Hyman on a hot streak for Oilers heading into bye week

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The Edmonton Oilers are getting more than expected from forward Zach Hyman.

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Heading into bye week, Hyman has another career year offensively with 26 goals and 60 points in 49 games.

With 32 games remaining in the regular season, Hyman could challenge the 100-point plateau, which would be an incredible feat for a player who never surpassed 41 points with the Toronto Maple Leafs before signing with the Oilers as a free agent .

Hyman, 30, is an integral part of the Oilers’ offense and currently sits third in the team standings behind Connor McDavid (41 goals, 92 points) and Leon Draisaitl (29 goals, 76 points).

“I think everyone has more personal success when the team wins,” Hyman said after the Oilers’ 7-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday before the break. “It’s just like that – you score more goals when you win and then you feel good about your game and that builds individual confidence and success. I really enjoy winning and what that comes with is personal success and I enjoy that too.”

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It’s unlikely Oilers general manager Ken Holland envisioned a 90-point player when he signed Hyman as a full free agent on a seven-year, $38.5 million contract ahead of the 2021-22 season. The Toronto product was intended to be a solid complement to McDavid and Draisaitl and has exceeded expectations.

Last season—his first with the Oilers—Hyman had 27 goals and 54 points in 76 games, which was a career high for him at the time. Improving those totals this season has been an impressive feat.

“I think the key is getting a lot of looks,” Hyman said. “Sometimes they go in and sometimes they don’t, and lately they’ve been going in more, which is nice.”

Hyman had one goal and two assists in the win against Chicago, extending his points streak to seven games. The Oilers go into the reunion on a hot note and hope the week off doesn’t cool him down.

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“You never say no to a week off,” Hyman smiled. “It’s better to go into the break feeling good than not. I feel good; In the time of the power play and in this role in front of the net, I think that more of an opportunity comes into play for me.

“It’s probably the first time in my career that I’ve been able to take on this role and be successful in this role. So I’ve enjoyed finding chemistry with these guys and being part of this unit.”

Half of Hyman’s goals this season have come on the power play. He’s the best net front presence the man-advantage Oilers have had since Ryan Smyth. Many of Hyman’s goals are similar to those scored by Smyth in and around the blue paint.

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“He finishes more this season,” Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft said. “In him I see a true leader – he doesn’t need anything to make him work. He gets himself going and he just goes out there and makes the people around him better.

“I am grateful that he is a strong member of our forward group. He doesn’t have a letter, but I think he’s a true leader of our team.”

The Oilers went into the break 7-0-1, losing a point to the Columbus Blue Jackets in a 3-2 overtime loss. It was the one blemish in an excellent three-week streak that propelled the Oilers back into the playoff thicket.

Heading into the break that will last through NHL All-Star Weekend, the Oilers hold the first wild card spot in the Western Conference, currently behind the Seattle Kraken, Vegas Golden Knights and Los Angeles Kings overall of the Pacific Division.

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The Oilers went into the break three points behind the Kraken and two each behind the Golden Knights and Kings.

With 32 games remaining in the season, it will be a sprint to the finish line and the Oilers are happy they were able to find consistency in their game before the week-long hiatus. The Oilers are returning from the break and embarking on a four-game road trip beginning Feb. 7 in Detroit. They will also travel to face off against the Philadelphia Flyers, Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens before returning home to host the Red Wings February 15.

“I thought we reacted really well and played really well that last stretch,” Hyman said. “I don’t think we played badly against Columbus, but we only got the one point against them. I thought (Saturday) we reacted very well, played well, scored two points and went into the break feeling good.”

The Oilers went into the break with just six points between first and fifth in the Pacific Division. Every game will matter when we return to the ice next week. The Oilers went into the season looking to get back into the playoffs, trying to improve from an appearance in the Western Conference Finals last season.

“It’s great. It’s exciting how tight everything is in the Pacific,” Hyman said. “It’s up to everyone right now and it’s going to be an exciting ending.”

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On Twitter: @DerekVanDiest