The magic number the Edmonton Oilers are focused on isn’t the one used in nuclear physics. It’s the number of points the Oilers need to clinch their playoff spot.

That number for the team is 10. Sure, it’s a formality at this point for a team with 98.9 per cent odds of making the post-season, according to Moneypuck, but there’s an old saying about counting chickens before they hatch.

Besides, continuing to focus on stacking good performances, the process-over-results approach to their game, will instill the right mindset and focus required for the playoffs in the next couple of weeks. With the Anaheim Ducks losing in regulation to the San Jose Sharks in a stunning Macklin Celebrini-led comeback, the Oilers can draw level for the Pacific Division lead with a victory tonight.

“Our game isn’t sexy right now. It’s not fancy. It’s just a lot of little things, and that’s usually the difference between winning and losing,” said Kris Knoblauch after a 3-0 shutout victory over the Kraken on Tuesday night. 

“We have six defencemen and 12 forwards each night who are doing it.”

It’s four wins in a row for the Oilers, their longest run of the season. But now Kris Knoblauch has a problem. Admittedly, a good problem to have.

Trent Frederic is ready to return from injury, so who gets pulled out of this winning lineup?

“We’ll probably make some lineup changes just to get everyone involved and have some game-playing time. Then also we have to consider roles, whether you’re on a power play, on the penalty kill, and, you know, positional play, key faceoffs, that kind of stuff,” said Knoblauch after practice Wednesday.

“Difficult decisions are often good ones to have.”

Short straw, Hyman doesn’t skate

To my eyes, Max Jones is everything the Edmonton Oilers were hoping for when signing Trent Frederic. Jones scored his third goal of the season off his face against the Kraken, but his face was in the right spot — in front of the net. After Connor McDavid stole his goal against the Ducks on Saturday, the Hockey Gods rewarded Jones.

Frederic’s game had gotten noticeably better post-Olympics, but Jones has just one fewer goal and point than Frederic, despite playing only a quarter of the........

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