Oilers Blank Blues Again, Celebrate Nugent-Hopkins’ Milestone in Dominant Fashion
If you’re looking for a statement win, the Edmonton Oilers just delivered another one. Less than 24 hours after dismantling the Vancouver Canucks 6-0, the Oilers followed it up with a 5-0 shutout of the St.
Louis Blues on Sunday night. That’s back-to-back wins with a combined score of 11-0 - and it’s starting to feel like we’re watching a team that knows exactly what time of year it is.
But this one wasn’t just about the scoreboard. It was a night of celebration, grit, and a reminder of what makes this Oilers team so dangerous when they’re rolling.
A Milestone Night for Nugent-Hopkins
Before the puck even dropped, the Oilers honored Ryan Nugent-Hopkins for reaching 1,000 career NHL games - all in an Edmonton sweater. That kind of longevity with one franchise is rare in today’s NHL, and the moment wasn’t lost on the team or the fans. And wouldn’t you know it, the longest-tenured Oiler opened the scoring just six minutes in.
Nugent-Hopkins found space in the slot, had time to pick his spot, and fired it past Jordan Binnington to give Edmonton the early lead. You couldn’t have scripted it better.
Depth Scoring Steps Up
The Oilers’ fourth line chipped in next - a welcome sign for a team that’s leaned heavily on its top six in recent years. Curtis Lazar did the dirty work down low and fired a low shot that Andrew Mangiapane cleaned up for his second goal since early November. For a player who’s been snakebitten for months, that one had to feel good.
Zach Hyman made it 3-0 before the first intermission, tipping home a Mattias Ekholm point shot. It was vintage Hyman - net-front presence, perfect timing, and another tally in what’s becoming a red-hot stretch.
Midway through the second, Hyman struck again - this time from the faceoff circle on a perfectly placed one-timer. Connor McDavid set it up with a slick spin move at the blue line, then found Hyman in stride for his second of the night and 19th of the season. When Hyman’s healthy and locked in, he’s one of the league’s most effective finishers in tight.
McDavid Magic and Podkolzin’s Emergence
Even when he’s not scoring, McDavid finds a way to leave his fingerprints on the game. Early in the third, he lost his balance on a zone entry but still managed to thread a pass through traffic to Vasily Podkolzin, who buried it for his second goal in as many games. That kind of play doesn’t show up on every highlight reel, but it’s a perfect example of McDavid’s vision and poise under pressure.
Podkolzin’s emergence is another encouraging sign for Edmonton. He’s starting to find his rhythm in the offensive zone, and the confidence is clearly building.
Ingram Stays Hot Between the Pipes
Connor Ingram turned in another rock-solid performance, stopping all 27 shots he faced for his second straight shutout. He faced 2.44 expected goals and turned them all away - calm, composed, and technically sound. That’s now eight of nine appearances this season with a save percentage above .900, and he’s sitting at a .917 on the year.
It’s no coincidence that the Oilers’ defensive structure looks more confident with Ingram in net. He’s tracking pucks well, controlling rebounds, and giving the team a chance to win every night.
Injury Concerns Cloud an Otherwise Perfect Night
The game wasn’t without its tough moments. Early in the third period, McDavid and Oskar Sundqvist got tangled up near the blue line.
At first, it looked like a routine play, but Sundqvist was clearly in pain once he tried to put weight on his skate and was quickly helped off the ice. You never want to see that - here’s hoping for a speedy recovery.
The Blues also lost Kasperi Kapanen earlier in the game after a scary crash into the boards. He left under his own power but didn’t return. Kapanen’s already missed a significant chunk of the season, and the hope is that this latest injury isn’t as bad as it looked.
Defensive Contributions and Line Juggling
Three Oilers defensemen got on the scoresheet - Mattias Ekholm picked up two assists, while Evan Bouchard and Jake Walman each added one. Both Ekholm and Bouchard finished the night +3, continuing their strong two-way play.
The third line of Ike Howard, Jack Roslovic, and Matt Savoie struggled at five-on-five, generating just 31.1% of expected goals and getting outshot 4-2. With Kapanen’s early exit, there was some shuffling throughout the lineup, and it showed in the chemistry.
On the flip side, the fourth line looked energized. Lazar’s presence brought a noticeable edge, and his work ethic helped spark Mangiapane’s goal. With Lazar in the lineup, the bottom six looks more balanced - and that’s something the Oilers will need if they want to make another deep postseason run.
What’s Next
With two straight shutouts and a team firing on all cylinders, the Oilers will look to keep the momentum going when they host the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night. It’s the second game of an eight-game homestand - and if this weekend was any indication, Edmonton is settling in for another serious push.
This is the kind of hockey that gets fans dreaming about June. And if the Oilers keep playing like this, those dreams might not be so far-fetched.