A manual count by me has Edmonton 12-12-3 against the eastern conference this season, while the team is 14-7-5 versus the west. That feels right. Tonight’s opponent is the Anaheim Ducks, who are 12-10-2 against the east and 16-11-1 against the west. On paper, this game should be close.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN JANUARY
- At home to: Flyers, Preds (Expected 1-0-1) 1-1-0
- On the road to: Jets (Expected 1-0-0) 1-0-0
- At home to: Kings (Expected 1-0-0) 0-0-1
- On the road to: Blackhawks, Preds (Expected 1-1-0) 1-0-1
- At home to: NYI (Expected 0-0-1) 0-1-0
- On the road to: Canucks (Expected 1-0-0) 1-0-0
- At home to: Blues, Devils, Penguins, Caps (Expected 2-1-1) 2-2-0
- At home to: Ducks, Sharks, Wild (Expected 1-1-1)
- Expected Record: 8-3-4, 20 points in 15 games
- Actual Record: 6-4-2, 14 points in 12 games
- Season Record: 26-19-8, 60 points in 53 games
The Ducks have a strong group of young men who are real NHL players, and a coach in Joel Quenneville who has enjoyed great success. There’s a non-zero chance Anaheim will be Edmonton’s first-round opponent. This is going to be an interesting game.
FIVE-ON-FIVE POINTS-60 (FORWARDS)
I like to run this every little while, just to see where each player lands across the NHL. I’m using 500+ minutes to limit the recalls and injured guys, and first-line means they are among the top 96 forwards in the league at this time.
- Connor McDavid 2.41, No. 35 (first line)
- Leon Draisaitl 2.41, No. 31 (first line)
- Zach Hyman 1.94, No. 84 (first line)
- Vasily Podkolzin 1.86, No. 94 (first line)
This is the first line group, and there are four members of the club currently. Connor McDavid ranks No. 35, that’s the cost of playing him more. The leader in this category is Nikita Kucherov, who plays about 2.5 fewer minutes per game than 97. I believe McDavid’s points-60 would be much higher with fewer minutes played. As he ages, it will become more pronounced, but for now the Oilers are running him because the gap from ceiling to floor is so massive. Same exact situation with Leon Draisaitl.
- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins 1.66, No. 141 (second line)
- Jack Roslovic 1.54, No. 172 (second line)
The second group numbers two, and with that we have the ideal top-six so far this season. Nugent-Hopkins or Roslovic are needed at No. 3 center, which is a key spot on the roster. If Stan Bowman acquires a 3C at the deadline, it might be best to run Nuge-McDavid-Hyman and Podkolzin-Draisaitl-Rosloivic.
- Andrew Mangiapane 1.06, No. 296 (fourth line)
- Matt Savoie 0.97, No. 316 (fourth line)
- Trent Frederic 0.33, No. 430 (fourth line)
The Oilers don’t have a third line, and here are the men who have played 500+ minutes and are fourth line or lower contributors. This is slightly unfair because Kasperi Kapanen (2.98 points-60), Curtis Lazar (1.21 points-60) and Ike Howard (1.1 points-60) are all posting better numbers than the trio above.
On the Lowdown today, Rachel Kryshak and Jason Gregor will be our feature guests. We’ll talk Oilers, Evan Bouchard, trade deadline, Maple Leafs as a seller, NFL playoffs and more. Noon to 2pm, Sports 1440 and You Tube.
New for The Athletic: Is Oilers defenceman Evan Bouchard finding another level to his game?
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6997287/2026/01/26/oilers-evan-bouchard-stats-capitals/
Liked it. But I suggest that the consistency you’re looking for is present in his game – when the stakes are highest, ie. playoffs. I’m curious about what those metrics look like.
ps. The keep at the blueline on Saturday night reminded me of a similar play in last year’s LAK series. The guy is gold, when it matters most.
There’s no sin in wanting Bouchard to take better care of the puck near the Edmonton net. That’s not ripping him. That’s pointing out areas for improvement that should be possible.
This is true but the splits should be noted: such play in October/November vs. later in the regular season vs. the playoffs.
After early season, sure there is the odd “big gaff” and the odd “bad game” but they are infrequent, right?
Exactly what I wrote in the article. Bouchard is maturing. I think Saturday night, at least in part, came from a more confident player. We’ll see.
He sets the low floor and high ceiling that you reference on the regular. Saturday he was brilliant. Thursday against the Penguins he was brutal, and as you noted on the radio threw a wrench in McDavid’s game. As Bouchard goes, so do the Oilers.
I would say it’s a complicated question between 3 players. Whose virtuosity containing peaks and valleys has not defeated consistent normalcy, and made it look to the lemming herders like a dynasty
It’s not. Previous dynasties were dethroned, the panthers are not like that. Maybe that is the new norm. I hope not yuck
That contract is starting to look like a bargain.
He’s a special player, we’re lucky to have him.
Edmonton now moves 5 RW clear of Anaheim and 3 of VGK (with latter having games in hand)
A lot of talk about W vs. L+OTL in various forums, including Oilers Nation and here.
Anaheim has 28 wins and 25 losses, but only 16 wins in regulation.
6 have been in 3v3 OT and 6 have been in the shootout – Pretty sure that’s not how the games are going to be won past April.
16-22-15 would be Anaheim’s record in the W-L-T era.
Looking/ranking from this W-L-“T” lens:
VGK 18-14-19
Oilers 21-19-14
SEA 17-19-15
LAK 13-16-21
SJS 15-21-14
ANA 16-22-15
CGY 17-25-10
Oilers used to get lots of flak from the media and other fanbases about being OT merchants, especially in the early McDacid years. Interesting to see SJS and ANA escape that scrutiny.
Rebuilding American teams with no immediate expectations will do that.
That’s a lot of ties league-wise. No one playing to win, but to secure a point and get the game into OT
Man there are lots more regulation ties than there were before they went to 3×3 overtime.
McDavid Now with 92 points, 4 games until the Olympic break. Can he get to 💯 before that?
Only 5 players on team Canada with MORE points than Bouch (none of them defensemen) and only 10 players with a better +-
Pond hockey you have to love it. This game is what it was like for every game in the Eighties.
Good perspective.
Before godot comes on here to tell us that Jarry was 1 save below .900, he also had a goals saved above expected of +0.46 to 1.3 NST/Money puck.
Skinner Stockholm Syndrome.
I get his point. Oiler team D can wear down our goalies.
But comparing save percentages in different outings is apples and oranges.
We also know that Skinner has a high ceiling and a low floor and he has routinely held either for long stretches at a time.
If Jarry or Ingram go multi-game stretches with low quality starts, we can have a convo.
Jarry is also cost-controlled. It is a contract year for Skinner and he will likely be re-signed now for an AAV and duration beyond what I would personally pay, and what the Oil can afford to pay. Maybe he’ll prove that wrong, but predictions have been in the 6-7 range and that was prior to this run of form.
Posting every time Skinner has a good game is a nice way of glossing over all of this.
Playoffs are all that matters. All I know is Skinner shit the bed when it counted 3 years in a row. I feel we now have 2 goalies that could actually steal us that extra game that allows us number 6.
I heard last year, before the Stars series, that Skinner had an amazing WIN% for clutch games (Games 4-5-6-7). I checked that today. In 23 Games4-7 he’s played since 2023 (his first playoffs), through SCF 2025, Skinner has 18 Ws & 5 Ls for a .783 WIN%
That’s what Penguins traded for: a guy with a winning record in games that matter.
I can only think that Cap was the primary consideration in the trade (that and “noise management,” as some could not see Skinner for what he was, one of the franchise’s winningest goalies ever). It certainly wasn’t about winning, though I do hope that between them Ingram and Jarry can begin to match Skinner’s WIN% postseason. The D&F group makes it hard on every goalie.
