The April 3, 2025 matchup between the Edmonton Oilers and the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center in San Jose is one of contrasting narratives. The Oilers enter the game firmly entrenched in the playoff picture, looking to fine-tune their game and build momentum heading into the postseason, while the Sharks remain mired in a difficult rebuilding season near the bottom of the Western Conference standings. Edmonton, riding a 6-3 straight-up record in their last nine outings, has continued to rely on their elite offensive core, headlined by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, to fuel their success. Their ability to dominate on the power play, transition at high speed, and create scoring chances in tight has made them one of the most feared attacks in the NHL. On the flip side, San Jose has had one of the worst records in the league this year, winning only three of their last twenty games overall and dropping their last five contests at home. That said, the Sharks have covered the spread in six of their last nine, showing that while they struggle to close games, they often remain competitive enough to keep things close into the third period. The Oilers’ biggest weapon remains their power play, which has been among the league’s best for multiple seasons. With McDavid and Draisaitl operating with pinpoint precision, supported by Evan Bouchard’s shot from the blue line and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins’ vision, Edmonton has punished teams that take unnecessary penalties. Against a San Jose squad whose penalty kill has been porous and inconsistent, the Oilers will look to take full advantage of any extra-man situations. Edmonton’s offensive threat isn’t limited to special teams—at 5-on-5, their top six forwards can dominate possession and force defenders into breakdowns.

Zach Hyman has enjoyed a career season with his net-front scoring ability, and depth contributions from players like Warren Foegele and Ryan McLeod have added dimension to Edmonton’s attack. Defensively, the Oilers are not without their flaws; they’ve given up more goals than they’d prefer and occasionally struggle with neutral-zone turnovers. Their recent stretch of games going over the total in five of their last six outings suggests a trend toward open, high-event hockey, which has both benefits and risks heading into the playoffs. Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard have split time in goal, with Skinner holding the edge as the likely starter. Edmonton will be looking to clean up their play defensively while maintaining their offensive identity. For the Sharks, the game plan will need to focus on limiting mistakes, playing with structure, and finding scoring wherever they can. Offensively, they have not been able to replace the star power they’ve lost in recent years, and goals have been hard to come by. They will have to capitalize on any turnovers, take advantage of odd-man rushes, and get exceptional goaltending to have a shot. San Jose’s goaltending has been one of the most inconsistent areas of their game, and facing a team as skilled as Edmonton, that will need to improve drastically. The Oilers come in as the clear favorite, with superior talent and more to play for, but with San Jose playing with nothing to lose, there’s always the chance of a surprise if Edmonton underestimates them or allows defensive lapses to fester. Ultimately, if the Oilers can stay out of the penalty box, control possession, and continue executing on the power play, they should leave San Jose with two points and another boost heading into the final stretch of the regular season.