NHL Game Preview: Seattle Kraken (30-35-5) vs. Edmonton Oilers (40-24-5)

The Seattle Kraken and Edmonton Oilers are set to face off at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at 7:00 PM PT. This Pacific Division matchup features two teams with contrasting seasons, as the Oilers aim to solidify their playoff position while the Kraken look to end their struggles and salvage their campaign.

Team Overview

Seattle Kraken (30-35-5)

• Current Form: The Kraken are coming off a 4-0 shutout loss to the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday, marking their third consecutive defeat. Seattle has struggled to find consistency all season and sits well outside of the playoff picture in the Western Conference.
• Road Record: Seattle has a 14-20-1 record on the road, reflecting their difficulties away from Climate Pledge Arena.
• Key Players:
  • Eeli Tolvanen: Leads the team with 21 goals and 12 assists, providing offensive firepower despite the Kraken’s struggles.
  • Jared McCann: Adds depth with 46 points (19 goals, 27 assists) and remains a key contributor.
  • Brandon Montour: Has been productive recently, recording 11 points in his last 10 games.
• Goaltending:
  • Joey Daccord is expected to start. Daccord has a 23-18-4 record, a 2.67 GAA, and a .908 save percentage this season. However, he has struggled against Edmonton historically, going 0-5-1 with a 3.77 GAA and a .877 save percentage.

Edmonton Oilers (40-24-5)

• Current Form: The Oilers are coming off a 4-3 overtime loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday, snapping their three-game winning streak. Edmonton remains second in the Pacific Division, trailing the Vegas Golden Knights by three points.
• Home Record: Edmonton has been strong at home, boasting a 21-11-3 record at Rogers Place.
• Key Players:
  • Leon Draisaitl: Leads the team with 49 goals and 52 assists (101 points). Draisaitl has recorded a point in five straight games against Seattle, including four multi-point efforts.
  • Connor McDavid: The Oilers’ captain has 90 points (32 goals, 58 assists) but is sidelined due to injury.
  • Zach Hyman: Has stepped up in McDavid’s absence, scoring three goals in his last two games.
• Goaltending:
  • Stuart Skinner is expected to start. Skinner has a 23-17-4 record, a 2.85 GAA, and a .896 save percentage. Against Seattle, he is 7-2 with a 2.79 GAA and a .904 save percentage.

Head-to-Head Matchup

• Season Series: This is the third meeting between the two teams this season. Edmonton won both previous matchups, including a 4-2 victory in their last meeting.
• Historical Record: The Oilers have dominated the all-time series, with a 10-2-1 record against the Kraken.
• Key Stats:
  • Seattle averages 2.97 goals per game while allowing 3.2 goals per game.
  • Edmonton averages 3.24 goals per game, ranking sixth in the NHL, while conceding 2.86 goals per game.
  • The Oilers’ power play leads the league at 31.5%, while Seattle’s penalty kill ranks 23rd.

Projected Starting Lineups

Seattle Kraken:

• Forwards:
  • Tolvanen – McCann – Schwartz
  • Wright – Gourde – Bjorkstrand
  • Eberle – Wennberg – Tanev
  • Sprong – Geekie – Kartye
• Defense:
  • Montour – Dunn
  • Larsson – Borgen
  • Oleksiak – Schultz
• Goaltender: Joey Daccord (expected starter)

Edmonton Oilers:

• Forwards:
  • Hyman – Nugent-Hopkins – Kane
  • Foegele – McLeod – Janmark
  • Ryan – Holloway – Kostin
  • Shore – Sutter – Lavoie
• Defense:
  • Nurse – Bouchard
  • Ekholm – Broberg
  • Kulak – Desharnais
• Goaltender: Stuart Skinner (expected starter)

Injury Report

Seattle Kraken:

• Andre Burakovsky (lower body): Out.
• Justin Schultz (undisclosed): Day-to-day.

Edmonton Oilers:

• Connor McDavid (upper body): Out.
• Leon Draisaitl (lower body): Out.

Storylines to Watch

1. Edmonton’s Depth Without McDavid and Draisaitl: With their two superstars sidelined, the Oilers will rely on secondary scorers like Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to lead the offense.
2. Seattle’s Struggles Against Edmonton: The Kraken have historically struggled against the Oilers, and they’ll need a strong defensive effort to reverse the trend.
3. Special Teams Battle: Edmonton’s league-leading power play will test Seattle’s penalty kill, which has been inconsistent this season.
4. Playoff Push for Edmonton: The Oilers are aiming to close the gap on the Golden Knights in the Pacific Division standings, making this a critical game.