Oilers taking improved defence into playoffs - BERITAJA

EDMONTON – For 65 games the Edmonton Oilers were conscionable different mediocre squad struggling to find a measurement into the NHL playoffs successful the anemic Pacific Division.

Trade deadline acquisitions and a new-found dedication to defence, necessitated partially by the wounded to prima guardant Leon Draisaitl, turned about their fortunes and has them entering the playoffs looking for illustration a squad that mightiness yet beryllium could of making the Stanley Cup last for a 3rd consecutive season.

Heading into Thursday’s last nighttime of the regular season, the Oilers beryllium 2nd successful the division, 2 points down Las Vegas Knights and 1 up of Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings. The Oilers, who are location to the Vancouver Canucks, could decorativeness anyplace from first to fourth.

“This is simply a immense crippled for us, and we get to benignant of take our ain destiny and our ain result present astatine the extremity of the year,” defenceman Darnell Nurse said aft Wednesday’s practice. “It’s the position we’ve put ourselves successful and you want to make this past 1 count. The chance to play for location crystal advantage.”

Not, he added, that he puts a immense magnitude of banal successful that advantage.

“You know, you spell connected the road, you’re playing free to start. It’s ever bully to besides commencement astatine home. You get the familiarity of being successful your ain rink and being about family and whatnot. So, I mean, each has its advantages.”

While the Oilers showed improved protect lucky down the stretch, the erratic plY they person exhibited each play has continued. Only doubly this play did they triumph much than 2 consecutive games – a three-game streak successful early March and past a five-game tally March 24-April 2. Since that run, however, they are 1-3 and person fixed up 16 goals.

“Look, it’s each about consistency and doing it each and each night,” Nurse said. “I deliberation complete the people of the season, there’s been, possibly not to the consistency we want, but there’s been a batch of nights that we played lucky the measurement we wanted to play. It’s been trending successful the correct guidance present astatine the extremity of the year, and it’s decidedly wherever we want to beryllium going successful the playoffs.”

What has been inconsistent lately is the offence. Edmonton scored 5 goals successful back-to-back games but past scored conscionable erstwhile successful its past 2 games.

“You cognize a batch of times it’s luck,” caput coach Kris Knoblauch said of the scoring, adding that players person to admit the checking is tighter this clip of the year, location are little openings offensively and players person to “pay a price” to get goals.

The offence will get a boost erstwhile Zach Hyman, a regular winger for skipper Connor McDavid, returns to the lineup for Thursday’s game.

“Zach felt comfortable getting a crippled successful earlier he hits the playoffs,” said Knoblauch. “So, I deliberation that’s a bully idea. Put him in, spot what he could do. Obviously, it’s not conscionable him uncovering his game, getting fresh for the playoffs. Tomorrow’s a very important crippled for america and he will thief america win.”

Injuries still stay a interest for Edmonton. Draisaitl has been retired since mid-March pinch a lower-body rumor and says he won’t beryllium fresh for the first crippled of the playoffs, but possibly during the first round.

Max Jones and Jason Dickinson are day-to-day. Knoblauch said there’s a chance Dickinson whitethorn beryllium fresh for the first crippled but that apt won’t beryllium wished until Friday erstwhile the doctors measure him aft he skates.

“If he’s fresh to play, he’s itching to get backmost into the lineup and spot maine I want him in,” Knoblauch said.

This study by BERITAJA was first published April 15, 2026.