Photo credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Leon Draisaitl and Kris Knoblauch have an Edmonton problem to solve, and it’s sitting right on the first power-play unit.
That’s the heart of the OilersNation angle, and it’s not hard to see why.
The bad news is pretty clear: without Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton’s power play just hasn’t looked like itself. The Oilers are only one-for-17 on the man advantage without Draisaitl, and that’s suddenly becoming a real concern heading into this matchup.
The number matters because Draisaitl isn’t just another finisher on that flank. He’s still sitting on 97 points in 65 games, and his touch changes how teams defend Connor McDavid up top and Evan Bouchard on the blue line.
Edmonton’s issue isn’t only talent missing from the lineup. It’s rhythm, spacing and the shot threat that usually makes that unit look automatic.
Knoblauch has kept the Oilers steady through it, and the standings show it. Edmonton entered Tuesday at 37-28-9 with 83 points, still right in the Pacific race despite the power-play slide.
That’s why the Seattle matchup jumps off the page. The Kraken’s short-handed unit is running at 73.4 percent, and this is exactly the kind of opponent Edmonton should be attacking if it wants to get that group breathing again.
Edmonton’s opening is right in front of it
OilersNation also put a spotlight on the chance Jack Roslovic brings to that group. His shot-first look can help, especially when a unit has gotten too deliberate and starts passing away clean lanes.
“I feel good. Game’s improving, the team game is improving. So I love the direction that it’s going right now. We just got to figure out a way to keep it going. With Leon in, with Leon out, the more that us guys like Matt [Savoie] and I can contribute, the better.” – Jack Roslovic
That idea makes sense because Edmonton’s stars are still driving play elsewhere. McDavid is up to 124 points in 74 games, so this isn’t some broad offensive collapse spreading through the top six.
It’s much narrower than that. The Oilers have won three straight, but their power play hasn’t looked like the version teams fear when Draisaitl is parked in his usual spot and the seams open up.
There’s also a pressure angle here for Knoblauch. When a unit this loaded goes cold, every setup gets second-guessed, from Bouchard’s touch volume to how much McDavid has to create off the half wall.
Seattle gives Edmonton a clean test. The Kraken came in at 32-29-11, and they’ve been hanging around the race without looking airtight enough to shut down an elite group all night.
So yes, OilersNation has the right read. Without Draisaitl, the Oilers power play hasn’t been the same, and Tuesday gives them a real opening to fix it before this becomes more than a short slump.
The bigger takeaway is simple. Edmonton can live without Draisaitl for stretches at five-on-five, but if that first unit stays dark, the road gets a lot tighter in a hurry.
Previously on Edmonton Hockey Daily
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Bad news for the Oilers just before puck drop vs Kraken
Can the Oilers power play rebound without Leon Draisaitl ?