Edmonton Oilers will enjoy major advantage for remainder of season

Since December, Edmonton has been one of the league's best teams, with a .700-plus winning percentage.

With the remaining schedule favoring the team, they are expected to continue their rise in the Pacific Division standings, where they currently sit 3rd.

Of the remaining 46 games, 35 are against Western Conference teams, including 20 in the Pacific. As a result, they will be able to hold more practices at home.

Twenty-seven of the 46 games will be played at Rogers Place. The benefits of playing in your home barn cannot be overstated, with less travel and more rest to name two.

This will provide a crucial opportunity for the team to recover and make a playoff push.

The Oilers began the season with a tough, road-heavy stretch, including a season-high 7-game, 11-day schedule, forcing the team to play catch-up.

The extensive travel and time-zone changes had severely limited effective practice time, hindering the ability to build chemistry and refine systems, especially with several new players in the lineup.

Now, the chemistry is noticeable up and down the lineup, with key players leading the way and secondary ones keeping pace.

The Oilers have faced their share of set-backs this year, the most recent being the injury to newly-acquired goalie Tristan Jarry.

The new schedule will allow coach Knoblauch to integrate call-up Connor Ingram and practice with the team, allowing him to bond with the club.

The next game is tonight at Rogers Place versus the Golden Knights.