Playing from behind is more often than not a loser’s game even with the best two players in the NHL in your line-up and a power play that’s scoring goals at a historic clip. Even so, the Edmonton Oilers thought they’d give it a go against the Detroit Red Wings to open a five-game road trip Tuesday.

Fresh from running their record to 9-1-0 at home Friday, spotting the New York Rangers a 4-1 lead, then roaring back for a <a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2021/11/05/game-recap-10-0-edmonton-oilers-vs-new-york-rangers/">6-5 OT decision</a> on the goal of the year by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl’s winner on a night the team retired Kevin Lowe’s No. 4, the Oilers trotted out an ill-advised encore in the Motor City.
Outplayed and outshot early, the Oilers played catch-up again, this time falling behind 3-0 in a <a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2021/11/09/game-recap-11-0-edmonton-oilers-at-detroit-red-wings/">4-2 loss</a> on a night they stood around far too often in the opening 40 minutes. In the process, they wasted a really good start by Stuart Skinner &#8212; save for his ham-handed handling of the puck on the 3-0 goal &#8212; and stumbled into this five-game swing that continues Thursday in Boston.
While none of the above qualifies as any kind of news flash to anybody paying attention, coach Dave Tippett thought it was worth a mention before jumping a jet to Beantown. Some nights, even the likes of McDavid, Draisaitl and a smoking-hot power play can’t mitigate a three-goal deficit. This was one of them.
<h2 class="p1">STANDING AROUND</h2>
<figure id="attachment_107336" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-107336" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-107336" src="https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/USATSI_17126824-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/USATSI_17126824-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/USATSI_17126824-300x200.jpg 300w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/USATSI_17126824-768x512.jpg 768w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/USATSI_17126824-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/USATSI_17126824-2048x1366.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-107336" class="wp-caption-text">Nov 9, 2021; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner (74) makes a save on Detroit Red Wings center Robby Fabbri (14) in the second period at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure>
“He gave us a chance to win,” <a href="https://www.nhl.com/oilers/video/post-raw--tippett-110921/t-277437406/c-9472263" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tippett said</a> of Skinner, who stopped 35 of 38 shots. “He made enough saves to give us a chance to win . . . we just didn’t play well enough. Not enough urgency. Not enough execution. They came out and played a desperate first period and we didn’t match that level and we got behind.”
For a guy who sat around for seven games after being recalled from Bakersfield Oct. 20, Skinner looked very sharp early, but he didn’t get much help. When Vladislav Namestnikov made it 2-0 for the Red Wings early in the second period, the shots were 23-9. The lone hiccup from Skinner, making just his second NHL start, came when he fumbled the puck behind the net on the <a href="https://www.nhl.com/video/larkin-extends-the-lead/t-326178320/c-9468338" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">3-0 goal</a> by Dylan Larkin.
“Honestly, I just fanned on it,” <a href="https://www.nhl.com/oilers/video/post-raw--skinner-110921/t-277437406/c-9472285" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">said Skinner</a>, whose only previous start with the Oilers came last season after another long stretch playing behind Mikko Koskinen with Mike Smith injured.  “Hard fan, bad timing . . . it happens. Move forward and make sure it doesn&#8217;t happen again.
“Believe it or not, I&#8217;ve made a worse play before in my career and we ended up winning the game. I just looked back to that, and there’s always a chance to come back in a game. We almost got it.”
When Jesse Puljujarvi cut it to 3-1 late in the second period and McDavid <a href="https://www.nhl.com/video/mcdavids-wrist-shot-finds-twine/t-326178320/c-9468934" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">made it 3-2</a> just 38 seconds into the third, the response by many on Twitter, me included, was “game on.” Why not a repeat of what we saw against the Rangers? Well, no. Skinner shut the door the rest of the way, keeping the Oilers’ power play off the board (0-for-2) for the first time this season.
“I didn’t love it. I didn’t love the start,” <a href="https://www.nhl.com/oilers/video/post-raw--mcdavid-110921/t-277437406/c-9472082" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">said McDavid</a>, whose goal gives him points (9-14-23) in all 11 games this season. “We dug ourselves a hole again. I liked our response. I liked our third period. We definitely had enough chances top tie the game, but you can’t keep digging yourself that type of hole.”
Duly noted. Again.
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Looking to up your fantasy hockey game? DailyFaceoff has the tools you need for both daily and season-long fantasy leagues, including a lineup optimizer, daily projections, and a whole lot more. <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/purchase-options/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer follow" data-wpel-link="internal">Sign up for the DailyFaceoff tools here.</a>
<h3>Previously by Robin Brownlee</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2021/11/07/off-the-top-of-my-head-connor-mcdavid-kevin-lowe-and-more/">Off the Top of My Head</a></li>
<li><a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2021/11/05/kevin-lowe-at-long-last-no-4/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal">At Long Last No. 4</a></li>
<li><a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2021/11/03/big-time-baby/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal">Big Time, Baby!</a></li>
<li><a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2021/11/02/kailer-yamamoto-weight-lifted/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal">Weight Lifted</a></li>
<li><a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2021/11/02/getting-to-no-way/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal">Getting to “No Way”</a></li>
<li><a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2021/10/31/off-the-top-of-my-head-kyle-beach-kevin-lowe-dave-tippett-and-more/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal">Off the Top of My Head</a></li>
</ul>

Playing from behind is more often than not a loser’s game even with the best two players in the NHL in your line-up and a power play that’s scoring goals at a historic clip. Even so, the Edmonton Oilers thought they’d give it a go against the Detroit Red Wings to open a five-game road trip Tuesday.

