The Oilers had stretches where they controlled the game and generated many quality looks, however, the lack of focus at key points in the game cost them again. Toronto scored nine seconds after Edmonton tied the game, and then the Maple Leafs scored two power play goals in 31 seconds to turn a 2-2 game into a 4-2 game — game over, and another disappointing home loss.

Edmonton just wrapped up a stretch where they played 13 of 17 games on home ice between December 31st and February 3rd. Travel and fatigue weren’t a factor, in fact, the Oilers faced many teams playing their third games in four nights and the second half of back-to-back games, and they couldn’t take advantage of them. The Oilers compiled a disappointing 5-7-1 record in those 13 home games. They aren’t playing close to their potential, and the only reason they are in the race for home ice in the Pacific Division is that Vegas is equally inept lately.

Anaheim is one point back of Edmonton, and the Ducks have a game in hand. Seattle is three points back with two games in hand. LA is four points back with three games in hand. Edmonton is playing like it is comfortably in a playoff position, but they are fooling themselves if they believe that. They had a solid 25 game stretch where all facets were working, but other than that the team has been wildly inconsistent.

The Oilers are 26th in GA/GP at 3.28.

In October and November (26) GP they allowed 93 goals in 26 games for an ugly 3.58 GA/GP.

Then from December 1st to January 21st, they allowed 64 goals in 25 games for a solid 2.56 GA/GP, which was tied for third best.

But they’ve reverted to being porous defensively again allowing 30 goals in their last six games.

The 25-game stretch is the outlier thus far. It shows what they are capable of, if they commit to playing smart hockey, but it hasn’t lasted.

The PK had actually been pretty good, until recently.

October and November it was 18th at 80.6 per cent allowing 14 goals on 72 kills.

From December 1st to January 21st, it was 11th at 80.6 per cent allowing 13 goals on 67.

But in their last six games they’ve allowed eight goals in 18 kills for 55 per cent.

The PK was 11th best through the first 51 games, but it’s been so brutal for the past six it has now dropped to 24th on the season at 77.7 per cent.

Offensively, the Oilers have been pretty consistent.

In October and November, they ranked 12th at 3.12 GF/GP with 81 goals in 26 games.

The next 25 games they were fifth at 3.60 GF/GP with 90 goals.

The past six games they are 6th averaging 4.00 GF/GP with 24.

On the season they rank 4th at 3.42 goals/game.

The powerplay is good, although it is in a rare funk right now.

In October and November, it was 30.2 per cent with 19 goals on 63 chances.

In the next 25 games it was even better at 34.6 per cent scoring 27 goals on 78 opportunities.

In the last six games it is only 14.3 per cent with two goals on 14 chances. The PP is the one facet of the game I’m not concerned with.

On the season the PP is first in the NHL at 31 per cent.

It would be interesting to note why the penalty kill suddenly collapsed. It was 80.6 per cent in the first 26 games and 80.6 per cent in the next 25 — can’t get much more consistent than that, but the past six games it has crashed.

Here’s a look at player usage. Here’s the forwards in the first 51 games.

If someone asks why McDavid is on the PK , show them the above photo. Also, those 51 games show why Kris Knoblauch kept playing Mattias Janmark, despite the fact he’s does nothing offensively at 5×5.

And here’s the defenceman usage.

Bouchard and Ekholm were the clear first unit. Nurse did have the lowest GA/60 rate of the top four PKers at 6.41, but did he spend as much time out against top units? Either way, the PK was solid.

Now, let’s look at the last six games. Brace yourself: It has been U-G-L-Y. They’ve allowed eight goals on 18 kills. None of the D-men have been immune to goals against.

All of them have seen their GA/60 skyrocket. The one thing I have noticed is that the minutes between all six D-men have been more equal during this small sample size. Maybe they need to go back to deploying Bouchard and Ekholm more?

Now let’s look at the forwards.

McDavid was on for only two goals against in 53 minutes in the first 51 games, but he’s been on for two in the 8:40 during these six games. Matt Savoie was on for nine goals in 82 minutes in the first 51 games, but he’s been on for three in 5:52 recently. All the forwards have seen an increase in their goals against, except Curtis Lazar who saw his drop slightly, though it’s still not at a good rate.

The Oilers didn’t suddenly change their PK, but for six games it has been lit up.

Pittsburgh (third best PP in league when they faced EDM) went 0-for-2 and the Oilers scored shorthanded.

Washington (25th at the time) went 1-for-5.

Anaheim (26th) went 3-for-4. And they were without three of their top forwards. Mikael Granlund scored three PP goals. Two of them came on clearing attempts by Bouchard and Nurse they’d like back. No major system breakdown.

San Jose (16th) went 0-for-2.

