EDMONTON — Let’s face it, there are always reasons to question if a winning streak is for real.
For example: Two of the Edmonton Oilers‘ wins in this four-game skein came against Anaheim and San Jose. That’s self-explanatory.
Sure, they beat Vegas in their barn for the third win, but then you got Seattle on the end of what amounts to a nine-game road trip. Let’s see how you do against Tampa on Thursday…
What? What? The Lightning play in Vancouver the night before?
You can slice it up however you want, but here’s what the standings say: The Oilers kept the Kraken within reach, pulling to within three points of Seattle with a decisive 5-2 victory Tuesday night in Edmonton.
It’s Edmonton’s fourth straight victory, the Oilers’ first since a five-game win streak that ended on Nov. 3.
“That’s a good team that we went out and played well against, start to finish,” said defenceman Darnell Nurse, who logged a team-high 24:12. “We got ourselves a lead and worked hard.”
Sure, Seattle, tied for second in the Pacific Division, has two games in hand on fourth-place Edmonton. But with three of their next four games against Vancouver, Columbus and Chicago — then a trip through Detroit, Philly, Ottawa and Montreal after the All-Star break — the Oilers are poised for a season-changing run of games, if they keep their level where it was Tuesday.
And over the past four games, the level has been as high as we’ve seen all season.
“There has been a real buy-in, you can see it from our group,” Nurse said. “In our D-zone we are keeping a lot of stuff to the outside, and when the puck does get to the net, the goalie has to make the first save — but we want to clean up everything around him.”
We’ve seen this effort on road this season, in cities like Dallas, Tampa, Vegas and Calgary.
Seeing this at home? That’s a sight for sore eyes indeed.
So far in 2022-23, it has always seemed like there was a reason to fold the tent at home. To blow a 2-0 lead.
On Tuesday, home ice looked like a place that Edmonton controlled.
“We weren’t able to properly string games together. Now we have won (four) in a row,” said Zach Hyman (1-2-3). “We’re playing the right way, we’re playing strong, mature third periods. Playing to our game and making sure we make it difficult on the guys on the other side and understanding the type of game you are in when you are up.
“I think that is really encouraging.”
Connor McDavid popped his 38th in game No. 46, hammering a wrister past Martin Jones after a dandy solo rush. He’ll score 50 this season, but any dreams of 50 in 50 seem snuffed at this point, needing 12 tucks in his next four games.
McDavid still has an eight-game scoring streak, and has points in 25 of his last 26 games. This one wasn’t about the stars, however — another very good sign for Edmonton.
The Oilers scored five times on a night where the power play went 0-for-3. On a night where McDavid and Leon Draisaitl (two assists) combined for three points, Hyman, Derek Ryan, Warren Foegele and Ryan McLeod all had singles — the latter three from near or inside the blue paint.
“We have to find different ways to win. You can’t just rely on your power play,” said Foegele, who had perhaps his best night of the season on a night where the coach chose to healthy-scratch Jesse Puljujarvi ahead of him. “Everyone is contributing, everyone is working hard. We have to stay with it.”
You’re starting to see the same game from this Oilers team, night after night. Less wild swings, more consistent system play.
“We’re managing the puck really well and not giving away goals like we were before,” nodded Foegele. “It’s just constant rhythm to make it more difficult for their defencemen.”
And, if you can stand the prosperity, there was one more nugget of good news in Evander Kane’s return after missing 31 games with a wrist injury. He was dynamite, with seven shots on goal and five hits, both team highs.
“It felt fine. No issues, other than my (lack of) finish,” Kane said. “I guess I can’t expect too much. But I had my looks tonight, which is a positive. I’ll just try to build on that.”