Depth scoring heaters are a Godsend for players and coaches. Usually, because they come out of nowhere.

On January 9th, the Oilers faced the Los Angeles Kings. Ryan McLeod entered the game without a goal in 22 games. He hadn’t scored since October 24th. He went 15 games without a goal, then after a three-assist game in Florida he was hurt on his final shift of the game. He returned a month later and went another seven games without a goal.

But then he scored in LA v. the Kings. His goal late in the second period made it 4-2 LA.

It wasn’t a spectacular play, just a solid go to the net and finish the rebound. The Oilers would lose 6-3, so the goal didn’t seem that impactful at the time. But it was the start of a heater for McLeod.

Since his goals v. the Kings he has five goals and six points in his last nine games. The Oilers are 8-0-1. The Oilers have scored 45 goals and their depth players have been significant contributors. Warren Foegele has three goals. Klim Kostin has four. Derek Ryan has two. Of course, the big-four has led the way, as they should, with Connor McDavid (7-9-16), Zach Hyman (6-10-16), Leon Draisaitl (7-7-14) and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (4-10-14) producing well.

But at 5×5 the scoring has been much closer. McDavid and McLeod have five goals, Kostin and Draisaitl have four, while Foegele and Hyman have three.

It is almost like Kostin handed the “depth scoring heater” baton to McLeod. Kostin scored 2-2-4 in his first 17 games with Edmonton, which was decent production when he was just trying to secure himself a job in Edmonton playing fourth line minutes. But then Kostin scored 7-2-9 in 12 games between December 21st-January 14th. He scored some timely goals that helped the Oilers win. Overall, he has 9-4-13 in 35 games which is excellent production for a bottom-six player with no power play time. He’s also added a much-needed dose of physicality to the lineup.

McLeod has 9-7-16 in 38 games and his next goal will set a new career high. No one expects McLeod to score six goals every 10 games (that is a 49-goal pace), but when depth scorers get hot, they, and the coaches, want to ride it as long as possible. It is extremely difficult to score consistently in the NHL, so inevitably McLeod will slow down, but if the Oilers continue to have different depth players on heaters their odds of winning consistently will remain high.

Will Foegele get on a heater? Maybe Dylan Holloway will. Regardless of who it is, with the 11-forward formation the depth players are logging a few more minutes each game and getting more opportunities to produce. It has become a successful formula, and I don’t see why Woodcroft would change it any time soon.

John Tortorella had a very honest assessment of Tony DeAngelo. Some will question why he said it, but the entire quote is fair, not disparaging, and is honest. For many offensive-minded defenders, learning to defend in the NHL is very difficult.

Who they are paired with can significantly impact, positively or negatively, how some defenders perform. Great defenders can make their partner look, and feel, more comfortable. Even steady veteran players can have a calming influence on young defenders who are early in their careers.

NOT-SO-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: In his first career game v. the Flyers, Dylan Holloway scores a goal.