So, stage one is complete. The Edmonton Oilers have officially clinched a playoff spot.

But there are more questions than answers at this stage. What’s the status of Jason Dickinson or Max Jones, who went down while on the road trip? Or the status of Zach Hyman, who missed the three-game road trip? Is Leon Draisaitl’s progress on track?

Isaac Howard’s recall indicates to me that neither Dickinson nor Jones would be good to go tonight, plus it’s a great opportunity for the former Hobey Baker winner to show what he can do after an extended tenure of great AHL play.

Then more questions. Where will the Oilers finish? Who will the Oilers play?

Vegas took the lead in the Pacific Division on Saturday night, but Anaheim lost in a shootout to the Vancouver Canucks. Despite that point, the Oilers are still in second, with the tiebreaker, but both have 90 points.

All of a sudden, home ice in the first round doesn’t look so steady. The dance will determine the partner.

Two more at home

The Oilers’ 1-0 loss to the Kings was just the fourth time this season that Edmonton has been blanked. With the Kings’ clogging, holding, and obstructing, the Oilers pushed in the third period but couldn’t bury.

But for two straight games, the Oilers didn’t surrender much. A costly offensive zone blueline error gave Artemi Panarin a breakaway he converted for the lone goal.

“We had enough scoring chances to get certainly more than one goal tonight,” said Kris Knoblauch. “We played well, and we missed some really good opportunities…we’re playing the right style of hockey, and we’re playing doing the right things.”

Connor Ingram looked no worse for wear, making some terrific lateral saves, which a huge sign for the Oilers. Ingram, of course, was cautiously held out of the third period back on Wednesday against the Sharks. Knoblauch starting Ingram tonight, and perhaps Tristan Jarry on Thursday against Vancouver, would give the starter almost a week of rest between........

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