Connor McDavid hat trick ties Messier in Oilers 9-4 win over Seattle Kraken

Connor McDavid added another milestone to his already illustrious career on Thursday night, netting his 13th career hat trick to tie Mark Messier for fourth place in Oilers franchise history. The Edmonton captain’s four-point performance powered the Oilers to a dominant 9-4 victory over the Seattle Kraken at Rogers Place, snapping a two-game skid and giving the home crowd plenty to celebrate.

The 13th hat trick of McDavid’s career places him in truly elite company within the Oilers organization. Messier, a Hockey Hall of Famer and six-time Stanley Cup champion, scored his 13 hat tricks during his 12 seasons in Edmonton. McDavid achieved the same feat in less than nine full seasons, underscoring his remarkable scoring consistency and offensive dominance in the modern era.

McDavid’s historic night ties Oilers legend

The hat trick that made history

McDavid wasted no time making his mark on the game, opening the scoring just 7:17 into the first period with his first goal of the night. His second tally came on the power play at 6:14 of the second period, extending Edmonton’s lead to 5-2 and effectively breaking the game open. The historic third goal arrived on another power-play opportunity at 6:59 of the third period, cementing his place alongside Messier in the Oilers record books.

The captain added an assist on Leon Draisaitl’s first-period power-play goal, giving him a four-point night and raising his season totals to 14 goals and 28 assists. McDavid’s linemate wasn’t far behind, as Draisaitl finished with a goal and three assists for his own four-point performance, demonstrating the continued chemistry between the two superstars that has terrorized the NHL for years.

Climbing the Oilers record books

While Wayne Gretzky’s 50 hat tricks and Jari Kurri’s 30 remain well ahead, McDavid’s 13th career hat trick moves him into a tie with Messier for fourth on the all-time Oilers list. The achievement is particularly significant given Messier’s legendary status in Edmonton, where he helped lead the team to five Stanley Cup championships during the 1980s dynasty years.

What makes McDavid’s accomplishment even more impressive is the era in which he’s scored these hat tricks. Unlike the high-scoring 1980s when Messier played, McDavid has achieved this feat during a time of improved goaltending, more structured defensive systems, and fewer power-play opportunities. His ability to create offense against modern NHL defenses has many analysts considering him the most dominant offensive player of his generation.

Oilers offensive explosion sinks Kraken

Balanced scoring attack

While McDavid rightfully grabbed the headlines, Edmonton’s victory was a true team effort. Matthew Savoie scored twice, continuing his impressive rookie campaign, while Vasily Podkolzin, Zach Hyman, and Mattias Janmark each added goals to complete the nine-goal onslaught. The balanced scoring demonstrated the depth that the Oilers have been developing, a crucial element for any team with championship aspirations.

The defensive corps also contributed significantly to the offensive output. Evan Bouchard and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins each recorded three assists, showcasing the Oilers’ ability to generate offense from their blue line. This multi-faceted attack makes Edmonton increasingly difficult to defend, as opponents can no longer solely focus on shutting down the top line.

Special teams dominance

Special teams played a pivotal role in the Oilers’ victory, with both power-play units finding success against Seattle’s penalty kill. Edmonton converted on multiple man-advantage opportunities, with McDavid and Draisaitl leading the way on the top unit. The power play’s effectiveness forced Seattle into a difficult position, as taking penalties against this Oilers team often leads to immediate punishment.

The Oilers’ penalty kill also held firm when tested, preventing Seattle from gaining momentum through special teams. This two-way excellence on special teams has been a focus for Edmonton this season, and Thursday’s performance showed the results of that emphasis.

Kraken’s struggles continue

Seattle’s four-game losing streak has exposed some vulnerabilities in their game that they’ll need to address quickly. The Kraken fired head coach Andre Tourigny in late October, and the team continues to search for consistency under interim leadership. Thursday’s defensive breakdowns and goaltending issues were emblematic of their recent struggles.

Joey Daccord was pulled after allowing five goals on just 14 shots, lasting only six minutes into the second period. Philipp Grubauer didn’t fare much better in relief, allowing four goals on 18 shots. The goaltending instability has been a recurring theme during this losing streak, with both netminders struggling to find their rhythm and provide the saves necessary to keep games competitive.

Offensively, Seattle did manage to find the back of the net four times, with goals from Eeli Tolvanen, Frederick Gaudreau, Jared McCann, and Jani Nyman. However, the defensive lapses and inability to stop Edmonton’s high-powered attack rendered their offensive production meaningless in the context of the game.

What this means for the Oilers’ season

The victory improves Edmonton’s record to 12-11-5, moving them closer to .500 and keeping them in the playoff hunt in the Pacific Division. After a rocky start to the season that saw the Oilers struggle with consistency and special teams, performances like Thursday’s suggest the team may be finding its stride at the right time.

The timing of McDavid’s historic achievement is particularly meaningful given the recent success of another Canadian team. Just last month, McDavid and Draisaitl combined to lead the Oilers to a 6-3 comeback victory over the Utah Mammoth, showcasing the team’s resilience. The Oilers will need more of that resilience as they navigate a challenging stretch of divisional games.

For Kraken fans watching their team’s recent slide, revisiting some of Edmonton’s previous dramatic victories might provide perspective on how quickly momentum can shift in the NHL. Earlier this season, Connor McDavid spearheaded a remarkable comeback from a multi-goal deficit to beat Columbus 5-4 in overtime, proving that no deficit is too large with the right leadership.

As the Oilers continue their ascent up the standings, McDavid’s pursuit of Oilers records adds another layer of intrigue to their season. With 14 goals already this season, he’s on pace to challenge for his sixth Rocket Richard Trophy, while continuing to climb the franchise’s all-time scoring lists. The connection to Messier’s legacy serves as a reminder of the standard of excellence in Edmonton, and McDavid is writing his own chapter in that storied history.

The Kraken, meanwhile, must quickly regroup before their losing streak spirals further out of control. With defensive structure and goaltending consistency as their primary concerns, Seattle’s coaching staff has clear areas to address in practice. The Pacific Division remains highly competitive, and the Kraken can’t afford many more performances like Thursday’s if they hope to secure a playoff position.

Calvin Pickard’s 28-save performance in net for Edmonton provided the steady goaltending the Oilers needed to support their offensive explosion. As the season progresses, the Oilers will need continued reliability from their goaltending tandem to complement their star power. With McDavid and Draisaitl leading the way, Edmonton has the offensive firepower to compete with any team in the league, but championship contention requires complete team efforts like Thursday’s victory.