Two games, two losses. And not even good losses. The type where you can look back on the game and be glad you watched it because it was a hard fought battle. These games have been rife with errors, giveaways, weak plays, missed assignments, and miscues on defensive coverage. If something could have gone wrong, it probably did.
Game one, the Edmonton Oilers were absolutely obliterated by the Vancouver Canucks and lost 8-1. Game two, the Oilers were able to put up a bit more of a fight and stayed in the game, only losing 4-3 instead.
For a team that is supposed to be a favourite to win the Stanley Cup, a team picked by many to hoist the ultimate prize this spring, they would be hard pressed to find a worse way to start the season.
But is it too soon to press the panic button? After all, it has only been two of the season’s 82 games. And the Oilers have been a second half team the last two seasons. We should have a little more patience as the team adjusts to some new systems and finds their feet.
In the meantime, it is very clear the team is struggling in part due to luck, considering they have an .810 PDO in all situations according to Natural Stat Trick.
However, there are a few things that they have clearly struggled with early on and must improve on to show that this Oilers team is worthy of being considered Cup contenders and not completely blow this season.
Support the goalie
Debate the choice for opening night starter all you want, but both goalies have atrocious stat lines to start the season at this point and it can only partially be attributed to their own individual performance. Sure, the team needs a goalie who can steal them some games. But the goalie still needs support and so far, Stuart Skinner and Jack Campbell have gotten very little.
For example, Vancouver’s first couple of goals in the second game, where weak coverage on a Canucks attacking player leads them to be able to get an easy tip on the puck. These are goals that are difficult for the goalie to stop with a change in direction so close to the net.
The pressure the team is applying in the defensive zone is weak and has way too many lapses and the Canucks got far too many good chances, which they capitalized on. This leads directly into the next point.
Work out the kinks in the new systems
Over the preseason, Head Coach Jay Woodcroft was trying to implement some new defensive strategies designed to reduce the amount of goals against. So far, that has not helped. But it is still very early and it can take time for these things to work as players learn where they need to be and develop their instincts.
For starters, the Oilers are moving towards a 1-1-3 formation in some game situations on the forecheck. This is designed to help them stay in a safer position on the ice more often and ideally reduce the amount of rush chances against, making the transition up the ice harder for their opponents.
But for the Oilers, who have typically excelled with their speed and counterattack the past couple of seasons, this change represents a significant shift and could take some getting used to.
It appears some wires are getting crossed in the defensive zone as well with some new shifts, as seen on Vancouver’s second goal in the first game.
According to the HNIC panel reviewing the Oilers’ blowout loss in game one, the intention for the defensive zone coverage in this situation is that Connor McDavid would be the player going into the corner to support Evan Bouchard, leaving Darnell Nurse to handle the shooter, in this case Brock Boeser.
Both players are slow to their mark, giving JT Miller too much time to make the pass and Boeser plenty of time to set up his shot and move a few feet closer as Nurse scrambles to gain an angle on him.
These changes will take some time to implement. So hopefully the growing pains are all being let out right now and then it can be mostly smooth sailing moving forward.
Do something while not on the power play
After two games, three of the four Oilers goals have been scored on the power play and every single point recorded by an Oilers player thus far is someone on that first power play unit.
We get it, the Oilers’ powerplay is historically good. But they need to be able to finish at even strength. This is going to be a challenge to the depth on Edmonton’s roster to step up and find ways to score.
If there’s any part of this that is a good sign that things should work out eventually, it’s that the Oilers, at 5v5, have a 98-55 Corsi for to against ratio, and outshot the Canucks 42-32 in the first two games.
The one goal on 42 shots is not a sustainable pace and will turn around. Hopefully sooner, rather than later.
What else do the Oilers need to do moving forward after a disappointing first two games of the season? Drop a comment down below!
Photo by Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire
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