NEXT TWENTY

 

I know this is petty, we’re better than that and it’s a small victory. There is absolutely no way it’s going to be enough, the season is an out of control train and beating one bad team counts for zero in real life. 

Don’t care. Whatever else happens, beat Calgary.

The team is 1-5-0 at home, 3-8-2 on the road and 2-7-1 in their last 10. They have so many holes defensively the mind boggles, and the mood of the city is toxic. Into that atmosphere the Oilers have to score early, get the crowd behind them and improve that home record in a big way.

The two teams (Calgary and Edmonton) are both 2-7-1 in the last 10, and the Oilers can close the gap to three points tonight (Calgary will have two games in hand). Their first 10 games (3-6-1) were better than the next nine games (1-7-1 entering tonight) but it’s also true tonight’s game is only their 7th at home all season. That could make a difference if they take advantage of last change, and the Rexall crowd needs to cheer like mad, too.

The goals for is no screaming hell, but that GA total is ghastly. If the Oilers are going to get anything done this season–and we’re not asking for much–then the goals against total must go down. At their current pace, the club is on track to allow 324 goals, the highest total for an Oilers team since 1992-93, their black hole season.

The offense lost both Taylor Hall and David Perron for extended periods during the last 10 games, and Justin Schultz was ineffective/injured. Oilers used 28 position players during the last 10 games.

Holy mackerel, that’s a lot of goals against!

This team needs to focus on the detail work, the defensive chores, the scut work. They need to catch Calgary. After that, they can find another target.