Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers have been the second-best team in the NHL since Jay Woodcroft coached his first game on Feb. 11. That explains why the team feels it is ...

An Oilers team that was bounced out of the playoffs last season largely due to insufficient depth has shown over 82 games that they have remedied that ill, producing five 20-goal scorers. They have not lost in regulation at home since March 5th — nearly two months ago — not a bad mental picture to take into the post-season, where they’ll have home ice advantage in Round 1 against the Kings. It allows us to stay in the rhythm. It was sloppy early on Friday and strange late, with a bunch of guys not named McDavid and Draisaitl skating around aimlessly in overtime. Edmonton finishes second in its Division for the third consecutive season, the first time this organization has fielded three straight playoff teams since a five-year stretch that ended in 2001. Edmonton gets the Los Angeles Kings in Round 1. They are all good guys and we are ready to go.” But we’ve felt comfort in that rhythm. Friday’s game No. 82 was an entirely meaningless affair against Vancouver, featuring one club that will get into a playoff game only if they buy a ticket. “It is a fun position to be in. We are excited to get it going.” “I don’t think we are surprising anyone or underdogs by any means.

If the Edmonton Oilers were trying to prove they could play without their three star players, Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Darnell Nurse, ...

He kept the Oilers in early and gave the team a chance to comeback. He wired in an outside shot through a heavy screen to tie the game in the third. He fired a hard shot on net late in the second, which Brassard tipped. He charged in for a breakaway shot in the third and put it off the crossbar. He threw a solid hit on Quinn Hughes. He ripped in an outside shot early in the third, with Kane creating the distraction in front of the net. Late in the second, he won the puck in the n-zone, again in the o-zone, then went in on a fine backhand break in attempt only to be thwarted. He got out of position on a dangerous sequence in the second period, with Pettersson hammering it on net. He also got burned on Hughes’ pass over to Miller for a 5-alarm shot in OT. Rifled a hard shot in OT on a 2-on-1. He set up Kane for a delicious slot shot in the second, but Kane missed the net. He charged in and directed on outside shot from Kane on net for a 5-alarmer early in the third. He won a battle at the blueline, then got a return pass to burst in on a breakaway late in the third but failed to score. He sent in RNH on his breakaway late in the third.

EDMONTON — Even with star forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl resting for the playoffs, the Edmonton Oilers were able to close out the regular season ...

Notes: The two teams also played each other to open the season, with Edmonton winning 3-2 in a shootout. “I told them I was really proud of them. “It's been a sprint,” he said. I do like where our team is at." We are just ready and excited to execute it. Devin Shore was the lone player to score in a shootout session that went 10 players as the Edmonton Oilers managed to close out the season with a 3-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Friday.

It makes sense. The playoffs are set to start early next week and Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl don't have to prove anything to anybody. Mikko Koskinen (26- ...

It’s been a long season, and the second one starts next week. The playoffs are set to start early next week and Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl don’t have to prove anything to anybody. It’s a wonderful time to be alive.