For the first few weeks of the 2025-26 season, the Edmonton Oilers were a team defined by inconsistency. However, after a Jekyll-and-Hyde stretch of results, the team finally showed some pride on Tuesday night. In a much-needed comeback, they snapped the Utah Mammoth’s seven-game win streak with a 6-3 victory at Rogers Place.
Still, veteran defenseman Mattias Ekholm’s postgame comments truly resonated.
Did Mattias Ekholm Just Deliver the Wake-Up Call the Oilers Needed?
Following the win, the veteran defenseman didn’t sugarcoat where the Oilers had been falling short, delivering a blunt assessment of the team’s recent performance.
“I think just everybody felt enough was enough,” he said postgame. “I can just go to myself. I haven’t liked my game at all the last five, six games. I don’t think many guys in here have. So it was kind of coming to a point where, OK, we need to start putting our work boots on.”
“You have to put your work boots on.”
Five second-period goals powered the #Oilers to a 6-3 win, snapping Utah’s streak. @paigymartin has more on a night where six Edmonton players recorded multi-point performances. pic.twitter.com/MvRTojc9r5
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) October 29, 2025
Ekholm’s words came after a victory that started poorly. Edmonton came out flat in the first period, outshot, outworked, and quickly fell into a 2-0 hole. But something clicked during the first intermission.
The Oilers stormed back with five goals in the second period, a surge led by Connor McDavid’s two-goal night and Leon Draisaitl’s three-point effort. Evan Bouchard added three assists, and Stuart Skinner steadied the crease with 20 saves. The performance felt like an overdue release for a team searching for its rhythm all month.
While Utah received goals from Logan Cooley, J.J. Peterka, and Barrett Hayton, the visitors couldn’t withstand Edmonton’s overwhelming second-period push. “Kudos to us. We responded in that second period,” Ekholm said. “But more importantly, we found our game, and that’s got to be the standard going forward.”
How Will the Oilers Build on This Momentum?
So far this season, the Oilers have tried 21 line combinations, constantly searching for chemistry. Tuesday’s game, however, marked a rare instance where the lineup mainly remained intact, and the decision paid off. Six players recorded multi-point nights, including Adam Henrique and Jake Walman, who each contributed two assists.
MORE: Hall Of Fame D-Man Dissects Oilers’ Unconvincing Start
Ekholm’s influence continues to grow, not just for his on-ice play but his willingness to speak plainly when the group needs a reality check. “Everybody in this league is too good where you can just coast your way through a regular season. You have to put your work boots on. That’s number one, and I think everybody realized that today,” he added.
The Oilers have often needed a jolt like this early in past seasons, and this time, the push came from within the locker room. As McDavid and Draisaitl regain their finishing touch, Ekholm’s sharp reminder about effort may be the key to sustained success in the weeks ahead.
Next up, Edmonton faces the New York Rangers and Chicago Blackhawks, presenting two more chances to prove that Tuesday night’s turnaround was not just a one-off performance.
