The Edmonton Oilers tied a team record with their ninth straight win in a 5-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks Thursday night at Rogers Place.
By going 1/3 on the power play, the Oilers finished the season at 32.4% with the man advantage to set a new NHL record.
“Pretty impressive given some of the teams that have played in the history of the game,” Oilers Head Coach Jay Woodcroft said. “For our team to do that, that’s exciting for our group.”
The Oilers opened the scoring when Mattias Janmark had his rebound bank in off his body for his ninth of the season. Less than three minutes later, Leon Draisaitl scored on the power play to make it 2-0. The Sharks controlled the back half of the first and pulled within one on a goal by Noah Gregor.
Draisaitl made a spinning backhand pass to set up Evan Bouchard for his eighth five minutes into the third. Janmark beat James Reimer on a shorthanded breakaway to make it 4-1. Steven Lorentz scored a power play goal for San Jose late in the second.
Evander Kane added a third period goal.
The Oilers reached 50 regular season wins for the fourth time in franchise history. They went 14-0-1 in their final 15 games.
“Obviously, we feel good about our game heading into the most important time of year. We’re excited,” McDavid said.
Stuart Skinner set a new team record for wins by a rookie goaltender with 29. Grant Fuhr had 28 in 1981/82.
“It means a lot being recognized in the same sentence as Grant Fuhr,” Skinner said. “Growing up in Edmonton, all you heard about is how fantastic of a goalie his is–a competitor and one of the best goalies ever to play the game–so it’s a really cool moment.”
“What I know about Stu is he’s won at every level he’s played at,” McDavid said of his netminder. “He’s won in junior, he’s won in the American League, he’s been a great goaltender all the way up and we believe in our other guy too.”
The Oilers, 50-23-9, will open the playoffs at home on Monday against the Los Angeles Kings. All playoff games will be heard on 630 CHED.