The Edmonton Oilers have been on fire lately, winning eight consecutive games and climbing to the top of the Pacific Division. A big reason for their success is the stellar performance of their top two forward lines, led by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
McDavid and Hyman: a match made in heaven
The Oilers’ captain and MVP candidate has been unstoppable this season, leading the league in points with 67 in 38 games. He has been especially dominant during the winning streak, scoring 10 goals and 15 assists for 25 points in eight games. That’s an average of over three points per game, which is absurd even by McDavid’s standards.
But McDavid is not doing it alone. He has found a perfect partner in Zach Hyman, who joined the Oilers as a free agent last summer. Hyman has been a revelation for the Oilers, providing speed, grit, and finishing ability to complement McDavid’s skill and vision. Hyman has 17 goals and 14 assists for 31 points in 33 games, ranking second on the team in goals and fourth in points. He has also scored four goals and six assists for 10 points in eight games during the winning streak, including a hat trick against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.
The chemistry between McDavid and Hyman is evident on the ice, as they seem to always know where each other is and how to create space and opportunities for each other. They are also a threat on the power play, where they have combined for 11 goals and 15 assists for 26 points this season.
Draisaitl and McLeod: a surprising success story
While McDavid and Hyman have been expected to produce at a high level, the Oilers have also benefited from a surprising breakout from their second line, featuring Draisaitl and rookie Ryan McLeod. Draisaitl, the reigning Hart Trophy winner, has been his usual dominant self, ranking second in the league in points with 64 in 38 games. He has also been on fire during the winning streak, scoring nine goals and 13 assists for 22 points in eight games.
But the real surprise has been McLeod, who was promoted from the third line to the second line on December 21, when the Oilers were trailing the New Jersey Devils 3-2 after two periods. McLeod scored the tying goal in the third period and then assisted on Draisaitl’s overtime winner. Since then, he has been a fixture on the second line, playing left wing alongside Draisaitl and Jesse Puljujarvi.
McLeod, a second-round pick in 2018, has shown great speed, skill, and confidence in his first full NHL season. He has seven goals and 10 assists for 17 points in 38 games, ranking sixth on the team in points and second among rookies. He has also scored four goals and six assists for 10 points in eight games during the winning streak, including a career-high three-point night against the Detroit Red Wings on Monday.
The combination of Draisaitl and McLeod has been a nightmare for opposing teams, as they have been able to exploit the mismatches created by McDavid’s line. They have also been effective on the penalty kill, scoring three shorthanded goals and one assist this season.
Oilers’ top 2 units by the numbers
The Oilers’ top two forward lines have been crushing it during the winning streak, as the following numbers show:
- McDavid and Hyman have combined for 14 goals and 21 assists for 35 points in eight games, accounting for 41.7% of the team’s goals and 38.9% of the team’s points.
- Draisaitl and McLeod have combined for 13 goals and 19 assists for 32 points in eight games, accounting for 38.8% of the team’s goals and 35.6% of the team’s points.
- The Oilers’ top two lines have combined for 27 goals and 40 assists for 67 points in eight games, accounting for 80.6% of the team’s goals and 74.4% of the team’s points.
- The Oilers have outscored their opponents 34-18 in eight games, with a plus-16 goal differential. The Oilers’ top two lines have a combined plus-37 rating, while the rest of the team has a combined minus-21 rating.
The Oilers’ top two forward lines have been the driving force behind their winning streak, and they show no signs of slowing down. They will look to extend their streak to nine games when they face the New York Islanders on Thursday.
