Ryan Nugent-Hopkins leads Oilers to victory with hat trick against Kraken

In Canada, on March 23, 2025, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins achieved his fourth career hat trick while leading the Edmonton Oilers to a narrow 5-4 victory over the Seattle Kraken. The game took place at Rogers Place in Edmonton, where the Oilers displayed resilience despite the absence of star forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl due to injuries. Nugent-Hopkins showcased his versatile scoring ability by scoring one goal at even strength, another on the power play, and a third short-handed to complete his hat trick. Meanwhile, Mattias Ekholm and Darnell Nurse contributed to the Oilers’ offense with two assists each, helping their team extend its point streak to five games with a record of 4-0-1 during this span. The game was marked by a fast-paced and competitive atmosphere, with both teams exchanging goals throughout. The Kraken initially tied the game at 1-1 with Adam Henrique's power-play goal and Kaapo Kakko responding to Nugent-Hopkins's second goal in the early part of the second period. However, the Oilers took charge with Jeff Skinner scoring to create a 3-2 lead, followed by Nugent-Hopkins's power-play goal that gave the Oilers a two-goal cushion. Although the Kraken made a late push with Andre Burakovsky scoring in the third period, Nugent-Hopkins's short-handed goal solidified the Oilers' advantage, proving crucial for the outcome. Stuart Skinner, the Oilers’ goaltender, played a vital role during the match, making 27 saves to ensure the team's victory. The Kraken, on the other hand, struggled to capitalize despite notable performances from Kaapo Kakko, who scored two goals of his own. With this victory, Edmonton has now claimed nine consecutive wins against Seattle and outscored them overall by a significant margin during these encounters. The performance of Nugent-Hopkins not only highlights his importance to the team but also showcases the depth of talent the Oilers possess, even in the face of key player absences. Looking ahead, both teams aim to regroup from this match. The Kraken will face the Calgary Flames next, seeking to bounce back from their second consecutive loss, while the Oilers prepare to host the Dallas Stars in a highly anticipated matchup. With this win, the Oilers remain in contention for a solid playoff position as the season progresses, and Nugent-Hopkins’s remarkable outing serves as a reminder of the team’s potential when fully healthy.