Saturday was the first time in NHL history that there were 16 games in one day. Every single team was in action last night. This includes the Edmonton Oilers who coasted past the San Jose Sharks 6-1.
Saturday night was a good night for the out-of-town scoreboard for the Oilers as well as both the Vegas Golden Knights and Los Angeles Kings lost their games. The Kings lost in regulation while the Knights were able to get one point in a shootout loss.
Right now the standings in the Pacific Division are almost locked in. LA can no longer catch the Edmonton Oilers, but the Oilers can still catch the Golden Knights. Both the Knights and Oilers have 2 games left and the Oilers only trail the Knights by 2 points and hold the regulation wins tiebreaker.
The Edmonton Oilers do have a tougher schedule as they play the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday. After that, they will finish at home on Thursday against the Sharks. So I would expect the Oilers to at least get one win. If they are able to win both I like their chances of getting not only top of the Division but the Conference as well.
The schedule for the Knights is slightly easier as they don’t have to play a top team, but they do play a playoff team in the Seattle Kraken. Both of the Golden Knights remaining games are against the Kraken. Tuesday in Vegas and Thursday in Seattle.
Tuesday’s Game Sets The Table For Edmonton Oilers To Be Western Conference Winners
As I mentioned above the Edmonton Oilers toughest game will be the game tomorrow. If they are able to win that one I assume they will also beat the Sharks on Thursday. That will put them at a point total of 109 points.
The Golden Knights currently have 107 with two games remaining. If they lose one of the Oilers will tie them points-wise, but Edmonton holds the tiebreaker. As for a team in the Central Division the Colorado Avalanche have 104 points with 3 games remaining. If they will all their games they could win the conference.
One of the Avalanche games is against the Edmonton Oilers though. That is why the game on Tuesday holds some much importance in the Western Conference race. While the Conference is Vegas’ to lose, it is also Edmonton’s to win. If they win both their remaining games it will set them up to at least have a chance.