Oilers Beat Kings 4-1: What Did We Learn?

There's something about watching Connor McDavid when he's really flying. You can almost feel the opposition wondering what it's supposed to do to stop him. On Tuesday night in Los Angeles, McDavid put on another show, helping the Edmonton Oilers beat the Kings 4-1 and extend their winning streak to five games.

McDavid had a goal and two assists, doing most of his damage in the first period. Leon Draisaitl scored, and Vasily Podkolzin added two more goals, continuing what's becoming a pretty interesting story in Edmonton. The Oilers are now 5-0-1 to start the season, and they've scored at least three goals in every game. That's a great way to start a season, especially with Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins out with injuries.

But there's more to this game than the final score.

McDavid Is Setting the Pace Again.

McDavid already has 16 points this season, and he's making it look awfully easy at times. His speed and ability to turn an ordinary-looking play into a scoring chance remain something special. On one goal, he blew past a defender and created the rebound opportunity that Podkolzin finished. Later, he came off the bench, collected a pass in stride, and scored himself.

You know, we sometimes get so used to McDavid doing these things that we forget how unusual they are. This is a player worth appreciating while we can. And he's not doing it alone. Draisaitl continues to produce, and Podkolzin has now scored his sixth and seventh goals, which is a strong return for a player giving Edmonton valuable secondary offence.

That's important. The Oilers need more than their two superstars to carry the load, particularly when injuries start piling up.

The Final Score Doesn't Tell the Whole Oilers’ Story.

Here's what really caught my attention: Los Angeles outshot Edmonton 40-16. The Kings had plenty of chances, but the Oilers got the saves they needed and made theirs count. Devon Levi stopped 39 shots, and that kind of goaltending can make a big difference when a team isn't controlling the game.

Los Angeles is still looking for its first win under new coach Peter Laviolette. The Kings are trying to play a more aggressive style, and Tuesday's shot total suggests they're creating opportunities. The problem is turning those opportunities into goals.

What Did We Learn About the Oilers?

The Oilers look dangerous, and McDavid is off to another terrific start. But the shot count reminds us that winning doesn't mean everything is perfect. Edmonton will be happy with two points. I'd also be curious to see how it handles games when the puck doesn't bounce its way. For now, though, five straight wins is a pretty nice problem to have.