The past few seasons, the Edmonton Oilers have had a narrative attached to the team that any success (or failure) was attributed to how the power play was doing.
Edmonton’s power play since 2020–21
This stemmed from a general lack of roster depth and depth scoring leading to most of the team’s offence running through Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl, very often on the power play. And this was a fair statement to make. The Oilers’ power play over the last few seasons is typically top of the league, and in fact they have the league’s best power play since the beginning of the 2020–21 season, converting on 28.4% of their powerplay opportunities. That is a full 3% better over the next teams, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning, tied at 25.2%.
This season, although their power play has fallen off quite significantly from the all-time best 32.4% record they set in 2022–23, they still sit second best in the league at 26.6%. And since they still sit sixth in the league in total goals (fourth in goals for per game) that means they are still scoring elsewhere.
And sure enough, that is easily shown by the fact that the Oilers are fifth in the league in 5v5 goals with 157, just 11 behind the league leading Vancouver Canucks who have 168.
This is showing us that although the Oilers get a huge boost from the strength of their powerplay, this season they are proving that they can succeed even when the powerplay is not.
Oilers even strength performance in 2023–24
With some improved depth scoring throughout this season from what appears to be the deepest lineup this team has iced in years, the Oilers are finding ways to score beyond the McDrai Connection on the power play. And even when they aren’t scoring (like during the disastrous start), they are still performing well and find themselves at the top of the leaderboards in expected goals. Even beating out the analytics darlings, the Carolina Hurricanes.
Sometimes, these teams that thrive on power play and special teams success have a significantly different picture painted when looking at their even strength numbers. Almost like their power play is covering for a poor even strength team. Which may have been the case in past seasons.
But this year in particular, the Oilers dominate at, well any strength really. Even strength they are near the top of the league, on the power play is the same. Even shorthanded, 4v5, they manage to find themselves in the top five of the league in xGoals% and Corsi for % according to Moneypuck.com.
This should be more than enough proof that the Oilers have evolved past a power play oriented team. Sure, it helps and gives them an edge over their opponents. But they are finding ways to score and win games even if the power play is not scoring or getting any opportunities.
Oilers dominating games at even strength
Sometimes, they absolutely dominate at even strength. In fact, the Oilers lead the league in games with six or more even strength goals. They’ve accomplished this seven times in 2023–24. The next teams in line are the Buffalo Sabres and Dallas Stars who have done this four times.
It’s not just a small lead in this category, the Oilers are doing this on a regular basis. Significantly more than their competition. Notably, significantly more than the teams they will be going up against early in the playoffs, as the Los Angeles Kings and Vegas Golden Knights appear on this list zero and one time, respectively.
In the playoffs when the whistles may get put away and the Oilers could find themselves with fewer power play opportunities, this is a positive sign that they might still be able to dominate their opposition in a long, hard-fought series.
It is about time the Oilers start getting recognized as a great team at all strengths, not just a one-trick pony on the power play.
Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire
