A red-hot stretch by the Edmonton Oilers has the club not just talking about the playoffs, but about potential matchups and the possibility of home ice advantage in the opening round of the postseason. What’s more? After wins over San Jose and Anaheim in their last two games, the Oilers are in prime position to actually win the Pacific Division crown and have home ice through the Conference Final.
Crazy stuff, huh?
With that all said, it’s looking like a virtual certainty that Edmonton will finish in the top three of the Pacific. Currently, the Oilers hold a five point lead on the Flames, who only have three more games to play. One win the rest of the way by Edmonton, or a regulation loss by the Flames, clinches a Pacific seed for Edmonton. That, obviously, limits potential first round opponents for the club.
As things stand this afternoon, the Oilers sit second in the Pacific Division with 97 points. That trails the Ducks, who have 99, and leads the Sharks, who have 95. The Oilers hold a game in hand on both teams, and currently hold the head-to-head tie break with the Ducks. Edmonton plays San Jose once more, on Thursday night.
If Edmonton wins that game Thursday, the Oilers will most likely finish as a top two seed in the division. That’s the lay of the land right now for this upstart group from Northern Alberta.
The three most probable opponents for the Oilers are three division rivals; Calgary, Anaheim and San Jose. That is not news, but what may be news is who the best matchup is for the Oilers.
Anaheim:
The Ducks are a big team that has some serious skill and the defensive group that could shut down the Oilers. In fact, prior to the past two meetings between the sides, the Ducks had found ways to neutralize Connor McDavid. That said, McDavid has come alive in the last two meetings and Leon Draisaitl has been a nightmare for the Ducks.
Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry certainly present a problem, while John Gibson always seems to play his best against the Oilers. Factor in an insanely deep blueline, a history of success against Edmonton and lots of playoff experience, and the Ducks aren’t an ideal matchup.
Anahiem has also, by far, been playing the best hockey of the teams that Edmonton is most likely to play in the first round. They are a scary matchup in terms of system and momentum heading into the playoffs.
The good news? Edmonton won the season series three games to two and dominated in their 3-2 victory over the weekend. Anaheim can thank John Gibson and its powerplay for that point.
San Jose:
The defending champions of the west were seen as a possible favorite to once again go to the Final as recently as three weeks ago. However, a nightmare month of March has the Sharks limping down the stretch, both literally and figuratively. The team is struggling to win games, and they are losing key players in the process.
Logan Couture is out indefinitely with an injury, while Joe Thornton suffered what appears to be a serious knee injury yesterday in Vancouver. With the playoffs just over a week away, neither player appears close to ready. That would be a huge bite into San Jose’s offense.
The Sharks are also a team that is a prime candidate for fatigue at this point. This is a veteran laden team that has played A LOT of hockey in the last two seasons. It’s a group that went to the Cup Final last June, sent many key players to the World Cup in September, and then went through another 82-game grind.
That isn’t easy on the body, no matter how old you are. Are these Sharks simply out of gas? It’s possible, and injuries to key players doesn’t help. Pardon the pun, but there is blood in the water when it comes to this Sharks team.
The sides are deadlocked in the season series with two wins apiece.
Calgary:
Edmonton swept the Flames by taking all four regular season games, and honestly outside of a shootout win in January, they made it look quite easy. That said, Calgary is a dangerous team because they have changed quite a bit since the season series ended.
Brian Elliot is back to being a very strong option in net, Calgary’s young studs are producing offense, and the team is playing with consistency finally. The Flames are a very dangerous team and should be taken seriously by every Oiler fan. Forget the regular season series sweep, it literally means nothing at this point.
This series would be, in my mind, the most entertaining to watch. The fans hate each other, the team’s aren’t exactly friendly, and there is an insane amount of young skill on the rosters. It has the potential to be the most exciting series outside of Washington/Pittsburgh should both happen. I don’t think that’s a reach either.
The Flames can gun with the Oilers offensively, have a strong option in net and a very good top three on defense. In my mind, they present a very difficult challenge for this team and I’m not sure Edmonton would get by the Flames.
So, Who Is It?:
In my mind, the ideal matchup at this time is the San Jose Sharks. With the team both banged up and struggling mightily, they seem prime to be picked off and sent packing early this spring. If the team doesn’t have Couture and Thornton, it gives the Oilers a clear advantage in terms of offense. I’m not sure they have that advantage in the other two potential series.
The Sharks are 2-8 in their last ten games and don’t look like they have the energy or fire power to push deep again this season. Their defense has also been uncharacteristically porous as of late and the Oilers have been finding ways to beat Martin Jones in recent meetings.
It won’t be easy, but without two big contributors, the Sharks present the best matchup for Edmonton at this point in time. Will the standings hold true and give us this matchup?
Who do you think is the ideal matchup for Edmonton?
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