The Edmonton Oilers have only surrendered nine goals in the last five games, which speaks to their quality goaltending, structured five-on-five play, and consistent forecheck. 

The issue with that number is that five of those nine goals are against the Oilers’ penalty kill, which was a point of emphasis for new associate coach DJ Smith after the whipping that PK took in the postseason. 

That category has been tough sledding overall for the team, which sits at 68.2 per cent for the season, fifth worst in the NHL. The opposition has scored on the power play in five of seven games, and the Utah Mammoth made it happen twice, punishing Josh Samanski’s double-minor for high-sticking and the team’s bench minor on Thursday. 

The Mammoth PP bumped up to first in the league at 37.5 per cent, and have scored multiple goals on the man advantage in a game a league-best five times. 

“I think we’re just attacking,” said Barrett Hayton on the power play’s success. He extended his point streak to five games. 

“Obviously that first unit’s been so good snapping around, they’re so dangerous, and I think they’ve done a great job kind of keeping that mindset. We just try to do the same thing, to be honest.”

Edmonton’s PK is a work in progress with personnel, and had killed eight straight before the 1-0 goal. But there was a distinct chippiness to the game. 

Jack McBain hit Leon Draisaitl in a vulnerable position, and then Mikhail Sergachev cross-checked Connor McDavid. Logan Cooley won’t shy away from the physicality either. Getting a quick rematch adds another level of intrigue with ill tempers and short memories. 

“We didn’t like how it seemed like we lost a little more of the puck battles and physicality to start the game,” said Connor Murphy. “We have to take ownership in our own building to be able to be the ones coming out on top and executing in those plays. 

“I felt like our guys, especially coming from our top line, Connor and those guys, were throwing their bodies around and showing true leadership of what we need to be like behind them.” 

Not enough in the NHL do we get back-to-backs like this. An even-steven split would continue banking points for the Oilers, who sit 5-1-1 and are three points back of Vegas for first in the all-too-early look at the Pacific Division standings. 

“They got as balanced a lineup as you’re going to see throughout the league,” said McDavid about the Mammoth. “They play four lines. Big. Fast. There’s a lot to like over there, but I thought we did a good job of kind of bending the game back. I thought they were better maybe in the first half, and thought we were better in the second half. So another chance Saturday.”How do the Oilers deploy their lines with Zach Hyman back?Jason Gregor reported yesterday that Zach Hyman will return from injury for tonight’s game, and it’s likely that Colton Dach and Jake Walman will play as well. 

Welcome news for the Oilers, who have felt the lack of forward options in their last two games. 

I argued here that until Nugent-Hopkins returns, which is set for late next week, it would make some sense to split up the top line to try and generate something elsewhere in the lineup—especially with Minnesota and Carolina on deck afterwards. 

But it’s easier said than done to stop something that is working, and working so well. 

Here’s what the Connor McDavid-Leon Draisaitl-Vasily Podkolzin line has done in six games together, according to Natural Stat Trick, with a total of 83:22 at five-on-five: Outscoring opponents 11-1 Expected GF%: 69.46 per centActual GF%: 91.67 per cent Scoring Chances: 52-18 High Danger Chances: 22-9 Shots: 43-26 Shot Attempts: 102-52 

Otherwise, here is the rest of the time without that line, plus Evan Bouchard and Mattias Ekholm off the ice. 

Outscored by opponents 8-3Expected GF%: 29.21 per centActual GF%: 27.27 per centOutchanced: 80-34 Out-High-Danger Chances: 33-14Outshot: 78-36 Outshot-attempted: 171-86

Will Hyman play on McDavid’s wing, as he’s so often done in his career? Or would they create a new line with Dach and perhaps Hallander or Frederic? Options for Mike Babcock to consider. 

Regardless, getting Jake Walman back into the lineup for Shakir Mukhamadullin ought to help. Mukhamadullin did score his first goal on a pinball ricochet in the third period, but did struggle against the fast and potent Mammoth offence.

Ty Emberson should be entrenched on the right side and even considered on the penalty kill. Emberson’s been terrific given the circumstances. 

Notes:Connor McDavid remains first in the league in scoring with 18 points, but Jack Eichel is starting to climb the ranks at second with 16 points. Eichel has played two more games, though.While I led with the focus on the Oilers PK, there should be opportunities for the Oilers PP to level the score. Although pedestrian by previous Edmonton standards at 21 per cent, the Mammoth PK isn’t anything special at the moment at 75.9 per cent. The Oilers went 0-for-2 on Thursday.At the dot, the Oilers won 58.5 per cent of the faceoffs. Gold star for Draisaitl, who went nine-for-12, and Owen Michaels, who rebounded well, winning nine-of-15.Kailer Yamamoto has only played three games but has points in all of them.Clayton Keller scored a pair and Nick Schmaltz assisted on each. They’ve factored in on the same goal seven times this season. Only McDavid and Draisaitl have done that more this season.The Oilers will start Tristan Jarry tonight. He is 1-0-1 lifetime against Utah, with a 3.98 goals-against average, and an .837 save percentage. No word yet on whether Karel Vejmelka will get the start again or whether former Edmonton Oil King Sebastian Cossa will play.Evan Bouchard extended his point streak to four games and remains first in defenceman scoring with 15 points. Mikhail Sergachev is tied for third with nine points.After this game, the Oilers will get a five-game homestand.Thursday was the first regulation loss the Oilers have suffered at the hands of the Mammoth since the relocation to Utah. Oilers remain 5-1-1 all-time in this head-to-head.Michael Menzies is an Oilersnation columnist and co-host of Pregaming and Postgaming. He’s also been the play-by-play voice of the Bonnyville Pontiacs in the AJHL since 2019. With seven years of news experience as the Editor-at-Large of Lakeland Connect in Bonnyville, Menzies collects vinyl, books, and stomach issues. Follow him on X at Menzies_4.Letters to the EditorPhotoshop by Tom KostiukDaily Faceoff Edmonton wants to hear from you, the reader, in our new weekly “Letters to the Editor” segment. Letters can be emailed to Daily Faceoff Edmonton’s managing editor Zach Laing (zach.laing@bettercollective.com), titled “Letters to the Editor.” Please include a letter up to 200 words, including your name and place of residence (city, town, province, or state). Your letters may be edited for length and/or clarity. Letters must be submitted by Sunday morning to be considered for that week’s edition.