Five players that have been electric so far this season for the Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers have been electric so far this season with a record of 15-5-0 through their first 20 games of the season.
So many different players have contributed to that success along the way, but today let’s call out five performances that deserved to be mentioned from Edmonton Oilers players.
Edmonton is one of the top teams in the Pacific Division, as of writing this they are second in the division behind only the Calgary Flames who have played two more games and have just one more point, so all things considered they are the top team right now.
If Edmonton were to continue to play to this level they would win 60 games and still have a couple games left in the regular season, while all things considered they are probably going to lose a few more games here or there, you cannot complain about the great first 20 games of the season. So let’s jump in with the list of five players that have been electric – these players come in no particular order.
1. Mikko Koskinen
Mikko Koskinen definitely helped save this season for the Oilers. After losing Mike Smith just three games into the season, it looked like Edmonton might be in trouble needing to lean on Koskinen through the past ten plus games, but Koskinen has been great during that time putting up a .912 save percentage and giving them the best chance to win every night.
Edmonton can outscore a lot of their issues, but they can only do that if their goaltending is making the saves they need him to make, so far Koskinen has done that. I know when Smith gets back into the net the team is going to be very happy to see him, but for now, Koskinen and Stuart Skinner have held their own for the team.
2. Evan Bouchard
The young Evan Bouchard has played in all 20 games this season, and he has 11 points during that time. Edmonton is starting to lean on him more and more. As of right now, the young defenceman is averaging over 21 minutes a night on the ice, that is the second-best total amongst defencemen this season behind only Darnell Nurse for the team.
The Oilers are going to need to see a lot more out of Bouchard but for now, he is doing a lot of stuff correctly and even leads the team in blocked shots.
3. Connor McDavid
When I say this list comes in no particular order I do mean that because we are now finally getting to Connor McDavid. McDavid has 36 points through the first 20 games of the season, he has been unbelievable and he has made everyone around him better hence why we also see Jesse Puljujarvi and Zach Hyman in the top five for points on the team.
McDavid has been scoring some highlight-reel goals this season and already has two goal of the year candidates. The sky is the limit for the Oilers captain, but the amazing thing is his teammate is kind of upstaging him so far this year.
4. Leon Draisaitl
Connor McDavid started the year off hot and everyone was looking at him to put up north of 150 points, but it has been Draisaitl that has been even better the last stretch of games. Draisaitl leads the team in points with 40 through the first 20 games and has 20 goals during that time.
His shooting percentage is at an all-time high right now at 28.6 percent of his shots going in the net, and he has 10 goals on the power play. He needs just five more goals on the man advantage to tie his career-high for goals on the power play. I think it is a safe bet that he reaches that number soon.
Draisaitl and McDavid have been amazing during the first quarter mark of the season. While there inevitably will be some dry stretches during the next three-fourths of the season to come, the duo has helped put the team in a good position.
5. Zack Kassian
Zack Kassian is the placeholder in this position, but he really represents all of the bottom six here. The Oilers forward has four goals and nine points during the first quarter of the season, and he is being physical with 51 hits during that time. This is what the Oilers need to see out of Kassian for the team to find success in the playoffs.
Kassian and the bottom six including Warren Foegele and Derek Ryan have helped to provide some depth goals for the team. Now pushing forward we need to see more of that from guys like Kailer Yamamoto and company.
The Oilers’ next game is on Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins.