The Edmonton Oilers continued their homestand last night against the Seattle Kraken. Following a frustrating game in which they got shut out by the goalie they could have once had, it was imperative to dominate the Kraken just like they did five days prior. The Oilers have been a “win-one-lose-one” team for too long this season. You can’t let the Jesper Wallstedt Show get into your head too much.

The good news is, the Oilers have always owned the Kraken head-to-head. Seattle has one win at Rogers Place in their young franchise history to date. The bad news is that the Oilers have thus far been unpredictable, and struggled to play complete games. They would also be giving goaltender Calvin Pickard his first start in nearly two weeks, to keep him active. This despite Stuart Skinner stopping 49 of 50 shots over the last two games he’s played.

On this night, it didn’t matter who was in the Edmonton net, but not because the whole team played poorly. The offence came alive throughout all three periods, and while the Kraken sort of stayed in it through 40 minutes, this one was essentially over less than halfway through the game. Pickard didn’t replicate his stellar start against the Tampa Bay Lightning, but he didn’t need to. His team got to both Seattle netminders all night, leaving him as the best goalie on the ice by default. In the process, the Oilers did to the Kraken what no other team had done to them yet: Put nine pucks past their goalies.

The Kraken have allowed 9 goals in a game for the first time in franchise history.

— Emerald City Hockey (@EmeraldCityHky) December 5, 2025

Oilers win convincingly, 9–4. The turnaround might have finally arrived for this club. Here’s the game story.

Bet like a pro here with Bet99—Ontario’s go-to for elite odds and nonstop action.

And outside Ontario, Canadians bet better
here with Bet99—bringing top-tier odds and action from coast to coast.

The goals came early, often, and throughout the night

The game unofficially started with a goal that we’ll discuss a little later on, but then for good measure, Connor McDavid stepped in. There was no way the Oilers would be denied the first strike on this night. They came out flying in the first ten minutes of the game, and while this might have been offside, Seattle didn’t see enough evidence to get it overturned, and pocketed their challenge while burning their time-out.

Vasily Podkolzin would convert the second goal, with some help from Leon Draisaitl. Usually it’s the other way around, but here, Draisaitl showed why he once won “Premier Passer” at an All-Star Game. Actually, are we sure the two didn’t get their numbers 29 and 92 mixed up? Podkolzin looks a lot like Draisaitl here.

Draisaitl would score one of his own later on in the game, as did Zach Hyman. McDavid potted two more to finish off the hat-trick, which made it 8–3 at the time. This observer decided to start writing this postgame article then, not foreseeing two more goals coming before the clock hit zeroes.

After remarkably not hitting nine goals in a game once all of last season, they do it this season before the calendar flips to 2026. For a team that often has struggled to score this season, this was cathartic in a way. The Oilers we’ve known and loved for the past few seasons are fully back, baby. It was so dominant we had the wave going, chants of “we want ten,” and The Last Saskatchewan Pirate playing. Let the good times roll.

Even Janmark and Savoie scored (Mangiapane almost did, too)

Matt Savoie has been quiet lately since he briefly auditioned as a McDavid-Draisaitl linemate prior to Hyman’s return. As a rookie in his first full season, there was always going to be some growing pains. Not every player can be a Macklin Celebrini upon entering the league.

Tonight was exactly what the doctor ordered though for Savoie. He scored twice in this game, including a shorthanded goal that effectively snuffed out the comeback bid the Kraken were mounting. He’d also get the Oilers’ ninth tally, with the game long having been decided. But the 4–2 goal was the most massive in this game by far, even if it ultimately did not stand as the game-winner.

Mattias Janmark is another forward who hasn’t had his greatest season, particularly coming back from injury. His last goal had, according to the broadcast, come 42 contests ago… against the Kraken. Perhaps Janmark just loves facing off against Seattle.

You can understand, then, why a denizen amongst The Oil Rig’s social-media team saw meme potential.

Sometimes, a team just needs a get-right game to get everyone going in the right direction. Andrew Mangiapane almost got a goal too—he technically beat Kraken starting Goaltender Joey Daccord first, but it didn’t go across the goal line for him, which is a tough break. But the depth undeniably had its biggest output so far this season last night. Hopefully this is a trend, and more players can work their way off the schneid.

A rough end to the first period, but defensively it settled down after

With the Oilers up by a count of 3–0 following Draisaitl’s tally, this felt like it would be an easy night all around. Then you remember it’s the Oilers defence, and Pickard in net. Even a team like the Kraken will find a way to put up a couple goals against that setup.

The most harrowing fact of all this is that Seattle nearly tied the game just before the horn sounded to end the first period. Adam Henrique was in good position to prevent what would have been a sure third tally to even the score. The Kraken already had life thanks to the goals they got; this game could have gone a much different way.

Seattle would make it a 6–3 game later on in the second period to show a little bit of competition. Jared McCann is still a good goal-scorer. But truly, after the Savoie shorty, this game was finished and placed into the archives.

A goal deep into stat-pad time would serve to blemish Pickard’s final stat line. Instead of 28 saves on 31 shots and an above-.900 save percentage, he has to settle for stopping 28 of 32 and an .875 next to his name. Given the results at the other end of the ice, however, .875 was all Edmonton needed for the win. After losing the win against Tampa in heartbreaking fashion, Pickard needed this. Wasn’t a masterpiece, but solid enough in this one.

Hopefully Clattenburg will be okay

Freaky moment, where a Seattle high-stick rose up and nabbed Connor Clattenburg in the eye area. He did not return to the game, and even though the Oilers scored on the ensuing power play, it felt Pyrrhic in a way. Clattenburg has been one of the keys to injecting life into this Oilers squad that was very sluggish to start. Losing him for a period of time would be significant.

Kris Knoblauch shares Clattenburg had some stitches above his eye but he’s doing well. #Oilers

— Tony Brar 🚀 (@TonyBrarOTV) December 5, 2025

After the game, it was disclosed that Clattenburg received stitches in the area where he got cut, but fortunately it doesn’t appear that he’ll miss any time. That’s a major break for the Oilers, who have dealt with a spate of injuries already this season. Glad to hear the worst-case scenario was avoided.

Player perspective

“We’ve been doing some good things offensively, (and) just not getting rewarded… We got rewarded tonight.” -Connor McDavid

Feels good to win a blowout, eh? Do it again on Saturday night

The Winnipeg Jets are riding the struggle bus as of late, without Connor Hellebuyck available. Kind of makes sense since they don’t have a Light Rail Transit in Winnipeg. Jokes aside, continuing to dominate vulnerable opponents like this is critical for the Oilers.

No otherworldly goalie this time, no “team being/getting hot at the right time” visiting. Play the way you did tonight, and success will follow. Hockey Night in Canada tilt, in befitting fashion; puck drop will be at 8:00 PM local this time.

Like this:

Like Loading…