Oilers’ transformation on full display as defensive prowess leads to historic win streak

CALGARY — None of these Edmonton Oilers players were born when captain Jean Beliveau and lieutenants Yvan Cournoyer and Henri Richard roamed the Montreal Forum back in the 1967-68 season, in front of that glorious tandem of Gump Worsley and Rogie Vachon in goal.

But it is from those failing hands that the torch was passed on Saturday, as the 2023-24 Edmonton Oilers eclipsed those expansion-year Habs by winning their 13th straight game, a 3-1 win at Calgary.

It is the longest winning streak ever authored by a Canadian-based NHL team, and four shy of the NHL record of 17 set by the 1992-93 Penguins.

“It’s very cool,” said Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner, who is playing by far the steadiest hockey of his short NHL career. “It’s a little bit surprising that it kind of took this long. I mean, there’s been so many great Canadian teams that have played.”

It was a night of records, as Skinner tied Grant Fuhr for the longest winning streak by an Oilers goalie at 10, and a new team mark was set with the longest road winning streak in Oilers history, at nine.

The last record is perhaps the most salient, however, as this edition of the Oilers becomes the first team in its history to allow two or less goals in 11 consecutive games. They are a defensive juggernaut, these 2023-24 Oilers, stifling the Flames in a game where the score flattered the home side.

This particular trait, the ability to win the 2-1 and 3-2 games, represents perhaps the final hurdle in the transformation of the Oilers from a fun team that can win some games, to a legit club that can still win games when it matters the most.

Is this it? Has the final question been answered here, after all these years?

“I guess time will tell,” mused Hyman. “Every year you learn something. You mature. We’ve had a lot of guys who are on those teams … and when you lose in the playoffs to this Stanley Cup champions two years in a row, you learn from that.”

The Oilers could have — should have? — closed this game out in the opening 20 minutes, where they piled up seven high-danger scoring chances on a couple of breakaways and a general dominance of Calgary. But only Ryan McLeod was able to solve Dan Vladar in the Calgary goal.

From there the game descended into a familiar grind, with Edmonton waiting for its break while making sure the opponent saw little or no opportunity. Sam Gagner got a lucky bounce to pot the winner just 1:39 into the third period, and Hyman deposited his 28^th into an empty net — just moments after a heroic shot block that epitomizes the new style of play we’re seeing here.

Indeed, whatever happened to the high-flying Oilers?

“I think we’re still there. We’re just not losing the games where we don’t score,” Hyman said. “We’re playing sound defensively. We’re not cheating for offence, and when you’re not scoring as much it’s because you’re not giving up as much. That’s the key.

“It’s good to be winning. Doesn’t matter how you win.”

Connor McDavid saw his 12-game points streak go by the wayside, on another night where the transformation of his game was front and centre.

McDavid’s points are down from his Art Ross seasons, but his defensive game is through-the-roof good. He has never competed as hard without the puck as he is now, as McDavid’s game more closely resembles Sidney Crosby’s game more and more with each passing week.

Editor’s note: As a guy who once wrote that McDavid couldn’t carry Crosby’s stick bag in the defensive zone, we’re here to tell you —  McDavid’s all-around game is at a level we’ve never seen before.

Asked about all this defensive prowess his team is showing, McDavid grinned: “I’m waiting for Spec to write an article on the defensive side of the game. Guess I’ll keep waiting.”

We’ve got to admit, that 9-6 playoff game these teams played in here two springs ago was a lot more fun to watch than 3-1 with an empty-netter.

But the Oilers lost that game, you may recall.

The way they’re playing now, there may not be a lot of 15-goal games on the menu. And the Oilers may be less represented at the NHL Awards show in Vegas as well.

Replace all those individual trophies with the big one however — stealing some different “Canadian NHL team” bragging rights still held by Montreal — and nobody back home will complain.

More from Sportsnet

Canucks win in adventurous fashion as mystifying rivalry with Leafs lives on

Maple Leafs’ many issues exposed in intense loss to Canucks