The Oilers are 12-3 against the Pacific Division. They are are 3-0 v. Vancouver, 2-0 against Calgary, 2-1 v. Seattle and Vegas, 1-1 v. Los Angeles and 1-0 against Anaheim. The current NHL playoff format has the first two rounds within your division (with possible wildcard crossover) and so success against Pacific rivals is vital…
The Oilers are 8-2-1 in their last 11 games including a perfect 3-0 under new head coach Jay Woodcroft. The Oilers have had similar successful stretches the past few seasons, however, they haven’t won in the fashion they’ve been winning lately.
The Los Angeles Kings haven’t played since February 2nd. They haven’t played a home game since January 20th. Two weeks in the middle of an NHL season without playing a game feels like an eternity for players and the Edmonton Oilers must take advantage of a rusty Kings team.
The Oilers woke up in Los Angeles fresh off a stifling defensive effort against the San Jose Sharks with an opportunity to move into a tie with the Kings and the Anaheim Ducks for third place in the Pacific Division. A regulation win will give the Oilers 55 points and they’d still have one game…
Actions speak louder than words, and based on his first game behind the bench it is clear Jay Woodcroft will rely on his veterans to lead the team back into a playoff spot.
Winning does many things. It gives teams, and individuals, confidence. It instantly changes the mood around a team, and often quiets the noise.
Zack Stortini was named captain of the Sudbury Wolves when he was only 17. He wasn’t the Wolves’ best player, but he was an extremely hard worker, who was physical, would protect his teammates and he was a great communicator. His work ethic led to a 14-year career playing pro hockey. He was drafted 79th…
This time it will be different. That is what Oilers fans are hoping as Jay Woodcroft becomes the Edmonton Oilers’ 10th head coach since 2008-09 (14 seasons). I only counted Craig MacTavish once, although he also had a five-game mid-season stint in 2014-15 while transitioning from Dallas Eakins to Todd Nelson. Maybe Woodcroft becomes a…
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins arrived at the rink today to say hello to his ninth head coach in his 11 NHL seasons. It has been quite the rotation of head coaches since 2011/2012. Granted, four of them coached fewer than 62 games (three were Interim coaches), but if RNH ever wanted to become a coach when he…
The Chicago Blackhawks have only won eight of their 24 road games (8-12-4) and have been outscored 82-60, but despite those less-than-flattering numbers they are not the free space on the Bingo card for the Edmonton Oilers.
Thankfully for the Oilers, the stench of last night’s 4-0 loss to Vegas won’t linger very long as the Oilers host the Chicago Blackhawks tonight. Edmonton played the role of a bakery last night handing out turnovers left and right. It was a dreadful puck-management performance and they need much better focus tonight.
For the first time in a long, long time, the Oilers have legit options to spread across their top three lines. Running Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins as the top-three centres for the remainder of the season (barring injury) will give the Oilers more flexibility and, in theory, more balanced scoring. The centre…
