The Edmonton Oilers went 2-2 in four games last week, bringing their record to 11-9-2 on the season. While the ideal scenario would have them higher in the standings, positive signs are emerging—Adam Henrique has quietly chipped in points with four assists in the last five games. Kasperi Kapanen is beginning to look like a sneaky good pickup, and Darnell Nurse scored in his return to the lineup.
With that in mind, below we’re highlighting the Oilers’ Three Stars of the Week and give an honourable mention to an Oiler who’s been going the extra mile and was rewarded for his hard work last week.
Oilers’ 3rd Star: Evan Bouchard
Last Week’s Stats – 4 GP – 2 G – 3 A – 5 Pts
Season Stats – 22 GP – 6 G – 9 A – 15 Pts
Oilers’ blueliner Evan Bouchard, who seems to divide Oilers fans like no other, claimed the number three spot on the team’s Three Stars of the Week after registering five points in four games.
Bouchard headed into last week on the hot seat after being at fault for two goals against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Nov. 16, and the Oilers kicked off the week flat with a 3-0 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. But the Oilers’ leading point-scorer from the blue line found his ‘killer instinct mode’—the one he hasn’t tapped into often enough this season—the next night against the Ottawa Senators on Nov. 19.
In the early goings of the first period, with the way Bouchard was charging up ice with conviction—perhaps with a few days’ worth of redemption built up—you could sense that something special was about to happen. The blueliner carried the puck up ice, sped past a Senator, faked the shot, toe-dragged the puck through Thomas Chabot, and tucked it over Linus Ullmark’s glove—a goal that will surely be a Goal of the Year candidate. He also picked up a couple of assists for a three-point night.
Moreover, True to the Jekyll-and-Hyde nature of his season, a couple of nights later, Bouchard and the Oilers had a rough night in their 5-3 loss to the Minnesota Wild, but the blueliner finished with an even plus/minus in the defeat.
Heading into the game against the New York Rangers last Saturday, head coach Kris Knoblauch mentioned that Bouchard was a game-time decision due to an illness. However, the rearguard suited up and had a productive night. In the second period, he capitalized on a pass from Mattias Janmark—quietly having a steady season—snapping a shot high glove-side past Jonathan Quick. Then, in the third period, Bouchard’s high hockey IQ was on full display as he took a pass from Kasperi Kapanen and quickly set up his captain for a goal, earning himself an assist.
The Oilers have a few days off and wrapped up their week positively with a 6-2 win over the Rangers. Overall, Bouchard’s season has been a rollercoaster, but after a week where he scored what might be the slickest goal of his NHL career against the Senators and added another beauty against the Rangers, this break could be just what he needs to reset and return to the consistent dominant form we’ve seen from him.
Oilers’ 2nd Star: Leon Draisaitl
Last Week’s Stats – 4 GP – 3 G – 3 A – 6 Pts
Season Stats – 22 GP – 16 G – 14 A – 30 Pts
Leon Draisaitl takes home the Oilers’ 2nd Star of the Week for the second week in a row, lighting the lamp three times and adding three assists in the four games.
The Oilers as a whole were not on their game against Montreal, Draisaitl included, but he came ready to play the next night against the Senators. In search of offence, Knoblauch reunited the “in case of emergency” pair, placing Draisaitl with Connor McDavid and the young Vasily Podkolzin. As the dynamic duo has done in recent years against the Sens, the timekeeper was busy inking their names multiple times on the scoresheet. Draisaitl tallied a couple of assists on the night, and in the second period, he went in all alone and tucked a backhand, five-hole, past Ullmark.
In the loss against the Wild, Draisaitl continued his sniping ways—well, sort of. While Bouchard’s goal against the Senators will be a candidate for goal of the year, the goal Draisaitl was credited with against the Wild could be in the running for the top spot on the blooper reels. The centerman’s clearing attempt bounced off a couple of bodies, slowly trickled through Marc-André Fleury’s pads, and went in.
