After a couple of nights of moral victories and actual losses, the Edmonton Oilers were finally able to cash in on the improving vibes and lock in two big points… in Sunrise of all places. I don’t know who these guys in blue and orange were, but I would like them to stick around because the boys were spicy, engaged, and scored enough goals to come out on the right side of the outcome. A 6–3 win to wrap up the road trip? You’ve gotta love it. The good times haven’t been coming around much over the first 24 games of the 2025-26 season, so I’m going to enjoy the win and what was a very entertaining hockey game.

I don’t know how many times I’m going to write about Jack Roslovic this season, but I’m very excited to find out. Outside of the handful of games it took Roslovic to get up and running after missing training camp and the pre-season, the guy has been nails no matter where he’s playing. Whether it was filling in for Zach Hyman on the power play or playing alongside Connor or Leon, Roslovic has found a way to produce offence at a clip that we’ve been dying for for years. It’s always the same guys who score for this team, and it’s refreshing to have another soldier riding along. And the fact that we’ve gotten nine goals and 18 points in 22 games from a guy making only $1.5 million is stunning. A gift. A blessing from the Hockey Gords that I will remember for a long time.

And Saturday night was another reminder of how ridiculous Roslovic’s run has been. Slotted on the first line with Connor McDavid and Matt Savoie, Roslovic pumped two goals past Sergei Bobrovsky, had four shots, and finished with a +1 rating in 16:24 of ice time. As he’s done almost every night, he was buzzing around the ice, hunting pucks, making plays, finding space, and finishing chances the way a winger is supposed to when beside the best player on earth. The chemistry with McDavid and Draisaitl is impossible to ignore, and Savoie looks more confident every time they touch the ice together. When you add in the contract and the 14 points in the last 13 games, the fact that Roslovic looks this comfortable in a prime role is outrageous in the best possible way. If this is what the Oilers are getting for the rest of the year, then we might be witnessing one of the sneakiest value signings in NHL history.

Even though my bold pre-season prediction that Matt Savoie is going to win the Calder Trophy probably won’t come true, that doesn’t mean I’m any less bullish on what this kid could be. I love how smart he is and how he always seems to be in the right place at the right time, a skill that will earn him so many opportunities as his NHL career plays out. He’s quick, has great hockey sense, a strong shot, and is quickly figuring out where Connor McDavid needs him to be on the ice. I couldn’t possibly think of a better opportunity for the kid to show what he’s got than playing alongside the best player on earth. We all know Savoie isn’t the kind of player you can saddle on the fourth line and expect good things to happen, so it’s important that he’s getting offensive reps and chips in from time to time. And while he isn’t producing points at the rate we’d like, I was happy to see him get the empty-netter as a sunshine sticker for his hard work.

I’ve been doing this gig long enough to know that young players never develop in a straight line, no matter how talented they are, but I still believe it’s a matter of when, not if, Matt Savoie will start cashing more cheques offensively. When you combine the skill and smarts with his willingness to get to the greasy areas despite his small stature, you’ve got the makings of an impact forward, provided we give him the space to get his at-bats. What I liked most about his night in Florida was how involved he looked on each of his 20 shifts. He was strong on the forecheck, fired two shots on net, supported Connor on the rush, and did all the little things that eventually turn into offence. For a 21-year-old still finding his way, those small wins matter. If he keeps stacking nights like that, the points will follow, and we’re all going to look back at these early games as the start of a very fun ride.

If I’m being honest, I didn’t really know what to expect from the Oilers and Panthers in their first meeting since the Stanley Cup Final. As much as I thought it might get heated, I wasn’t sure how much gas the Oilers would have left in the tank after spending the last two weeks on the road. You hoped Edmonton would find a way to get fired up for the game, but we have also slogged through 23 nights of inconsistencies that were as confusing as they were annoying. So when the night opened with four first-period goals, a greasy two-leg takedown by AJ Greer on Trent Frederic, and 26 minutes in penalties, you knew we were in for a wild one, and both clubs delivered. There is nothing better than a little playoff-fuelled hatred, and there is no team on earth that has given the Oilers more reasons to be rattled over the last two years than the Florida Panthers.

As much as a win in November will never erase the pain and shame of losing back-to-back Cups, I appreciated that the Oilers were able to empty the tank and finish this monster road trip on a high note. We have been begging Edmonton to play with some fire, and over the last three games, they have finally started to show signs of life. Instead of getting walked over and treated like the soft little brother, the Oilers were not shy about pushing back. They hit. They scrummed. They refused to let Florida dictate the temperature of the night, which is a big change from some of the lifeless efforts we have suffered through this season. And against a Panthers team that has bullied them and embarrassed them on the biggest stage, seeing the Oilers punch back felt like progress. This win was not perfect, not even close, but it felt a lot more like we were watching a united front rather than a disjointed mess. It was a night when the boys chose to respond rather than wilt, and at this point, I will take that every single time.

Wake up with Ryder and Lisa on The Sauce! Your new chaotic morning show streaming live from 8-10AM MST every weekday on Oilersnation YouTube starting Monday November 3rd. It’s unpredictable, unfiltered, and totally them. Like, follow and subscribe to never miss an episode!