Since Christmas, the Oilers rank fifth in goals against per game played at 2.42 and their penalty kill is tied for second best at 88.9 percent. In January they are even better at 2.11 goals against per game and their PK is 89.5%.

It has taken longer than Kris Knoblauch and his team would have liked, but Edmonton has found consistency in their defensive end, have reduced the glaring turnovers/giveaways and they are giving up fewer high danger chances.

Many facets of the Oilers’ overall games are trending in the right direction. They’ve limited scoring chances, goals, are defending better, both five-on-five and on the PK, and they’re starting to get a bit more depth scoring. Vasily Podkolzin has seven points in his last eight games. Kasperi Kapanen had seven points in seven games before getting injured in the first period against St. Louis. Curtis Lazar has points in consecutive games. Andrew Mangiapane scored last game. They still need some production from Matt Savoie, Isaac Howard and Trent Frederic, but the bottom six have started to chip in.

But the most important improvement has been lowering their goals against. The Oilers rank third in goals scored, and while you like a bit more depth scoring, offence is rarely a major concern for the Oilers. Heading into the Christmas break, Edmonton ranked 25th in goals against per game at 3.32. It wasn’t pretty, but Santa Claus delivered a defensive mindset to the group at Christmas, because since returning from that short three-day break, Edmonton has been much better defensively.

The glaring turnovers have been reduced significantly, and not surprisingly their goals against have gone down. They allowed 3.32 goals against per game in their first 38 games before Christmas and they’ve dropped almost one goal per game down to 2.42 post Christmas. That’s a significant improvement and with no travel and a favourable schedule, the Oilers look poised to go on a run. They’ve yet to have a real dominant stretch of games this season. Here’s a quick look at their first 50 games in 10-game intervals.

Games 1-10: 4-4-2
Games 11-20: 5-3-2
Games 21-30: 4-4-2
Games 31-40: 7-3
Games 41-50: 5-3-2

The Oilers should be able to win at least seven of their next ten, and have realistic chance to win 8+. The only team ahead of them in the standings in their next 10 is Minnesota, and their next seven games are at home and five of them have clear “scheduling advantages.”

Edmonton and Vegas have separated themselves from the rest of the Pacific Division, and if the Oilers want to finish first in the division, they need to take advantage of this stretch and win at least seven games, and likely more.

They are playing well enough to do it.

SNAPSHOTS….

— For the ninth time this season the Oilers will try to win three games in a row. They’ve are 0-6-2 in their previous eight attempts but tonight is set up favourably. The Oilers are playing their best defensive hockey of the season, allowing only one goal in their past three games, while the Devils are struggling at 8-16-1 in their last 25 games and tonight is the Devils’ third game in four nights and the second half of a back-to-back. The Oilers haven’t capitalized on some of their previous “scheduling advantages” and tonight might be their best chance.

— Here’s a look at all 32 teams and how many 3+ game winning streaks they’ve had. The chart below outlines the streaks beginning with the most recent and the * means it is an active streak.

TEAM	3+ GWS	TEAM	3+ GWS
ANA	4*, 3, 7	BOS	6*, 4, 7, 3
CGY	3, 3, 3	BUF	3, 10
CHI	4, 3	CAR	3*, 4, 5, 4, 5
COL	10, 10, 3	CBJ	4*, 3, 4
DAL	4, 4, 4, 5, 3, 3	DET	4, 3, 3, 3, 5
EDM	0 (9: 2GW)	FLA	4, 3, 3
LAK	4	MTL	3, 3, 3, 4
MIN	7, 7	NJD	3, 8
NSH	3, 3	NYI	3, 3, 4, 4
SJS	3, 3, 3, 4	NYR	3, 3, 3
SEA	4, 4	OTT	4, 3
STL	0 (5: 2GW)	PHI	3, 3
UTA	3*, 3, 7	PIT	6, 4
VAN	4, 3	TBL	11, 7, 5
VGK	7, 4, 4	TOR	4, 3, 3
WPG	4, 3, 5	WSH	6, 3, 4

Edmonton and St. Louis have yet to win three in a row while Los Angeles has one winning streak of 3+ games. Colorado has 23 of their 34 victories in three different streaks, while Tampa Bay has amassed 23 of their 30 wins during three winning streaks.

— Edmonton’s upcoming schedule gives them a wonderful opportunity to go on a winning streak. New Jersey plays its third game in four nights and second half of a back-to-back after a 2-1 OT victory in Calgary last night. The Penguins, Capitals and Ducks play in Edmonton this Thursday, Saturday and next Tuesday and all of them will be playing their third game in four nights and the second half of a back-to-back. All three of the Penguins, Capitals and Ducks will be playing their fourth game in six nights as well. The next four games are “scheduling advantages” and comes at a time when Edmonton is playing very well.

