Edmonton Oilers Quick Hits: McDavid, Draisaitl & Standings Jump

December has a funny way of sorting teams out. Some hang on. Some slide. And some, like the Edmonton Oilers right now, finally look like themselves again. Happens every season, it seems. Tuesday night against the Calgary Flames wasn’t subtle. It wasn’t polite. It was loud, fast, and a little messy. But that’s how the Battle of Alberta is supposed to feel. Right?

Most of all, it was another reminder of what happens when Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl decide they’ve had enough of easing into a season. These guys are flat-out terrific. And their team won the game 5-1.

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Quick Hit #1: Is This the Best McDavid and Draisaitl We’ve Seen?

There are nights when you admire them, and then there are nights when you shake your head. This was the second kind. The puck barely touched their sticks before it was already moving somewhere dangerous. The power play looked automatic. McDavid stacked up five points, pushing him to 30 over his last 11 games, and Draisaitl passed Glenn Anderson on the Oilers’ all-time goals list — not exactly a casual milestone.

For long stretches, Calgary wasn’t even playing badly. They simply couldn’t keep up. When those two are in this kind of rhythm, the ice tilts, and everyone knows it.

Quick Hit #2: The Flames’ Emotion Was Great—Until It Wasn’t

The Flames came ready to push back, and credit to them for that. Kevin Bahl’s hit on Zach Hyman was heavy and dangerous, and Trent Frederic did what teammates are expected to do. That’s how respect works for a winning team. But the line between fire and frustration is thin.

Calgary crossed the emotional line far too often. Penalties piled up. MacKenzie Weegar’s unsportsmanlike call felt like a moment of boiling over. It was silly to sit there banging the glass, yet he did it. Got him tossed. Against this Oilers power play, that’s gasoline on an already roaring fire.

Quick Hit #3: Once Again, December Changed the Oilers’ Story

This was one of those games that changes how the standings feel. Edmonton has worked its way back, and suddenly, they’re in it again. The big names are doing the damage, but the confidence looks real this time. You could sense it in the building. This wasn’t relief — it was confidence.

There was never a chance the Oilers wouldn’t win this game. “I thought it was as good as it’s been,” said McDavid. “Pretty solid all over, special teams were great, five-on-five generated, and didn’t give up much. Goalie played well… lot of things to like.” Draisaitl added, “We’ve been playing some good hockey, some consistent good hockey. Everyone’s contributing, everyone’s chipping in, everyone’s doing their part. When we get to that point, we’re a tough team to handle.”

Final Thought About the Battle of Alberta

There’s another chapter waiting in Calgary on Saturday, and no one’s expecting it to settle down. Until then, Edmonton can head into the break feeling pretty solid about things.

Related: A Man Scorned: We’ve Never Seen Connor McDavid Like This Before