Hard to argue after McDavid’s game on Wednesday, which almost single-handedly elevated the Edmonton Oilers against the San Jose Sharks. The captain scored a hat-trick and added two assists for the 5-2 victory, the 14th five-point game of his career.

During this road trip, McDavid has scored two otherworldly goals off the rush, reminding Oilers fans of the privilege it is to watch him every night. His teammates recognize just how special it is.

“He won the game for us,” said Kapanen on Friday after practice.

“There’s a reason why he’s the best player in the world, and people should acknowledge that and have him in the conversations for…the best player award this year. It’s kind of crazy that they’re taking him out of the conversation right now, which makes no sense to me or anybody with a half-decent brain.”

Whether sportswriters voting for the Hart have a decent brain is anybody’s guess (just read my copy), but no one could ignore how McDavid’s rocket boots were firing.

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Less sexy, but important for the playoffs, was how the team’s overall defensive effort muzzled the Sharks. San Jose didn’t have an even-strength shot in the first period, and mustered just four total in the third. The Oilers grabbed a lead and didn’t fiddle with it, putting away their opponent, which has been their Achilles heel at times this season.

Not to mention how the team’s power play came alive, scoring on all three man-advantage opportunities. Connor McDavid, Vasily Podkolzin, and Jack Roslovic’s three goals on the power play are the same number than the previous 11 games combined without Leon Draisaitl.

“We still feel like our best hockey is in front of us and we’re going to peak at the right time here in a couple of weeks,” said McDavid post-game.

With Vegas’ shootout loss on Thursday, the Oilers have a one-point lead on both the Golden Knights on Ducks, with each team having three games left.

If the Oilers get a point vs the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday, they’re officially in the playoffs. If they get five points out of six, nobody can stop the Oilers from claiming their first regular-season divisional crown since 1986-87.

The infirmary

But it wouldn’t be Oilers hockey without drama.

Tristan Jarry played the third period after some type of tweak with Connor Ingram. Then, Jason Dickinson took a massive slapshot from teammate Connor Murphy and writhed in pain before getting helped off the ice. He was driving as the centerpiece to a gritty checking line with Colton Dach and Trent Frederic, who stood out on Tuesday against the Utah Mammoth.

Mum’s the word on Dickinson, who coach Kris Knoblauch officially ruled out of today’s matinee contest and wouldn’t give a timeline for. Ingram did practice on Friday, but no starter has been declared yet.

But Knoblauch’s blender was already mixing before Dickinson’s injury, moving Josh Samanski around in-game. At Friday’s practice, he teased a line combination of Max Jones-Ryan Nugent-Hopkins-Kasperi Kapanen.

“Jones has been playing really well last well throughout the year, here’s an opportunity for him to get a little more opportunity,” said Knoblauch.

“Certainly we don’t want him to get away from his game. What he’s been doing is the reason why we put him on that spot. Just simplicity, but more importantly, getting in the forecheck, making it hard on the other teams, mostly defensemen, which just makes everyone else’s job a little bit easier.”

That also means Curtis Lazar will jump back into the lineup after sitting out Wednesday. He skated on a line with Adam Henrique and Jack Roslovic, while pugnacious wingers in Dach and Frederic were centred by Samanski.

The Oilers top trio of Podkolzin-McDavid-Savoie remained together.

‘We’re playing solid’

If I can give a bit of relationship advice: find someone who loves you as much as the Los Angeles Kings love overtime. It’s been a record-breaking amount of extra hockey this team has played with 32 of their games going to overtime or shootout. Another record? The most extra time losses with 19.

But OT was not required on Thursday against the Vancouver Canucks, a 4-1 regulation win, which saw their playoff odds shoot up. Their victory, combined with the Nashville Predators loss, puts them in the last wildcard spot.

“I think everyone knows what’s on the line,” said Adrian Kempe, who scored a pair for his team-leading 34 goals. “Just kind of digging in more. Details are a lot better than maybe earlier in the year. But, yeah, we’re playing solid.”

The Kings have a 66.9 per cent probability for the last spot compared to the Predators’ 20.8 per cent, with four games to go to Nashville’s three.