Fresh from running their record to 9-1-0 at home Friday, spotting the New York Rangers a 4-1 lead, then roaring back for a <a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2021/11/05/game-recap-10-0-edmonton-oilers-vs-new-york-rangers/">6-5 OT decision</a> on the goal of the year by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl’s winner on a night the team retired Kevin Lowe’s No. 4, the Oilers trotted out an ill-advised encore in the Motor City.
Outplayed and outshot early, the Oilers played catch-up again, this time falling behind 3-0 in a <a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2021/11/09/game-recap-11-0-edmonton-oilers-at-detroit-red-wings/">4-2 loss</a> on a night they stood around far too often in the opening 40 minutes. In the process, they wasted a really good start by Stuart Skinner -- save for his ham-handed handling of the puck on the 3-0 goal -- and stumbled into this five-game swing that continues Thursday in Boston.
While none of the above qualifies as any kind of news flash to anybody paying attention, coach Dave Tippett thought it was worth a mention before jumping a jet to Beantown. Some nights, even the likes of McDavid, Draisaitl and a smoking-hot power play can’t mitigate a three-goal deficit. This was one of them.

<h2 class="p1">STANDING AROUND</h2>
[caption id="attachment_107336" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]<img class="size-large wp-image-107336" src="https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/USATSI_17126824-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" /> Nov 9, 2021; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner (74) makes a save on Detroit Red Wings center Robby Fabbri (14) in the second period at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]
“He gave us a chance to win,” <a href="https://www.nhl.com/oilers/video/post-raw--tippett-110921/t-277437406/c-9472263" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tippett said</a> of Skinner, who stopped 35 of 38 shots. “He made enough saves to give us a chance to win . . . we just didn’t play well enough. Not enough urgency. Not enough execution. They came out and played a desperate first period and we didn’t match that level and we got behind.”
For a guy who sat around for seven games after being recalled from Bakersfield Oct. 20, Skinner looked very sharp early, but he didn’t get much help. When Vladislav Namestnikov made it 2-0 for the Red Wings early in the second period, the shots were 23-9. The lone hiccup from Skinner, making just his second NHL start, came when he fumbled the puck behind the net on the <a href="https://www.nhl.com/video/larkin-extends-the-lead/t-326178320/c-9468338" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">3-0 goal</a> by Dylan Larkin.
“Honestly, I just fanned on it,” <a href="https://www.nhl.com/oilers/video/post-raw--skinner-110921/t-277437406/c-9472285" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">said Skinner</a>, whose only previous start with the Oilers came last season after another long stretch playing behind Mikko Koskinen with Mike Smith injured.  “Hard fan, bad timing . . . it happens. Move forward and make sure it doesn't happen again.
“Believe it or not, I've made a worse play before in my career and we ended up winning the game. I just looked back to that, and there’s always a chance to come back in a game. We almost got it.”
When Jesse Puljujarvi cut it to 3-1 late in the second period and McDavid <a href="https://www.nhl.com/video/mcdavids-wrist-shot-finds-twine/t-326178320/c-9468934" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">made it 3-2</a> just 38 seconds into the third, the response by many on Twitter, me included, was “game on.” Why not a repeat of what we saw against the Rangers? Well, no. Skinner shut the door the rest of the way, keeping the Oilers’ power play off the board (0-for-2) for the first time this season.
“I didn’t love it. I didn’t love the start,” <a href="https://www.nhl.com/oilers/video/post-raw--mcdavid-110921/t-277437406/c-9472082" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">said McDavid</a>, whose goal gives him points (9-14-23) in all 11 games this season. “We dug ourselves a hole again. I liked our response. I liked our third period. We definitely had enough chances top tie the game, but you can’t keep digging yourself that type of hole.”
Duly noted. Again.

<h2><a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/purchase-options/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer follow" data-wpel-link="internal">ARTICLE BROUGHT TO YOU BY DAILYFACEOFF</a></h2>
<img class="aligncenter wp-image-107304 jetpack-lazy-image jetpack-lazy-image--handled" src="https://i1.wp.com/publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/DailyFaceoff-Fantasy-Tools.png?resize=796%2C265&amp;ssl=1" alt="" width="796" height="265" data-lazy-loaded="1" />

Looking to up your fantasy hockey game? DailyFaceoff has the tools you need for both daily and season-long fantasy leagues, including a lineup optimizer, daily projections, and a whole lot more. <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/purchase-options/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer follow" data-wpel-link="internal">Sign up for the DailyFaceoff tools here.</a>
<h3>Previously by Robin Brownlee</h3>
<ul>
 	<li><a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2021/11/07/off-the-top-of-my-head-connor-mcdavid-kevin-lowe-and-more/">Off the Top of My Head</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2021/11/05/kevin-lowe-at-long-last-no-4/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal">At Long Last No. 4</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2021/11/03/big-time-baby/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal">Big Time, Baby!</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2021/11/02/kailer-yamamoto-weight-lifted/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal">Weight Lifted</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2021/11/02/getting-to-no-way/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal">Getting to “No Way”</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2021/10/31/off-the-top-of-my-head-kyle-beach-kevin-lowe-dave-tippett-and-more/" rel="follow" data-wpel-link="internal">Off the Top of My Head</a></li>
</ul>

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