Despite vowing not to have a slow start this season, the Edmonton Oilers are 0-3 through the first week of the season, and the fanbase is already starting to get restless. Can you blame them? It’s not just that the boys lost those games, but to do it in such spectacular fashion is something that we weren’t prepared for. Here’s hoping a date with the Philadelphia Flyers is precisely what they need to get this train back on the rails.

1. Coming to town for his first-ever matchup vs. the Oilers is highly touted Flyers prospect Matvei Michkov. Drafted 7th overall in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, Michkov is said to be a “rare triple-threat winger. Michkov is a constant threat to find the back of the net. His puck skills are near the top of the draft, owing to immense creativity, hip pocket handling, dextrous hands, and a never-say-die attitude. You may think that you have him, but most of the time, you really don’t. His ability to problem-solve his way out of defensive pressure is at a level all its own.”

Currently, Michkov has one assist through two games, but the Oilers would be best served to pay attention to him, given how porous their defence has been lately. The last thing Edmonton needs is a young talent to have a coming out party against them while they’re struggling.

2. Also expected to make his first appearance vs. the Oilers is Jett Luchanko, who was selected 13th overall at the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. Like Michkov, Luchanko is an offensive prospect with plenty of tools in his kit that excite Flyers fans about the future. Based on what I could find, Luchanko came to camp in fantastic condition, and the way he worked hard off the ice to prepare for the pro ranks while also fine-tuning his skill set earned the trust and respect of the Flyers coaching staff.

3. While the Flyers are stacking up some fine offensive prospects on their depth chart, there are some big questions in the market about their goaltending for the 2024-25 season. With Carter Hart gone, the Flyers are entering the year with Samuel Ersson and Ivan Fedotov as their netminders. Both goalies are not too experienced at the NHL level, so time will tell how the pair perform together in 2024-25. The pair have a combined total of 68 NHL games played — Ersson has played 64 of those — and it will be interesting to watch how that inexperience will factor in throughout the season. From an Oilers perspective, it wouldn’t be the worst idea to get on Ersson, today’s expected started, as early and as quickly as possible to avoid letting him get settled in.

4. The Flyers have now missed the playoffs for four consecutive seasons, and are not expected to make the post-season this year either. However, they did come up with a big shootout win against the Canucks on Friday night after coming back from a one-goal deficit in the third period. Samuel Ersson stopped 24 of 26 shots in that game, which was good for a .923 save% and his first win of the year.

5. The Oilers have only gotten two goals from their top six through three games — Draisaitl against the Blackhawks, and Jeff Skinner against the Flames — and that mini-slump will need to change in short order if Edmonton is going to end their losing streak tonight on night four. Last season, the Oilers finished fourth in goals and actually led the NHL in goals during the 2022-23 season, which makes this current blip on the radar feel wildly confusing. There’s little doubt in my mind that the Oilers are going to get their goals, but it sure would be nice if it started happening sooner rather than later.

6. Even with the Oilers’ PK going a perfect 3-for-3 against the Flames on Sunday, the team still finds itself with the league-worst 44.4% on the penalty kill. Needless to say, it’s going to be a major problem if Edmonton can’t find a way to be better than a coin flip when down a man, and they should get a healthy test tonight against a Flyers club whose power play is currently clicking at 25%.

7. Stuart Skinner is projected to be Edmonton’s starter against the Flyers, and he’ll need to give a whole lot more than the 5.40 GAA and .805 save% he’s put down in the 88:57 he’s played so far. Skinner has given up eight goals in 41 shots, and has yet to stay in a game for all 60 minutes. The Oil will need a bounce back night from Stu.

8. Jeff Skinner has 12 shots on goal so far, which is as many as Zach Hyman, Adam Henrique, and Viktor Arvidsson combined. I know shot volume isn’t always the answer to our problems, but I think it’s fair to say that the Oilers need their forwards to start putting more pucks on net.

9. Tuesday’s game marks the fourth and final game in Edmonton’s home stand before they hit the road for two games against the Nashville Predators (Thursday) and Dallas Stars (Saturday). Through the first three games, the Oilers have been outscored by a mind-blowing 15-3 margin, which is a stat so bad that it almost doesn’t make sense. Of those 15 goals against, five have come on the penalty kill, 10 have been at even strength, and one has been an empty-netter. No matter how you slice it, that’s just not good enough.

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