With single game tickets for the 2024–25 Edmonton Oilers season going on sale on Thursday, you can be sure fans will be on Ticketmaster furiously refreshing to try and grab seats for the most prominent games this season; games against rivals such as the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks, popular teams that come to town just once a season like the Toronto Maples Leafs and Montreal Canadiens, and popular dates for games like weekend games.
Given the demand for those, there won’t be enough tickets for all the fans seeking them out, at least without resorting to the secondary market. So instead of wasting time trying to nab those tickets, why not look at some other games that would be easier to snag, especially while everyone else is busy going for the “A” games?
But what are some of these “under the radar” games that could be suitable replacements? Here are five games you should consider. For the purposes of “under the radar” we won’t include the above noted games, nor games with popular stars such Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins, Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals, and Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks.
Thursday November 14 against the Nashville Predators
An Oilers game against the Nashville Predators is always a good bet to be a fun game. Over the last three seasons, the Oilers are 7–1–1 in their matchups, outscoring Nashville 40 to 22.
Leon Draisaitl has an insane 11 goals and 23 points in those nine games, while Connor McDavid isn’t far behind at six goals and an equal 23 points. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (14) and Zach Hyman (12) also are above a point per game against Nashville, while newcomer Jeff Skinner is also career point per game player (22 points in 22 games) as well.
So needless to say, if you want to see a game with a lot of goals, this is a good bet.
On top of that, however, is the fact that Nashville has added some good players to their roster this summer in Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skej and looks to be one of the league’s most improved teams this season. While you may prefer a “guaranteed win” game when forking out a decent sum of money, this is entertainment after all, and you get your money’s worth when it is a fun, close game as well.
Being a Thursday game, it doesn’t qualify as a weekend game, but it is the next closest thing and in a short week due to Remembrance Day being that Monday, it could be a decent night in terms of atmosphere where people are in a bit of a vacation mood.
Monday January 13 against the Los Angeles Kings
After three straight seasons facing off in the first round, it is no surprise the Oilers and Los Angeles Kings have developed a rivalry.
Last season, the Oilers averaged 22.62 hits per game in the regular season, while the Kings were at 21.27. In their head-to-head matchups, however, the Oilers had 47, 34, 23, and 22 hits in the four games and the Kings had 32, 39, 31 and 29 hits, meaning that you can likely expect a physical affair.
Add in the fact that the Oilers now have former King Viktor Arvidsson and the Kings have former Oiler Warren Foegele, and you have some extra motivation sprinkled in to the affair.
While a rivalry game is usually a popular bet, being a Monday game diminishes the demand where it isn’t a regional one with lots of out of town fans expected to flood the arena. It is also Ukranian Heritage Night, so you can be sure there will be some extras added to the fan experience.
Tuesday March 18 against the Utah Hockey Club
Utah taking over Arizona, a team that finished 27th, 27th, and 31st in league standings the past three seasons, which usually means it wouldn’t be a very popular pick, other than being one of those “guaranteed wins.”
Utah looks to be a bit better of a team this season, however, with the additions of Mikhail Sergachev and John Marino on the back end, and they do have some exciting young talent in Logan Cooley and Matias Maccelli.
There is another reason to attend this game, although it may not be a compelling one for some people. But if you want some rarity, you can point to the fact that this is just one of two games that a team called the “Utah Hockey Club” would play in Edmonton. The team is expected to get an actual name and branding in 2025–26, making the Utah Hockey Club a name that will be no more than a footnote as the years wear on.
This is the second of the two home games against UHC, so while you don’t get the first ever home game against the new franchise, that is what makes this the value pick. Also, the first one is on New Years Eve, making it even more a draw in comparison to this one, which is on a Tuesday.
Wednesday April 9 against the St. Louis Blues
In case you didn’t hear, the St. Louis Blues threw the Oilers into a bit of a late offseason conundrum when they signed Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg to offersheets. The Oilers ended up letting the two youngsters walk, and Oilers fans certainly aren’t pleased with the Blues.
This will be the third game and final game against the Blues this season, and second home game, so you would think the vitriol will have died down by that point. But like the logic with Utah above, the demand to get in on the first game for fans to get in to show their displeasure will not be in play. However, Oilers fans have been known to hold their grudges, so it seems improbable the fans will have gotten it all out of their system by then.
So even though it may be a game that matters little to the Oilers given they should hopefully have a playoff spot locked up by then, the atmosphere should be a good one still given the above along with the fact that the playoffs are around the corner, which always generates excitement.
Monday April 14 against the Los Angeles Kings
That’s right, another game against the Kings is in here. In addition to the reasons for the previous Kings game, this is the final home game of the regular season, making it the last time you can see an Oilers game this season for somewhat reasonable prices. In addition, you can bet that some Oilers gear will end up being on sale as usual at the end of the season.
Finally, if the trend continues and the Oilers do end up looking like they will be facing the Kings for the fourth first round in a row, then you can bet both teams will be looking to send a message leading into the matchup, which should make for an even more entertaining game. It also has the potential to be Leon Draisaitl’s 800th game, so that’s another little nugget to make it worth it.
Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire
