As they travel to play the Calgary Flames on Saturday, the Edmonton Oilers are poised to make NHL history.
With their most recent triumph, a 4-2 comeback victory over the Seattle Kraken on Thursday, the Oilers have now won 12 games in a row, tying the record set by the 1967–68 Montreal Canadiens for the best run by a Canadian team.
The Edmonton coach, Kris Knoblauch, stated, “We don’t talk about the streak very much, if at all.” “I don’t know what they discuss after I leave the room, but I doubt it. I believe that we discuss, consider, and consider our position in the standings.” After winning just two of their first twelve games of the season, the Oilers have gone on an incredible 23-game winning streak over their last 29 games to take third place in the Pacific Division.
Unsurprisingly, amid the team’s surge that has lifted Edmonton from mid-November 31st in the league to a much better position at the halfway point, its dynamic combo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have seen their games explode. During the triumph over the Kraken, Draisaitl recorded one goal and three assists. McDavid has scored 12 points in 12 games throughout his previous 25 games.
But it’s not just their offensive that has the Oilers winning. As evidence of the team’s dedication to defense, No. 1 goalkeeper Stuart Skinner has won 19 of 23 starts since the turnaround started, including his last nine. He also has a 2.15 goals-against average and a.921 save percentage. Nevertheless, during their 12-game run, the Oilers have pulled off eight comeback victory thanks to their offensive assault.
Defenseman Mattias Ekholm stated, “This winning streak has had that as its theme.” “I think we’ve stayed composed.” Even though the Flames would love to stop their winning streak and pop the bubble of their fiercest opponents, they have more pressing concerns. The Flames lost 4-3 at home against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday, capping off their best four-game winning streak of the season in which Calgary gave up a 2-0 lead.
As coach Ryan Huska put it, “Stupid” turnovers proved particularly costly while against the Maple Leafs, who have elite talent players like Auston Matthews. The top goal scorer in the league finished with three goals and one assist. “We’re playing a similar team on Saturday, so I think we’ve got to learn from (the loss), know that the second period, the way we played, turning too many pucks over is going to cost us,” Mikael Backlund, the Flames captain, said.
The Flames have some players who can score if they aren’t stopped, even if the Oilers are rightfully regarded more highly for their offensive onslaught. Against Toronto, Yegor Sharangovich and Nazem Kadri both managed goals. Kadri is riding an eight-game point streak with six goals and five assists, while Sharangovich has seven goals in his last five games. The Oilers’ players provide a threat to the Flames, and they know they need to strengthen their defense.
