The Edmonton Oilers have had many high and low moments in their franchise history. Over the years, they have had some of the best National Hockey League players ever, drafted or traded to play with the organization before they retired. There have been a few teams that the Oilers could score at will against and always seemed to beat, but there have also been a few teams over the years that they still struggle against to this day.
Today I will be looking at five teams that the Edmonton Oilers have dominated throughout their history and looking into what made them so strong against these specific teams. Whether it was their points percentage, record, goals for and against, it will all be discussed. The five teams were chosen based on a minimum of 170 games played.
Arizona/Phoenix Coyotes
In terms of the points percentage, the Oilers have proven to be very good against the Arizona/Phoenix Coyotes in their history. Their all-time record against the Coyotes is 117 wins, 71 losses, 11 ties, and 16 overtime/shootout losses. With a points percentage sitting at .607 and having a total of 261 earned points, it seems like the Oilers have found it easy to score against the Coyotes thanks to 848 goals for and 736 goals against.
In those 215 games all-time (so far) Edmonton has managed to score a total of 3.94 goals per game, while allowing 3.42 goals per game. Thanks to the best NHL player to ever play the game, in Wayne Gretzky, he single-handedly managed to earn 230 points against the Coyotes in just 105 games played across his career. Averaging 2.19 points per game, it is no wonder why the Oilers have been so good against the Coyotes over the years.
Thanks to the level of play that Edmonton has gotten and continues to receive from Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the Oilers goal scoring and win ability against Arizona has stayed the same today.
Vancouver Canucks
In second place in terms of the points percentage, are the Vancouver Canucks. The Oilers all-time record against the Canucks is 139 wins, 99 losses, 19 ties, and 15 overtime/shootout losses. With a .574 points percentage and having earned a total of 312 points, the Vancouver Canucks are a team that Edmonton does not really have much trouble winning games against, minus what has happened in their last few meetings.
In their 272 games all-time (so far) the Oilers have managed to score a total of 974 goals while allowing 874 goals. That adds up to 3.58 goals per game and 3.21 goals against them per game. Wayne Gretzky against the Canucks in his career was able to earn 239 points in 117 games. That means that he was averaging 2.04 points per game. The Vancouver Canucks have been another team that the Oilers have been really good against over the years.
Today, Connor McDavid has recorded 24 goals and 44 assists for 68 points in his 42 career games played against Vancouver. Leon Draisaitl has followed close behind, with 26 goals and 33 assists for 59 points in 48 regular season games.
Colorado Avalanche
Ranked third on the points percentage podium are the Colorado Avalanche. Edmonton’s all-time record against the Avalanche is 85 wins, 69 losses, eight ties, and 16 overtime/shootout losses. With a .545 points percentage and having earned a total of 194 points across those games, the Colorado Avalanche has made it difficult for the Oilers to win against them and yet, Edmonton still has the edge.
Through their 178 games all-time (so far) the Oilers have managed to score 3.51 goals per game and have allowed approximately 3.30 goals against them per game. That adds up to 625 goals for, 587 goals against. Against the Colorado Avalanche in his career, Wayne Gretzky was able to earn 132 points in just 51 games. That means that he had video game-like numbers with approximately 2.59 points per game. Edmonton, but more so Gretzky, was the dominant force against the Avalanche.
Leon Draisaitl has recorded eight goals and 25 assists for 33 points in 25 career games against Colorado. Connor McDavid on the other hand, has recorded 14 goals and 21 assists for 35 points in one less game played.
Los Angeles Kings
Ranking in fourth place based on the points percentage are the Los Angeles Kings. The Oilers all-time record against Los Angeles is 108 wins, 90 losses, 30 ties, and four overtime/shootout losses. With a points percentage sitting at .539 and having a total of 250 earned points, it seems like Edmonton has put a system in place that has allowed them to consistently win against the Kings.
In those 232 games all-time (so far) Edmonton has managed to score a total of approximately 3.66 goals per game, while allowing approximately 3.51 goals per game. Thanks to how skilled Wayne Gretzky was, he single-handedly managed to earn 179 points against the Kings in only 69 games across his career. Averaging approximately 2.59 points per game, it is no wonder why the Oilers have won over 100 games against Los Angeles.
Thanks to the level of play that the Oilers receive from Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the goal scoring has not just come in the regular season, it has been massive in the playoffs four years in a row.
Calgary Flames
Last but not least, we have the Battle of Alberta ranked in the Oilers top five based on their points percentage. Edmonton’s all-time record against the Flames is 118 wins, 124 losses, 19 ties, and nine overtime/shootout losses. With the first points percentage being under .500 at .489 and having earned a total of 264 points across those games, the Calgary Flames have actually won against the Oilers more times than they have lost.
Through their 270 games all-time (so far) the Oilers have managed to score 3.26 goals per game and have allowed approximately 3.42 goals against them per game. That adds up to 881 goals for, 923 goals against. Against the Flames in his career, Wayne Gretzky was able to earn 230 points in only 117 games. That means that he had approximately 1.97 points per game. Edmonton, but more so Gretzky, was a really good player in the Battle of Alberta.
Leon Draisaitl has recorded 14 goals and 49 assists for 63 points in 48 career games against Calgary. Connor McDavid on the other hand, has recorded 29 goals and 29 assists for 58 points in six less games played.
Continue the trend
With the Edmonton Oilers proving to be very good against these five teams and thanks to the help that the team had from Wayne Gretzky and continues to get from Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, it seems like the guys in Oil Country are going to continue to win against these five teams, until they make moves and get a lot better.
Do you think that there is a set timeline until the Oilers find it a lot harder to win against these five teams? Is there a team in their history that they have been more dominant against? Let us know in the comments below.
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