The Edmonton Oilers played a complete game against the Seattle Kraken on Saturday night, with Zach Hyman scoring a natural hat trick.
Editor’s note: Please be advised this article was written prior to the Edmonton Oilers announcing the firing of Jay Woodcroft.
The Edmonton Oilers had a fantastic game against the Seattle Kraken on Saturday night, in what may be a defining point in turning their season around. Winning the game 4-1, the team put on their most complete game of the season so far.
The players who should be stepping up with their intelligent veteran leadership and performance on the ice, showed incredible character against the Kraken. Zach Hyman scored a natural hat trick in the first period and committed to the forecheck throughout the entire game. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Evander Kane each had a helper on Hyman’s first and second goals respectively, as they continue to return closer to what they are capable of.
Dylan Holloway had an interesting game as well. The young man showed promising signs, as he scored a goal and got involved physically in the game.
The Edmonton Oilers played the game very well defensively
The way the Edmonton Oilers played defence on Saturday night helped them mostly neutralise the Kraken’s style of play. There were a couple of exceptions, when the Kraken nearly scored on a couple of genuine opportunities.
However, the effort was there for the Oilers and it worked out well against a dangerous team. The Kraken could not get their offence going, and fell apart defensively in the first period.
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The Edmonton Oilers are an entertaining team to watch when they are on form, which they showed during the game against the Kraken. By this team’s standards they have been poor so far this season, but all the ingredients in the roster are there to come out of their slump, beginning with the win in Seattle.
This was a good game to start building a foundation on, to put a run together. The players responded well to coach Jay Woodcroft during practice prior to the game, and hopefully they will now have more confidence moving forward.
The Edmonton Oilers had improved production from key players
For Hyman, his offensive instincts and approach to the game in Seattle led to him getting more looks around the net, resulting in scoring more goals. He is an excellent forward who knows how to play the game offensively, while also putting forward a good defensive effort.
Hyman’s ability to score goals is important to the Edmonton Oilers. With the right coaching and work, he might be able to become an even more effective shooter on a more consistent basis.
Another key player is Nugent-Hopkins. He is a grizzled veteran who knows how to use his style of game to his advantage and be a difference-maker in games for the Oilers. His ability to contribute is necessary for the coaching staff.
This was a fun game to watch if you are an Oilers fan. Hopefully for everyone concerned, the team can keep it up.