3/22/2025

(Edmonton, AB)

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins recorded a hat trick to down the Seattle Kraken 5-4 on Hockey Night in Canada. The loss drops Seattle’s record to 30-36-5. The Kraken see their elimination number drop to nine points with 11 games left in the season.

The Oilers came into the evening depleted of their all world scorers. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are both scheduled to miss at least a week due to injuries. McDavid and Draisaitl combine for four career Hart Trophy’s for NHL MVP. The Kraken were coming off a Wednesday shutout loss to the Minnesota Wild. Edmonton started Stuart Skinner in net while Seattle started Joey Daccord.

Edmonton’s success relies heavily on the combination of McDavid and Draisaitl. This offensive for Edmonton is displayed predominately on the power play. After an Adam Larsson slashing penalty, Adam Henrique tallied goal number nine of the season. The goal at 14:30 put the Oilers up 1-0. Seattle answered right back when Kaapo Kakko crashed a chaotic net in front of Stuart Skinner. The Kraken tied the game 1:19 after the Oilers drew first blood. The teams went into the dressing room deadlocked at one apiece.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins began the second period slithering a shot by Joey Daccord at 3:48 of the second. The Oilers reclaimed a 2-1 lead. After stifling an Edmonton rush, Kaapo Kakko on a breakaway beamed a shot by Stuart Skinner. The goal at 7:01 tied the game again. For Kakko, the light lamper was his second of the game. Edmonton responded with a goal from Jeff Skinner at 12:31 of second. Skinner buried a point blank shot set up by Mattias Eckholm. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored his second goal of the period in the closing minutes. Zach Hyman provided the screen and Nugent-Hopkins made no mistake. The power play tallied came at 18:11. The Oilers led 4-2 after 40 minutes.

The third period commenced with Seattle scoring first on a goal from Andre Burakovsky. The goal was his seventh of the season. Burakovsky rifled a shot by Stuart Skinner off the Jared McCann pass. The goal at 5:57 trimmed the lead to 4-3. In the closing minutes of the game, Vasily Podkolzin took a high sticking penalty. The Kraken on the power play, pulled Joey Daccord for the extra attacker. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins finished off a career night with a hat trick. The goal came from nearly 190 feet. RNH’s goal came at 17:43. Jaden Schwartz answered for Seattle 14 seconds later. Edmonton melted the final 1:17 to close out the win.

Seattle outshot Edmonton 31-29. Joey Daccord made 24 saves in the loss. Stuart Skinner recorded 27 saves in the Edmonton win. Kaapo Kakko shined for Seattle with a pair of goals, whereas Edmonton’s Ryan Nugent-Hopkins shined with a hat trick in the Oilers win.

Up Next: The Kraken remain up north with a trip south to Calgary to take on the playoff contending Flames. Puck drop is scheduled for 6pm on Tuesday. Former Everett Silvertip Dustin Wolf has Calgary poised to make a playoff push. Calgary earned a hard fought win against the New York Islanders Saturday afternoon. Nazem Kadri recorded the overtime winner for the Flames. Seattle returns home on Thursday night where they rematch against the Oilers.

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