Max Jones

The Oilers grind out a gritty win over the Kraken, keeping their Pacific push alive as the calendar flips to April. Whispers from the Edmonton locker room hint at Max Jones doing the dirty work that doesn't show up in the box score, the kind of shift that separates contenders from pretenders. With first-round matchups coming into focus, front offices are already gaming out how this depth piece tilts the scales in a tight playoff race.

The Edmonton Oilers loan winger Max Jones back to AHL Bakersfield, clearing a crucial roster spot as they eye activating Kasperi Kapanen and Jake Walman from LTIR ahead of Saturday's clash with the Flyers. Jones, the 6'3" Michigan bruiser who came over in last year's Trent Frederic deal, logged limited ice time during his recent NHL stint with just two points in eight games.

Connor McDavid puts the finishing touch on another Oilers shutout, sniping an empty-netter against a slumping Seattle squad that's limping home from a brutal road trip. Depth guys like Kasperi Kapanen and Max Jones step up big while Connor Ingram celebrates his birthday with a stonewall performance, his ninth NHL whitewash and second of the year. Edmonton rolls to their first four-game streak, climbing the Pacific ladder as the playoffs heat up, and you know what that means for the chasing pack.

Connor Ingram picks the perfect night to dominate, turning 29 with 27 saves in a stonewall against the Kraken that keeps Edmonton's streak alive at four straight. Max Jones notches his 300th game milestone, Kasperi Kapanen chips in, and Connor McDavid does what he does best to hand Seattle their sixth loss in seven.

The Oilers gut out a gritty win over the Sharks at Rogers Place without Leon Draisaitl in the lineup, leaning on a third-period surge from unlikely heroes. Max Jones and Zach Hyman deliver quick strikes after San Jose claws back to tie it, with Adam Henrique dishing helpers like he's got a point to prove. Edmonton spreads the scoring across five different lamps-lighters and 13 point-getters, showing the depth this group needs if they're chasing another deep run.

The Oilers yank Max Jones back from AHL Bakersfield on Friday, filling the void left by Colton Dach's trip to long-term injured reserve after a rough hit on Josh Manson. Jones, who's been tearing it up with 10 goals and 61 PIM in 39 games down there, steps into a bottom-six mix that's suddenly wide open for Kris Knoblauch.