Edmonton’s impressive pair has continued to shine brightly in December. Connor McDavid contributed five assists, while Leon Draisaitl netted three goals as the Edmonton Oilers triumphed over the Calgary Flames 5-1 on Tuesday. Zach Hyman also scored a goal and provided two assists, with Evan Bouchard chipping in two assists and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins adding a goal for the Oilers (19-13-6), who have won four of their last five games and are 8-2-1 in their last 11 matches. This successful run has propelled Edmonton to tie with the Anaheim Ducks for the top spot in the Pacific Division in terms of points.
Draisaitl expressed the team’s determination to secure a playoff spot, emphasizing their desire for improvement after a disappointing start to the season. McDavid and Draisaitl have been standouts in December, leading the league in points for the month. McDavid’s exceptional performance earned him the NHL’s first star of the week for the second consecutive week, extending his points streak to 11 games. With 12 goals and 19 assists in this stretch, McDavid leads the league in overall scoring with 67 points.
McDavid’s remarkable game against Calgary marked his 45th with four or more points, tying him with Jari Kurri for the second-most such games in Oilers history. Draisaitl, on the other hand, has maintained a strong presence with points in 10 of his last 11 games, including a hat trick on Tuesday. Together, McDavid and Draisaitl have amassed an impressive 55 points in December, showcasing their exceptional talent and driving force within the team.
The Oilers’ head coach, Kris Knoblauch, commended the duo for their outstanding contributions to the team’s recent success. Edmonton’s strong performance has been evident, particularly when scoring first this season and donning their new alternate jerseys. The team’s record stands at 16-1-3 when scoring first and 4-0-0 in their alternate jerseys, outscoring opponents by a significant margin of 26-10.
In goal, Connor Ingram delivered a solid performance with 19 saves, earning praise from both teammates and coach for his reliability between the posts. The Oilers’ potent power play, ranked as the best in the league, showcased its prowess by scoring three goals on six opportunities against the Flames. Looking ahead, the Oilers are set to face the Flames again after the holiday break before embarking on a favorable schedule with a majority of home games in January.
McDavid expressed optimism about the upcoming fixtures, highlighting the team’s potential to capitalize on their home advantage and make significant progress in the standings. With a favorable schedule ahead and a healthier roster, the Oilers are gearing up for a successful run in the coming month.