Oilers Seek Improvement on Both Ends of the Ice, Senators Aim to Ignite Offense
Edmonton Oilers vs. Ottawa Senators: Both Teams Eyeing a Turnaround
The 2024-2025 NHL season has been a challenging one for both the Edmonton Oilers and Ottawa Senators, who face off in a key matchup on Tuesday night. With the Oilers sitting at 9-7-2 in the Pacific Division and the Senators at 8-8-1 in the Atlantic, both teams are underperforming relative to expectations and looking to bounce back after difficult starts.
The Oilers have struggled on both sides of the puck, with offensive and defensive inconsistencies hampering their performance. Meanwhile, the Senators have been buoyed by strong offensive production but continue to falter defensively, leaving them stuck in the middle of the standings.
Edmonton Oilers: Offense and Defense Need to Step Up
After a promising start to the season, the Edmonton Oilers find themselves in a precarious position. With a 9-7-2 record, the Oilers have not been able to find consistent success, especially on offense, where they are averaging just 2.78 goals per game. While Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have continued to provide their usual production—combining for 20 goals and 25 assists—the rest of the roster has struggled to contribute offensively. Beyond McDavid and Draisaitl, only four other skaters have scored more than four goals, leaving the Oilers’ attack somewhat predictable and easy to stifle for opposing defenses.
Despite having two of the league’s best players, the Oilers’ offense has looked stagnant at times, especially when teams manage to neutralize their top stars. Edmonton’s power play, typically one of the best in the league, has not been as effective this season, ranking in the mid-tier for efficiency. If the Oilers hope to make a push for a playoff spot, they need to find more scoring depth from their supporting cast, including players like Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Evan Bouchard, who have all been inconsistent.
On the defensive side, the Oilers have been equally disappointing. Allowing 3.17 goals per game, they rank in the bottom half of the league for goals against, which is far from the championship-caliber defense many expected with players like Mattias Ekholm and Evan Bouchard. Although Ekholm and Bouchard have a combined 5.9 defensive point shares, the rest of the blue line has struggled to close gaps, allowing too many high-danger chances.
Goaltender Stuart Skinner has also had a rough start to the season. With a save percentage of just .877 and a goals-against average of 3.28, Skinner has not provided the consistency the Oilers need in net. He currently sits with a -7.5 goals saved above average (GSAA), which highlights his struggles in high-pressure situations. For Edmonton to regain its competitive edge, Skinner needs to find a way to rebound, and the defense must do a better job of limiting quality scoring chances.
Ottawa Senators: High-Powered Offense in Need of Defensive Improvement
The Ottawa Senators have managed to generate offense at an impressive rate, scoring 3.24 goals per game and ranking among the top teams in the league in goals scored. The dynamic duo of Tim Stutzle and Brady Tkachuk, along with Drake Batherson, has been a major source of production, combining for 23 goals and 33 assists. Claude Giroux has continued to prove his worth, and with Josh Norris and Adam Gaudette chipping in additional offense, Ottawa’s top-six forwards are producing at a high level.
The Senators’ offensive depth has been a bright spot in an otherwise lackluster season, with secondary scoring from players like Thomas Chabot and Jake Sanderson helping to open up the offense. Chabot, in particular, has been a key contributor from the blue line, tallying 2 goals and 13 assists so far this season. If the Senators continue to receive balanced scoring from all four lines, their offense could become one of the league’s most potent.
However, despite their offensive success, Ottawa’s defense has been a major liability. Allowing 3.12 goals per game, they rank near the bottom of the league in defensive metrics. While Nick Jensen and Thomas Chabot have provided some stability on the back end, the rest of the defense corps has struggled to contain opposing forwards. The Senators have allowed a high volume of shots and scoring chances, making life difficult for Linus Ullmark, who has not been able to find consistent form in net. Ullmark holds a save percentage of just .890 and a 2.77 goals-against average, with a -2.4 GSAA, underlining his difficulties in stopping pucks.
For Ottawa to turn their season around, their defensive issues must be addressed. The Senators need to improve their coverage in front of the net and reduce the number of breakdowns in their own zone. If the defense can tighten up, Ottawa’s high-scoring offense may be enough to push them back into playoff contention.
Conclusion
The key to this matchup will be how Edmonton’s defense handles Ottawa’s high-flying offense. If the Oilers’ defensive unit continues to struggle, Ottawa’s top players like Stutzle, Tkachuk, and Batherson could have a field day, putting pressure on Edmonton’s goaltending.
Conversely, Ottawa will need to find a way to slow down McDavid and Draisaitl while limiting the space that their supporting cast has to operate. If they can keep the Oilers’ top players in check, they’ll have a good chance of emerging victorious.
The game could ultimately come down to goaltending. Skinner has struggled this season, and if Ullmark can rebound and make timely saves, the Senators could have the edge in what is likely to be a high-scoring affair.
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