In the just-completed first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings, the Edmonton Oilers ran the best roster players on the same line for 75 minutes at five-on-five. The total represented about 65 percent of the overall playing time for Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in the game state over the course of the series.

Leon Draisaitl and the Edmonton Oilers are fresh off a sensational come-from-behind series win against the Los Angeles Kings in the first round of the 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Oilers lost the first two games of that series before finding their groove and stitching together four victories in a row to eliminate Los Angeles in six games.

So, do the Edmonton Oilers save everyone the time and effort, spot the Vegas Golden Knights a 1-0 series lead and go straight to Game 2?