{"id":320580,"date":"2026-04-18T10:16:52","date_gmt":"2026-04-18T04:46:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=320580"},"modified":"2026-04-18T10:16:52","modified_gmt":"2026-04-18T04:46:52","slug":"edmonton-oilers-confident-theyll-be-serious-contenders-for-pursuit-of-stanley-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/04\/18\/edmonton-oilers-confident-theyll-be-serious-contenders-for-pursuit-of-stanley-cup\/","title":{"rendered":"Edmonton Oilers confident they\u2019ll be serious contenders for pursuit of Stanley Cup"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The Edmonton Oilers will start their pursuit of a 3rd consecutive trip to the Stanley Cup final at home on Monday and this time, the Anaheim Geese are on the menu.<\/p>\n

Captain Connor McDavid had 4 assists and rookie Matthew Savoie scored his first profession hat trick because the Oilers secured second place within the Pacific Division and residential ice to begin the primary round against the Anaheim Geese with a clutch 6-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a very important one,\u201d McDavid said.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe wanted to begin (the playoffs) here at home and provides ourselves the very best probability in the primary round.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Josh Samanski, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Colton Dach also scored and Evan Bouchard had three assists for the Oilers (41-30-12) who closed the regular season with a 7-2-2 record of their final 11 games.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s exciting,\u201d said veteran defenceman Darnell Nurse. \u201cWhen our back was against the wall for the last month or two, everyone was counting us out. We got here together, got tighter and commenced to play our greatest hockey. It\u2019s good going into the playoffs like that. I believe our group is in a very great place.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Oilers finished 30-5-5 when scoring first this season.<\/p>\n

Edmonton was buoyed by the return of veteran scorer Zach Hyman and expect star forward Leon Draisaitl back throughout the opening round of post-season play.<\/p>\n

McDavid said surviving their absences down the ultimate stretch showed Edmonton\u2019s tenacity.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s little doubt about it, it\u2019s been an up and down yr for quite a lot of things,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve worked hard to place ourselves on this spot. With Leon going on the market it was an issue if we\u2019d even be within the playoffs. When a player like that goes out, you never know. And we\u2019ve had quite a few guys step up and dig in and to have home ice is vital.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe primary round is at all times chaotic. It’s each yr. Home ice isn\u2019t the be-all, end-all, nevertheless it actually helps.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Draisaitl has been hard at work and practice and McDavid expects he shall be within the lineup sooner moderately than later.<\/p>\n

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\u201cHe looks amazing, he looks really, really strong,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s a credit to him and our staff here. I keep saying how good our staff is here and it\u2019s the time of yr where health and injuries play a giant factor and our guys do a tremendous job making guys available.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s also a credit to Leon for wanting to be there, for wanting to be a difference maker. And he shall be. He looks great.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Connor Ingram recorded just 11 saves to earn the win within the Edmonton net because the Oilers outshot Vancouver 35-12.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think there\u2019s any reason to not consider on this group,\u201d said Oilers defenceman Mattias Ekholm. \u201cI\u2019ve seen us over the past two, three seasons, and clearly within the post-season, that we shall be a team to count on. And we\u2019re hitting our gear at the fitting time of the yr this time.\u201d<\/p>\n

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