During the third period in Edmonton, Utah Hockey Club’s Lawson Crouse collided with Edmonton Oilers’ goalie Calvin Pickard, knocking off his helmet as Troy Stecher stepped in to defend. The Oilers dominated the game, securing a 7-1 victory on March 18, 2025.
The Edmonton Oilers put on a spectacular show Tuesday night, overpowering the Utah Hockey Club with a commanding 7-1 win. Leading the charge, Zach Hyman delivered two goals and an assist, while Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Connor McDavid, and Mattias Ekholm each added a goal and two assists. This landslide victory marked the Oilers’ third consecutive win and pushed them further ahead in the Pacific Division race.
Oilers Tighten Grip on Second Place
With this win, the Oilers (40-24-4) extended their lead over the Los Angeles Kings by three points, securing a stronger hold on second place in the division. Meanwhile, Utah (30-27-11) struggled in their playoff pursuit, dropping two of their last three games as they fight for a Western Conference wild-card spot.
Vasily Podkolzin and Viktor Arvidsson also found the back of the net for Edmonton, while Sean Durzi was Utah’s lone scorer. The Oilers dominated both ends of the ice, proving too much for Utah to handle.
Goaltender Battle: Pickard vs. Stauber
Oilers goalie Calvin Pickard was rock-solid between the pipes, making 29 saves to secure the win. On the other end, Utah’s Jaxson Stauber, who came in to relieve starter Karel Vejmelka at the beginning of the second period, stopped 24 shots in a tough outing.
Tough Night for Utah’s Goaltending
With backup Connor Ingram unavailable due to his enrollment in the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program, Vejmelka made his 11th consecutive start. The heavy workload seemed to take its toll as he gave up three goals on 14 first-period shots. Stauber took over in the second period but faced relentless pressure from Edmonton’s high-powered offence.
Draisaitl’s Point Streak Ends
Despite Edmonton’s offensive explosion, star forward Leon Draisaitl was held off the scoresheet, snapping his impressive 18-game point streak. His run ties him for the fourth-longest streak by a non-North American player in NHL history.
McDavid’s Magic Moment
One of the game’s biggest highlights came with just four seconds left in the first period. Ekholm launched a long pass, which Evan Bouchard deflected to a streaking McDavid. The Oilers captain executed a dazzling move before netting his 26th goal of the season. This extended McDavid’s point streak to 12 games, and he became the first NHL player to record three-point performances against all 32 franchises.
Oilers’ Home Ice Dominance
Edmonton has been nearly unbeatable at home, winning 10 of their last 12 games against Western Conference opponents. Their remaining regular-season matchups include seven more home games, all against teams within their conference.
What’s Next?
Utah Hockey Club will look to bounce back as they host the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday, while the Oilers will face the Winnipeg Jets at home.
