The Oilers (39-28-9) have been battling the Golden Knights (34-26-16) and Anaheim Ducks (41-29-5) at the top of the Pacific Division for most of the season. With a 3-1 win against the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday, Edmonton moved into a share of first place with Anaheim, three points ahead of Vegas.
The Oilers and Golden Knights would meet in the Western Conference First Round if the teams finish second and third in the Pacific.
“The playoffs (against Vegas) were a lot of fun and even that last game against them, there was a little emotion in that game,” Kapanen said. “It just makes hockey that much better.”
It took some time, but Edmonton is finally playing up to its billing as a Stanley Cup contender. Prior to this run, the Oilers had won three consecutive games just once after reaching -- and losing -- the Stanley Cup Final to the Florida Panthers in each of the past two seasons.
“I think we were just underperforming,” Kapanen said. “We have an extremely talented and extremely good and I’d say, complete hockey team. I would say we weren’t playing to the best of our abilities and as of late we’ve kind of found it, whatever that may be.”
The Oilers are winning without star forward Leon Draisaitl, who sustained a lower-body injury in a 3-1 victory against the Nashville Predators on March 15, and is expected to be out the rest of the regular season. Edmonton hopes to have him back for the playoffs.
The additions of defenseman Connor Murphy and forward Jason Dickinson, who were acquired in separate trades with the Chicago Blackhawks on March 2 and 4, have helped the Oilers shore up their play in their own end.
They are also getting offensive contributions throughout the lineup in the eight games Draisaitl has missed; NHL leading scorer Connor McDavid has 12 points (six goals, six assists) in that span, defenseman Evan Bouchard 10 points (one goal, nine assists), forward Zach Hyman six points (three goals, three assists) and forwards Matt Savoie (four goals, one assist) and Jack Roslovic (three goals, two assists) have five points each.
“Certain guys have been stepping up, we’re missing Leo so we kind of have to,” Kapanen said. “Saying that, nobody is going to fill his shoes, but as a collective effort, everybody’s been doing a great job and we just have to keep it up.”
Edmonton is looking to go on another extended postseason run, and the stretch drive this season has a familiar feel to the previous two.
“It’s easy to make the comparison,” McDavid said following the win against Chicago. “I think everybody just kind of ramped it up with it being close to playoff time and we’re still jostling for a spot and positioning as well. These games matter and we’re dug in.”
The Oilers, who have six regular-seaon games remaining, will hit the road to face the Utah Mammoth, San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings in a trip that begins Tuesday. All three opponents are in the thick of the playoff race and there is a possibility Edmonton could face Utah in the first round if it wins the Pacific.
Regardless, McDavid said he feels the most important factor is the Oilers are trending in the right direction at the right time.
“It’s not just because we’re winning games, but you can tell the emotional engagement is there,” McDavid said. “Guys are just a little more engaged in the game.”
Edmonton has not won a division title since 1987, but that distinction is not a priority in its quest to win the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1990.
“We’re obviously just going to try and win hockey games and wherever we’re seeded, we’re seeded,” McDavid said. “We want to make sure we’re playing good hockey coming down the stretch. That’s the main thing, and punch our ticket (to the playoffs) here eventually.”
