Two-thirds of the way through their season, (most of) the Edmonton Oilers are getting a well-deserved break.
While Connor McDavid, Mattias Ekholm, and Viktor Arvidsson are representing their countries at the 4 Nations Face-Off, the rest of the Oilers’ roster will get the next two weeks to rest and recuperate for the final stretch of the season.
It also gives us a chance to take a look back at the first 55 games of their season and take stock of all that’s happened. To that end, today we’re going to highlight some of the biggest surprises and disappointments of the season so far, before returning tomorrow to look ahead to the final third of the regular season and beyond.
The Good
Leon “Rocket” Draisaitl
While he couldn’t take the lead in the scoring race against Nathan MacKinnon on Friday, Draisaitl has levelled up his game this season. He hit the 40-goal plateau for the sixth time in his career with a two-goal game against the Avalanche, seven goals ahead of the next-highest scorer, and sits second in the league in points with 83.
Better yet, Draisaitl has massively improved his defensive game, vaulting him to the top of the Hart Trophy conversation along with MacKinnon, Quinn Hughes, and Connor Hellebuyck. There’s no reason to believe he can’t keep this up and capture his first Rocket Richard Trophy and second MVP at the season’s end.
A Defensive Juggernaut
The Oilers’ long-held reputation as an all-offence firewagon is dead. This year, they boast one of the tightest five-on-five defences in the league, sitting sixth in expected goals against with 105.85 according to MoneyPuck.
Combine that with their still-elite offence (third in the league in xG with 129.41), and it’s no wonder the Oilers are the consensus Stanley Cup favourites.
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The Bad
New Forwards Fall Flat
Much was made of the Oilers’ improved secondary scoring over the summer after the additions of Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner in free agency. The two veteran wingers were lauded as consistent top-six scorers upon their…