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The Day After 43.0: Kapanen shines in first game back in Oilers lineup
Edmonton Oilers Kasperi Kapanen
Photo credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
Zach Laing
Jan 7, 2026, 19:00 ESTUpdated: Jan 7, 2026, 20:00 EST
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It hasn’t been an easy first half of the season for Kasperi Kapanen.
He had played in just six games before injuring his knee on October 19th against the Detroit Red Wings, and when he was nearing a return in November, he suffered a setback in practice. He left the ice in frustration, taking it out on a stick rack, and those emotions were more than understandable.
But Kapanen made his return to the lineup on Tuesday night against the Nashville Predators, scoring a goal and an assist, taking three shots on goal and laying a team-high five hits. He lined up alongside Leon Draisaitl and Vasily Podkolzin, the same duo he played with in the playoffs last season during stretches, including when he scored the game-winning goal in Game 5 of the second round of the playoffs against the Vegas Golden Knights.
“It’s always great to get on the scoring sheet, but for the most part, I’ve felt pretty good, and the body felt good, which is important, and the leg,” said Kapanen after the game. “At times,  I think you could notice I haven’t played in two and a half months, but all in all, I thought it was not a bad effort.”
Not a bad effort at all.
It’s not easy sitting for two-and-a-half months the way Kapanen did, especially after he found his game with the Oilers last season, growing into a big role at times in the post-season. Kapanen spoke earlier this year about how he had a renewed confidence in his game, and if Tuesday’s spat with the Predators showed anything, it’s that his confidence hasn’t wavered.
“It always takes a little while to kind of get used to things, and it doesn’t matter how many practices you have until once you start playing, then (you can) kind of ease into it a little bit,” he said. “I thought I started off the season pretty well, and today was a step in the right direction, so hopefully I can keep it up.”
It wasn’t easy for Kapanen to stand out given Connor McDavid’s hat trick and another three-point night for Leon Draisaitl, but he did so in the best way possible.
And there’s no denying that Kapanen’s become a beloved player in the room.
“All guys are so happy for him,” said Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch after the game. “Here’s a guy that worked incredibly hard to get back in the lineup and here he comes back, his first game and gets a goal and assist.
“We knew that he was going to help us, and not necessarily on the score sheet but with his physicality and just all around game. That’s what we expect from him. You know, after taking almost three months off, (we were) not expecting that, but he put in the work.”
Some were undoubtedly surprised when Kapanen was slotted in on the third line, but he quickly silenced that bit of doubt with his performance.
Now, it begs the question: should he stick in the top-six? It’s easy to say yes. That trio has played 115 minutes at five-on-five since the start of last season with solid results, outshooting the opposition at 36.1 shots per hour to 28.6 against per hour, a 55.8 percent shot share, breaking even in goals while controlling 53.8 percent of the expected goal share.
It would allow the new third line of Jack Roslovic, Isaac Howard and Matt Savoie to stick together, and hopefully build some chemistry — something Knoblauch said Tuesday night he wants to do.
Edmonton’s schedule continues Thursday with a visit to the Winnipeg Jets.
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Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s managing editor, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the Daily Faceoff DFS Hockey Report. He can be followed on X at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.

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