The Edmonton Oilers went 2-0-1 in the three games played last week. Still, one of the biggest storylines during that stretch was captain Connor McDavid leaving the game against the Winnipeg Jets on March 20, which led to him joining his pal Leon Draisaitl on the sidelines. Of course, this created a huge void and raised questions about which Oilers would step up.
With that said, three players stood out above the rest last week, particularly in the absence of their captain. We highlight that trio below, along with an honourable mention to the Oilers’ steady Swede on the blue line, who was solid in his return to the lineup.

Oilers’ 3rd Star: Jeff Skinner

Last Week’s Stats – 3 GP – 3 G – 0 A – 3 Pts
Season Stats – 60 GP – 14 G – 10 A – 24 Pts
Jeff Skinner’s season has been frustrating, but he continues to do his part to contribute to the club. That said, his play over the last three games was his best while donning the orange and blue, and his three goals earned him the Oilers’ Third Star of the Week.
The 32-year-old was finally given his long-awaited opportunity to play on the first line, and while he didn’t officially record a point in the 7-1 win over the Utah Hockey Club on March 18, he factored in on two plays by forcing turnovers that led to goals.
Two nights later against the Winnipeg Jets, he brought his A-game in what was easily his best outing of the season. He ripped a wrist shot past Connor Hellebuyck, and what I especially liked about that goal was that he didn’t defer to his linemates, McDavid and Zach Hyman. Instead, he saw an open area, took the puck to the net, and fired it—a sign of his heightened confidence. He was credited with another goal in the OT loss to the Jets and played 17:06 minutes—the most he had played in a game all season at that point.
Additionally, with McDavid slated to be out of the lineup after suffering an injury against the Jets, and after Skinner’s two-goal performance, surely, logic would dictate that he’d be playing in the top six in the next game against the Seattle Kraken? Of course not. Instead, he was placed on the third line with Connor Brown and Mattias Janmark, but that didn’t stop his momentum.
He dialled in another solid effort against the Kraken, setting a season-high in minutes played for the second straight game (18:38). Skinner created chances all night, played the second-most minutes among forwards behind Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and wired a wrister past Joey Daccord, for his 14th of the season.
Skinner’s latest goal was the 371st of his career, moving him into 139th all-time on the regular-season goal scorers list. If he scores another, he’ll tie Jonathan Toews, Dany Heatley, and Eric Lindros—some pretty incredible company. Despite a down season in Oil Country, let’s not forget that this is a player who knows how to put the puck in the back of the net. While it’s taken him most of the season to dial it in, he has a chance to redeem himself down the stretch and into the playoffs, to become the player the Oilers thought they were getting when they first signed him. That is, of course, if the coaching staff gives him the opportunity.

Oilers’ 2nd Star: Zach Hyman

Last Week’s Stats – 3 GP – 3 G – 2 A – 5 Pts
Season Stats – 64 GP – 25 G – 17 A – 42 Pts
Zach Hyman made his return to the lineup against Utah to kick off the week after sitting out a game and the relentless forward showed signs of his usual self, mainly by being a nuisance in front of the net, and took home the Oilers’ Second Star of the Week with a stellar five-point effort in three games.
The 32-year-old scored two goals against Utah in the most Ryan Smyth-esque style, by parking his 206-pound frame in the blue paint, redirecting the puck into the net on two occasions, while also picking up an assist in the 7-1 win.
Against the Jets, the Oilers as a whole stepped up after McDavid went down with an injury, and Hyman was huge with just over five minutes remaining in the game. He read Nurse’s point shot, pounced on the rebound, and whacked home the tying goal, helping secure a point for the Oilers. Also, he nearly potted the winner in overtime, but the Oilers eventually lost 4-3 in OT.
His latest goal brings him to 25 for the season, and on an individual level, the question now is whether he can score five more in the remaining 12 games to reach the 30-goal mark. With McDavid and Leon Draisaitl sidelined, Hyman will be given more opportunity, and with the bounces seemingly going his way, I’d wager he hits that mark.

Oilers’ 1st Star: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

Last Week’s Stats – 3 GP – 4 G – 3 A – 6 Pts
Season Stats – 69 GP – 20 G – 28 A – 48 Pts
With McDavid and Draisaitl out of the lineup, the Oilers were in desperate need of a hero. As head coach Kris Knoblauch likely nervously scanned his roster, it almost seemed like Nugent-Hopkins raised his hand and said, “I’ll take it from here, coach.” He was spectacular last week, registering six points in three games and stepping up the most in the absence of the Oilers’ two superstars, earning the Oilers’ First Star of the Week.
He scored four goals last week, one being a beauty shorthanded backhander, barreling down on the PK and picking a tiny spot top shelf against Utah. He then scored the Oilers’ first hat trick of the season against Seattle—the hats rained down at Rogers Place on his third of the night when he nailed a 180-foot shot into an empty net, which stood as the game-winner. Additionally, he played the most minutes of any forward (23:01) against the Kraken and won 53% of his faceoffs.
He was also very defensively responsible—he didn’t get any points against the Jets but was instrumental on the PK, making several big clears, especially one when the Oilers were killing a 5-on-3 in the third period. On top of that, he also almost set up the winner in OT with a feathery pass to Hyman in the extra session.
Nugent-Hopkins has been playing down the middle over the last few games, and I thought the 31-year-old’s best days as a centerman were behind him, but he seems to be aging like fine wine—both in his on-ice play and with that babyface of his and this is likely the most confident he has felt since his 100-point season.
Moreover, his linemates lately, Vasily Podkolzin and Viktor Arvidsson, seem much more comfortable playing their style of game with him as their centerman. With McDavid and Draisaitl out, they’ll be relied upon as the top line, but when the superstars return, that trio will likely drop to the third. If they continue producing, the Oilers will have a strong, deep top nine heading into the playoffs, which could feature a third line that’s not only dependable defensively but also a consistent scoring threat—something they’ve lacked in previous postseasons.

Honourable Mention: Mattias Ekholm

Last Week’s Stats – 3 GP – 1 G – 4 A – 5 Pts
Season Stats – 63 GP – 9 G – 23 A – 32 Pts
Oilers defenceman Mattias Ekholm deserves an honourable mention for tallying five points in three games last week, all while averaging 20:44 of ice time.
The Swedish D-man missed six games due to illness and an undisclosed injury but made a strong return against Utah, recording three points, one of which was a goal from a rocket-of-a wrist shot. He also made four blocks against the Jets and finished off the week by earning two assists against the Kraken.
That said, before taking some time off, Ekholm’s game seemed a little out of sync, but since returning, he’s looked much more refreshed and back to his usual self.
On that note, it’s a shame that McDavid and Draisaitl are out of the lineup for the foreseeable future; however, Ekholm’s elevated play since returning shows just how much of a difference a little rest can make in one’s game. Hopefully, the superstar duo won’t be out for long, but if they need the rest, they should take it—as they and many Oilers fans expect a lengthy playoff run.