Oilers Must Rally As A Unit Against Red-Hot Mammoth, Power Play Still Searching

The Oilers head into their matchup against the Mammoth still focused on the Pacific Division race, even after a 5-1 loss to the Golden Knights ended their five-game winning streak on Saturday. Edmonton has had to lean on depth and team structure in recent games while Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman remain out, and that has pushed several skaters to raise their level by committee.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins said the group sees progress in the way it is playing together. “We’ve definitely taken steps in the right direction and playing more as a team,” he said. “Everybody has the same mindset and the same kind of attitude about things out there.”

Projected lineup focus for Edmonton

Edmonton’s projected lineup against Utah centers on maintaining pace, pressure, and structure without two of its top offensive drivers. The Oilers will need a disciplined forecheck and sharper puck management to limit the Mammoth’s transition game, which has been one of the most dangerous parts of their attack.

The key for Edmonton is to force the Mammoth to work through traffic instead of generating open ice off the rush. That means the forwards must close quickly on loose pucks, while the defense has to stay connected and prevent clean entries through the neutral zone.

What Edmonton needs more of

The Oilers’ power play remains under scrutiny after going 1-for-19 in the nine games since Draisaitl became unavailable. Nugent-Hopkins acknowledged the chances are there, but the finishing touch has not followed.

1. More puck recovery after first shots and broken plays.
2. Quicker decision-making at the top and half-wall spots.
3. Better net-front presence to create second chances.
4. Continued shot volume instead of forcing low-percentage passes.

“If you look at the chances that we’ve had pretty much every night, we’ve had so many good looks, but the pucks aren’t going in right now,” Nugent-Hopkins said. “We’ve got to find ways to bear down and maybe get some more second opportunities and can play off that.”

Mammoth challenge remains clear

The Mammoth bring speed and confidence, which makes Edmonton’s details even more important. If the Oilers lose structure in the neutral zone or fail to track back quickly, Utah can turn those mistakes into immediate scoring chances.

That puts extra pressure on Edmonton’s top nine and its special teams to generate momentum early. A cleaner first period would help the Oilers settle into the game and avoid chasing a fast opponent with transition threats throughout the night.

For Edmonton, the projected lineup is less about one star replacement and more about another team effort that can sustain its place in the division race. Nugent-Hopkins said the group must stay patient, keep shooting, and trust that the power play and overall finishing will improve if the process stays consistent.