The Edmonton Oilers play the Winnipeg Jets Thursday night, and look, the Oilers haven’t exactly been rolling — they still haven’t strung together three consecutive wins — but at least they’re not in freefall like their opponents. The Jets are riding a 10-game losing streak and looking to avoid making it 11 straight.

Perspective, folks. It matters.

Winnipeg’s collapse has been wild to watch. This isn’t some rebuilding team that was expected to struggle. The Jets were legitimate contenders not that long ago, and now they can’t buy a win. Ten straight losses is the kind of stretch that gets coaches fired and general managers scrambling. It’s organizational crisis territory.

For the Oilers, who’ve dealt with their own inconsistency, this game is an opportunity. You’re facing a team that’s mentally beaten down, whose confidence is shattered, and whose locker room is probably a disaster right now. These are the games you’re supposed to win. These are the points that matter when you’re trying to separate yourself in the standings.

Here’s the catch, though: the Jets can still hurt you. Despite their recent struggles, they possess legitimate offensive firepower. Their top three point producers — Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, and Gabriel Vilardi — have combined for 57 goals this season. That matches what Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Evan Bouchard have produced for Edmonton. The talent hasn’t disappeared. They’re just not getting anything from anywhere else, and their defensive structure has completely fallen apart.

So, if the Oilers take the Jets lightly, if they assume Winnipeg will just roll over because they’re struggling, Connor and Scheifele will make them pay. Those guys are still elite offensive players who can take over games. One bad period, one mental lapse, and suddenly a desperate team finds life. We’ve all seen it happen.

The Oilers need to walk that line: respect the talent, exploit the fragility. Winnipeg’s goaltending has been shaky during this skid, their defensive coverage has been inconsistent, and their special teams have struggled. Those are areas Edmonton can attack. But you actually have to execute. You can’t just assume a struggling team will hand you two points because they’re desperate.

The broader picture matters too. Losing to a team on a 10-game skid would be embarrassing. Winning and handing them their 11th straight loss? That’s the kind of result that builds confidence and keeps you moving forward.

Yeah, the Oilers haven’t won three straight yet. They’ve been inconsistent. They’ve had their own struggles. But they’re not Winnipeg. They’re not spiraling. They’re not desperate. And Thursday night, that difference should show. The Jets are wounded, and the Oilers need to finish the job.

Perspective matters. Right now, Edmonton should be grateful they’re not on the other side of this matchup.

RNH – McDavid – Hyman

Podkolzin – Draisaitl – Kapanen

Howard – Roslovic – Savoie

Janmark – Lazar – Frederic

Ekholm – Bouchard

Nurse – Regula

Stastney – Emberson

Pickard