Oilers rounding into form at perfect time as real test begins
Third place in the Pacific might not be what they wanted at the outset of the year, but momentum is going the right way for the Oilers after a tidy regular-season finale against the Sharks. Now the real test begins, writes Mark Spector.
A season that began with the intent of winning the Pacific Division closed out in third place last night in San Jose.
But as the Edmonton Oilers find some health, structure and goaltending in a 3-0 season finale at San Jose, they’re also finding some positive juju.
The feeling around this team today is that — regardless of where they finished in the 2024-25 season — they’re starting to play the game they hoped they’d be playing when the playoffs arrived.
“It’s just about finding our momentum going into the most important time of the year,” said defenceman Ty Emberson, who had a goal and an assist for the first multi-point game of his NHL career. “Making sure that we’re above pucks, we’re not turning it over… Just making sure that we don’t give them anything easy.”
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Canadiens battle Senators on Sportsnet
The Montreal Canadiens can book a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a regulation win over the Ottawa Senators on Friday night. Watch the game nationally on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ beginning at 7 p.m. ET/ 4 p.m. PT.
In his just his second start back after suffering a concussion, goalie Stuart Skinner was perfect on 18 Sharks shots. He wasn’t tested very often, but looked calm and in total control, with a Game 1 start against the Los Angeles Kings — likely on Sunday — next on his agenda.
“Tonight, I didn’t really feel too much rust to be honest. I felt pretty good. It gives you a little bit of confidence going into the first round,” Skinner said.
Skinner faced just 18 shots in each of his past two starts, though both were meaningless games for Edmonton’s opponent. The Oilers’ team game was strong on Wednesday against a Sharks team that never threatened — or had the chance to threaten.
“It’s impressive,” Skinner said. “We’re not giving up too many shots against, which kind of says that we’re keeping them on the outside for the majority of it. At the same time it’s block shots, guys getting in the lane and doing everything they can to make sure they don’t have a chance to get a goal.”
Captain Connor McDavid is back in his finest form, and it is believed that Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman, Jake Walman, Troy Stecher, and perhaps even Evander Kane could be in the lineup for Game 1 against the Kings.
“There’s been a lot of injuries,” Emberson said. “A lot of rotating doors, with guys coming in, guys coming out, guys playing short-handed, guys playing a little bit hurt… But I think it’s been good. Everyone has stepped up.
“As you can see, we kind of found our game going into playoffs.”
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The Oilers went 7-3 in their final 10 games, all played with a patchwork lineup as Edmonton hit its worst injury jag in years over the past month and a bit.
The Oilers close out their season with a 48-29-5 record, good for 101 points — their fourth consecutive 100-point season. Meanwhile, San Jose limped out of the season winless in 11, set up nicely to have the most bingo balls in the lotto for the No. 1 pick and a 25.5 per cent chance to win.
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Ahead By A Century
It took Connor McDavid just 8:20 to take care of the last piece of business on a season that didn’t start great, but finished in a flurry with 10 points (all assists) in his last four games.
The Oilers captain wheeled up the right wing boards with the puck, sent a pass to Ty Emberson at the top of the zone, and Emberson’s shot found a way through for a 1-0 lead. McDavid finishes the season with exactly 100 points (tied for fifth in the NHL), 74 assists (third), and an average of 1.49 points per game played, which leaves him tied with Draisaitl for second place behind only Nikita Kucherov (1.57).
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It is McDavid’s eighth 100-point season, a feat accomplished by just three others: Wayne Gretzky (15 times), Mario Lemieux (10) and Marcel Dionne (8). He’s also the fourth ever to put together five straight 70-assists campaigns, alongside Adam Oates (5), Bobby Orr (6) and Gretzky (13).
Hot in pursuit is Draisaitl, who recorded his sixth 100-point season this year.
OIL SPILLS — Corey Perry’s empty netter was his 19th of the season, and tied him with Boston great Rick Middleton at 448 career goals, tied for 68th all-time … Max Jones scored his first goal as an Oiler. It was Jones’ first goal since Mar. 1, 2024 … The game marked Stan Bowman’s 1,000th game as an NHL general manager … Edmonton sweeps the season series against the Sharks with four wins. Edmonton is 14-1 against San Jose since 2021-22.
