In the just-completed first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings, the Edmonton Oilers ran the best roster players on the same line for 75 minutes at five-on-five. The total represented about 65 percent of the overall playing time for Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in the game state over the course of the series.

Connor McDavid led the team with 11 points, continuing his dominant postseason pace by posting 1.83 points per game, the highest average league-wide. McDavid didn’t shy away from the memories of the 2023 defeat as he addressed reporters ahead of Game 1 after Sunday's practice.