Look at Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaityl, and the price of crude and one thing becomes clear: this is the year of the Oil..The Edmonton Oilers’ long-awaited playoff confrontation with the Calgary Flames will end like they almost always did — with the Oilers headed to Round 3 and the Flames headed to the golf course..This is the most talented Edmonton Oilers team in 30 years. McDavid’s 44 goals and 79 assists were both career highs, as were Leon Draisaitl’s 55 goals and 55 assists. Also, wingers Zach Hyman and Kailer Yamomoto got 27 and 22 goals respectively, though any one of their four lines threaten to score. Evander Kane’s 22 goals gives the team five 20-goal men — something the Flames don’t have..Edmonton has been more on fire than Flames since hiring Jay Woodcroft as head coach February 10. For whatever reason, the talent-laden team that stormed out of the gate to start the season floundered for months under former coach Dave Tippett..Now Woodcroft, the former head coach of the team’s American Hockey League affiliate in Bakersfield, California, has all lines playing great two-way hockey. It’s just the antidote needed for a Flames team coached by Darryl Sutter..Another major factor in the Oilers late season rally was the acquisition of Evander Kane on January 28. He scored 22 goals in 44 games in the regular season, and 7 more in the first round of the playoffs. Left-wingers with his grit and scoring touch are a rarity, and his ability to get under his opponents’ skin was an element Oilers teams have long been lacking. His recent controversies of bankruptcy and breaking COVID protocols with the Sharks and allowing the Oilers to sign him for a bargain $1.375 million, provides one more reason this team’s talent exceeds what a salary cap should allow..The Oilers even have a blue line to be proud of — at last. Tyson Barrie led the league in scoring by defencemen last year and has thrived again under Woodcroft’s coaching..Darnell Nurse also has a threatening shot and a goal scorer’s touch when opportunity presents itself. Even when it doesn’t, his size and smart defensive play are worth his ice time alone. Evan Bouchard has also come into his own. The 22-year-old’s 12 goals and 43 points were tops for the team’s defensemen..The Oilers’ newest D-liners aren’t bad either. Duncan Keith won three cups with Chicago and Brett Kulak was a valuable part of the Canadiens’ cup-run last year. Cody Ceci already has six points in this year’s playoffs. And the spare tire, veteran Kris Russell, is the NHL’s all-time leader in blocked shots..Both Mike Smith and Mikko Koskinen shone in goal down the stretch, but Smith is the confirmed starter for the playoffs. His .938 save percentage is a virtual dead heat with Calgary’s Jacob Markstrom at .943. However, Smith made 63 more saves than Markstrom, despite 12 minutes less playing time. If Calgary fires all cannons as it did in its final game with Dallas, Smith is ready. He’s the only goalie to record two shutouts in the playoffs..Let’s face it, the Flames barely squeaked through the first round in their Game 7 overtime win. They scored 15 goals in their series against Dallas and let in 14. The Oilers, meanwhile, scored 27 goals and let in 17, finishing off L.A. with a 2-0 shutout. They’ll start the series with Calgary with one more day of rest..Edmonton has more motivation than Calgary to get it right this year. Their last two playoff rounds, to Chicago and Winnipeg, respectively, ended without a single win. Besides this, some members of the Oilers will either be worse with age or harder to hold next year. Mike Smith and Duncan Keith are getting long in the tooth, and it’s likely the Oilers will have to dish out more to keep Kane, Jesse Puljujarvi, Kailer Yamamoto, and Brett Kulak next year..Connor McDavid knows the heat is on, but he is thriving. His league-leading 14 points were scored in six multi-point games, the latter tying a mark previously reached once—by the Bruins’ Rick Middleton in 1983. His will-to-win was evident last series, and exactly what a team needs from their captain. .In 1988, the Flames won the President’s Trophy for the best record in the regular season, only to be swept by the Oilers in four straight games. The Oilers also beat the Flames in series in 1983, ’84, and ’91, only conceding defeat once in 1986. The Flames come into this series with a better regular season record, but not as much late-season momentum. This Battle of Alberta promises to be epic, but with the Oilers prevailing.
