Oilers wary of Blackhawks' 'championship pedigree' in Qualifying Round

The Edmonton Oilers finished the regular season with a better points percentage than the Chicago Blackhawks but know their opponent in the Western Conference Qualifying Round has a clear advantage when it comes to series experience.

"You look at Chicago, the thing that jumps out at you is the championship pedigree that they have in [Jonathan ] Toews and [Patrick] Kane and [Duncan] Keith," Oilers coach Dave Tippett said Wednesday of the two Blackhawks forwards and defensemen who were part of Stanley Cup wins in 2010, 2013 and 2015. "They're top, top players, they're elite players, so you have to respect that, respect where they've been, what they've done."

Kane, who led the Blackhawks with 84 points (33 goals, 51 assists) in 70 games this season, has 123 points (50 goals, 73 assists) in 127 Stanley Cup Playoff games. Toews scored 60 points (18 goals, 42 assists) in 70 games this season and has 110 points (40 goals, 70 assists) in 128 playoff games. Keith scored 27 points (three goals, 24 assists) and averaged 24:23 of ice time per game in 61 games this season and has 81 points (18 goals, 63 assists) in 126 playoff games.

Each won the Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the playoffs: Toews in 2010, Kane in 2013 and Keith in 2015.

"Hopefully we'll be prepared for what we have to do but also, looking at Chicago, we'll see if there's anything that we have to make sure we're aware of going into the series," Tippett said.

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The Oilers (37-25-9, .585 points percentage), who will be the No. 5 seed in the West, lost two of three games against the Blackhawks (32-30-8, .514), the No. 12 seed, during the regular season.

The NHL announced its Return to Play Plan on May 26, which will involve 24 teams competing for the Stanley Cup. The tournament will begin with a 16-team, eight-series Qualifying Round and a Seeding Round Robin among the top four teams in each conference to determine seeds for the playoffs. A date and location for the best-of-5 series has not been announced.

Tippett said the Oilers will use scrimmages and anything else to get as close to game level as possible in training camp, which will not begin before July 10.

"You know the players, but you have to evaluate what they're doing, what their conditioning level is and where they're at right now to make sure they're ready to go on Day One, because it's a different Day One," Tippett said. "You're not going to be able to tiptoe in."

Much of Edmonton's success this season was generated by forwards Leon Draisaitl, who scored 110 points (43 goals, 67 assists) in 71 games to win the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's leading scorer, and Connor McDavid, who was second with 97 points (34 goals, 63 games) in 64 games. The Oilers had the NHL's best power play (29.5 percent) and were second on the penalty kill (84.4 percent), behind the San Jose Sharks (85.7 percent).

"We've talked to our players and coaches a lot about us preparing our team, making sure we're ready before we look at anyone else," Tippett said. "… We're really going to concentrate on hopefully what we have to do to be successful. … We'll be ready to play."