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It was unquestionably one of the greatest performances of his 14-season NHL career, a reminder of what the 2011 first-overall pick is still capable of from time to time, even as he is quickly approaching his 32nd birthday and is averaging his fewest points per game since 2016-17.
Nugent-Hopkins quickly cooled off after his brilliant performance two weeks ago. In the five games since, he’s managed to record just one point: a power-play assist in Edmonton’s win over the Golden Knights on Tuesday (April 1). If there was ever a time for him to break out of this mini-slump, it’s today against the Kings.
Jeff Skinner
One of Edmonton’s big free-agent additions last summer, Skinner rose to the occasion on Thursday, breaking a 2-2 tie by scoring what proved to be the game-winning goal against San Jose only moments after Draisaitl left the game.
Skinner hasn’t produced consistently this season, but he’s on an upswing of late, with four goals and two assists over his last seven games, after going pointless over the seven contests prior to that.
Like Nugent-Hopkins, the 32-year-old winger’s highest scoring days are behind him, but Skinner still has his moments. He also scored against Seattle in Edmonton’s March 22 win without Draisaitl and McDavid.
The last time Skinner scored against the Kings was Dec. 11, 2018, when he was a member of the Buffalo Sabres. Today’s game would be the ideal occasion to break that drought.
Viktor Arvidsson
Edmonton’s other big free-agent signing last July 1, Viktor Arvidsson, greatly underperformed for much of the season, going pointless in 34 of his first 51 games as an Oiler.
But recently, the Swedish winger has been exactly the player that Edmonton signed him to be. He’s now scored in three consecutive games, all pivotal goals in critical victories for the Oilers.
Since March 16, Arvidsson has five goals in nine games, including a pair of game-winners. The Oilers are an incredible 12-0-1 when Arvidsson scores this season, which shows just how much of a difference-maker he can be.
Moreover, no one should be more motivated than Arvidsson, who spent three seasons with the Kings before coming to Edmonton. Arvidsson scored once in the Oilers’ 4-3 overtime loss to the Kings at Arena on Dec. 28.
Puck drop for today’s game between the Oilers and Kings is slated for just after 2 p.m. MT. With a regulation win, Edmonton will move into a tie with Los Angeles for second place in the Pacific Division.
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