EDMONTON — There is a veteran calm in Edmonton now, as they head out on the road for one last, meaningless trip and into the final five games of their regular season.

They’ve finally located and mostly locked down their game, discovered more than adequate goaltending in Connor Ingram, and today the Oilers are a lock for a top-three spot in the Pacific — with the next-best team (Los Angeles) needing to make up seven points in their last six games to catch Edmonton for third place.

There is zero stress evident as the Oilers roll through Utah, San Jose and L.A. this week. Only an awareness of continuing to tighten up a defensive game that has secured wins in seven of the past 10 games, while the injured Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman stay at home to heal up for Round 1.

Gone is the fear of having to go through the Mighty Central Division any sooner than usual, a huge stress reliever in the Pillow Fight Division, and besides, Edmonton has accrued enough playoff scars to know that even home-ice advantage isn’t worth selling out for down the stretch.

“We like home-ice, but we know it's not a necessity,” shrugged head coach Kris Knoblauch. “It'd be nice, but it's not necessary.”

If it happens, great. If it doesn’t, and they have to tell themselves that........

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