His playoff stats also tell the tale of 2 goalies. Poor against LA x 2, VCR x 1, lights out against DAL x 2 and end of Vegas, inconsistent against Florida.
Tell that to Peter DeBoer.
Lost in all the stats and history making, was another casual 4-point night for Draisaitl. Also, “Just” two points for McD to extend his points lead.
Another casual 2 pts for Hyman to get back to 1 pt per game.
2 goals in his first 11 games returning from injury.
19 goals and 10A for 29 pts in his last 24 games.
It’s crazy that he has a 4 pt lead over MacKinnon with 4 more games played, and it is fully possible when Nate catches up that he could realistically have anywhere from a 2 to a 6 point lead. The top 3 with Kuch have been phenomenal and Celebrini and Drai not far behind.
I’ve seen Drai very poor the last two games – he’s accumulated 7 points in those two games……
Wait till he gets going…
I was talking to my son after the game, saying how impressive I thought McDavid was and how unimpressed with Draisaitl I was. Then he scrolls thru the box score and tells me Draisaitl had 4 points and McDavid 2. McDavid was flying thru the first 2 periods, especially.
This was an important win given the standings. The offence from the d-men has been incredible these past 2 games. Congrats to Stastney on his first goal as an Oiler! Jarry held them in there in the third, he got better as the game went on for sure. Some things for the team to work on of course. I can see why the Ducks are having so much success this season.
Sennecke was a -4?
Singular moments indeed. Dude was the best player on the ice tonight. I saw shades of Taylor Hall.
Also, when was the last time two different players playing in the same game had hat-tricks? Someone’s got to dig up that obscure stat!
Prime broadcast said it’s the first time ever in the NHL that 2 defensemen from the same team had back to back hatty’s.
Doesn’t happen often. When I searched, the most recent date that came up for players on opposing teams was March 29, 2018 by MacKinnon & Kucherov.
Ryan Smyth and Jonathan Cheechoo had natural hat tricks in the same game, iirc.
Had to Google when that was: October 12, 2006.
We didn’t yet know we had just entered the decade of darkness.
Yes! I remember it. My father in law worked for WEM and he took his 2 daughters and their boyfriends. My sister in laws boyfriend was a Flames fan 🤮.
When we were down a lot (4-1, I presume), I made him put my Oilers hat on in a rally effort. He got to throw it after Smyth completed the hatty. A lot of Smyth goals, inches from the net, if I recall. One may have ricocheted off him.
Don’t even remember Cheechoo had one too.
I think I was there! Did Smyth do that in the 3rd to mount the comeback win?
That’s my memory of it. I think Cheechoo’s goals were all snipes, and Smytty’s were all greasy ones scored from inside the crease.
Bouch scores first hat-trick ever, and first for an Oiler D-men in 20 years. Next game, Ekholm gets his first Hatty as well.
Pretty sure this has to be the first time in history that two different D-men on the same team score hat-tricks in two consecutive games.
Oilers always making history.
4 D-man goals in a period for the 6th time ever, I think I saw on the sportscast
This is the easiest path to the Western Conference Final they’ve had so far.
Probably be easier next year.
Stay healthy gentlemen, stay healthy.
Bouch/ Ekholm pair 6 goals in two games! Wow!!
What an absolute delight to see! Viking hatty!!!
Well deserved. He played a great game tonight.
They just said on the Prime Broadcast that this was I believe the first time in NHL history d-men have had hatty’s in back to back games.
He’s looking like the dominant defenseman he was before his injury last year.
Now if we can just turn Walman back into last year’s model.
#PlayLaBambaBaby
I’d be totally happy if the d-men take turns getting hat tricks. C’mon Walman.
Nurse is beyond salvage. Almost impossible to get rid of him. Should play 3 LD, max 10 min a game and no PK. A boat anchor for years to come.
Oilers retain salary, just get a decent 4-5M vet LHD from a rebuilding team in return and they’d be ahead by a century.
