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It was the kind of game they want to win against the kind of team they want to beat — a measuring stick against a big, strong club that’s outscored them 45-24 in beating them in 10 of their last 12 meetings. And in a tight game tied 1-1 in the third period against an opponent that used to bully them for fun, Edmonton ground out a 3-1 win.

“Leading up to this year, we talked about erasing the past,” said Lucic. “ You talk about St. Louis having the Oilers’ number in past years, it’s not just them, it’s everyone.

“We’re kind of turning the page on everything that’s happened. For us to come here and having the mindset that we believe can win is the type of mindset that we’re starting to build in our hockey club. I think that’s what helped us get that win.”

A quick start was imperative for the mental health of what has been a fragile group in the past, so going 4-1 and beating St. Louis is a welcome boost for morale. The key now is dodging the Oilers’ habit of being comfortable with the slightest measure of success.

“This was a huge test for us,” said goalie Cam Talbot, who bookended the birth of twins with star performances in Edmonton’s last two wins. “Any time you can beat a powerhouse like St. Louis, it goes a long way for the confidence in this group, and moving forward, that’s what we need to have.

“You can’t make the playoffs if you can’t beat the best. We beat one of the best in the league, and it was a big character win: 1-1 going into the third against a team like that and then to come out with a win, knowing you can win those tight games like we did (against Carolina, too). We’ve just been building and building as a team.”