The Edmonton Oilers have been one of the hottest teams in the NHL over the past five and a half weeks. After the holiday break, they will look to continue their success when they play the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday.
Back on Nov. 18, the Oilers were 9-8-2 after a 3-0 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. They bounced back the next night with a 5-2 win against the Ottawa Senators, starting their current 12-3-0 run. Most recently, they’ve won three straight games, including a 3-1 victory against the Senators on Sunday.
“I think we’re in a good spot,” goalie Stuart Skinner said after the win. “We’re finding ways to win games. We don’t want to lose two in a row, and we’ve been doing a pretty good job of that lately. I think the way we’ve been playing in all ends of the ice has been pretty consistent.”
Earlier in the season, the Oilers scored 2.63 goals per game and allowed 3.16 goals. Since Nov. 19, they’ve flipped the script, averaging 4.07 goals while allowing just 2.33 per game. Their special teams have also improved, with the power play rising from 16.3 percent efficiency to 28.2 percent and the penalty kill from 67.4 percent to 86.7 percent.
Zach Hyman has been a key part of the Oilers’ success. The 32-year-old has scored seven goals in a six-game streak and has 10 goals in nine games since returning from injury on Dec. 5.
“When you’re feeling good, things are easier, things slow down,” he said. “When you’re not feeling good, everything seems fast. … So much of hockey and sports are results-driven. And when you’re not getting the results, you know that it’s about the process and about getting your looks and getting your chances and being around it.”
The Kings, on the other hand, are starting a five-game homestand after a tough road trip. They lost back-to-back games to end a seven-game trip that lasted 13 days.
Los Angeles has had some struggles lately, winning only two of their last six games (2-2-2), but they are just one point behind the Oilers for second place in the Pacific Division.
“It’s a pretty good trip,” coach Jim Hiller said. “We would have liked points out of (a 3-1 loss to the Washington Capitals on Sunday), but the trip itself was good. We played some pretty good hockey.”
The Kings hope their strong home record can help them bounce back. They’ve been one of the best home teams, going 10-2-1 in 13 games, including five straight wins at home. Their last home loss came on Nov. 20 against Buffalo.
Defenseman Mikey Anderson has stepped up in the absence of Drew Doughty, playing a career-high 22:43 minutes per game, more than a minute higher than his previous best.
“What an engine and he’s really taking a step,” Hiller said. “We’ve talked about that more than once. He’s a really important player for us.”
