In the Seattle Kraken inaugural season, they face the Oilers in Edmonton’s eighth game of the season. Welcome to Edmonton, Krakheads! We also welcome the return of former Oilers’ Adam Larsson and Jordan Eberle (watch for that backhand).

Edmonton is coming off a 2-1 victory in Vancouver on Saturday night, improving their record to 6-1-0, and Seattle is going into this game after a 3-1 loss to the New York Rangers last night.

For this game, the Oilers are hosting Indigenous Celebration Night tonight in Edmonton. Proceeds of tonight’s 50/50 lottery will go towards the Native Counselling Services of Alberta, while Indigenous leaders including Chief Littlechild (Treaty 6 First Nations), Grand Chief Arthur Noskie (Treaty 8 First Nations), Audrey Poitras (Metis Nation of Alberta Provincial President) and Edna Elias (Inuit Elder) will be in attendance at Roger’s Place for the celebration.

Oilers lineup vs. Seattle (same as squad that went against Canucks):

Hyman - McDavid - Puljujarvi
RNH - Draisaitl - Yamamoto
Foegele - Ryan - Kassian
Benson - Shore - Turris

Nurse - Bouchard
Keith - Ceci
Koekkoek - Barrie

Koskinen

First Period

Just over two minutes in, Barrie flicks a soft wrister towards the net and it goes off Draisaitl’s skate and past Joey Daccord. Leon’s sixth goal of the year, and Tyson Barrie’s 399th NHL point, and the Oilers are up one to nothing early.

The Oilers’ fourth line can’t hold possession in the Kraken zone, and then Jaden Schwartz walks Darnell Nurse and puts a weak backhand in behind Mikko Koskinen to tie this one up just four and a half minutes in. 1-1.

Mark Giordano loves to cheat against the Oilers, and this time he gets caught for holding on #29. And bing bang boom, Nuge to Hyman to Drai, tic-tac-toe, and it’s 2-1 after the PPG. The Oilers are officially 50% on the powerplay this season with a 12/24 mark.

In some comic relief, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Vince Dunn somehow had their skates tied together in front of the Seattle net.

With Seattle pressing, Oleksiak nearly ties the game up after another flub by the fourth line. Thank god for Evan Bouchard, whose quick reflexes clear the puck off the goal line just in time. Turris, Benson and Shore have been in trouble any time they’re on the ice.

Speaking of Devin Shore, he’s off to the box for high-sticking after he skates through a crowd with his stick loose and high(?). Bouchard and Ryan look great on the penalty kill so far. 19 seconds of PP time for Seattle when the second period opens. Only four shots on net for the Oil.

Second Period

Twelve straight kills for the Oilers squad. Action packed start to this period, with Hyman being tripped hard behind the Seattle net (no call, of course), an Evan Bouchard pizza up the middle and a Duncan Keith goal on a delayed penalty. Excellent work by Pujuljarvi, Connor and Leon to hold possession, and Keith gets his first goal as an Oiler in his 1200th career NHL game. 3-1 Oilers.

The celebration is short-lived, as Slater Koekkoek takes a slashing penalty right away. No damage done, thirteenth straight kill. However, the distinguished officials continue to miss seemingly obvious penalties against the Kraken and are continuing to call rather inconspicuous calls on the Oilers. Koskinen the best killer so far this period with the Oilers in continued penalty trouble.

After a huge save by Koskinen, McDavid rushes it up the ice and is clearly taken down right in front of the official. Connor looked livid after the no-call and can’t blame him. The NHL is pretty embarrassing these days, and tonight is no different. They are MANAGING the Edmonton powerplay – but their job is simply to call the rules. Painful to watch the lack of accountability and care.

Fourth line caught again, and Carson Soucy walks in alone and snipes one up top. 3-2. That line shouldn’t see the ice again tonight.

Oilers finally get a call their way, as Wennberg trips up Yamamoto behind the net. It was textbook, but that doesn’t always equal a guarantee. Obviously the refs were able to call another penalty once the Kraken got within one.

Third Period

The Oilers log four shots on the powerplay but are unable to breakthrough, and their PP% is back below 50 again. Best chance was McDavid, missing the net.

And as I was saying the fourth line shouldn’t play again today, Shore finds Turris in front of the net for a tap in. 4-2 Oilers on Kyle Turris’ first goal of the year.

Lauzon, who’s objectively taken a penalty on every shift so far tonight, finally gets called for interference as Jesse Puljuljarvi reached for his loose stick and Lauzon knocked it away. McDavid and Larsson share a laugh on a blocked shot. Glad to see Larson doing well. Not glad to see the Oilers get no shots on that powerplay.

Yamamoto, who’s been battling all night, finally gets on the board this season. A great pass by Draisaitl beautifully converted by the Yam fry and it’s 5-2.

The Oilers are winning, but they have been incredibly sloppy tonight. Awful in the neutral zone, but the Kraken just can’t finish on the Finnish goalie. Oilers wrap it up and they’re 7-1-0 with Nashville in town on Wednesday night.