Monday Musings: Oilers trending up, surprising playoff pushes and more |
There are 18 days remaining in the NHL’s regular season. Two teams, Colorado and Dallas, have officially clinched playoff spots, while Carolina, Tampa Bay, Buffalo, Minnesota, Montreal and Anaheim are locks to get in.
The Edmonton Oilers’ three-game winning streak, only their second of the season, has them in a very favourable position to get in if they go 4-3-1 in their final eight games.
The Oilers host Seattle and Chicago before facing Vegas and their new head coach, John Tortorella, on Saturday. The Oilers are 14-4 against Seattle since they entered the NHL in 2021-22, and they are 11-2-1 against Chicago in that time. Dare to dream Oilersnation, but a five-game winning streak could happen.
— The Oilers finally won three in a row for the second time with a 4-2 victory over Anaheim on Saturday. The Oilers and Philadelphia Flyers are the only teams yet to win four consecutive games this season.
*Indicates active streak.
The Oilers and Flyers will both go for a fourth consecutive victory tomorrow night.
— The Oilers are 4-2 without Leon Draisaitl. They’ve scored 20 goals in six games and allowed 19, but nine came in their two losses to Tampa and Florida. They are winning because they’ve started limiting goals against, allowing 10 in their four victories. Darnell Nurse’s last four games have been the best stretch of games he’s played this season. He needs to continue to play at that level. He’s played poised, aggressive and simple. He and Connor Murphy are becoming the reliable second pair the Oilers needed.
— I’ve noticed many suggesting the Oilers are winning because Knoblauch is running four lines more. That isn’t accurate. The fourth line has actually played less in the past six games. Jack Roslovic has stepped up and produced. Matt Savoie was producing quite well coming out of the Olympic break and has continued with Draisaitl’s injury.
Look at their TOI in the first 68 games compared to the last six. Roslovic and Savoie........