Minnesota (6th) went 2-for-3. The first one was a great stretch pass by Quinn Hughes to spring Joel Eriksson-Ek for a breakaway. Ekholm and Bouchard got their signals crossed, but that is not a play I’ve seen Edmonton exploited on all season on the penalty kill. The second goal, Oilers lost the faceoff, then Hughes took a point shot, Eriksson-Ek slid the rebound to the right side of the net and Kirill Kaprizov had an empty net. No system changes or glaring error by a player.

Toronto (24th) went 2-for-2. The first was a 5-on-3 and for the first 50 seconds, Bouchard, Ekholm and RNH didn’t give up any great looks. Then the Leafs got the puck back to Nylander at the left circle and he made a pass cross seam down low. Ekholm got a slight piece of it, and it then went right to Tavares who was just outside the far post to redirect it home. On the same PP, the Leafs’ second unit scored. McDavid got caught with his stick not covering the slot pass and Domi went from high on the left side down low to the right side and Maccelli finished with a good one-timer. It was a nice goal — when you are on the PP when you see a passing lane, you have to hit it, and Domi did.

It was really three bad games for the PK, allowing seven goals on nine chances, that has seen them slip from 11th on the PK on January 21st down to 24th. It can change quickly when you are that bad. The Oilers need to stop the bleeding on the PK, and not let this funk continue.

Calgary is the 30th ranked power play in the NHL. It would be inexcusable for them to light you up.

SNAPSHOTS…

— Mattias Janmark has seven goals in his last 192 games with the Oilers (the past three seasons). One of them was on an empty net. He has seven goals in 44 playoff games. His playoff performance is good, but his regular season production has become woeful. He isn’t generating anything, and when that is happening, he can’t take the penalty he took last night. He looks like he is protecting his shoulder. He had a shoulder injury to start the season, and watch how he engages in battles. He is more upright than normal, which makes me wonder if he’s protecting his shoulder from contact. I get the coach likes him on the PK, and for the first 51 games he was a contributor, but with the PK struggling and him bringing no offence, a night in the pressbox is a consideration.

LINEUPS…

Oilers…

RNH – McDavid – Hyman
Podkolzin – Draisaitl – Kapanen
Savoie – Samanski – Roslovic
Janmark/Lazar – Frederic– Mangiapane

Ekholm – Bouchard
Nurse – Walman
Stastney – Emberson

Jarry

We likely will see Curtis Lazar back in the lineup tonight, but Andrew Mangiapane should stay in. Mangiapane was the most engaged Oilers player in the first period. On the Maple Leafs’ first goal he was in the offensive zone, stopped at the circle to make a play and John Tavares knocked the puck off his stick which led to William Nylander going the other way on a tw0-on-one. He didn’t score, but later in the sequence Toronto did score as Matias Maccelli deflected home a point shot. I don’t think the play by Mangiapane was that egregious to lead to Mangiapane not getting another shift the rest of the second period. He did play in the third, but Mangiapane had played quite well, and his mistake wasn’t a glaring giveaway up the middle or even a bad turnover trying to be fancy in the offensive zone.

You can’t expect players to contribute if they are scared to make a play, and if it doesn’t work, they will be benched. Clearly, Knoblauch isn’t a fan of Mangiapane, but I felt the coach overreacted on that play. He doesn’t hold the rest of the team to such drastic measures. I realize Mangiapane played a lot of games where he did very little, but as a coach you have to start each game as a new slate, or at least try to, and I felt in that moment Knoblauch overreacted. It is too bad, because the fourth line had been quite effective up until that point, at least in terms of creating positive momentum and having the puck in the offensive zone.

Flames…

Sharangovich – Backlund – Coronoto
Zary – Kadri – Farabee
Huberdeau – Frost – Gridin
Lomberg – Pospisil – Klapka

Bahl – Whitecloud
Kuznetsov – Weegar
Hanley – Parekh

Cooley

The Flames have only allowed 21, 25, 23 and 21 shots in their last four games against Toronto, San Jose, Minnesota and Anaheim, but they’ve only won one game and their goalies allowed 12 goals on 90 shots (.866 save percentage). Dustin Wolf has posted a .900 save percentage or better in 19 of his 40 starts this season. Last year he was +.900 in 29 of 53 starts. Wolf hasn’t been as consistent as he was last year, while backup Devin Cooley has posted better numbers. Wolf has an .896 save percentage and 3.00 GAA, while in 15 starts Cooley has a .921 save percentage and 2.22 GAA. Cooley has posted a +.900 save percentage in 12 of his 15 starts and nine of those starts have come against playoff teams. Edmonton getting Cooley tonight is not necessarily a benefit, based on how they two have played. I’m a bit surprised Calgary hasn’t played Cooley more.