Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft has words for Connor McDavid!

Earlier this season, the Edmonton Oilers were in some rather dire straights. They were mired in a frustrating losing skid that eventually resulted in a career first for general manager Ken Holland, who was forced to fire head coach Dave Tippett - the first time he's ever terminated a head coach. 

And while the transition under interim head coach Jay Woodcroft hasn't always been smooth, the Oilers are sailing in much smoother waters right now, thanks in large part to the phenomenal talents they have up front in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. As of tonight, they're currently in 2nd place in the Pacific Division behind their arch provincial rival Calgary Flames, and five points ahead of the Dallas Stars, who occupy the second and final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. 

While it may not seem like a big deal to him, a 15 game point streak is a major accomplishment for anyone, much less for McDavid. And Woodcroft has certainly noticed. 

"Those numbers don't happen every day," Woodcroft said. "He's driving us forward, sure, with his offence, but he's also driving it with his attention to detail on the defensive side of things, and when your captain does that, and when the leading scorer in the National Hockey League commits to playing like that, I think it resonates with the rest of the group and becomes a contagious-type attitude." 

And while things still remain close in the standings, the Oilers simply have to focus on the things that they can control - their own destiny. 

"It's not on what other teams in the Western Conference did," Woodcroft said. "It's on the day's business, and I'm confident that if we put the necessary work in and we have the right focus that results in home-ice advantage, all that kind of stuff takes care of itself."

The Oilers will host the contending Colorado Avalanche tomorrow night at Rogers Place.