After a season-long journey, the Edmonton Oilers finished third in their division, concluding their regular season in San Jose.
As the playoffs approach, the Oilers are showing strong signs of improvement. Their recent 3-0 victory in San Jose highlighted their regained health, structural stability, and solid goaltending, fostering a positive atmosphere within the team.
The prevailing sentiment within the Oilers camp is one of optimism. Regardless of their final regular season standing, they believe they are now playing the type of hockey they envisioned for the playoff season.
“It`s all about building momentum as we head into the most crucial part of the year,” stated defenceman Ty Emberson, who celebrated his first NHL multi-point game with a goal and an assist. “We`re focused on maintaining puck control, minimizing turnovers, and ensuring we don`t make it easy for our opponents.”
Goaltender Stuart Skinner, in only his second game back after recovering from a concussion, delivered a flawless performance against the Sharks, stopping all 18 shots. Despite a relatively quiet night, Skinner appeared composed and in command, seemingly poised to start Game 1 against the Los Angeles Kings, likely on Sunday.
“Honestly, I didn`t feel much rust tonight. I felt pretty good, which definitely boosts my confidence heading into the first round,” Skinner commented.
Skinner has faced only 18 shots in each of his last two appearances, although these games held little significance for Edmonton`s opponents. The Oilers demonstrated a robust team game on Wednesday, effectively shutting down a Sharks team that posed little threat.
“It’s impressive,” Skinner reiterated. “We’re limiting the shots against us, indicating that we’re effectively keeping opponents to the perimeter for the majority of the game. This is a result of shot blocking, players getting into shooting lanes, and everyone contributing defensively to prevent goals.”
Captain Connor McDavid has returned to peak form, and there is anticipation that Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman, Jake Walman, Troy Stecher, and possibly Evander Kane will be available for Game 1 against the Kings.
Emberson acknowledged the challenges the team has faced: “We’ve dealt with numerous injuries, a constant rotation of players in and out of the lineup, and guys playing through injuries or with limited rosters. However, I believe this adversity has been beneficial. Everyone has stepped up.”
“And as we approach the playoffs, it’s evident that we are finding our rhythm and style of play,” Emberson concluded.
The Oilers concluded their final 10 games with a 7-3 record, navigating a period marked by significant injuries over the past month.
They finished the season with a 48-29-5 record, accumulating 101 points and achieving their fourth consecutive 100-point season. Conversely, the San Jose Sharks ended their season on an 11-game losing streak, positioning themselves favorably for the upcoming draft lottery with a 25.5 percent chance of securing the No. 1 pick.
Ahead By A Century
Connor McDavid needed only 8 minutes and 20 seconds to finalize his regular season statistics, adding 10 assists in his last four games after a less than stellar start to the season.
McDavid carried the puck up the right side, passing to Emberson at the blue line, whose shot found the net, giving the Oilers a 1-0 lead. McDavid wraps up the season with exactly 100 points (tied for fifth in the NHL), 74 assists (third), and an average of 1.49 points per game, placing him alongside Draisaitl for second in points per game, only trailing Nikita Kucherov (1.57).
