SEATTLE (AP) — Vasily Podkolzin and Jeff Skinner wasted no time putting the Edmonton Oilers on the scoreboard, scoring within the first 5 1/2 minutes of the game, ultimately leading the Oilers to a 4-2 victory over the Seattle Kraken on Saturday night, marking their third consecutive win. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Leon Draisaitl also found the back of the net, with Draisaitl sealing the deal with an empty-net goal at 1:58 remaining in the game, just moments after the Kraken pulled goalie Philipp Grubauer for an additional attacker. Calvin Pickard made 15 saves as Edmonton improved their record to 24-12-3, with Viktor Arvidsson contributing two assists.
Chandler Stephenson and Jaden Schwartz managed to score for the Kraken, with Grubauer making 28 saves throughout the game. Podkolzin swiftly gave the Oilers the lead within 57 seconds, capitalizing on a pass from Draisaitl and beating Grubauer from close range. Skinner extended the lead to 2-0 at 5:18, receiving a precise pass from Kasperi Kapanen and finding the back of the net from the top of the crease for his seventh goal of the season.
Key Takeaways:
**Oilers:** Draisaitl notched his 30th assist of the season on Podkolzin’s early goal, extending his points streak to 14 games with 12 goals and 15 assists. This streak equals the longest such streak of his career. Additionally, his late goal marked his 29th of the season.
**Kraken:** Defenseman Vince Dunn celebrated his 500th NHL game and contributed an assist on Schwartz’s goal. Dunn becomes the third Seattle player this season to reach the milestone, following Chandler Stephenson on October 17 and Brandon Tanev on November 13.
Key Moment:
Nugent-Hopkins extended the Oilers’ lead to 3-0 with just over eight minutes remaining in the second period, pouncing on a rebound after Connor Brown’s shot was blocked.
Key Stat:
Draisaitl boasts an impressive record against Seattle, with 25 points (six goals, 19 assists) in 11 career games — more than any other NHL player in matchups against the Kraken.
Up Next:
The Oilers are set to face the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night, while the Kraken will host the New Jersey Devils on Monday night.
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AP NHL: [https://apnews.com/hub/nhl](https://apnews.com/hub/nhl)
