night. He shot more, attacked more, and played with the sort of insistence that lifts the whole bench. When he’s decisive, the Oilers look like themselves again.
Key Point Two: The Oilers’ Supporting Cast Shows Real Bite
Matt Savoie had the best game of his young NHL career, scoring twice—including that huge short-handed breakaway that cracked the game open. Zach Hyman, Mattias Janmark, and Vasily Podkolzin all chipped in. Even when Seattle tried to drag the game into chaos, the Oilers’ depth kept pushing back.
Key Point Three: Pickard Holds the Fort in the Crease
Calvin Pickard didn’t need to be spectacular, but he was steady in the moments that mattered. A couple of first-period stops kept Seattle from gaining traction. For a goalie who hadn’t won in over a month, it was a calming, confidence-rebuilding performance.
Final Thoughts from the Oilers’ Perspective
Edmonton won this one by leaning into its strengths. They’re better when they’re not trying to manufacture a grinding, low-event game, but by trusting its skill, speed, and structure. The power play went 4-for-5, the penalty kill held firm, and the team defended with enough commitment to let the offense do the rest.
One win doesn’t fix everything, and head coach Kris Knoblauch knows it. But it’s a reminder: when the Oilers play with this much edge and this much pace, they’re dangerous. This felt less like a one-off and more like a team rediscovering its identity.