The Edmonton Oilers are second in the Pacific Division, and they have Leon Draisaitl to thank for that. While their 27-13-3 record through 43 games was largely expected, how they got there has been somewhat surprising.

This in from Bob Stauffer of the Oilers radio network, the lines from today’s Edmonton Oilers practice that show Jeff Skinner has yet again been bumped down the line-up: Podkolzin-Draisaitl-Arvidsson Hyman-Henrique-Perry Janmark-RNH-Brown J.

The Edmonton Oilers had a bad taste in their mouth after their last game against the Vancouver Canucks, but they enjoyed some revenge on Thursday with a 6-2 victory.

McLeod has 10 goals and 14 assists for the Sabres and is on pace to shatter the career highs of 12 goals and 30 points he set last year for

Leon Draisaitl continued his MVP-type season with a three-point game. Zach Hyman buried two and could have had four. Calvin Pickard was strong early. And Corey Perry was in full-worm form with a highly effective, agitating display.

The Edmonton Oilers will host the Buffalo Sabres in a matinée matchup at Rogers Place on Saturday afternoon. You can watch the game on Sportsnet at 2:00 MT or listen live on the Oilers Radio Network, including 880 CHED.

Things were testy to start, with the Oilers looking to avenge the loss of their Captain following Conor Garland’s malicious attack on Connor McDavid’s stick with the side of his face.

Hockey is a team sport, so even the best players can't do it alone. Every NHL team needs depth guys who perform roles the top dogs either can't or shouldn't do.

Zach Hyman had two goals and an assist and Leon Draisaitl had a goal and two assists as the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Vancouver Canucks 6-2 on Thursday. “Happy with all the players,” Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said after the game.

The Oilers need another scorer if they're going to return to the Stanley Cup Final.

How does a team replace Connor McDavid in their lineup? That’s an easy question — They don’t. With the team’s captain serving the first game of a three-game suspension for cross-checking, Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said it’ll take a community approach to handle playing without McDavid.