With three games left in the regular season, the Golden Knights host the Edmonton Oilers on April Fool’s Day. This date is an appropriate time to play the Oilers because their team in general has been a bit of an April Fool’s joke all season. Before you jump to conclusions, this is not a declaration that the Oilers are a joke, as in a bad, despicable, or unworthy team. On the contrary, the Oilers should not be on the outside of the playoffs, looking in, year after year. As of now, it's a long shot for the Oilers to make the playoffs.

Making the trip from Canada, are multiple first-round draft picks, highlighted by the best player in the NHL, Connor McDavid. McDavid currently leads the NHL in scoring with 114 points (40g-74a). Following closely behind is teammate Leon Draisaitl, who has also eclipsed the 100-point mark, for the first time in his career (47-54-101). Rounding out their center depth is Ryan Nugent-Hopkins who has a respectable 65 points on the season (28g-37a). Despite McDavid's next-level talent and speed, the Oilers have been unable to factor into the playoff picture over the last two seasons. Draisaitl's emergence has helped, but for some reason, the Oil can’t get it together.

Due to their inability to improve and push for a playoff spot, the Oilers' head coach and general manager we’re fired midseason. Only one other club suffered that same fate and it was the Philadelphia Flyers, who became one of the hottest teams in the league, falling just short of a playoff berth. Hiring Ken Hitchcock was a step in the right direction for the Oilers. He is the perfect man to get the team more structured and has helped them develop a more distinct identity and structure. Although they still have several shortcomings, the Oilers are talented enough and young enough to retool and compete as soon as next season

When healthy, the Golden Knights can be the team to beat in the Western Conference. Their acquisition of Mark Stone provided a spark, but that flame has been dimmed lately, by a handful of injuries. Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, has been out of action for over a week, with a lower-body injury. Defensemen Shea Theodore and Colin Miller have also sat out games recently. Nate Schmidt is a game-time decision with a leg injury of his own. Up front, the Knights may be without Paul Stastny, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, Brandon Pirri, and Stone.

It is hard not to assume all of these injuries are attributed to the fact that the Golden Knights are already locked into their first-round playoff matchup with the San Jose Sharks. Both teams have been especially feisty with one another, namely in their last meeting, a 4-3 Sharks OT win in San Jose. Joe Thornton and Ryan Reaves came away from that game with matching fines for high sticks on each other. Resting their better skaters, for a series that is guaranteed to be intense, is wise for the Golden Knights. Head Coach Gerard Gallant has said, “I’m not resting players, I’m making sure they’re available.”, but it’s hard to imagine that these absences are in no way, rest related.

Points are elementary to the Golden Knights, but their opponents will be ready to play and looking to make a statement, before their season ends. Winners of two of their last five games, the Oilers are grasping for any sign of success, before a whole off-season of second-guessing and disappointment. They are a team with solid, young talent and a good core of players. With former GM Peter Chiarelli out the door, the Oilers will have another off-season to retool and make a run at the playoffs. Expect the boys from the north to come out aggressive and with their play of late (0-3-2 in their last five), the Golden Knights will need to be ready to go from the jump. With Malcolm Subban starting his ninth-straight in Fleury’s place, the Golden Knights' main focus is on health, before potentially playing in the toughest seven-game series of their existence.

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