LA remaining schedule: EDM, SEA, VAN, CGY
NSH remaining schedule: MIN, SJ, ANA

Kopi’s last home game?

Today wraps up a seven-game homestand for the Kings, which they’ve used to their advantage, going 4-1-1. What’s wild is how poor the Kings have been on home ice all season.

Last season, LA set a franchise record going 31-6-4 at Crypto.com Arena. This year, they sit 14-17-9, even with this recent stretch of success. Only Chicago and Vancouver have fewer home wins.

This will be their last home game of the regular season, and it could be Anze Kopitar’s last home game if things fall to the wayside. Franchise leader in several categories over a long Hall of Fame career, Kopitar has 1314 points in 1517 games. This is the first season his production has fallen off with the 38-year-old scoring 12 goals and 36 points in 63 games.

When asked about him, Knoblauch compared Kopitar to legend Jean Beliveau in the way he’s respected across the league. High praise for the Slovenian captain.

“I know a couple of our players have a lot of respect for him, like everybody does, but especially somebody they idolized when they’re growing up the way he played,” he said.

“He touched all facets of the game, whether it was the power play, the penalty kill, five-on-five, a lot of shutdown responsibilities. You know he was going to play against one of our top lines…we were hoping as good as Connor and Leon are that they were going to outplay him.”

Notes:

The last time these teams played, the Oilers embarrassed the Kings in a 8-1 beatdown on February 26, which led to then coach Jim Hiller’s firing.
Since DJ Smith took the reins, the Kings are 9-5-5.
Kempe has 71 points in 77 games this season. He is the eighth player in Kings history to have at least 70 points in three straight seasons. Kempe also has seven goals and nine points in his last five games.
Artemi Panarin just does his thing. In 22 games with the Kings, he’s scored eight goals and 25 points.
Despite the Pacific being the weak division in the league, the Kings are just 7-5-9 vs division foes. By comparison, the Oilers are 15-6-3.
Andrei Kuzmenko is making strides towards a recovery from a knee injury, but isn’t expected back just yet.
Anton Forsberg has pushed to earn more starts. He’s won his last three. Smith said after his 24-save effort that he’d re-evaluate who might start, Forsberg or Kuemper.
Scott Laughton has been a welcome addition to the Kings lineup. He’s averaging over two minutes more of ice-time then with the Leafs and has eight points in 17 games. He only had 12 points in 43 with Toronto.
Evan Bouchard became just the second defenceman in franchise history to achieve a 90-point season, after two assists against the Sharks. It’s the fifth highest scoring season for an Oilers blueliner in Edmonton’s history.
Connor McDavid has a five point edge on Nikita Kucherov for the Art Ross Trophy. It would be his sixth Art Ross, which would tie him with Gordie Howe and Mario Lemieux for second most all-time. This is the second highest scoring season of his career.
McDavid has not won a regular season award since 2022-23 when he won the Art Ross, Hart, Ted Lindsay, and Rocket Rickard awards.
Vasily Podkolzin and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins both need one more goal for a 20-goal campaign.
Josh Samanski re-entered the lineup on Wednesday, playing 11:19 and going minus-1. However, his effort play to catch up to Adam Gaudette, lose his stick, but still knocking the puck out of the zone is the stuff coach’s dreams are made of.
Can the Oilers power play continue momentum? The Kings PK is 30th in the league at 74.8 per cent. The Oilers are 3/7 on the PP head-to-head.
In 2026, the Oilers are 9-4-3 on the road. Really, ever since the hellacious start to the season and the monster seven-game trip in November, the Oilers have been a great road team, going 14-7-3.
However, afternoons are not the Oilers’ bag. They are 2-7 in matinees this season overall.
Including playoffs, the Oilers are 5-4-1 vs the Kings in their last 10 matchups.

Michael Menzies is an Oilersnation columnist and co-host of PreGaming and Oilersnation After Dark. He’s also been the play-by-play voice of the Bonnyville Pontiacs in the AJHL since 2019. With seven years of news experience as the Editor-at-Large of Lakeland Connect in Bonnyville, Menzies collects vinyl, books, and stomach issues. Follow him on X at Menzies_4.

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