The Edmonton Oilers just wrapped up a back-to-back weekend with a statement win over the St. Louis Blues, and if there was any concern about a letdown following their 6-0 rout of the Vancouver Canucks the night before, those doubts were silenced quickly. Edmonton rolled into this one with confidence and left with another convincing performance, showing off a full-team effort that’s becoming their calling card.
And this one had a little extra spice. Former Oiler Dylan Holloway, now skating for the Blues after signing an offer sheet in 2024, was back in the building.
That alone gave the game a bit of an edge - not revenge, necessarily, but certainly motivation. Edmonton didn’t just win; they controlled the tempo, scored in every period, and got meaningful contributions from all over the lineup.
That’s the kind of consistency that separates contenders from pretenders.
Rallying Without Draisaitl
The win also came under emotional circumstances. Just a day earlier, the team announced that Leon Draisaitl would be taking a leave of absence to be with his family in Germany due to a health issue. That’s not just a top-line scorer missing - that’s a cornerstone of the franchise stepping away during a critical stretch.
What we’ve seen since speaks volumes about the leadership in that locker room. The Oilers have scored 11 goals in two games - and haven’t allowed a single one.
That’s not just “stepping up,” as Kasperi Kapanen put it after Saturday’s win - that’s a full-on team response. It’s grit.
It’s focus. And it’s a sign that this group is capable of weathering adversity.
Depth Is Delivering - Finally
For years, the knock on Edmonton has been the lack of depth behind their stars. But lately, that narrative is shifting. With the return of injured forwards like Kapanen and Jack Roslovic, and the emergence of young players like Isaac Howard, the Oilers are finally getting the kind of secondary scoring that wins playoff series.
Kapanen, in particular, has been on fire - seven points in eight games since returning, and he’s doing it with pace and poise. Roslovic adds a layer of skill and creativity, while Vasily Podkolzin is quietly putting together the best season of his NHL career.
He found the back of the net again in this one, as did Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Zach Hyman, and Andrew Mangiapane. That’s a healthy mix of top-six and middle-six guys contributing - exactly what you want when your lineup is missing a star like Draisaitl.
And let’s not overlook the fact that Connor McDavid and Evan Bouchard didn’t have to carry the load in this one. That’s a great sign for a team that’s often leaned too heavily on its top-end talent.
Goaltending Picture Coming Into Focus
While the Oilers’ offensive depth is finally getting some shine, the goaltending situation is also starting to stabilize - and that’s just as important. Connor Ingram, called up from Bakersfield, has looked every bit the part of an NHL-caliber netminder.
He’s calm, technically sound, and making timely saves. His play lately should make the decision pretty simple for the front office.
With Tristan Jarry locked in, the Oilers seem to have found a tandem that works. That likely leaves Calvin Pickard as the odd man out, but that’s the nature of the business. Ingram has earned his spot, and the team looks more confident in front of him every night.
The Bigger Picture
What we’re seeing from the Oilers right now is the kind of maturity and depth that’s been missing in recent years. They’re not just winning games - they’re handling challenges, adjusting on the fly, and playing complete hockey.
Two straight shutouts, 11 goals, contributions from all over the lineup, and a young goalie stepping up? That’s a team rounding into form at exactly the right time.
There’s still a long way to go, and the Western Conference is no picnic. But if this is the version of the Oilers we’re going to see down the stretch - resilient, deep, and defensively sound - then they’re going to be a problem for anyone come playoff time.