Plenty on the line for Oilers despite already clinching playoff spot

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The Edmonton Oilers may have clinched a playoff spot, but there is still plenty on the line as the regular season winds down.

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The Oilers practiced Monday at Rogers Place and then embarked to California to begin a four-game road trip, starting Tuesday against the Los Angeles Kings. The Oilers are a point back of the Kings, for second place in the Pacific Division standings, and two back of the leading Vegas Golden Knights.

If the teams finish as they are, then the Oilers would start the playoffs on the road against the Kings in a best-of-seven series.

“Obviously, we want to keep on building our game,” said Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. “We know where we’re at points-wise and we’re still jockeying for position, but at the same time, it’s more important to focus on our game and keep building in the last five games.”

Following the showdown against the Kings, the Oilers will head down the road to face the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday and then have two days off before a matinee encounter against the San Jose Sharks.

The Oilers will then have another two days off before concluding the trip against the Colorado Avalanche on April 11. The Oilers conclude the regular season on April 13 by hosting the Sharks and then begin the Stanley Cup playoffs the following week.

“The last thing you want to do right now is lose what you’ve built over the last couple of months,” said Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl. “It’s a big couple of weeks for us. Tomorrow night is a big game for both sides and it should be a good week for us.”

The Oilers are heading into the road trip on a four-game win streak, having won nine of their past 10 games. The Oilers have the best record in the NHL since Jan. 11, at 24-5-6.

“We feel good, I think the whole team is playing well; everyone is contributing, everyone knows where to slot-in and what their roles are,” Draisaitl said. “We’re looking good, we’re playing good hockey right now, and we’re looking to continue that going into the playoffs.”

It has not all gone smoothly for the Oilers this season, but the adversity they battled through in the first half of the year made them a better team in the second. Remarkably, they have not been able to overtake Los Angeles and Golden Knights in the race for the Pacific Division title, but they do expect to be battle-tested once the playoffs begin, regardless of opponent.

“I think there are areas that we can always clean up,” Nugent-Hopkins said. “Starts is something; when we’re on and we’re quick out of the gate, we seem to maintain that level. Some games we put ourselves behind the 8-Ball and have to play catch-up, but I think we’ve done a good job of battling back in games and showing that we can get it done that way too. At the same time, especially when playoffs come, starts are so important.”

The Oilers have the ability to outscore their mistakes this season, with the most dynamic offence in the league. They have a league-high 306 goals with five games to play, and their goal differential is a Western Conference best plus-52.

However, the Oilers are towards the bottom third of the league when it comes to goals conceded at 254, the worst among all playoffs teams. The back-to-back shutouts against the Kings and Ducks this week helped in that regard with Stuart Skinner and Jack Campbell both collecting their firsts of the season. But if there is an area of concern heading into the playoffs, it would be the number of goals conceded.

“I think we can play any game you want to play, it doesn’t matter to this group,” Draisaitl said. “If you want to play a fast game, we have lots of great skaters, lots of great puck-movers; if you want to be physical, we have lot of guys that like that part of the game too. I don’t think there is a game that we can’t play.”

For Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft, the last five games of the season give his team a chance to fine-tune their game. Woodcroft and his staff deserve a lot of credit for getting the group pointed in the right direction after a choppy stretch through November and December.

“I think with where we’re at, with where the Pacific Division is at, wanting to make sure our game is in the right spot, all that stuff factors into us wanting to get better every day,” Woodcroft said. “It’s been a theme right from Day 1. We like where our team is trending, I don’t think we’re at the level we’re capable of yet.

“But I think as we work our way down the stretch, every game is an opportunity, or dress rehearsal, to make sure we’re going to be ready for Game 83.”

There are some house-cleaning matters, which also need to be addressed. A number of players on the roster are having career years and there are some milestones left on the table.

For Connor McDavid, 70 goals might be a bit out of reach, currently with 62 goals, but 150 points is there for the taking, just four points away. Draisaitl got to 50 goals for the third time and has a chance to match career high 55. Nugent-Hopkins, meanwhile, is three points away from 100 on the season.

“I’m not focusing on it,” Nugent-Hopkins said. “If it happens, that would be a cool milestone to hit, but at the same time, my focus is on getting these next five wins here and just trying to build our game.”

There has not been a team in the NHL with three 100-point players in nearly 30 years. The Pittsburgh Penguins were the last to do it in 1996 with Mario Lemieux (161), Jaromir Jagr (149), and Ron Francis (119). Petr Nedved had 99 that season as well.

“We care, probably a lot more than he does,” Draisaitl said. “We obviously know that we have to continue to play solid hockey and focus on our team first, and he knows that better than anyone. But I think if there’s a chance to give Nuggy a touch, I think everyone in this room will gladly do so.”

Email: dvandiest@postmedia.com

On Twitter: @DerekVanDiest