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Nugent-Hopkins Shines in Oilers’ Win Against Kraken

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins delivered an outstanding performance, netting three goals for the Edmonton Oilers, leading them to a narrow 5-4 victory over the Seattle Kraken on Saturday night. This marks his fourth career hat trick, displaying his commitment to help the team, especially in the absence of star players Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

“I thought everybody stepped up and did a great job tonight,” Nugent-Hopkins reflected after the game. “Sometimes a guy gets rewarded based on how the team performs, and I felt that was the case this evening.”

Joining Nugent-Hopkins on the scoreboard were Adam Henrique and Jeff Skinner, who also contributed goals. Defenders Mattias Ekholm and Darnell Nurse each provided two assists, showcasing the team’s strong collective effort. Despite facing significant challenges due to injuries, the Oilers have now achieved a record of 4-0-1 in their last five games. Goaltender Stuart Skinner made 27 saves to secure the win.

Head coach Kris Knoblauch praised his team’s offensive play. “If you look at our offensive chances tonight, I thought we did a lot of good things,” he said. “We had several opportunities in the third period to extend our lead, but it was reassuring to see the team generate those chances.”

For the Kraken, Kaapo Kakko made a significant impact with two goals, and his teammates Jaden Schwartz and Andre Burakovsky added to the score. However, the Kraken’s recent struggles continued, marking their second straight loss. Goalie Joey Daccord managed 24 saves amid the challenging night.

Game Highlights

Nugent-Hopkins demonstrated his versatility by scoring at even strength, on a power play, and even while shorthanded. Henrique and Kakko both netted power-play goals early in the game, resulting in a 1-1 tie at the end of the first period.

As the game progressed into the second period, Nugent-Hopkins and Kakko exchanged goals, but Skinner’s effort late in the frame put the Oilers ahead. Nugent-Hopkins later scored again on the power play, bringing the score to 4-2.

In the third period, Burakovsky brought the Kraken within one, but Nugent-Hopkins responded with a shorthanded goal to re-establish a two-goal lead for the Oilers. Schwartz scored a power-play goal shortly after, closing the gap but not enough to change the outcome.

Key Takeaways

For the Kraken, Kakko is now just a point shy of matching his personal best of 40 points, achieved during his time with the New York Rangers last season. Meanwhile, Jani Nyman, at merely 20 years old and just six games into his NHL career, made notable contributions with his first two assists.

On the side of the Oilers, this situation marks the first occasion since the drafting of McDavid that both he and Draisaitl were sidelined due to injuries, posing a significant test for the team.

Crucial Moments

A pivotal moment came when the Kraken, trailing by one, pulled their goalie during a power play for a two-man advantage. Nugent-Hopkins took advantage of this by scoring his third goal into the empty net, solidifying the Oilers’ lead at 5-3.

Statistics and Matchup Insights

Edmonton’s recent dominance over Seattle is evident, with the Oilers winning their last nine encounters and outscoring the Kraken 38-21 during this stretch.

Next Games

The Kraken will face off against the Calgary Flames on Tuesday, while the Oilers will host the Dallas Stars on Wednesday.

Source
globalnews.ca