Slow, sluggish and uninteresting. For the most part last night, that’s probably the best way you could describe the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 win over the visiting Winnipeg Jets Thursday night.

But it wasn’t to be unexpected, per se, given that both teams were coming off intense games Wednesday night.

It was a low-event game with a total of 90 shot attempts between the two teams, with only 46 total shots actually hitting the net. Historically, the Oilers struggled in these types of slow, defensive oriented games.

A major shift in the Oilers this year, however, has been their commitment to that side of the game. And it’s not just from the bottom-end players on the roster, either. A full commitment has come top-to-bottom for the Oilers this year that’s seen them right at the league average for goals against per game.

“It’s all about winning. to win, you have to be able to defend,” said Tippett. “You can’t win in the playoffs if you can’t defend. It’s recognizing we have to be a good defending team, a good five-on-five team to be successful in the playoffs.

“You got to try to give up as little as you can. Fatigue becomes a factor (in a game like last nights), but you to try to muscle through it as best you can. When you get a lead, you try to muscle it through and get it to the end and that’s what we did.”

And that’s excatly what the Oilers did — they clogged up the neutral zone all night, kept the Jets to the outside, and played them hard in the defensive zone limiting many high-danger chances.

It’s another one of those games the Oilers can hang their hat on and say “yeah, we’ve played in these tight, grinding games” when they eventually play games with more and more importance down the stretch to the playoffs. Edmonton has a ways to go when it comes to clinching a spot in the post-season, but the +7 goal differential at 5×5, and +17 goal differential in all situations, is going to help them get there.

“It’s always a main focus for us,” said Connor McDavid of the Oilers defensive game. “I know it doesn’t always look like that, we’re always talking about it trying to limit chances, limit mistakes and keep the puck out of our net.

“It’s such a big part of the game. Offence comes however it does whether it’s the powerplay or finding a way to get a chance. Keeping the puck out has to be a full team effort and I thought it was adamant tonight.”

With a league mandated off-day today, the Oilers will look to continue their two-game win streak against what will undoubtedly be a hungry Jets team. Both clubs had their ‘B’ goaltenders in net, so a battle between Mike Smith and Connor Hellebuyck will be on tap Saturday night.

The good news for the Oilers? Edmonton has had Hellebuyck’s number this year, and throughout his career. In three games this year Hellebuyck has posted a meagre .881 save percentage, despite securing wins in two of three games he’s played against Edmonton. Over his career against Edmonton, his save percentage inflates to a still-poor .887 save percentage.

Edmonton will need to look to get pucks on him early, and an early goal could go a long ways towards securing another crucial two points.