Eckholm telling Bouch hold my beer!
Ekholm with the 200 foot empty netter for the hatty LoL!!!
Take the 2 points – that’s a heck of a Ducks hockey team
And without Carlsson
Carlsson had 3 pts in the prior 11 games and 8 in the 18 games prior to injury. Far from the 36 pts he had put up in the first 26 games.
LOL! That’s awesome!
Good for the Viking – first hattie after what? 15 years in the league
Way to go Viking!
Nicely done Ek.
Shoulda put some cash on those 9:1 odds going into the third that he’d finish the job.
Be careful they’re are watching.
Ekholm Hatty!
Making up for 20 years without a Dman hat trick!
The Prime crew just said it’s the first time a team had hat tricks from Dmen in consecutive games.
Sloppy, sloppy, sloppy. But two points we will take. Swedish Viking Hatty!
Ek-Trick?!
Jarry has really held them in there in the third.
Credit where due, the Ducks were flying tonight. Another game where we just barely survive but it still counts as two points.
And vs close divisional rival. Could mean home ice in first round (if that’s relevant)
How many games have we lost this year that we should have won? We don’t always have to nitpick a win
That’s 2 goals saved by Lacombe tonight
*doesn’t matter, McD ices it with the empty netter
A lot of negative talk here.
Oilers are 4-1 even strength tonight.
PK uncharacteristically ineffective but Granlund was having a night.
Anaheim is way better this season, and they beat us 3 times last season.
Let’s be more negative about being negative 😂 . 7-4 win. Jarry solid. Broke Anaheim’s 7 game win streak. Reasonable roster deployment and successful start for Samanski. Not a Picasso
Phew!
Woodcroft sighting!
Play La Bamba!
Beautymark looks no worse for wear.
That Lacombe is some solid D man.
He is going to be an anchor for that D for a long time
With another goal saving save
A poster was asking why he’s Jones’ replacement on US Olympic team – this game is a good answer
That hit on Janmark was shoulder to head. Should’ve been a game misconduct.
100 percent a penalty especially after the refs let the Ducks back in the game with an uncalled dive
Jeezers McDavid
Nurse although he scored is having a terrible game
He need to take 2 steps and fire the puck high thru the middle.
It’s like the team is not coached to use the middle of the ice any more, and Anaheim is using it’s speed to keep the puck in.
QFT
The Amazon crew properly ran through the screwups/bad play and called him out.
The Oilers’ broadcast should be doing this constantly, given that they see it nearly every game and know he doesn’t correct it.
They also said he had a good game……
I suggest Nurse is sat down and told every time he goes down on the ice intentional that he will be sat up in the press box the next day. That needs to be out of his game yesterday. I cannot believe this has not been addressed by multiple coaches for multiple years now. This was put into him in the Tippet era and he has never been able to get it out of his game since.
Quack, quack, Darnell playing goalie again and gets beat.
Nurse is dumb as rocks – he had all day to clear that puck and he stupidly tried to ring it around the far boards. His inability to make a simple clear resulted in that PP goal.
Absolute dummy, and it’s a regular occurrence.
If Nurse takes 1 more step he clears that and the last 30 seconds doesn’t happen
Nurse rings it around, puck is held in, and it’s a 1 goal game with 6 min left
Nurse fails to clear and then the puck goes in off him.
I’m so tired of watching Nurse flail around.
Nurse on his knees AGAIN!
Off of him … SMH
its just silly
That after he blindly rimmed the puck around the boards in full control with time and space to make a better decision to clear.
McDavid gets called for a “dive” a few games ago. Harkins be diving with impunity
He went down very easily.
That’s 2 calls against Savoie that came bc a player fell/reacted to a nothing contact. Pshaw
The team that played last night winning all the puck battles. This game not over yet.
Edmonton looks like the team that played last night. The last 4 or 5 games have made me feel pretty pessimistic about their chances this year.
The D are handling the puck like it’s a hand grenade