EDMONTON — First place in the Pacific Division has, for all intents and purposes, disappeared from the Edmonton Oilers’ grasp. They are now eight points back of the Vegas Golden Knights, a gap that is far too large to close with two games remaining. Unless the Kings tank, which would be highly unlikely, the Oilers will have to win both of their remaining regular season games to qualify for home ice advantage in the opening round of the playoffs. Discover more details about Edmonton Oilers Schedule.
The Oilers open the second of those two high-stakes matchups Thursday night at the Honda Center against the Dallas Stars. Neither team enters the game with much of a chance to win the division title, but each has its own reasons for wanting to finish strong.
Edmonton has been a better team in the second half of the season. The team has improved its goal and Grade A shots differential from -0.2 and -1.3 to +1.5 and +4.6, respectively.
Its best player, Connor McDavid, has been on fire as of late. He leads the league with 103 points and is a top-five playmaker. His presence creates problems for opposing defences and gives the Oilers a real chance to go far in the playoffs.
The Oilers’ defence has been solid, too. It features a core of veteran players and young stars in Jack Campbell, Sami Niskanen, and Stuart Skinner. The trio has combined to allow only a handful of goals this season.
Both teams have been strong on special teams as well, which is why the game could be a low-scoring affair. The teams have combined for a total of only seven power-play goals this year.
The Flames-Jets rivalry is unique among the NHL’s divisional rivalries because both teams compete in the same conference, although they do not share the same division (Calgary plays in the Pacific Division and Winnipeg in the Central Division). The original incarnation of the Jets and the current Calgary squad have met four times in the playoffs, with each winning two series.
The last time these two teams met in the postseason was in 2022, when the Oilers beat the Flames in six games. That series featured some of the most intense, fast-paced playoff games this season, and it will be interesting to see how the two teams play in a similar atmosphere. Especially in an arena as loud and intimidating as the Honda Center.