Oilers survive frantic finish, defeat Kraken 2-1

Mar 2, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl (29) and Seattle Kraken center Matty Beniers (10) and left wing Jared McCann (19) chase the puck during the second period at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

Leon Draisaitl had a goal and an assist as the Edmonton Oilers defeated the host Seattle Kraken 2-1 Saturday afternoon.

Brett Kulak also tallied and goaltender Stuart Skinner made 24 saves for the Oilers, who won their third in a row.

Skinner came up big in the final minute as the Kraken had a power play for the final 53 seconds, with the goalie pulled and a six-on-four advantage.

Eeli Tolvanen scored for Seattle, which went 3-2-1 on its six-game homestand as it chases a Western Conference wild-card berth.

Seattle goalie Philipp Grubauer stopped 24 of 26 shots but suffered his first loss in five starts since missing more than two months with a lower-body injury.

Draisaitl broke a scoreless tie at 10:12 of the second period.

The Oilers won a battle for the puck behind their own net, starting a three-on-two rush as Draisaitl carried the puck down the right wing. Draisaitl tried a backhanded centering pass for Kulak, who had joined the rush, but Seattle’s Will Borgen kept his stick on the ice and deflected the puck. McDavid, who was trailing the play, picked up the loose puck at the top of the left faceoff circle and sent a cross-ice pass to Draisaitl, whose one-timer from low in the right faceoff circle beat Grubauer to the near post.

The goal was Draisaitl’s 30th of the season. McDavid’s assist was his league-leading 73rd and extended his point streak to 10 games (one goal, 23 assists).

Edmonton extended its lead at 8:02 of the third.

Kulak got the puck at the left point and, with a Kraken player bearing down on him, lobbed a shot toward the net. The puck appeared to glance off the skate of Seattle defenseman Jamie Oleksiak before it hit off the left post and trickled over the goal line.

The Kraken got on the board with a power-play tally at 13:23 of the period.

Tolvanen’s shot from the left faceoff circle deflected off the glove of Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse as he tried to lay his stick on the ice to prevent a pass across the top of the crease and it snuck between Skinner’s pads.

–Field Level Media

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