Oilers' McDavid Impressed by Defensive Depth Amid Playoff Push

Edmonton's captain credits team effort as Oilers surge up Pacific Division standings

Apr. 3, 2026 at 7:50pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game, with the players and ice broken down into abstract shapes and planes of color, capturing the energy and movement of the sport.Edmonton's defensive depth and balanced scoring have fueled their recent surge up the standings, setting them up as a formidable playoff contender.Chicago Today

Despite missing star forward Leon Draisaitl, the Edmonton Oilers have found balance and contributions across the lineup during a crucial push for the NHL playoffs. Captain Connor McDavid praised the team's defensive play and reliable goaltending as key factors in the Oilers' recent five-game win streak, which has them tied for first place in the Pacific Division.

Why it matters

The Oilers' ability to win games without relying solely on McDavid's offensive heroics demonstrates their growth as a well-rounded team, which could make them a more formidable playoff contender. Their defensive improvements and depth scoring provide optimism that Edmonton can make a deep postseason run, even if they don't finish first in their division.

The details

The Oilers' recent surge began with a 5-2 win over the Utah Mammoth and continued with victories against the Vegas Golden Knights, Anaheim Ducks, Seattle Kraken, and Chicago Blackhawks. The latest 3-1 win over Chicago highlighted Edmonton's ability to control games while maintaining consistency on both ends of the ice. McDavid credited strong defensive play from pairings like Darnell Nurse and Connor Murphy, as well as contributions from across the forward lines.

  • The Oilers' five-game win streak began on March 29, 2026.
  • The Oilers defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 3-1 on April 3, 2026.

The players

Connor McDavid

The captain of the Edmonton Oilers and the NHL's leading scorer with 126 points this season.

Leon Draisaitl

The Oilers' star forward who has been out of the lineup during the team's recent surge.

Darnell Nurse

An Oilers defenseman who has formed a solid pairing with Connor Murphy.

Connor Murphy

An Oilers defenseman who has formed a solid pairing with Darnell Nurse.

Evan Bouchard

An Oilers defenseman who has contributed solid minutes alongside Mattias Ekholm.

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What they’re saying

“It's been team efforts, obviously. I think our D have played really, really well. Nursey and Murf have been as solid a pairing as we've had, and Bush [Evan Bouchard] and Ek [Mattias Ekholm] are doing their thing, and Wally [Jake Walman] and Embo [Ty Emberson] are giving us good, solid minutes.”

— Connor McDavid, Oilers Captain

“The goalies are doing their thing, and we're getting scoring from kind of everyone, and it's been good.”

— Connor McDavid, Oilers Captain

“Putting the X beside our name is the most important thing, just getting in. That's our main focus.”

— Connor McDavid, Oilers Captain

What’s next

The Oilers will look to continue their strong play and secure a playoff spot in the final games of the regular season.

The takeaway

The Oilers' recent success without their star player Leon Draisaitl demonstrates the team's growth into a well-rounded, defensively responsible squad that can win games through a collective effort. This depth and balance could make Edmonton a more formidable playoff contender, even if they don't finish first in their division.