There are now under four weeks left in the 2025-26 NHL regular season, and the Edmonton Oilers find themselves in an absolutely wide-open playoff race.
With 77 points from a record of 33-26-9, Edmonton currently sits second in the Pacific Division standings, just three points back of the division-leading Anaheim Ducks (38-27-4) but only one point ahead of the third-place Vegas Golden Knights (31-24-14). Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Kings (28-24-16), Seattle Kraken (31-28-9), and San Jose Sharks (32-29-6) all remain within striking distance of the Oilers.
Related: 3 Takeaways From Oilers’ 4-0 Loss to Panthers
There’s a chance that the Oilers could finish atop their division for the first time since 1987. It’s also not impossible that Edmonton misses the postseason for the first time since 2019.
Given how tight the standings are, every one of the Oilers’ final 12 games are of tremendous importance. Here’s a closer look:
SOS Doesn’t Favour Oilers
According to Tankathon, Edmonton’s remaining strength of schedule is .549 (average points percentage of opponents), which ranks as the eighth easiest in the 16-team Western Conference and the fifth easiest in the eight-team Pacific Division.
The teams closest to Edmonton in the standings, Anaheim (.507) and Vegas (.526), both have easier remaining schedules, as do the Kings (.493) and Sharks (.514). Seattle (.570) is the only Pacific Division in the hunt for a postseason spot that has a tougher remaining schedule than the Oilers.
Oilers Play More Home Games
Seven of Edmonton’s final 12 games will be played at Rogers Place, including its last two contests of the season, against the Colorado Avalanche (April 13) and Vancouver Canucks (April 16). The Oilers go on the road only twice more, for a two-game trip next week and a three-game trip from April 7 to 11.
But is that a good thing? Since Dec. 31, Edmonton has a point percentage of .472 (8-9-1) at home, which ranks 25th in the NHL over that span, compared to .583 (6-4-2) on the road, which ranks 15th in the league during that span.
Oilers Will Get Plenty of Rest
The Oilers will play on consecutive days only once the rest of the season, when they visit the Utah Mammoth on April 7, followed by a stop in San Jose on April 8. Meanwhile, Edmonton will get two days off between games on three occasions.
That should serve captain Connor McDavid and his Oilers teammates well, as Edmonton boasts a points percentage of .594 (30-20-3) when playing on one or two days’ rest this season. It also allows goaltender Connor Ingram to get sufficient rest, as Edmonton continues to lean heavily on him for starts between the pipes.
Oilers Face Teams They Must Beat
Edmonton’s final 11 contests will all be against Western Conference opponents, including seven against Pacific Division foes. Many of those contests will be the proverbial “four-point games,” as they come against teams the Oilers are battling for playoff berths.
The Oilers face Vegas twice and have one more game each against Anaheim, Seattle, San Jose and Los Angeles. Edmonton also plays two more times against the Mammoth, who currently occupy the Western Conference’s first wild card spot, and thus could yet factor into Edmonton’s postseason positioning.
Oilers’ Opponents Need Wins Too
Of Edmonton’s remaining 12 games, eight are against teams that are either five points or less above the playoff cutline or two points or less under the playoff cutline. That means the Oilers will be frequently facing opponents who are just as desperate for points as they are.
The stretch drive starts at Rogers Place tonight (March 21) when Edmonton hosts the Tampa Bay Lightning, a team in the thick of the Atlantic Division playoff race.
