The Edmonton Oilers know how to win. And they know how to beat the Los Angeles Kings.

This group has always been comfortable in a wide-open game, but the past few seasons they have learned how to be comfortable in a tight-checking, patient game. They’ve learned to play patiently, not force things or take unnecessary chances — and then score a timely goal.

Last night was as close to a playoff game as you can get in January. It lacked the continual playoff physicality, with only a combined 23 hits, but the pace was fast and both teams were disciplined and patient.

Edmonton won due to a phenomenal save from Stuart Skinner where he robbed Adrian Kempe in the first period. Skinner kept the Oilers in the game until they found their legs. Travelling from Edmonton to Seattle to Boston to Pittsburgh to Chicago and back to Edmonton was likely a factor in the slow start.

But after the first 15 minutes, Edmonton put on a defensive clinic. They didn’t sit back. Darcy Kuemper made some great saves, especially in the third period to keep it a one-goal game, but the Oilers didn’t give up a lot, and when they did bend, Skinner made more saves.

It is his second shutout in three starts. I know he doesn’t officially get the shutout in Boston, due to leaving the game for five minutes, but in two of his last three starts he hasn’t allowed a goal. Claims that “Skinner never makes saves he shouldn’t” or “he never keeps them in games when they are flat” were proven wrong once again. Of course, the next time he isn’t great the same mouth breathers (RIP Bronte) will feverishly send out a social media message or comment at ON.

Captain Connor McDavid, who scored the only goal of the game on his 28th birthday, was impressed by his team’s professional play. He knows what to expect from the Kings.

When he says hold on to a win, he doesn’t mean they sat back and absorbed shots. The Oilers outshot LA 24-16 over the final 40 minutes. They had more quality scoring chances in the third. They held on to win the game, but they weren’t hanging on, if you know what I mean.

He also outlined the importance of Skinner’s play in the first period.

The Oilers have proven they have the recipe to defeat Los Angeles. I firmly believe the Kings might have a better chance to beat Vegas. They’d still be the underdog, but the Oilers can play just as good defensively as the Kings while still being a better offensive team. There are no guarantees in a playoff series, but Edmonton’s domination over the Kings in the playoffs has to be in the head of King’s players. Edmonton would be very comfortable if they meet the Kings in the first round for a fourth consecutive year.

They have a high level of respect for LA, but also a high level of confidence they can beat them.

1. Darnell Nurse and Ty Emberson were excellent last night. Emberson has had a steady arc of improvement this season. He’s been excellent on the PK, and he’s starting to play a few more minutes 5×5. Paul Coffey has done a great job of not overwhelming him and giving him more than he can handle. Moving up to the first unit PK gave Emberson a lot of confidence and he’s excelled in that role, but Coffey didn’t increase his 5×5 minutes. Less can be more as players gain traction and Coffey has done a great job with Emberson.

2. It is stunning to me how good the Oilers are at scoring goals with a goalie in the net yet struggle so much to score without one. Over the past three seasons the Oilers rank 21st in empty net goals (ENG) with 30. They had 13 in 2023, 11 last year and six so far this season. Only five teams have scored fewer ENG this year: San Jose (2), Chicago, Ottawa and Utah (4) and Montreal (5). It borders on comical how much the Oilers make scoring into an empty net an adventure.

Tampa Bay has the same number of regulation wins as the Oilers, 20, but they have 13 ENG. Colorado has 22 regulation wins and they lead the NHL with 18 ENG. LA has 22 RW and they have 15 ENG. Half of the Oilers empty net goals have come in their last seven games with Leon Draisaitl scoring empty net goals on December 31st v. Utah and January 4th v. Seattle while Viktor Arvidsson scored January 7th v. Boston. Last night v. LA their empty net struggles reappeared as McDavid hit a goal post, Draisaitl had opted to try a pass to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins rather than shoot at the empty net and they had two other opportunities to take a shot and opted not to. It is wild, and while it hasn’t cost them a game, it is an oddity to see the highest scoring team in the NHL the past three seasons struggle scoring into empty nets.

3. Here is how teams rank in EN TOI (This does include time when a team is on a delayed penalty, as NHL doesn’t separate 5×6 time).

It is wild how effective Carolina is with an empty net. They have 13 goals in just under 22 minutes. Tampa Bay is close with 13 goals in 22:51. Edmonton has six goals in 30 minutes. It hasn’t cost them a game yet, but it is stunning how often they miss the empty net or opt to try and pass and the pass doesn’t connect.

4. Only 12 times in NHL history has a player scored 10+ empty net points in a season. All, but one (Jaromir Jagr 10 in 2001), have occurred since 2019. Nikita Kucherov set record with 14 ENP last year. Mikko Rantanen (13) and Nathan MacKinnon (12) are poised to crush that this season.

5. Calgary plays in STL tonight and again on Thursday. I love consecutive games in the same city. The NHL did this during the shortened season in 2021. It is less travel for players and often leads to increased emotions, usually in the second game. We should have more of these across the NHL. Each team can have 2-3 within their conference each year. I’d love to see it in January and February when it can be the “dog days” of the season. Oilers and Canucks playing consecutive games would be great. Oilers and Avalanche back-to-back games would be awesome.