It’s been a great stretch of games for the Edmonton Oilers, as they are winners of five of their last six. Despite running into a bit of injury trouble, they’re getting help from all over the lineup. There are a few guys in particular who have really stepped up, whether offensively or defensively, that need to carry their strong play through the end of the regular season and into the postseason.
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If the following players who have really played well lately can continue to stand out for Edmonton in the playoffs, it will help them go a long way and ultimately make them a tough out no matter the opponent.
Tristan Jarry
It appears a turnaround may be on the horizon for Tristan Jarry, and it’s coming at the perfect time. Despite a slow start to his Oilers tenure, he’s had two quality starts over the past couple weeks. He allowed just three goals and picked up two wins, with one coming against a potential playoff opponent in the Utah Mammoth. The goals that have gotten past haven’t really been his fault either, whether they were chance deflections or lucky bounces. It also helps the defence is gaining confidence playing in front of him.
If Jarry can continue to produce quality starts and make the routine saves he has made, the Oilers will have themselves a rather strong duo for the playoffs. We know Connor Ingram can be a good goalie for this team and has been while Jarry got his game back, so having a tandem that is firing on all cylinders heading into the first playoff series would be a dream for head coach Kris Knoblauch.
Matt Savoie
Matt Savoie is a young guy who may have taken a bit to get going in his rookie season; however, he is coming on stronger than ever in the second half of 2025-26. He’s been playing primarily on Connor McDavid’s wing and has shone bright. His speed and puck skills are a perfect complement to McDavid’s wide arsenal of abilities. He has 13 points in 19 games since the Olympic break and seems to be getting better with each game he plays.
Savoie is a great puck possession player and is constantly first on the puck when the Oilers are on offence. Those are huge qualities to have in a close playoff game and are things that will ultimately make him a weapon for Edmonton in the coming weeks. His ice time should see an increase even more.
Trent Frederic
Though he’s just returning from an injury, Trent Frederic has quietly stepped up for the team since the Olympic break. He’s always been a guy who played bottom-six minutes and played aggressively, but now he’s doing that and more. He has two goals and an assist since the break, contributing on offence and as a heavy hitter on the wall. Frederic ranks second behind Vasily Podkolzin in hits among Oilers players. He rarely gives the puck away and crashes the net about as hard as anyone on the ice.
Frederic has seen his fair share of criticism early in the season as he adjusted to a new environment and solidified his role. He’s quieted the noise and become important to the team’s depth. Good board play and shutting down the opposing team’s scoring is huge in the playoffs, and if Frederic can keep it up, he’ll see plenty of ice time this spring.
Connor Murphy
One of the new guys on the block has been huge for the Oilers and could be even more important in a playoff run. Connor Murphy was brought in to steady the blue line and slow down the opponent’s scoring, and he’s done just that so far. He’s also been a great player to pair with Darnell Nurse as they seem to play well off each other and keep play to the outside. They have a stellar 6.4 expected goals against together since his arrival.
Murphy is a magnet for the puck in the defensive zone, blocking at least one shot in every game since the trade. He’s also been a decent scorer, putting up three points in 15 contests as an Oiler. His continued defensive play will be massive for the team’s success and also for him as he moves toward free agency.
Guys like Podkolzin and Max Jones are another couple guys who I would’ve liked to include in the list because they’ve been so instrumental to the team’s winning lately. Obviously, the Oilers will need everyone to take it to another level to go far this postseason.
