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What to watch as Oilers look to tie NHL win streak record vs. Knights

3 months ago
What to watch as Oilers look to tie NHL win streak record vs. Knights

The NHL returns from All-Star Weekend with the

Watch the Oilers trying to win their 17th straight game when they face the Knights on Feb. 6, exclusively on ESPN+ and Hulu (10 ET).
• How to watch
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• Stream the NHL on ESPN

  • Early coaching change: The Oilers began the season by losing 8-1 in their opener against the Canucks in Vancouver. They would go on to start 3-9-1 before firing coach Jay Woodcroft on Nov. 12. Kris Knoblauch was named Woodcroft’s replacement and has guided Edmonton to an NHL-best 26-6-0 record since his first game on Nov. 13.

  • The Oilers have averaged more than a goal more per game under Knoblauch (3.91 vs. 2.69) and are giving up more than 1.6 goals less (2.28 vs. 3.92).

  • Elite goaltending and defense: Since the 16-game win streak began Dec. 21, Edmonton’s goaltender duo of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard have allowed a combined 1.50 goals per games. Skinner has a 1.41 GAA and a .950 save percentage in 12 games and Pickard has 1.74 GAA and a .931 save percentage in his four wins. Skinner’s 12 consecutive wins are the most by an Oilers goaltender in a season in franchise history, surpassing the previous record of 10 straight by Grant Fuhr in 1985-86.

  • The line of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman has been thriving since Knoblauch’s hire, scoring 26 goals together during their time on the ice during that span. That’s the most of any forward grouping in the NHL during Knoblauch’s tenure.

  • McDavid has been especially stellar since Knoblauch took over, posting 57 points over that span, including 26 during the current win streak. McDavid recorded his 20th goal Saturday to giving him his eighth consecutive 20-goal season, joining Leon Draisaitl, David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand, and Auston Matthews as the only players who’ve had eight straight since 2016-17.

  • Hyman leads the Oilers with 30 goals this season. On Saturday, he became the third Oilers skater in the past 30 seasons with 30-plus goals in team’s first 45 games of a season, joining his teammates McDavid and Draisaitl. Hyman is on pace for 55 goals this season, which would shatter his career high of 36 last season. If he gets to 50, Hyman would become the seventh player in Oilers history to hit the mark, joining Wayne Gretzky (8 times), Jari Kurri (4), Draisaitl (3), Glenn Anderson (2), Mark Messier (1) and McDavid (1).

  • According to NHL Edge, Evan Bouchard has 71 shot attempts of at least 90 mph this season, 24 more than the next-closest player (Victor Hedman). Of Bouchard’s 11 goals this season, eight have come from long-range shots, the most in the NHL. His 10.4% shooting percentage on long-range shots is second among defensemen (Drew Doughty, 12.7%) and eighth among all skaters. He has already matched his career high with 43 points this season, averaging 0.96 points per game. The last Oilers defenseman to average a point per game for a season was Paul Coffey (1.14 in 1986-87).

  • The Oilers’ recent run has them as the betting favorites to win the Stanley Cup, according to odds by ESPN BET. The Oilers are +750, followed by the Bruins and Avalanche at +800. According to Stathletes, the Oilers have a 14.1% chance to win the Stanley Cup, ahead of the Panthers at 13.7%. No Canadian franchise has won the Stanley Cup since the Canadiens in 1993.

Knights

Power Rankings position: 9
Leading scorer: Mark Stone: 15 G | 34 A
Record: 29-15-6 (64 points)

  • Vegas has 18 wins at T-Mobile Arena, tied with the Canucks for the second-most home wins behind the Avalanche with 20. The Golden Knights have a .760 points percentage at home this season, fourth in the league. Since the Golden Knights joined the NHL in 2017-18, they have the fourth-most home wins (161) and the seventh-highest points percentage (.673). The only Western Conference team better than Vegas in both categories is the Avalanche (163, .704).

  • Vegas has scored first in 28 games this season, tied for third in the NHL behind the Canucks (33) and Bruins (30). The Knights have scored first in 56% of their games, the eighth-highest rate in the league.

  • Jonathan Marchessault is on pace for 37 goals, which would be a career high and the second most in a season in Golden Knights history behind William Karlsson‘s 43 in 2017-18 (no Vegas player besides Karlsson has scored more than 33 goals in a season). Marchessault has scored 10 goals off the rush this season, tied for fourth most in the NHL. The only players in front of Marchessault are Travis Konecny (12), Joel Farabee (11) and William Nylander (11).

  • Mark Stone has a team-leading 49 points this season (15 G, 34 A), playing all 50 games. His next point will mark his eighth 50-point season, but his first since 2020-21, when he had 61.

  • Alex Pietrangelo leads the Golden Knights in time on ice per game at 24:00. This season, he’s one of three players to average at least 18 minutes at even strength, 2 minutes of power play time and 3 minutes of shorthanded time, alongside Cam Fowler and Devon Toews.

  • Adin Hill leads the NHL in GAA (1.94) and save percentage (.936).