The Edmonton Oilers had a tough, road-heavy schedule to start the season. With 17 of their first 26 games away from Rogers Place, they needed to survive that stretch and land in a playoff spot, knowing there would be plenty of home games remaining. They kept their head above water, sitting in second place in the Pacific Division through the first half of the campaign.
The Oilers’ schedule shifted in January, with 11 home games this month, including an eight-game homestand. This was their chance to catch the Vegas Golden Knights for the top spot in the Pacific, while creating separation between the Anaheim Ducks, Seattle Kraken, San Jose Sharks, and Los Angeles Kings, who are on their heels.
Related: Previewing the Edmonton Oilers’ Upcoming 8-Game Homestand
Unfortunately, the team hasn’t taken advantage of the tilt in their schedule. The Oilers have played seven home games this month with a 2-4-1 record. They were also utterly embarrassed in two of them, losing 5-2 to the Philadelphia Flyers on Jan. 3 and 6-2 to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Jan. 22. They are 1-2-0 to start their eight-game homestand, and that’s not good enough.
Edmonton still hasn’t had a three-game winning streak this season. This stretch is their opportunity to finally go on a run. So far, they are squandering it. They can’t seem to sustain any momentum and are struggling to find consistency.
Oilers’ Sloppy Play
After starting their homestand by defeating the St. Louis Blues 5-0 on Sunday (Jan. 18), they followed it up with two stinkers. They lost 2-1 to the New Jersey Devils on Jan. 20, in which neither team played well. The Oilers slept through the first two periods before finally waking up in the third period. Unfortunately, it was too little too late, and they got exactly what they deserved.
Then, they got humiliated by the Penguins in a game that was theoretically over within the first three minutes. Pittsburgh scored three goals in 37 seconds, setting a franchise record for the fastest three goals against. The Oilers didn’t have an answer after that, and their frustration mounted.
“Not the start to the homestand we were looking for. The sense of urgency in our group has to go up. It starts with me. The last two games haven’t been my best. I can be better, and when I’m better, usually the whole group responds. It starts in practice. Our puck play has been bad, really, really bad. Not really connecting on passes, sloppy, bouncing, whatever it is, and it looks slow and clunky,” Connor McDavid stated during his postgame media availability following the loss.
Their defensive structure was also horrendous. Goaltender Tristan Jarry was hung out to dry. He allowed six goals on 22 shots for a .727 save percentage (SV%), which the box score hunters will point out. However, he was facing quality chances all night, allowing two breakaway goals, a back-door tap-in, and a high-slot redirection by Sidney Crosby. Blown coverage and missed assignments were the theme of the game.
These last two games were deplorable in all facets. Edmonton wasn’t ready to play, and they had too many turnovers and mental mistakes. Their effort has been questioned far too often, and rightfully so. They don’t get to the net and create chaos in front of it. They also pass up on great shooting opportunities, looking for the perfect play that isn’t there. They need to simplify their game, especially when things aren’t going well.
Oilers’ Schedule Doesn’t Get Easier
Edmonton had two teams roll into town on the second half of a back-to-back – both the Devils and Penguins played the Calgary Flames the night before, and the Oilers still laid an egg. The Washington Capitals come to town on Saturday, after also playing the Flames the night before.
Then, the Oilers have two massive divisional games against the Ducks and Sharks, before battling the Minnesota Wild, who have the Oilers’ number. Finally, the homestand concludes against the Toronto Maple Leafs, which might as well be a road game, given the number of Maple Leafs fans who will be in attendance.
If the Oilers continue on this course for the rest of the homestand, they will get spanked. They need to be much better prepared heading into the Olympic break.
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