Tragedy struck at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright yesterday, and the details are still coming in. There is still plenty that isn’t known.
Thoughts are with the injured, and with the families at the base who have lost someone or are waiting for word. The people working the long, hard hours to help are carrying a heavy load, and the base is dealing with trauma and anxiety today and in the days ahead.
The doctors and nurses will be stretched to the limit. To the military, the message was simple: “Know we are thinking of you today.”
On the ice last night, the Edmonton Oilers played a game that looked like the outer edge of what this roster can be right now. Connor McDavid was the headline, and for good reason.
He put together one of the best games of his career, blending speed and skill with a real commitment to winning the puck back. That part of his game has been growing year by year, and with Mike Babcock behind the bench it looks like the captain’s work without the puck has taken another step.
McDavid’s final goal of the night was the perfect snapshot of that evolution. Every inch he covered without the puck had a purpose: get it back. In hockey terms, this is Superman getting upgraded to Superman Prime One Million.
Edmonton’s offense has been rolling at even strength, with 29-16 goals there, while the special teams sit at 8-8. That even-strength number will come down, but the special teams should improve.
For now, the Oilers are first in the Pacific by points percentage this morning, and with McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard forming hockey’s version of the Justice League, plus Babcock’s three “here comes the drudge” lines grinding opponents shift after shift, the whole setup looks like a winner. There is also more talent on the way from the IR.
The numbers from the game were ridiculous. Edmonton scored five goals on 20 five-on-five shots, a 25 percent success rate.
That kind of shooting usually carries you a long way. It won’t stay that high forever, but when the percentage cools, the Oilers should still have their work rate and attention to detail to lean on.
This has been a sweet ride for Oilers fans, and McDavid’s start only adds to it. At 29, Wayne Gretzky had 6-10-16 in his first eight games.
McDavid after eight this season? 6-17-23.
The pace is historic.
The top line has been absurd, and there’s no clean way to split 97 and 29. The simple answer is that the team is 6-1-1 and that line is on track to score more than 100 goals on its own this season. The scoring won’t stay this hot, but for now, that pace is real.
The rest of the forwards did their part too. They worked hard, battled for pucks, and gave up ground reluctantly. The “Drudge Grudge” lines didn’t shut out the Mammoth, but they kept them delayed until the clock ran down.
There was plenty else to note. Trent Frederic’s fight with Jack McBain was a hell of a tilt.
Zach Hyman scored in his first game back. Kasperi Kapanen has three goals now.
Colton Dach generated three high-danger chances, while Filip Hallander and Mathieu Joseph each had two, with Joseph scoring on a breakaway.
Utah is a good team, and Edmonton still handled the night well. Why not run it back?
The blue line had a strong night too. Evan Bouchard was effective and looked more complete, much like McDavid and Draisaitl, by blocking shots, taking fewer risks and playing a more mature game. Jake Walman was solid in his return, and Ty Emberson belongs in the lineup every game.
Tristan Jarry also did his job. He played well, lost the shutout on a great shot, and the fluke goal against him wasn’t fair to what he gave the team.
Still, it didn’t affect the result. Six high-danger scoring chances against is the kind of number that comes from intelligence and hard work.
In Other News...
Oilers Finally Get Help Back As One Lineup Question Looms
The Oilers are finally getting some reinforcements back into the fold, with Zach Hyman, Colton Dach and Jake Walman all set to rejoin the lineup for the upcoming game against Utah. Its a welcome development for a team that has been juggling injuries and trying to keep the roster afloat while key pieces were missing.
Edmonton is still not close to being fully healthy, but the next stretch could bring even more relief. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is nearing his season debut, and Jason Dickinson is expected back soon after, giving the club a chance to steady its lines and sort out a lineup picture that has been in flux for weeks. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Trade Radar Just Raised One Big Penguins Deadline Question
The Penguins have made it clear they are willing to move veteran pieces if it helps open the door for younger players, and that has put a familiar deadline name back on Edmontons radar. Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell, Erik Karlsson and even Evgeni Malkin have all been mentioned as possible trade candidates, but from the Oilers side the fit question is really about which of those players best complements a contender already built around elite center depth.
Rust is the name drawing the most interest for a reason, with his pace and puck pursuit making him a natural fit in a top-six role alongside Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl. Any serious pursuit would almost certainly have to come with meaningful futures attached, though, and the frameworks floating around center on draft picks and prospects rather than a simple rental-style swap. No deal is done yet, but the line between speculative deadline chatter and real trade pressure is starting to look thinner. [Read more 🡒]
Tristan Jarry Is Giving The Oilers A Goalie Decision To Make
Tristan Jarry has already forced his way into the early-season conversation for the Oilers after getting two starts in 2026-27. He opened with a 19-save effort against the San Jose Sharks, then followed it up with another solid outing against the Utah Mammoth as Edmonton continues to sort through a position that has too often been a problem area for this team.
The latest start only added to the sense that the Oilers have options now, which is a very different place for this group to be. Jarry did allow two goals against Utah, but he still came up with timely stops and helped Edmonton come away with the win, leaving the coaching staff with a real decision to make as multiple goalies are performing well. [Read more 🡒]