What happened: Mattias Ekholm said maintaining the Edmonton Oilers' defensive standard requires embracing the difficulty of NHL competition. "There's a team on the other side, they're trying to prevent that from happening," Ekholm said, noting that play in the league is "supposed to be hard.

Why it matters: Edmonton's ability to limit opposing offenses through the regular season depends on matching that nightly pushback in its own zone.

What to watch: The Oilers continue their regular-season schedule looking to carry that defensive focus into upcoming action.