While Stakes Extremely High, Oilers Find Near Perfect Game to End Season

Even though the dominoes appeared to be falling in the Edmonton Oilers' favor on Thursday night, the team still needed a big win to secure home-ice advantage in the playoffs and avoid facing the Colorado Avalanche. Not only did they get the win, but the Oilers also showed up with one of their most solid 60-minute efforts of the regular season. Trending Stories: How Oilers Stack Up In the Western Conference Playoff Race Connor Ingram Deserved Better in Oilers’ 2-1 Shootout Loss Matt Savoie got his first career hat-trick, Connor McDavid posted four assists and won his 6th Art Ross award with 138 points, Evan Bouchard had three assists and ended the season as the NHL's highest-scoring defenseman with 95 points, Colton Dach had a Gordie Howe hat-trick, and Connor Ingram was solid again, allowing only one goal.

Edmonton outshot Vancouver 35-12 in a game Mattias Ekholm said the group should be proud of. "We came out and looked assertive in every way possible, and wasn't going to let this one slip. So kudos to us for having a professional performance against a team that looked like they kind of wanted to go on their break.

" Connor McDavid said after the win, "Was very determined. Yeah, it was an important one. Obviously, we wanted to start here at home and give ourselves the best chance during the first round.

" McDavid talked about the chemistry he's building with Savoie and said that now that they've played together a bit, they're starting to understand each other. Ekholm said Savoie has been outstanding since the New Year, and he's provided a much-needed boost, having figured out how to play on the top line with the world's best player. Matt Savoie scored a hat trick for the Oilers in their final regular season game: Photo by © Perry Nelson  Imagn Images Meanwhile, Ingram continues to be a rock in goal, Dach is providing energy, and Connor Murphy got into another scrap and won it decisively.