Pre-Scout: McDavid and Oilers look to punish ravaged Wild blueline - Oilers Nation

The top two picks from the 2026 draft clash on Monday. And while Gavin McKenna has received a lot of attention in the big Toronto market so far, how has Ivar Stenberg's career started? Scout Jason Bukala looks closer at his impact.

The Edmonton Oilers have only surrendered nine goals in the last five games, which speaks to their quality goaltending, structured five-on-five play, and consistent forecheck. The issue with that number is that five of those nine goals are against the Oilers’ penalty kill, which was a point of emphasis for new associate coach DJ Smith after the whipping that PK took in the postseason. That category has been tough sledding overall for the team, which sits at 68.2 per cent for the season, fifth worst in the NHL. The opposition has scored on the power play in five of seven games, and the Utah Mammoth made it happen twice, punishing Josh Samanski’s double-minor for high-sticking and the team’s bench minor on Thursday. The Mammoth PP bumped up to first in the league at 37.5 per cent, and have scored multiple goals on the man advantage in a game a league-best five times. “I think we’re just attacking,” said Barrett Hayton on the power play’s success. He extended his point streak to five games. “Obviously that first unit’s been so good snapping around, they’re so dangerous, and I think they’ve done a great job kind of keeping that mindset.

If this start to the Edmonton Oilers season were a Tom Cruise movie, it would be Top Gun. Sitting first in the NHL in points percentage and winning five in a row, the Oilers’ top guns have had the need — the need for speed. It’s fresh and doesn’t feel like a sequel, as a familiar cast has avoided their October Groundhog Day, the movie Oilers fans have watched this team play like déjà vu. One has to think the extended off-season break has helped the leaders in Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Evan Bouchard, and Mattias Ekholm begin so strongly, but their combined attention to detail defensively is noticeable to the naked eye. The known quantities pulling off the performances of a lifetime. Box office draws delivering. But the overall style in which Edmonton is winning these games, except for Vancouver, which I’m willing to chalk up as pre-season extended hockey, is decidedly uncinematic. Yes, the Oilers’ top line is dominating, but it’s not always pretty when they’re off the ice. The cast listed in minuscule font on the poster are trading standout performances and are giving Oilers fans some legitimate optimism.

Max Verstappen led the pack at the start of the United States Grand Prix in 2025. AUSTIN – The FIA has confirmed that two Straight Mode zones will be in place at this weekend’s United States Grand Prix.

Craig Button joins SportsCentre to explain if Brady Tkachuk's return to Ottawa lived up to the hype for him, and what stood out to him from the Senators' victory over the Panthers on Wednesday night. October 21, 2026 at 11:05p.m. EDT

OttawaA chorus of boos awaited former Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk as he made his return to the ice at Canadian Tire Centre Wednesday night. Deal with the Florida Panthers in June sent Tkachuk to play in the Sunshine StateJenna Legge · CBC News · Posted: Oct 22, 2026 1:28 AM EDT | Last Updated: 41 minutes agoListen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results. Florida Panthers' Brady Tkachuk skates during warmups prior to an NHL hockey game against the Ottawa Senators in Ottawa, on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Keito Newman (Keito Newman/The Canadian Press)A chorus of boos awaited former Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk as he made his return to the ice at Canadian Tire Centre Wednesday night. It was a packed stadium of vocal Sens fans who did not hold back in letting Tkachuk know how they feel about him. "He's a traitor, there's not much else to say," said fan Jack Kelso. "He promised he'd give us the [Stanley Cup], but he left.