GENE'S BLOG: Six Pack

As so many of us, me included, shake off the food coma from the holidays and look to get back in shape, your goal may be to acquire a six pack. Not the one you buy and carry out of the store, but the one you earn and carry underneath your shirt.
One takes minutes, the other months. It's a sign of commitment, discipline, desire, work ethic and knowledge of what you need to succeed. I may be discussing the sculpting of your stomach, but I could also be talking about the current six pack of wins the Oilers are showing the rest of the NHL.
This didn't take minutes, but months for Edmonton to achieve. Since they started their season on Oct. 12, the Oilers have put together winning streaks of two, three, four and five games. They hit a handful of straight wins back in the first month of the season and into the first day of November.
Edmonton finished off a homestand in a generational talent game by defeating Pittsburgh 6-3. From there, they reeled off victories over St. Louis, Chicago, Calgary and Nashville before losing out 4-3 to New Jersey. That was Edmonton's longest winning streak until the first of month of 2023.
It started on the road near the Happiest Place on Earth. With Disneyland as a backdrop, nothing Goofy happened against Anaheim. Two nights later in San Jose with the captain celebrating his 26th birthday, the team celebrated a second straight victory. It was a roll of the dice going into Vegas against the Pacific Division's top team, but slot in another victory on one of those Knights when things went the Oilers way.
Headed home and intent on not Kraken under pressure, they didn't against Seattle. From four, it was off to five and they didn't stand Pat (Maroon) in a spirited and scrappy victory over Tampa Bayt. The latest was a win against Vancouver on Hockey Day in Canada. The streak started Jan. 11 and continued into Jan. 21. In 11 days, Edmonton put together a six pack that looked good on the ice and in the standings.

If you're looking for reasons that Edmonton is on its hottest streak of the season, there are as many of those as there are exercises or workouts to deliver a six pack.
Goaltending has been unbeatable. Jack Campbell showing his true form while Stuart Skinner picked up his first win as a dad. This is the tandem Edmonton imagined would lead them to success. The defence has found its stride with six and even better seven of them in the lineup. The pairings work as does the rotating in and out of one extra blueliner.

Up front, depth scoring or secondary scoring have been fulfilling their duties. When it comes to the top six, they continue to roll along. Zach Hyman has already set a new career high in points and will soon in goals as well. The same can be said for Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who is having a career year. Leon Draisaitl keeps scoring and seems a cinch to hit 110 to 120 points along with another 50-goal season. Then there's the captain Connor McDavid hitting 40 goals faster than anyone in more than two decades, plus the possibility of hitting 150 points or more.
It's a fine time to be a fan of the Oilers, as they have once again pushed themselves into the conversation of finishing first in the Pacific Division. They have the NHL's longest current winning streak, which is also two-thirds of the way to the franchise record of nine. For now, just enjoy something Edmonton is abs-olutely proud of -- their six pack.