I wrote last week that the Edmonton Oilers would need players to step up while Connor McDavid was out of the lineup. So far that has certainly been the case for at least a few key players but no one has done more than Leon Draisaitl.

Non Oilers fans seem to forget that the last time McDavid missed a lengthy period of games... Draisaitl cemented his Hart Trophy. With 6 points in his last two games, #29 has been a huge factor in the Oilers last two wins. Leon also leads the team with 9 goals in 12 games this season, tied for second most goals in the NHL right now.

Jeff Skinner is another player who is starting to look more comfortable with every game. I knew Skinner was a talented offensive player with a great shot, but I have been pleasantly surprised with his willingness to go to the tougher areas of the ice. He was rewarded with that type of tenacity against the Flames where he drove the net and was a hound on the puck until it eventually went in.

All the numbers suggested that Hyman was going to start scoring goals again but admittedly I thought his drought would continue for a bit with McDavid being out of the lineup. Instead, Hyman now has a goal in each of the past two games and both have been beauties; breakaway goals going top shelf. Edmonton needs Zach back to his old net front scoring ways.

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Then there are the players I am far more concerned about.

Top of my list remains Ryan Nugent Hopkins who has just been flat out bad this year. In the past, even when RNH has had scoring struggles, he has more than made up for it with his transition game and hard work in the defensive end. Last night against the Flames I watched the puck die on RNH's stick multiple times in the offensive end but also saw him the direct cause of a number of gaffes in his own end as well.

The Oilers are back to winning some games and I expect Knoblauch to keep the lines consistent but once McDavid is back I do think we need to have a discussion about RNH being moved to the third line, on the left side. Immediately I want to see Jeff Skinner on the top unit powerplay. With a scoring threat like him on the roster, I don't understand why the coaching staff is going to Ekholm or Nurse to run two defenders on the top unit.

The third line as a whole has not done nearly enough for the Oilers. Henrique has one goal on the season, as does Brown, and now Janmark does too (though that was an empty net goal). It goes to show that long term decisions for a team should not be made based off of a playoff run. Janmark, Henrique, and Brown were unbelievable together in the playoffs but they were running a PDO high and it was unreasonable to expect them to sustain that over an 82 game season. That line needs something else and I wonder how long it will be until they bring up Savoie.

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Lastly, Stuart Skinner is looking far more like his old self. Let's be clear. Stuart Skinner is an NHL starter but I would place him in the mid section of NHL starting goaltenders. He is not elite but as long as the team in front of him is playing steady, system oriented hockey, he will give you a chance to win.

The Oilers are undefeated in games where they have scored 3 or more goals. Skinner by my eye has not cost the Oilers any wins yet this season... he hasn't bailed them out and stolen any games but when the team is ready to play, so is he.

Tonight the Oilers play the second of a back to back, against the New Jersey Devils. The Devils are proving to be a high octane, offensive team this year, led by a great start by Nico Hischier and his NHL leading 10 goals but their goaltending has also let them down from time to time. It could be a high scoring game from both sides tonight.

Thanks for reading.

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