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Daily Faceoff Show: Can the Edmonton Oilers score 120 powerplay goals?

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Photo credit:Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Zach Laing
2 years ago
There are few things more impressive to start the NHL season than the Edmonton Oilers powerplay.
It’s operating at 47.1 percent clip going into Monday nights’ games and it has no sign of slowing down. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl make a potent 1-2 punch at even-strength play, but on the powerplay when the opposing team is down a player, it hits another level.
Edmonton has scored eight goals with the extra man so far this season pacing them to an astounding 131 goals over an 82-game schedule. It’s a number that would smash the record of 119 powerplay goals scored by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1988-89 season.

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On the Daily Faceoff Show Monday morning, Frank Seravalli and former NHL’er Bryce Salvador dove into whether or not the Oilers would be able to hit the 120 mark.
“The Oilers over the last couple of years have historically had one of the best conversion rates in NHL history, and I predicted they would set a new record for that this year,” said Seravalli, before passing off to Salvador.
“When you got arguably two of the best players offensively in the game right now, I’m never going to say they can’t do it,” he said. “They’re converting 47 percent right now on the powerplay? I’m telling you right now Frank, I would not want to be defending that especially seeing the reports you’ve got Connor McDavid practicing one-timers on his off-flank.
“I would say based on some of the stats I’m finding… they probably won’t do this.”
Seravalli added that historically, it’s hard to see them doing it.
“The record since ’05-’06 actually belongs to the Toronto Maple Leafs, believe it or not,” he said. “Coming out of the lockout they scored 107 in that season. That’s most anyone has gotten to since the 119 mark.”
What do you think, Nation Citizens? Will the Oilers hit the 120 mark?

Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.

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