A quarter of the way through the season, the Edmonton Oilers are about a quarter of the way to where they need to be as a hockey team.
Right now the formula is playing about 30 strong minutes a night and hitting the gas midway through the in the third period to see if they can overcome it. It’s relying too heavily on too few players, getting spotty goaltending and being bailed out by the power play.
It’s playing on a razor’s edge — 13 one-goal games and going to overtime nine times in 20 starts.
“We’re just scraping and clawing our way through the first quarter,” said captain Connor McDavid, who is finding his own high-water mark with six goals and 10 assists in the last eight games. “We’re getting points on the board and that’s all that matters.”
It’s a battle already and it’s only November. Things aren’t falling into place yet, which is concerning this far into the season, but it is making for some wild theatre.
The combination of falling asleep, making too many mistakes and a ferocious, never-say-die attitude led by a handful of superstars who can turn a game on a dime is resulting in nightly fireworks.
No two-goal lead is safe, no matter who has it, when the Oilers are playing. Third period leads? Those are just for show.
Consider that in just 20 games so far, the Oilers scored or allowed a tying or winning goal in the last two minutes of the third period four times (counting the one in Philly that got called back). Three more tying or winning goals, (two for, one against) came with just over five minutes to go. They’ve had five games that weren’t sealed until an empty-netter (two for, three against) and they’ve gone to a shootout twice (0-2).
That’s 14 of 20 games where they’ve barely had room to breathe. Much of that drama is self-inflicted, but they’re grinding like nobody’s business.
“The group of guys we have this year, we’re a hard team to play against,” said goaltender Stuart Skinner, whose own inconsistency mirrors that of his team. “We play like men, we play a hard-fought game, we grind, we’re able to come up with some big plays at the right times and we have some amazing talent up front.
“We’re definitely scratching and clawing. I feel like every game I play we’re going to overtime.”
Carolina Hurricanes’ Jackson Blake (53) tries to gather in the puck in front of Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner (74) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025.
In a boat with far too many leaks, this battle-hardened resilience has allowed them to keep their heads above water.
Barely.
The Oilers are clinging to the final wildcard spot in the west, but their points percentage (.550) ranks 10th in the conference, their four wins in regulation are tied for fewest in the NHL and they are on pace for a 90-point season, which won’t be good enough to make the playoffs.
It’s good that they’re staying afloat, but they all know it won’t be for long if they don’t shore up the defence, tighten up the goaltending, spread the offence around and inject some life into the players on this team who are supposed to be physical.
“We’re always expecting more, we always want more out of the guys,” said head coach Kris Knoblauch. “But I feel like we’re getting a lot of traction, we’re getting better at our game, whether it’s the penalty kill, five-on-five play, defensive zone coverage, all that stuff. We have a long ways to go but I like were it’s trending.”
Starting their ominous seven-game road trip 2-1 is a reassuring step considering the 12-day journey has the potential to sink their season. It makes them 3-1 in their last four games after posting just two wins in the eight games before that (2-3-3).
Hyman’s return ‘huge’: McDavid
So, maybe things are starting to come around. The return of winger Zach Hyman after missing the first 19 games of the season looks like a massive injection of energy and life. His fingerprints were all over Edmonton’s 4-3 overtime win in Carolina Saturday — 23 minutes of ice time, 11 hits and an assist wiped out any doubt that the 33-year-old might not be the same player when he came back after seven months recovering from wrist surgery.
“It’s huge,” said McDavid. “He’s a great leader, brings a lot of positivity to our room, which is needed. He’s a big part of our team on the ice and a big part of it off the ice. Leadership, you name it, he does it.
“To see him back and playing and healthy and moving really well is definitely uplifting for everybody.”
And they still have Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to add to the mix when he comes back, presumably this week.
Maybe things are looking up. Or, maybe, with four road games (Buffalo, Washington, Tampa Bay and Florida) in a six-day span, we’re in for a lot more drama.
E-mail: rtychkowski@postmedia.com
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