There’s a sense of “Right here we go once more” in Oil Nation, the place the Edmonton Oilers are struggling out of the gate for a second consecutive yr.
After dropping 3-2 in additional time to the Carolina Hurricanes at Rogers Place on Tuesday (Oct. 22), Edmonton dropped to 2-4-1 this season. With simply 5 factors, the Oilers are at the moment tied for thirteenth within the Western Convention standings, and so they’ve been outscored 27-14, giving them the third-worst objective differential within the NHL.
Whereas the scenario in Edmonton hasn’t but escalated to the diploma of final yr, when the Oilers opened with a report of 2-9-1, ensuing within the dismissal of head coach Jay Woodcroft who was changed by Kris Knoblauch, there are lots of similarities between the early phases of this and final season.
A few of them are type of eerie. For instance, in 2023-24, the Oilers had only one regulation win of their first seven video games, and it got here on the highway towards the Nashville Predators. Twelve months later, Edmonton has only one regulation win in its first seven video games, and it got here in Nashville.
However for essentially the most half, the commonalities clarify why as soon as once more Edmonton’s NHL group is off to such a lacklustre begin. Right here’s a glance:
Oilers Haven’t Been In a position to Maintain Leads
The Oilers have scored the opening objective simply twice in seven video games this season, and so they’ve misplaced each instances: towards the Calgary Flames on Oct. 13, when Edmonton misplaced 4-1 after taking a 1-0 lead, and on Tuesday, when the Hurricanes stormed again from a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Oilers.
By means of their first seven video games final season, the Oilers have been 1-2-1 after they opened the scoring. After 18 video games, that they had a report of simply 4-6-1 when taking a 1-0 lead.
Oilers’ Penalty Kill Is Worst in NHL
Edmonton has allowed 10 power-play objectives, tied for many within the NHL, and its penalty-kill share of 54.6% is the worst within the league. To make issues worse, the Oilers, themselves, have solely scored two power-play objectives, tied for fewest within the NHL.
Final season, Edmonton allowed seven power-play objectives in its first seven video games. After 11 video games, the Oilers had given up 14 power-play objectives and ranked 31st within the NHL with a penalty-kill share of 68.9%.
Oilers’ Goaltending Should Be Higher
Whereas Stuart Skinner turned in his finest efficiency of the younger season on Tuesday, making a number of massive stops towards the Hurricanes, the Oilers netminder has largely carried out beneath commonplace to date, with a goals-against common (GAA) of three.74 and a save share (SV%) of .866 in 5 appearances. The numbers aren’t actually any higher for backup goalie Calvin Pickard, who has a 3.28 GAA and .852 SV% in three appearances.
Edmonton started final season with the goaltending tandem of Skinner and Jack Campbell. Skinner had a 3.66 GAA and .865 SV% by means of 13 appearances, whereas issues went so badly for Campbell that the veteran netminder was despatched all the way down to the Bakersfield Condors of the American Hockey League (AHL), with Pickard taking Campbell’s place in Edmonton.
Oilers Look to Get on Monitor
The Oilers made a outstanding turnaround final season. After American Thanksgiving, they went 44-15-5, climbing from second final within the total NHL standings to second place within the Pacific Division. Edmonton then went on a magical playoff run, getting all the best way to Recreation 7 of the Stanley Cup Ultimate.
Associated: NHL Rumors: Predators, Maple Leafs, Oilers, Bruins
All the pieces that had been a difficulty within the early going for the Oilers final yr was fastened, and in the end turned a power: The Oilers realized to regulate the sport, going 27-3-2 when scoring first after American Thanksgiving. Their penalty-kill advanced spectacularly, and was almost impenetrable in the course of the postseason, going 66/70 for an astounding 94.3%. Skinner discovered his kind, posting a 2.35 GAA and .916 SV% over his ultimate 46 appearances of the common season, and Pickard proved to be a terrific No. 2 netminder.
A lot is identical in how these final two seasons have began for Edmonton’s NHL group. Followers now really hope this pattern will proceed, with the Oilers turning issues round once more, though doing a lot earlier this time.
That would begin tonight (Oct. 24), when Edmonton hosts the Pittsburgh Penguins at Rogers Place. The Oilers then go away for a highway journey that may see them play 4 video games in eight days.
