This is the first in an upcoming series of articles analyzing the Edmonton Oilers' 2026-27 schedule, month by month. With 84 games and 168 standings points up for grabs, every result is going to matter, and the team can do itself a favor by starting out hot.
The Oilers will play 13 games in the month of October (We'll go with 14 to include Game 1 of the season - September 29th). Eight home games and 6 away from Rogers Place. Seven of these will be against Pacific Division opponents and all but four will be Western Conference matchups.
Capturing the easy points
If past performance is any sort of predictor of future performance, then the Oilers' October opposition should present them with an opportunity to capture some wins. The Pacific Division teams they'll face in the first month of the season were a combined -267 in goal differential. And while the Vancouver Canucks make up -104 of that statistic, every Pacific team they'll see in October was negative last year.
The Utah Mammoth, who the Oilers play twice mid-month, were a plus team on goal differential (+28), but their team save percentage was .893. Assuming the Oilers can better their own subpar .883 average, the Mammoth should be beatable, though it's worth noting that Vitek Vanecek, the goaltender pulling Utah's average downward, will not return, with the newly acquired Sebastian Cossa stepping into his spot as the backup.
A tough homestand
In the second last week of the month, the Oilers start a homestand that will (hopefully) be the first inkling of whether or not they're a competitor in 2026-27. Beginning on October 20th, with a game against the Minnesota Wild, and followed two days later by a matchup against the defending Stanley Cup Champion Carolina Hurricanes, the Oilers will have their mettle tested.
If they've gotten off to a slow start, and are .500 or worse in terms of win percentage, these games will be something close to must-win, and if the Oilers have been rolling through their competition, then these two matchups will be a test of their ability to do the same against the league's best.
The home stand continues with a trip down Mike Babcock memory lane. A Saturday evening Hockey Night in Canada matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs will be followed by a Monday game versus the Detroit Redwings. Both of those clubs will be looking to improve on rather dismal previous seasons, and at least in the Leafs case, some positive regression seems likely.
Predictions and well wishes
The Oilers finish the month with a Battle of Alberta and a Halloween afternoon game against the New York Islanders. Their relatively easy opposition, combined with expected commitment to be better on the parts of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl should put them in good stead.
Prediction for the month is 9-4-1, with matinee losses versus the Sharks and Islanders, a split of the double header versus the Mammoth, and a loss to the Hurricanes. If those results become reality, the Oilers will be off to a hot start and potentially their first division title in a VERY long time.
Also, happy birthday to Leon Draisaitl, who will turn 31 on October 27th. Hab einen schönen Geburtstag!
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