The Edmonton Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights both came into Sunday’s game in the second half of a back-to-back weekend, and with each club missing key pieces, it was tough to predict what to expect in their first matchup of the season. Unsurprisingly, the game featured plenty of ebbs and flows, as both sides took control of the play for stretches. In the end, the Oilers outlasted Vegas’ comeback attempt, closing out what turned into an intense 4-3 win.

Before Sunday’s game started, Kris Knoblauch spoke to the media and announced that the newly acquired Tristan Jarry would be out for “weeks” with a lower-body injury. He didn’t say how many weeks, just that Jarry would be out for weeks. The way I process that information is to adjust Knoblauch’s words for Oilers-inflation, which means that our new number one could be out until February. Of course, only time will tell how long the former-Penguin is actually on the shelf, but in the interim, his absence was an opportunity for the freshly recalled Connor Ingram. Ingram was acquired from Utah for beans and best wishes back on October 1st, and last night was the first time Oilers fans had the chance to watch him play. Considering that the backups will be manning the crease for a while, this tryout for Ingram could ultimately be who gets that spot once Jarry eventually comes back.

And to his credit, Ingram looked steady and solid despite not having much chance to practice or get settled. After backing up Pickard on Saturday, Connor Two was thrown into the deep end against a divisional rival and handled himself like a pro. It wasn’t the busiest night he’ll ever have in net, but when called upon, Connor Ingram did a mostly solid job of being square to the shooter, kicking rebounds out of danger, and laying the foundation for what ended up being a gutsy first win as an Oiler. I’m not saying Ingram was perfect or that he wouldn’t want a goal or two back, but under the circumstances, I thought he performed well in his first start in eight days and first NHL start since January. In the end, Ingram finished with 26 saves, three goals against, and a .897 save percentage, which marks a decent first impression for our new bearded friend.

When Connor McDavid is playing out of his mind like he is right now, the worst part about watching these games is waiting for his next shift. No matter where he is on the ice, there is a reasonable chance that he is going to make magic happen, and he’s turning Oilers games into must-see TV just to see what he’ll do next. With the three points he picked up against Vegas (1G, 2A), McDavid extended his point streak to a 10-game run that’s produced an incredible 12 goals and 14 assists for 26 points. He’s gone from being Top 10 in NHL points to wrestling the lead away from Nathan MacKinnon in a matter of weeks, but there’s no way anyone will catch him if he can keep this run going. Not that I expect him to produce more than two points per game forever, but it’s getting harder to see anyone else in the NHL being able to keep up. The game looks too easy to him.

If I was going to complain about anything McDavid-related, it would be that the Oilers have only Tuesday’s game left before the Christmas break. When Connor is going supernova, you almost want him on the ice every night, and I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed that a few days of family, turkey, and time away doesn’t ruin his momentum. Call me selfish all you like, but he’s playing at a level that’s wild even for him, and I want to soak up as much of this sorcery as I can get. No matter how long this heater goes on, it’s been such a pleasure to watch him make the NHL look like there’s another league above it and he’s just waiting to be called up. What’s amazing is how Connor McDavid keeps blowing our minds year after year even when you think you’ve seen every trick he has up his sleeve. What a run.

As much as a lot of us were blown away when the Oilers announced Trent Frederic’s eight-year contract extension, I personally didn’t expect that he’d be getting healthy scratched less than half a year into the thing. That deal is too much for too long, but even so, it’s stunning how poorly things have gone for Frederic in his first full season as an Oiler. Maybe it’s the pressure he’s putting on himself after signing such a big ticket, or perhaps he’s just in such a rut that the game looks like it’s going at warp speed, but no matter what is going on, it’s hard to be surprised by Kris Knoblauch’s decision to scratch him for Sunday’s game against Vegas. I mean, two goals and three points through 36 games doesn’t exactly scream, “you’ve gotta play me.”

What I’m more interested in seeing is where we go from here. Frederic has played on every line and with every linemate combination imaginable, and no one has been able to unlock his potential. Not only was this healthy scratch expected by the fanbase but it was also earned by the player time and time again. That’s a rough look for a guy who just hit 5% completed on his long-term contract. It almost reminds me of that old MacT quote about Dustin Penner when he wondered if Penner was using the fact that he signed his big money deal as a finish line for putting in the work. Obviously, I don’t know that to be true about Frederic, I highly doubt he’s not trying out there, but what I do know for sure is that he was just passed up on the lineup card in favour of a fourth line centre. Yikes.

We’re heading back to Las Vegas for the next Nation Vacation, March 24–27, and you’re invited to join the ultimate hockey fan getaway. Trip packages start at $2,400, with the option to secure your spot for just 20% down. Enjoy roundtrip flights, a premium three-night stay at Circa Resort & Casino, access to Stadium Swim, exclusive watch parties, a Nation Citizens pool party, a party bus to T-Mobile Arena, and food and drinks included at the Edmonton vs. Vegas game. Multiple travel options mean you can book the trip your way—so lock in your spot now at nationgear.ca and come be part of the chaos in Vegas!