Despite dropping a 3-2 decision to the Calgary Flames on Saturday, the Edmonton Oilers have plenty of reasons for optimism as they head into the new year. With an 8-4-1 record in December and just two games remaining in the month, the team has come out from what has become an all-too-familiar pattern of sluggish starts followed by surging comebacks.
Connor McDavid's individual brilliance has been the driving force behind Edmonton's turnaround. After a tepid beginning to the campaign, the Oilers captain has been nearly unstoppable racking up 31 points across 11 games heading into the Christmas break.
Speaking on Sportsnet's After Hours following Saturday's loss to Calgary, McDavid radiated confidence about where both he and his team stand.
"I feel great. I really do," McDavid explained. "I feel like our team is really starting to come, and individuals around are starting to play really well, and all of it is pointing in the right direction. But I do feel great. I'm feeling really confident."
That torrid stretch has shot him to the top of the NHL scoring race and in fact made him the first player since the 1995-96 season to eclipse 65 points before December 25th.
The numbers through 39 games paint the picture of vintage McDavid Oil Country never stops needing. 24 goals and 68 points while riding a 12-game point streak that has seen him collect 13 goals and 19 assists. He currently also leads the league in helpers and ranks among the NHL's elite in total production.
Connor McDavid quips on grueling early season schedule making things ‘easy’
Edmonton has gone through a condensed schedule that would test any roster playing 38 games in just 77 days before the holiday break. 23 of those contests came on the road including the completion of all their East Coast obligations for the season in a demanding stretch that typically wears teams down.
When asked about the relentless pace, the Oilers captain shared that it was not something that bothered him.
"I think it suits me," he said. "I love being in a routine, it just makes it easy."
That routine is about to get considerably more comfortable. Following Monday's matchup against the Winnipeg Jets, the Oilers will enjoy a heavily home-weighted schedule with 13 of their next 17 games at Rogers Place including an eight-game homestand from January 18 through February 3.
With more divisional battles on the horizon and the toughest portion of their schedule in the rearview mirror, Edmonton appears positioned to make another charge toward a third consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearance.
McDavid addresses team's recurring slow starts
One topic McDavid couldn't avoid was Edmonton's perplexing tendency to stumble out of the gate each season. This year proved particularly challenging with the Oilers managing just 10 wins in their opening 25 games which was actually worse than their 12-12-1 start in 2023-24 and 13-10-2 beginning last season.
McDavid acknowledged the frustration that comes with these annual struggles.
"They do. We spent hours and days talking about how we get out of this and how we not go through this, and even when we are in it, we are like, 'What's going on?' and it's frustrating," he admitted. "The fans want us to get out of itm we want to get out of it just as bad as they do. If we had the answers, we would do it. But our game was coming together nicely."
The difference, as always, has been the Oilers ability to find their identity before it's too late.
Now sitting at 19-13-6 with 44 points, Edmonton holds first place in the Pacific Division despite their early season woes.
Offensive firepower, defensive owes
The Oilers'statistical profile reveals both their greatest strength and most glaring weakness. They rank third league-wide in goals scored with 130, a big nod to the offensive firepower McDavid and his talented supporting cast provide.
But that production has been offset by defensive struggles with the team sitting 29th in goals against at 126 allowed.
Still, the positive momentum is undeniable. With key contributors stepping up around Oilers superstar duo and a favorable schedule ahead, the Oilers are betting they can tighten up defensively while maintaining their offensive dominance.
As the calendar prepares to flip to 2025, Edmonton finds itself overcoming early adversity to position themselves as legitimate contenders. With the team's confidence building and their toughest schedule stretch behind them, the Oilers are eyeing another deep playoff run.
For a franchise that has reached back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals, the question is whether they can finally break through and claim the ultimate prize. If McDavid continues playing at this level and the supporting cast keeps elevating their game, Edmonton will have every opportunity to find out.