OilersNation has reported:

The Edmonton Oilers begin a more demanding stretch after opening the season 5-0-1, their best start since the mid-1980s. They host Utah on Thursday, visit the Mammoth on Saturday, then travel to Minnesota and Carolina before a Saturday night game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Several key players have been absent, but Edmonton has continued to win as it adjusts under coach Mike Babcock.

The Oilers have tightened their play after a couple of shaky defensive performances. Their recent hockey has been structured and effective, even if it has not always been attractive, and Connor McDavid has led by example. Zach Hyman is expected back soon, while Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is also nearing a return.

Edmonton has received strong contributions from Evan Bouchard, Leon Draisaitl, Vasily Podkolzin, Kasperi Kapanen, Mattias Ekholm, Ryan Shea, Owen Michaels, Alex Formenton and Mathieu Joseph. Hyman’s return could come in one of the two games against Utah, giving the club another option during a stretch that will test its form.

The Oilers’ upcoming opponents bring greater attention as well as difficult matchups. After moving around California without much notice, Edmonton’s players will enter hockey markets where reporters and questions are more plentiful. Utah, Minnesota and Carolina are all described as solid teams, while meetings with Toronto tend to draw broad interest and produce entertaining games.

Edmonton first has to contain a Utah Mammoth team that has started 5-2 and sits atop the Central Division. The Mammoth were recently blown out by Boston, then responded with wins over Buffalo and Toronto. Their entire top nine has been producing, and the team has maintained its early success despite having only two lesser-known players, Michael Carcone and Maveric Lamoureux, on the injury list.

Goaltender Karel Vejmelka is 4-1 with a 2.46 goals-against average and an .895 save percentage. Former Oiler Kailer Yamamoto joined Utah’s third line for its last two games and recorded three points. Edmonton will need to be at its best to win one or both games, and the matchup calls for patience rather than an open, end-to-end style.

Minnesota has long been a difficult opponent for Edmonton, particularly on home ice. The Wild have played defensively for years but now also have scoring options, setting up a contest between two teams that can wait for opportunities rather than rely on a run-and-gun approach.

The Wild are 4-2-1 after losing their most recent game to Winnipeg. Kirill Kaprizov has played well, while Matt Boldy, Blake Coleman, Maxim Sabanov and Danila Yurov each have a couple of goals. Defencemen Quinn Hughes and Jared Spurgeon can also create offence, meaning Edmonton’s forwards will need to stay alert when those players join the attack.

Some Minnesota players have had defensive struggles, including Ryan Hartman, who is minus-7. In goal, Jesper Wallstedt is 4-1 with a 1.82 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage. Former Edmonton goalie Calvin Pickard allowed five goals in his only start against Winnipeg. The Wild have several significant injuries: Brock Faber, the Foligno brothers, Nico Sturm and Filip Gustavsson are all out.

Carolina has recovered from a slow start and is playing like one of the NHL’s powerhouses. The defending Stanley Cup champions have scored more goals than any team in the league, and coach Rod Brind’Amour has the team leaning on its relentless checking and depth. The Hurricanes are comfortable sending any of their four lines over the boards, making the game a substantial test for Babcock and his players.

Carolina is 6-1-1, with its only regulation loss coming against Florida in its home opener. Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov and Jackson Blake are leading the offence. No. 1 goalie Pyotr Kochetkov is 4-0 with a 1.73 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage. Injuries have sidelined Seth Jarvis, Jordan Staal and Taylor Hall, while Alexander Nikishin is also out because of a contract dispute.

The schedule concludes with a Saturday night matchup against Toronto, a game expected to attract viewers across the country once they determine which streaming service carries it. The rivalry draws even people who do not usually follow either team, and some Oilers have ties to the area: McDavid, Bouchard, Hyman and Walman are all from Metro Toronto. Trent Frederic could also make his presence felt in what is typically an intense game.

Toronto is 3-3-1 and has had an uneven start, alternating wins and losses. The Maple Leafs recently surprised Colorado in the Mile High City, then lost to Utah. The team has considerable skill, though its defence has been questioned.

Austin Matthews and William Nylander have been exceptional, and Toronto has further offensive options in John Tavares, Kirill Marchenko, Jack Roslovic, Easton Cowan and Gavin McKenna. McKenna, the No. 1 overall pick, is drawing attention and has shown flashes of his ability. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky is 1-2-1 with a 2.97 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage; Anthony Stolarz is 2-1 with a 3.32 average and an 8.75 save percentage. Chris Tanev, Max Domi, Dakota Joshua and newly acquired goalie Elvis Merzlikins are among Toronto’s injured players.

The Oilers have provided an enjoyable start to the season, but the quality of opposition is about to rise. Their results over the coming games will show how their defensive improvement and depth hold up as Hyman and Nugent-Hopkins work toward returning.