Games like this are rare in the NHL, with two strong teams meeting after having two days off. The Oilers, who recently defeated the Washington Capitals, will face the Colorado Avalanche, who are on a winning streak and are tied for the division lead. The Avalanche recently had an impressive comeback win against the Canucks, while the Oilers have not had much success against Vancouver. Their matchup will be the first of the season between the two teams, adding an interesting dynamic to the season schedule.
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The two teams are set to face each other multiple times in the coming weeks, with another game in Edmonton on Apr 05 and the season finale in Denver on Apr 18. There could potentially be up to seven more games between them shortly afterward.
It would be advantageous to secure home ice advantage in case of a prolonged playoff series. The Oilers would also have extra motivation to defeat the Avalanche after they were seen celebrating in Rogers Place a couple of seasons ago.
Despite the challenge of beating the Avalanche, the Oilers have been on a remarkable winning streak. The two teams have similar stats in key categories like scoring, special teams, and goaltending, making for an evenly matched competition.
There are exciting matchups at the individual level, with Hart Trophy hopefuls Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon facing off. Both players are also competing for the Art Ross Trophy, with MacKinnon currently holding an 8-point lead, while McDavid has 3 games in hand. Their European teammates, Leon Draisaitl and Mikko Rantanen, are also exceptional players, with Draisaitl being a former MVP. Colorado has a talented defenseman in Cale Makar, who has previously won the Norris and Smythe Trophies, while Edmonton’s primary offensive trio is completed by Evan Bouchard, who is having a breakout season. It’s interesting to compare the draft history of both groups: Edmonton selected at #3 overall in 2014, #1 in 2015, and #10 in 2018, while Colorado secured picks at #1 in 2013, #10 in 2015, and #4 in 2017. Both teams made three solid picks within a similar five-year span. The Oilers also have several other successful draft picks in Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Darnell Nurse, Stu Skinner, and Ryan McLeod. In contrast, the Avalanche only have one other current draft pick on the roster, backup goaltender Justus Annunen, who has played just 7 games in 2023-24.
The Avalanche and their proactive GM Joe Sakic have primarily strengthened their team through trades, focusing on building around their core group of drafted players. They have acquired key players like defensemen Devon Toews, Samuel Girard, and Josh Manson, forwards Artturi Lekhonen, Ross Colton, and Andrew Cogliano, as well as goaltender Alexandar Georgiev through trades. In 2024, Sakic continued this trend by making four separate deals over a two-day period, notably exchanging young defenseman Bowen Byram for young center Casey Mittelstadt. They also traded aging center Ryan Johansen for right-shot defenseman Sean Walker, improving their forward line and adjusting the balance on defense. Additionally, the Avs added depth forwards Brandon Duhaime and Yakov Trenin in exchange for future assets, resulting in several changes that have positively impacted the team’s performance on the ice.
On the other hand, Oilers GM Ken Holland made some additions to his team, including veteran Adam Henrique as a middle-six center/winger, grinding pivot Sam Carrick, and depth defenseman Troy Stecher. These acquisitions did not involve trading any current roster players, but they did affect Sam Gagner and Dylan Holloway, who were sent to the AHL, as well as Derek Ryan, who now serves as the 13th forward.
