The Edmonton Oilers wrapped up their 2024-25 regular season with a bang, blanking the San Jose Sharks 3-0 at the SAP Center on Wednesday, April 16. It was a night to remember for Oilers' goalie Stuart Skinner, who stood tall to deny all 18 shots, a feat that marked the first time in franchise history an Oilers netminder secured a shutout in the final regular season game.
Skinner's performance was nothing short of dazzling, showcasing his resiliency and timing, especially with his last-minute save from San Jose's William Eklund. Despite having a challenging season largely due to a concussion that kept him off the ice for some time, the 26-year-old Skinner showed glimpses of brilliance in his last two outings. After returning with a win against the Winnipeg Jets, he brought that momentum into the matchup against the Sharks, demonstrating the kind of form that could be crucial in the playoffs.
The support system around Skinner also played a pivotal role. The Oilers' defense was relentless and displayed a Herculean effort, blocking a whopping 25 shots.
Leading the charge was Brett Kulak, who tied his own season record with eight blocked shots. This kind of determination and sacrifice from the players is exactly what a team needs, especially heading into the playoffs, setting a tone of fearlessness and grit.
In the midst of all this, Connor McDavid, the team's captain, was quietly making history of his own. His assist on Ty Emberson's opening goal catapulted him to the 100-point mark for the season, further cementing his place in the annals of NHL greatness alongside the likes of Marcel Dionne, Wayne Gretzky, and Mario Lemieux. Despite missing a chunk of the season, McDavid's ability to reach this milestone speaks volumes about his skill and consistency, even when not at full capacity.
Depth was the name of the game for Edmonton on this occasion. With leading scorers like Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman, and even McDavid missing time due to injuries, players like Max Jones and Ty Emberson rose to the occasion. Jones ended a personal scoring drought, while Emberson added to his limited season tally, indicating that the Oilers' bench strength is stepping up when it counts the most.
This spread in scoring duties showcases a team finding its rhythm outside of its regular heavy-hitters, a development that's potentially invaluable as they head into the postseason against the Los Angeles Kings. It's this unpredictability and flexibility in the lineup that could make the Oilers a formidable opponent. With the playoff schedule about to kick off, these final games of the regular season may very well light the path forward for an Edmonton team looking to make a deep run.
As playoff fever starts to grip the hockey world, the Oilers seem primed and ready to bring their blend of determination, history-making performances, and newfound depth into the mix. The countdown to Monday, April 21, when they face the Kings at Crypto.com Arena, has just begun. Get ready for what promises to be an electrifying start to the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
