Could the Scorching Hot Oilers Make a Run at NHL History?
It has been over a month since the last time the Edmonton Oilers saw a loss on their calendar, which came against an Islanders squad on the road. That date was December 19th, 2023, when the Oilers record was below .500 at 13-15-1. Edmonton currently sits in the playoff picture, with 53 points, putting them in third place in the Pacific Division. This is thanks to a 13-game win streak that the team has been on since then, starting with the first of those wins over the Devils in New Jersey.
The Oilers have been dominant since that victory, averaging 3.9 goals per game, second best in the NHL only behind the Colorado Avalanche in that stretch. After their 3-1 victory in their last game over the Calgary Flames, the Oilers set a record for the longest win streak by a Canadian franchise in NHL history. There’s more history to be made for Edmonton if the streak can continue. The longest win streak by a team was set by the Pittsburgh Penguins with 17 straight in the 1993 season. If the Oilers can protect a short homestretch, they will have a chance at NHL greatness.
Out of their 13 wins, nine of them came on the road, starting off the streak with five wins away from home. The Oilers look to continue their success with three straight games at home, two of which came against the bottom three teams in the league. Edmonton hosts the Eastern Conference’s worst team in the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight, on January 23, before taking on another 14-win team in the Chicago Blackhawks two nights later. If Edmonton can take care of business as heavy favorites in these two games, all eyes will be on wins number 16 and 17, in huge matchups to tie the record. The Oilers would host a talented Florida Panthers squad to put themselves one game shy of the record, bringing them into All-Star Break. After the break, on a night for NHL history, Edmonton would be lined up to take on the reigning champions in Las Vegas against the Golden Knights on February 6.
This Oilers team has been knocking on the door of a Stanley Cup appearance for the last several years, making the playoffs four straight times with an appearance in the Conference Finals. Led by 3-time MVP Connor McDavid, and a top-five player in goals scored, Zach Hyman, the Oilers are all geared up to make headlines this season. They are playing their best hockey with the All-Star break upcoming and look to continue that play after the weekend. In what could be one of the biggest games of the regular season against the reigning champions, the Oilers aim to not see a loss on their schedule in January and take a record-setting streak into February.