— Philadelphia did the Oilers a huge favour last night by defeating Vegas 2-1 in regulation. The Golden Knights are two points ahead of Edmonton with two games in hand. Sam Ersson played, arguably, his best game of the season stopping 24 of 25 shots. He needed that performance and so did the Flyers as they ended a five-game losing streak. Ersson’s performance could also help Edmonton on the waiver wire. If he can string together a few strong performances the Flyers are less likely to claim Calvin Pickard, if the Oilers put him on waivers later this season.

— Zach Hyman (163) passed Shawn Horcoff for 13th on the Oilers’ all-time goal list last game. He needs three to pass Jordan Eberle (165) and 16 to pass Esa Tikkanen (178).

— Connor McDavid needs two goals to pass Mark Messier (392) for fifth on the Oilers’ goal list.

— Vasily Podkolzin is tied with Leon Draisaitl for second most 5×5 goals on the Oilers with 12. McDavid has 15. Podkolzin is on pace for 19.8 goals at 5×5. He’s having an outstanding season scoring goals 5×5. Here’s the list of Oilers who have scored 20 goals 5×5 in the salary cap era:

6x: McDavid (32, 30, 24, 22, 21 and 21). He’s at 19 this season.

4x: Leon Draisaitl (28, 26, 23, 22).

1x: Zach Hyman (36), Patrick Maroon (24 in 2017), Dustin Penner (23 in 2010), Jordan Eberle (23 in 2012).

Only six players have done it. It is difficult to score 20 goals 5×5, and more rare for a player who doesn’t play on the power play. Although, Podkolzin will get a look on the first unit PP tonight in place of Jake Walman, who was filling in for Leon Draisaitl. Podkolzin has a sneaky good one-timer so don’t be surprised to see him let one rip tonight.

— McDavid has scored a point in every game he’s ever played against New Jersey. He has a 17-game point streak, and the only longer streak against an opponent is Leon Draisaitl’s 20-game point streak versus Chicago. McDavid has 7-24-31 in 17 games against New Jersey including 15 points in seven home games.

— Curtis Lazar will skate in his 600th game tonight. Lazar has dressed in seven of the last eight games and he’s made a positive impact. He’s only been on the ice for one goal against, while chipping in with two assists and being on the ice for three goals for. He’s been physical ranking third on the team in hits with 14, but first in hits/60. Most importantly he’s been solid defensively and his line has outscored the opposition. Lazar has carved out a very nice career and now that he’s fully healthy again, he’s showing he can be a contributor on a good team. He’s quietly been a very good signing for Edmonton.

LINEUPS…

Oilers…

Podkolzin – McDavid – Hyman
Frederic – RNH – Roslovic
Howard –??? – Savoie
Janmark – Lazar – Mangiapane

Ekholm – Bouchard
Nurse – Emberson
Walman – Stastney
Regula

Jarry

Tristan Jarry threw a curveball at me and other media members. Tonight will be his first home game with the Oilers, and turns out he prefers to practice in the non-starting goalie net. I’ve covered the Oilers for 25 years, and the starting goalie is always the goalie who spends the most time at the morning skate in the net that the Oilers defend in the first and third period. Connor Ingram was in that net all morning, which usually means he would start. But turns out that Jarry prefers the other net, and he will be starting tonight. I’m interested to see if that will last, as most goalies like to practice in the net they will play most of the game in. It is a small quirk, but something I’ll be watching. It makes no difference to me (now that I know which net he prefers), but I’m interested to see if he will morph into taking the “home” net in the future.

Kasperi Kapanen and Leon Draisaitl are out tonight. Kapanen will be out “around a week” said Knoblauch this morning, while Draisaitl will be returning to Edmonton later this week. I suspect he will play against Washington on Saturday.

Devils…

Meier – Hughes –Bratt
Palat – Hischier – Mercer
Gritsyuk – Glass – Hameenaho

Dadonov – Cotter – Brown

Dillon – Pesce
Siegenthaler – Kovacevic
Nemec – Hamilton

Allen

Luke Hughes separated his shoulder in Calgary last night and is out. The Devils are 9-15-1 in their last 25 games after a very good start to the season. They have the Dougie Hamilton drama of sitting him out trying to force him to expand his no-trade list on top of their sub-par play.

This is their third game in four nights, which is the same for the Oilers, but Edmonton has been at home since Sunday morning and are well rested and playing better.

TONIGHT…

GDB 51 Edmonton Oilers New Jersey Devils Ty Emberson

Photoshop by Tom Kostiuk

GAME DAY PREDICTION: It finally happens…the Oilers win three in a row and defeat New Jersey 4-1.

OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: McDavid extends his point streak to 18 games against New Jersey and picks up two points.

NOT-SO-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: Podkolzin scores his first power play goal since 2022. He has only played a total of 1:41 on the PP with the Oilers, but he gets a look tonight and makes the most of it.