Hello, hello, hello.
Welcome back to part six of my series Oilers In Seven where we take a look at the Oilers in, well, seven-game sets. This time is a little different as we’re looking at the Oilers last nine game set. More on that under all the numbers in the write-up, however.
If you’re new to the series, welcome! For those reading once again, welcome! This series is here to give you a better understanding of the Oilers on a smaller scale.
Feedback is welcome in the comments, or on Twitter.

The Numbers

Games 1-7: 6-1, .857 points %
Games 8-15: 4-3-1, .563
Games 16-22: 3-2-2, .571
Games 23-29: 4-3, .571
Games 30-36: 2-4-1, .357
Games 37-43: 2-4-1, .357
Games 44-52: 7-1-1, .833
Season record: 28-18-6, ,593 points %, 12th in the NHL
Games 1-7
PP% – 45.5, 1st overall.
PK% – 88.5, 5th.
Games 8-15:
PP% — 9.5, 26th overall.
PK% — 81.8, 18th.
Games 16-22:
PP% — 39.1, 2nd overall.
PK% — 92.0, 3rd.
Games 23-29:
PP% — 35.7, 4th overall.
PK% — 85.0, 10th.
Games 30-36:
PP% — 28.5, 6th overall.
PK% — 68.7, 28th.
Games 37-43:
PP% — 22.7, 17th overall.
PK% — 76.9, 15th.
Games 44-52:
PP% — 26.9, 9th overall.
PK% — 79.2, 19th.
Season totals:
PP% — 29.5, 1st overall.
PK% — 82.9,  8th.
Even Strength
STAT
RATE G1-7 + LEAGUE RANK
RATE G8-15 + LEAGUE RANK
RATE G16-22 + LEAGUE RANK
RATE G23-29 + LEAGUE RANK
RATE G30-36 + LEAGUE RANK
RATE G37-43 + LEAGUE RANK
RATE G44-52 + LEAGUE RANK
 SEASON TOTALS
CF%
44.02 – 30TH
50.13 — 16TH
48.97 — 18TH
47.45 — 23RD
45.43 — 29TH
46.08 — 23RD
51.00 — 13TH
47.84 — 26TH
GF%
54.55 – 10TH
50.00 — 17TH
48.65 — 18TH
44.12 — 24TH
30.00 — 31ST
36.24 — 30TH
63.46 — 3RD
48.16 — 24TH
XGF%
41.96 – 30TH
53.25 — 10TH
52.79 — 8TH
48.58 — 20TH
42.15 — 29TH
49.55 — 14TH
54.20 — 5TH
49.38 — 16TH
GF/60
3.1 — 9TH
1.89 — 29TH
3.19 — 10TH
2.5 — 15TH
1.56 — 30TH
2.19  — 26TH
4.26 — 1ST
2.7 — 18TH
GA/60
2.58 — 11TH
1.89 — 4TH
3.36 — 25TH
3.16 — 24TH
3.65 — 30TH
3.53 — 25TH
2.45 — 10TH
2.9 — 25TH
TEAM SH%
12.95 – 3RD
6.25 — 28TH
10.71 — 9TH
8.57 — 14TH
5.56 — 30TH
7.78 — 25TH
12.84 — 2ND
9.25 — 14TH
TEAM SV%
.9167 – 11TH
93.23 — 4TH
88.82 — 23RD
90.59 — 23RD
88.33 — 30TH
87.86 — 28TH
92.18 — 7TH
90.52 — 25TH
PDO
1.046 – 3RD
99.5 — 20TH
99.5 — 16TH
99.2 — 19TH
93.9 — 30TH
95.6 — 29TH
105 — 3RD
99.8 — 21ST
All Situations
STAT
RATE G1-7 + LEAGUE RANK
RATE G8-15 + LEAGUE RANK
RATE G16-22 + LEAGUE RANK
RATE G23-29 + LEAGUE RANK
RATE G30-36 + LEAGUE RANK
RATE G37-43 + LEAGUE RANK
RATE G44-52 + LEAGUE RANK
 SEASON TOTALS
CF%
43.96 — 30TH
50.56 — 17TH
49.23 — 19TH
45.96 — 25TH
47.66 — 23RD
46.66 — 22ND
50.52 — 16TH
47.99 — 27TH
GF%
59.57 — 5TH
45.45 — 23RD
54.00 — 9TH
45.24 — 24TH
39.53 — 28TH
41.30 — 28TH
64.18 — 2ND
51.22 — 14TH
XGF%
40.50 — 30TH
52.59 — 12TH
50.49 — 14TH
47.41 — 24TH
47.18 — 22ND
51.74 — 10TH
55.75 — 1ST
49.87 — 17TH
GF/60
3.95 — 3RD
1.84 — 30TH
3.83 — 5TH
2.68 — 16TH
2.42 — 26TH
2.71 — 25TH
4.73 — 1ST
3.2 — 11TH
GA/60
2.68 — 11TH
2.21 — 5TH
3.26 — 19TH
3.25 — 24TH
3.7 — 30TH
3.85 — 27TH
2.64 — 8TH
3.05 — 20TH
TEAM SH%
15.64 — 1ST
6.07 — 29TH
12.80 — 4TH
9.45 — 17TH
8.17 — 23RD
9.22 — 22ND
14.53 — 1ST
10.85 — 4TH
TEAM SV%
.9177 — 9TH
92.50 — 4TH
88.78 — 22ND
90.50 — 21ST
87.50 — 30TH
87.38— 27TH
91.72 — 7TH
90.18 — 19TH
PDO
1.074 — 1ST
0.986 — 23RD
101.6 — 10TH
99.9 — 19TH
95.7 — 29TH
96.6 — 27TH
106.3 — 2ND
101 — 10TH
Stats via Natural Stat Trick, glossary with definitions here.

Player Stats

Stats via Hockey Reference 

What it all means

As I mentioned earlier, I choose to break down this stretch over a nine-game span vs. the usual seven games. Edmonton has been playing some of their best game of the season and seven games was a fairly small sample size during that time given nearly every other team. It’s also going to give even sets moving forward the rest of the way, except for the final set which will see eight games.
Nonetheless, the Oilers have been absolutely on fire for all off the new year. Edmonton has cruised out to a 7-1-1 record in their last games and are playing their best even-strength hockey of the season. They posted their second positive CF% stretch of games and have played their best all-around hockey of the season.
Their expected goals for rate of 54.2 was their best of the year and truly indicative of how well they’ve played at even-strength. It’s been a key for an Oilers club who have dominated in terms of special teams all season. Their powerplay still paces the league at 29.5% while their penalty kill chugs along at 82.9%, too.
It can’t be stressed enough how important it is for Edmonton to start clicking with strong even-strength play. It’s been key in this nine-game stretch as their penalty kill posted their third-worst stretch of the season.
Their even-strength goal scoring was very impressive scoring 4.26 goals per hour in the clubs’ best stretch — by a long shot — that has helped propel the club forward. The Oilers second line of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Leon Draisaitl and Kailer Yamamoto each on the ice for over a dozen goals.
They’ve been tremendous at even-strength since they were put together on New Year’s Eve and there’s no doubt the trio won’t be going anywhere for a while. It’s also freed up Connor McDavid, too, who has been on one of his best stretches individually. He’s led the way driving play with a 56.38 CF% and a strong 56.97 xGF%.
Over the next seven games, Edmonton plays @ Arizona, vs. SJ, Nashville and Chicago, before a three-game road trip @ Tampa, Florida and Carolina. The front four games of the stretch are crucial games for the Oilers as all but San Jose are still in the hunt for a wild card spot in the west.
On Twitter: @zjlaing