The Edmonton Oilers are second in the Pacific Division, and they have Leon Draisaitl to thank for that. While their 27-13-3 record through 43 games was largely expected, how they got there has been somewhat surprising.

It was hard-nosed blueliner Darnell Nurse who picked up the primary assist. His contribution was being ready to take a Draisaitl pass, and blast a solid attempt on net but have it stopped by Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper. Instead, it was Draisaitl who did all the work to make this four-on-four goal happen.

Draisaitl posted an assist and four shots on goal in Wednesday's 5-3 win over the Wild. Draisaitl has two goals and four assists during his four-game point streak. The 29-year-old forward set up Zach Hyman's tally in the first period.

Here are the report cards for the first half Oilers in 2024-25.

The Oilers will adjust their lineup for the first of his three games without Connor McDavid due to suspension on Tuesday at Rogers Place against the Capitals

Goaltender Logan Thompson makes 30 saves for the Capitals in a 3-2 victory over the Oilers on Tuesday night at Rogers Place

The top unit of McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Evan Bouchard, and Zach Hyman are still spearheading a sharp unit as the Oilers rank No. 8 overall in power-play efficiency, but they ended last season at No. 4.

Edmonton Oilers forward Zach Hyman spoke about the team’s 3-2 loss to the Washington Capitals without captain Connor McDavid.

Pierre-Luc Dubois had a goal and an assist as the league-leading Washington Capitals won their fifth game in a row, defeating the Edmonton Oilers 3-2 on Tuesday night.

How does a team replace Connor McDavid in their lineup? That’s an easy question — They don’t. With the team’s captain serving the first game of a three-game suspension for cross-checking, Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said it’ll take a community approach to handle playing without McDavid.

In their first of three games without suspended captain Connor McDavid, the Edmonton Oilers put up as good a fight as you could ask for Tuesday, swarming the first place Washington Capitals for almost all 60 minutes.

The difference in the game was great goaltending from Washington’s Logan Thompson — who was strangely left off of the Team Canada roster — and the fact that the Edmonton power play without McDavid was anemic, with not one Grade A shot in three opportunities.