Additionally, he wrapped up his productive week against the Rangers, centering his own line with Podkolzin and Connor Brown. The centerman set up the Russian forward for his long-awaited first goal of the season and finished a 2-on-1 off a beautiful pass from the captain, ending the night with two points.
All in all, the centerman had a strong week, and with his three goals, he’s now tied for the NHL goal-scoring lead. Despite the Oilers’ power play struggling this season and the usual backdoor pass to Draisaitl not clicking as much on the man advantage, it’s impressive that he’s still finding other ways to score, with 14 of his 16 goals coming at even strength. If the power play heats up post-break, Draisaitl might start to pull away in the scoring race.
Oilers’ 1st Star: Connor McDavid
Last Week’s Stats – 3 GP – 4 G – 3 A – 7 Pts
Season Stats – 19 GP – 11 G – 17 A – 28 Pts
McDavid earns the Oilers’ 1st Star of the Week for the second consecutive week, tallying seven points in four games. He produced only just a point more than Draisaitl last week, making it a close call for the top spot. However, the captain got the nod due to scoring more goals, including a downright nasty one against the Rangers.
To start the week, he had his legs moving against the Canadiens, and on one particular shift, he danced around Cole Caufield, toying with the puck around him, but couldn’t break through in the loss. The next night against the Senators, he scored off a rebound and showed a shooter’s mentality, firing one past Ullmark on the 5-on-3 man advantage instead of trying to pass the puck into the net and finished with a three-point night.
Against the Wild, he posted a 14-5 edge in scoring chances but only managed a single assist while playing with the same linemates as the game before. However, he got new linemates at 5v5 against the Rangers last Saturday, mostly playing alongside Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Kapanen, who had a quietly strong game with the captain, showing good chemistry. McDavid notched a pair of third-period goals, including one off a play where Kapanen circled the net and found Bouchard, who then fired a pass over to McDavid for the goal.
McDavid’s second of the night was one of those goals that remind you, in case you ever forget, that he’s a step—or five—ahead of everyone else. On a 2-on-1, he waited and waited, showcasing the kind of patience you’d need to navigate on Edmonton roads during the winter, and then waited some more until Quick was completely out of position before shooting it into the net. It was another highlight-reel goal added to his growing collection against the Rangers, finishing the night with three points.
With both Draisaitl and McDavid scoring against the Rangers, they have now both scored in the same game 111 times, boasting an impressive record of 86-20-5 in those matchups. Moreover, McDavid’s seven-point week pushed him into the top 10 in points in the NHL (though that may shift as the week progresses). And after the expert-level way he dangled Quick, the league better buckle up—the McDavid train is picking up steam, and if I can channel Sportsnet’s Gene Principe, it’s choo-choo-choosing to make the opposition look silly again.
Honourable mention: Vasily Podkolzin
Last Week’s Stats – 4 GP – 1 G – 2 A – 3 Pts
Season Stats – 22 GP – 1 G – 5 A – 6 Pts
If you’ve followed my writing, you know that I’ve been a promoter of the Vasily Podkolzkin Appreciation Society this season, and the Russian forward had a big week and deserves an honourable mention. He was given the opportunity of a lifetime, playing alongside McDavid and Draisaitl against the Senators, and he didn’t disappoint.
Along with being a puck-retrieving menace all night, he picked up a couple of assists and earned high praise from the captain after the game, as he said, “He works so hard, keeps so many pucks alive, and makes so many great little subtle plays that the media doesn’t always give enough credit to.” Yet, if you’re familiar with my pieces, you’ll know I’ve been giving him his due credit for some time.
The 23-year-old was finally rewarded for his hard work, consistently being the first player out before practices to work on his game, and scored his first goal of the season off the rush against the Rangers. That was a huge goal for him, and now he can take the next few days to reflect and let that confidence sink in. That said, I have a feeling that tally is just the beginning, and the scoring floodgates should open for him.
All things considered, what’s on your mind this week, Oilersnation? Do you think Bouchard will turn the corner after the break and become consistently dominant again like we saw in the playoffs?

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