Oilers in playoff mode while Ducks finish out season
The Edmonton Oilers are showing they can win in a variety of ways, a recent trait that should provide them a boost heading into the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Oilers will carry a nine-game point streak into their matchup against the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday night.
The Oilers (44-23-9, 97 points) beat the visiting Los Angeles Kings 2-0 on Thursday night to overtake them for second place in the Pacific Division and pull within two points of the first-place Vegas Golden Knights.
Two days earlier, Edmonton outscored the Golden Knights in a 7-4 win in Las Vegas.
"Good thing for our team is we're learning how to win different types of games," Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft said. "If you were to compare the game in Las Vegas, compared to (Thursday) night's game, two completely different games. The most important thing is we found a way. At this time of year, that's all that's important."
The superstars for Edmonton also continue to perform at a meteoric level.
Connor McDavid scored on a short-handed breakaway against the Kings to extend his point streak to 10 games (seven goals, 13 assists).
Leon Draisaitl had the primary assist on the other goal by Evander Kane to extend his point streak to 11 games (six goals, 15 assists).
"I thought that was a really good message to send, not only to them, but to everyone, that we can play that patient game and win," said McDavid, who leads the NHL with 61 goals, which is 17 more than the career high he set last season.
The return of Kane has also been a major boost for the Oilers.
He missed 2 1/2 months earlier this season after sustaining a deep gash on his wrist with a skate blade, and then missed another three weeks with a rib injury.
In the 11 games since his latest return, Kane has six goals, hitting the back of the net twice in the past two games.
"Kaner's game is rounding into form right now," Woodcroft said. "He's always been known as a big-game player, and these last two he's shown the level that he can play at. The good news is there's not a lot of miles on that chassis this year. He's just kind of rounding into form and at the right time of the year, and we need him."
The Ducks (23-42-10, 56 points) haven't been putting up much of a fight in recent games and seem to be counting down to the end of another disappointing season.
Anaheim has lost six in a row, getting outscored 15-5 in the past three.
Making things more difficult, the Ducks could be without their top two point scorers against the Oilers.
Trevor Zegras sustained a lower-body injury in a 5-1 loss to the visiting Colorado Avalanche on Monday and did not play in the 4-1 loss at the Seattle Kraken on Thursday.
Troy Terry is not on the three-game road trip because his wife, Dani, is expecting their first child.
Ducks coach Dallas Eakins, however, continues to be pleased with the team's demeanor.
"I've been so proud of this group during an adverse year," Eakins said. "We've bent a few times but never broken. They continue to have great attitudes. We just have some amazing young men here."
This article was originally posted on Reuters on March 31, 2023.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
CFIA monitoring for avian flu in Canadian dairy cattle after U.S. discoveries
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is encouraging veterinarians to keep an eye out for signs of avian influenza in dairy cattle following recent discoveries of cases of the disease in U.S. cow herds.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
Vancouver firefighter in rehab at home after losing leg to flesh-eating infection overseas
A family trip took a frightening turn for Christopher Won when he was diagnosed with flesh-eating disease while in Hong Kong and now, after weeks of treatment overseas, the Vancouver firefighter is back home recovering.
WATCH Video shows dramatic police takedown of carjacking suspects chased through parking lot north of Toronto
Police have released video footage of a dramatic takedown of a group of teens wanted in connection with an attempted carjacking in Markham earlier this month.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
Advocacy groups speak out against domestic violence comments by Nova Scotia minister
Several Nova Scotia groups that assist women are speaking out against comments on domestic violence by Justice Minister Brad Johns, and at least one is calling for his dismissal.