81 games down, one to go.
The Golden Knights clinched the Pacific Division with a win over Seattle on Wednesday, but the Oilers still have plenty at stake in their regular-season finale against Vancouver.
A win would secure second place and home-ice advantage in the first round. A regulation loss could drop Edmonton into a wild-card spot.
Vancouver Canucks @ Edmonton OilersDate: Thursday, April 16Start Time: 7:00 PM MTLocation: Edmonton, AlbertaVenue: Rogers PlaceWatch: Sportsnet
1. Most of the Western Conference playoff picture is set heading into the final day of the regular season.
The Avalanche own the NHL’s best record and will face the second wild-card team in the first round. Dallas and Minnesota, who finished second and third in the Central Division, will meet in the opening round, while Pacific Division champion Vegas will host Utah, which secured the top wild-card spot.
The Oilers, Ducks, and Kings sit second, third, and fourth in the Pacific, separated by just one point. All three teams could either host a first-round series or end up on the road in Colorado, depending on how things unfold Thursday.
In the event of a tie, Edmonton holds the tiebreaker over both Anaheim and Los Angeles with more regulation wins.
2. Wins by the Oilers and Kings, coupled with a Ducks loss, would set up a fifth consecutive first-round meeting between Edmonton and Los Angeles.
The Oilers beat the Kings in seven games in 2021-22, six games in 2022-23, and five games in 2023-24. Edmonton had home-ice advantage in those first three matchups, while Los Angeles hosted in 2024-25. The Kings jumped out to a 2-0 series lead last year, but the Oilers responded with four straight wins to take the series.
No NHL team has ever eliminated the same opponent in the first round five years in a row. The Oilers and Stars met in the playoffs five consecutive years from 1997 to 2001, with Edmonton winning the first before Dallas took the next four. Montréal and Boston also met nine straight years from 1984 to 1992, with the Canadiens winning the first four before the Bruins broke through in 1988.
3. There’s no guarantee the Oilers and Kings meet in the first round again. A Ducks win on Thursday would ensure Anaheim finishes ahead of Los Angeles, even if the Kings also win.
Edmonton and Anaheim have met twice in the playoffs.
The eighth-seeded Oilers beat the sixth-seeded Ducks in five games in the 2006 Western Conference Final during Edmonton’s Cinderella run to the Stanley Cup Final.
The teams met again in 2017, this time in the second round. Edmonton jumped out to a 2-0 series lead with back-to-back road wins, but Anaheim responded to take the series in seven games.
4. Standing in the way of the Oilers and home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs are the suddenly red-hot Canucks. Although they’re last space, Vancouver has won three straight games, all against Pacific Division opponents. Their last two wins came over Anaheim and Los Angeles, who have been in playoff mode hungry for points as well.
The Canucks have been good on the power play during this streak. They’ve scored on five power play chances on nine opportunities, while killing five of six penalties.
What they said…
Edmonton head coach Kris Knoblauch on the stakes in the final game…
“Our goal is to win and set us up better for the playoffs, whether we’re fortunate enough to get home-ice advantage or possibly win the Pacific. Our mindset is to win on Thursday to help us in the long run.”
Oilers forward Zach Hyman on returning for the regular-season finale…
“You want to be playing your best in the playoffs. Having said that, if I felt like I could play in the regular season, I wouldn’t just sit out games. I don’t like doing that, so it’s not that I was sitting out.
“It was about taking care of something to make sure I’m able to contribute at the level you need to ensure the team has success in the playoffs. I play a little more physical, so I’ve got to make sure I’m ready to play at that level.”
Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse on the approach heading into Game 82…
“It’s high importance. Going into the playoffs, you’re looking forward to them, but this is a huge game for us, and we get to choose our own fate and our own outcome. We’ve got to make this last one count.”
Vancouver head coach Adam Foote on his team’s recent momentum…
“It’s not a fluke what happened these last three games. These teams are pushing. They all wanted to beat us because of their own destinies. We’re doing things right. We’re playing as a team and sticking to the game plan.”
Final word…
The Ducks are in Nashville. The Kings are in Calgary. None of it matters if the Oilers take care of business against Vancouver.
Scoreboard watching on Thursday should be about who Edmonton hosts in the first round, not whether the Predators and Flames can help.
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