The Edmonton Oilers face the Colorado Avalanche tonight, aiming to secure a win to improve their position in the Pacific Division. Both teams have already qualified for the NHL playoffs, but the Oilers are just one point behind the Vegas Golden Knights.
Fans in Edmonton will get one last regular-season glimpse at McDavid vs. MacKinnon tonight at Rogers Place before the NHL playoffs begin this weekend.
Both clubs have secured playoff berths, but the Oilers are on the cusp of winning the pillow fight in the Pacific Division and will be desperate for a victory as they sit just one point (90) behind the Vegas Golden Knights (91), with both teams having two games remaining.
Will Edmonton pass the test and position themselves as home-icers in the first two rounds of the playoffs, or will Colorado play spoiler?
The Opponent: Edmonton Oilers (40-30-10)
Time: 7:30 p.m. MT
Watch: Altitude, Altitude+, ESPN+
Listen: Altitude Sports Radio, 92.5 FM
I’m not sure who spilled the salt at team dinner, but Colorado has been hit with an injury wave that has even extended to their head coach, Jared Bednar.
The puck he took to the face against Vegas has him still recovering from facial fractures and an abrasion in Colorado.
Maybe the view from the vantage of a fan can offer some insight, but I imagine Bedsy has his ways of influencing the group even from afar.
Now, as far as skaters go, I doubt we see Cale Makar, Josh Manson, or Nazem Kadri tonight or for the rest of the regular season.
Josh Manson left the Vegas game with an upper-body injury and did not return.
As mentioned in the intro, without any opportunity for advancement, there’s no reason not to shut these guys down until the playoffs.
Artturi Lehkonen — Nathan MacKinnon — Gabriel Landeskog
Valeri Nichushkin — Brock Nelson — Martin Necas
Ross Colton — Nicolas Roy — Joel Kiviranta
Parker Kelly — Jack Drury — Logan O’Connor
Devon Toews — Sam Malinski
Brett Kulak — Brent Burns
Nick Blankenburg — Jack Achan
Scott Wedgewood
MacKenzie Blackwood
The Oilers have been without Leon Draisaitl for quite some time, but still run with McDavid and have been a team that can’t consistently find their stride, but appear and often prove plenty capable.
Interestingly, if the Oilers and Avalanche meet later in the playoffs as both sides intend, the Oilers will have won two playoff rounds, and any doubts will dissipate, as that would mark their 3rd Western Conference Final in a row.
The question marks in Edmonton still largely revolve around netminding, with the Skinner for Jarry deal not really panning out early on.
For now, I’d say it’s Ingram’s net.
Vasily Podkolzin — Connor McDavid — Matthew Savoie
Max Jones — Ryan Nugent-Hopkins — Kasperi Kapanen
Colton Dach — Josh Samanski — Trent Frederic
Curtis Lazar — Adam Henrique — Jack Roslovic
Mattias Ekholm — Evan Bouchard
Darnell Nurse — Connor Murphy
Jake Walman — Ty Emberson
Connor Ingram
Tristan Jarry
The Oilers are currently in second place in the Pacific Division, with 90 points, just one point behind the Vegas Golden Knights.
Key players to watch include Connor McDavid from the Oilers and Nathan MacKinnon from the Avalanche, both of whom are expected to make significant impacts in the game.
The Oilers need a victory to enhance their chances of securing home-ice advantage in the first two rounds of the playoffs, while the Avalanche could spoil their plans.
LIV Golf's future appears uncertain as reports suggest Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund may withdraw funding after investing $5 billion. Despite assurances for the 2026 season, the tour faces challenges from low ratings and strong competition from the PGA Tour.
Mike Trout's 446-foot HR joins him with Aaron Judge in Yankee Stadium lore.
Detroit Tigers projected to take a risk on a 6'3" prep bat in the MLB draft.
Arshdeep Singh makes history as the first PBKS bowler to reach 100 IPL wickets!
California's top high school football prospects are on the move this weekend.
Viktor Hovland shines with a 64 at RBC Heritage, Gotterup scores 70.
See every story in Sports — including breaking news and analysis.