Morning Coffee: Oilers still perfect under Woodcroft

The Edmonton Oilers are still perfect under new head coach Jay Woodcroft.

Despite falling behind 2-0 early to start the second half of a back-to-back against the Anaheim Ducks, the Oilers rallied with five straight goals en route to a 7-3 victory as a -240 favourite Thursday night.

Edmonton has now won four in a row, outscoring its opponents by a combined 18-6.

The Oilers have leapfrogged the Ducks and Los Angeles Kings into third place in the Pacific Division and are now just two points back of the Vegas Golden Knights for second place, with a game in hand.

As a result, we’ve seen another significant shift in Edmonton’s odds to make the playoffs.

Here’s the TSN EDGE Morning Coffee for Friday Feb. 18, 2022.

Oilers’ playoff odds are on the move

The Oilers looked like a lock to make the playoffs following a 14-5-0 start.

At the time, Edmonton was -1600 to qualify for the postseason. That number represents a 94.1 per cent implied probability. That was on Nov. 26.

Between then and Feb. 9, the Oilers went a combined 9-13-3, including a 4-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks in Dave Tippet’s final game as head coach.

By the time they made the move to Woodcroft, Edmonton’s odds to make the playoffs were -200 – still a 66.7 per cent implied probability.

That number is on the move once again following four straight wins under Woodcroft.

The Oilers are now -400 to make the postseason – an 8 per cent implied probability.

What’s been the main difference since the coaching change in Edmonton? TSN Director of Scouting @CraigJButton joins @JayOnrait to discuss. pic.twitter.com/gYWyxCJA3K

Connor McDavid, who picked up two points in last night’s win over the Ducks, is currently the consensus favourite to win the Hart Memorial Trophy as the