It’s official: The Edmonton Oilers are now the ultimate comeback kings. Just recently, they won their sixth consecutive playoff game by coming back in overtime to conquer their opponents, the Vegas Golden Knights, in a 5-4 spectacle that many Oilers fans will remember for a long time.
It was feisty and even a little ugly at times, but once again, the Oilers fought back against adversity and proved that they were truly a team to be reckoned with.
Although it’s certainly a relief that the team managed to pull through yet again, there are a few fans who are a little concerned about the manner in which they’re getting through these playoffs. Why do they have to leave it until overtime before they break out the big guns, and can this kind of tactic serve them well throughout the rest of the tournament?
No Longer a Surprise
Think back to a few weeks ago in the Western Conference First Round, when the Oilers came up against the Los Angeles Kings. In Game 4, they somehow erased a three-goal deficit, forcing overtime and securing a 5-4 victory with a score from Zach Hyman. The result was pandemonium, with fans going wild and realizing, perhaps for the first time, that the team had real grit that could take them all the way.
But then they did it again in the same manner… and again, and again, to the point where it’s no longer a surprise when it happens. Even Royal Panda is factoring in the Oilers’ comeback ability when setting their odds, and when bookmakers have to do that, it’s time to consider exactly where a team is tactically.
Why can’t the Oilers formulate momentum before the clock is in the red? Why is it that they have to wait for their backs to be against the wall before they start using significant plays and unlocking their full potential? These questions have become a talking point among analysts and fans alike, and if the Oilers are to survive the playoffs, they’re questions they need to be asking themselves as well.
A Change in Tactics
We’re not unhappy with the Oilers. The team has some exciting future prospects, and to find a way through six times on the bounce demonstrates they have the fortitude to fight until the very last second. But what’s interesting to note is how they are changingtheir strategy when it looks like they’re down and out. They do this by ramping up the offensive pressure, taking far more risks when they’re in the attacking zone.
We’ve noticed they’ve also shifted to more aggressive forechecking systems, including trap adjustments, to disrupt the opposing team’s breakout and regain possession quickly. In short, they change what they have been doing in order to do something better, and that’s a clear indication that the strategy they startgames with simply isn’t working out.
As we mentioned before, the Oilers now have a reputation as comeback kings, and their upcoming opponents will take note of this. With this in mind, it’s likely that they cannot rely on their skill of formulating a comeback for the duration of the season. It’s time for them to take a long look at how they can implement the tactics that work in those moments far earlier in the game.
Winning against other teams is good, but being betterthan other teams is something else entirely. To become the team we want them to be, the Oilers will need to start thinking about how they can avoid those last-gasp finishes and be on top for the duration.
