Did you know Prince wrote the song “Nothing Compares 2 U” in 1981? He wrote it for The Family. It didn’t gain much attention until Sinead O’Connor re-recorded it in 1990. It is considered one of the greatest breakup songs ever, and it was #77 on Billboards Greatest Top-40 Songs of All Time.

While many diehard Oilers fans, or most sports fans to be honest, will never do it, I wonder how many have contemplated a breakup from their favourite team?

A six-game losing streak makes you think.

If you were thinking about it, you could use “Nothing Compares 2 U” as a guideline for your frustration.

It’s been six games and 14 days…
Since you took your wins away…
I watch every night and cry all day
Since you took your offence away
Since you been gone, my Twitter feed has sucked
I can’t unsee all the anger and blues…

I’m no songwriter, but you get the point.

It has been a tough few weeks for the Oilers and their fans. Six consecutive losses have seen the Oilers drop from having the best points% in the NHL down to 16th. Life comes at you fast in the NHL, and the Oilers need to pick themselves up, dust off their shin pads and get back in the game. Just like a bad breakup, they need to move forward.

I still laugh thinking of one of my girl buddies telling me her philosophy on breakups: “You know the best way to get over a guy? Get under another.”

I can’t say with certainty if this is good advice or not, but it sure made me laugh when she said it.

The Columbus Blue Jackets won’t feel sorry for the Oilers tonight, so the Oilers can’t play scared or pout if the Blue Jackets score first. They need to be mentally tough and block out the negative thoughts. It’s not like the Blue Jackets are rolling. They are 2-6-1 in their last nine and have been outscored 36-25. They blew a 3-0 lead in Vancouver two nights ago, so they are just as fragile as the Oilers.

The Oilers are 9-0 when the score first — the only team in the NHL undefeated when scoring first. However, they’ve also scored first the fewest times. But if they allow the first goal tonight, they can’t fold. Columbus is only 7-5-1 when they score first. They are 25th in winning% when scoring first. Ideally Edmonton ends its scoring-first drought, but if they allow the first goal for the 19th time (which would move them into second most in the NHL), they have to show some character and get back in the game.

Edmonton is 0-10 when trailing after 20 minutes. At some point you should be able to come back in the final 40 minutes of a game.

If they don’t, then…

Nothing will take away their blues..
Because nothing compares…
Nothing compares to…losing repeatedly.

Foegele – McDavid – Puljujarvi
RNH – Draisaitl – Yamamoto
Benson – Sceviour – Kassian
Perlini – Ryan – Turris

Nurse – Bouchard
Keith – Ceci
Niemelainen – Barrie

Skinner

Devin Shore is in COVID protocol along with Ryan McLeod so Brendan Perlini draws in after being recalled from Bakersfield. The bottom two lines are just a guess on my part, but I’d rather play Sceviour at centre. He and Kassian had decent chemistry last game, while Perlini and Turris were unreal in the preseason. Yes, I know it was preseason, but that is my reasoning.

Texier – Jenner – Bjorkstrand
Domi – Roslovic – Voracek
Nyquist – Sillinger – Chinakhov
Robinson – Kuraly – Danforth

Werenski –  Bean
Gavrikov – Bayreuther
Carlsson – Peeke

Merzlikins

The Blue Jackets running two rookies together on a line is something Glen Gulutzan (who will run the forwards with Dave Tippett in quarantine) should try and exploit.

@Connor McDavid loves playing Columbus. He has 19 points in 10 games. His 1.9 points/game average v. CBJ is second highest against an opposing team. He has 14 points in seven games against Florida (2.00 points/game). Edmonton could use a big night from their superstar. He has three points in his last five games, which by his standards is very low.

GAME DAY PREDICTION: The pain ends. Edmonton wins 5-3.

OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: McDavid picks up two points.

NOT-SO-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: The bottom six scores a goal in consecutive games.

Thank you to Danny and Harry for their bids on yesterday’s packages. Thank you.

Day 12: A Daikin FIT Home Comfort System. AC Unit and Furnace combined courtesy of A-1 Heating. You can see the system here.

A-1 Heating  will supply and install the Daikin FIT Home Comfort System:

Find out why so many people are using Dominion Lending Centres #1 broker in Canada. We are paid by the banks on the size of the mortgage, not the interest rate, so we try to get you as low as rate as we can. Whether it is a purchase, renewal or refinance, contact us to see what we can do to help!