Connor McDavid had just witnessed his Oilers surrender five goals in the third period against the NHLB次元官网网址檚 30th-ranked team.
EdmontonB次元官网网址檚 superstar captain also seemed at a loss for words in the wake of another crushing defeat.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not sure what to tell you,B次元官网网址� McDavid told reporters after dropping a 6-4 decision to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. B次元官网网址淲ork ourselves to a 3-1 lead and give it away.B次元官网网址�
Subsequently asked if it represented one of his most frustrating regular-season losses since joining the Oilers as the No. 1 pick at the 2015 draft, the gameB次元官网网址檚 best player didnB次元官网网址檛 skip a beat: B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 definitely up there.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e just finding ways to lose,B次元官网网址� head coach David Tippett added from an increasingly hot seat.
The loss to Ottawa represented the latest setback for a team that expected so much more of itself this season.
Early on, however, the Oilers delivered. While there were some troubling signs, they jumped out to a 16-5-0 start to sit alone atop the Western Conference on Dec. 1.
But Edmonton has gone just 2-10-2 since B次元官网网址� victories Dec. 16 and 18 are bookended by a pair of six-game losing streaks B次元官网网址� and continues searching for answers.
It started anew with a hard practice Monday that included battle drills led by McDavid and top-pair defenceman Darnell Nurse.
B次元官网网址淭hose are your big dogs,B次元官网网址� Edmonton blue-liner Tyson Barrie said. B次元官网网址淭hat sets the tone.
B次元官网网址淚f Connor McDavid and Darnell Nurse are battling and playing against each other hard, thereB次元官网网址檚 zero excuse for anybody to take any sort of break.B次元官网网址�
The players are mostly saying the right things B次元官网网址� Oilers winger Brendan Perlini had a particularly upbeat recent media availability B次元官网网址� but itB次元官网网址檚 clear nerves are frayed in the Alberta capital.
Edmonton centre Leon Draisaitl, whoB次元官网网址檚 one point ahead of McDavid for second in the league scoring race, had a testy exchange with an Edmonton reporter Tuesday.
B次元官网网址淲e have to get better at everything,B次元官网网址� the German said when asked if there was one specific area the team needs to improve.
B次元官网网址淲ould you like to expand on that?B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淣o B次元官网网址� you can do that,B次元官网网址� Draisaitl replied. B次元官网网址淵ou know everything.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲hy are you so pissy, Leon?B次元官网网址� the veteran media member retorted before the back-and-forth continued another 20 seconds.
One facet where Edmonton could do much better is how it starts games.
The Oilers have allowed the first goal an NHL-high 25 times in 35 outings, consistently feeling their way into the action rather than grabbing hold of proceedings.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 been a theme, but the desperationB次元官网网址檚 key,B次元官网网址� Barrie said 24 hours before DraisaitlB次元官网网址檚 uncomfortable media exchange. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e in a good position going into the third period (against Ottawa) and we donB次元官网网址檛 get it done.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 not a good sign.B次元官网网址�
Oilers general manager Ken Holland has never fired a coach mid-season during his Hall of Fame career, but the temperature and pressure to do something to shake things up continues to mount in lockstep with every loss.
Edmonton hasnB次元官网网址檛 received adequate goaltending with Mike Smith struggling to stay healthy, Mikko Koskinen underperforming when handed a heavy workload and rookie Stuart Skinner trying to find his way.
The problems, however, run much deeper with a defence corps that still isnB次元官网网址檛 good enough and a forward group that continues to rely far too much on McDavid and Draisaitl for offence.
The Oilers, however, insist the answers reside in their locker room.
B次元官网网址淓veryone has to look in the mirror,B次元官网网址� Edmonton winger Zack Kassian said. B次元官网网址淎nd everyone has to be better.B次元官网网址�
Next up for the Oilers? Just a Thursday visit from the Florida Panthers, who sit second in the overall standings, before hosting the Calgary Flames on Saturday.
Despite their warts early in the season, the Oilers always seemed to have a response following a loss.
That feels a lot longer than a few months ago for a team that has just two victories in seven weeks to sit seventh in the Pacific Division B次元官网网址� albeit with games in hand on most rivals because of COVID-19 postponements.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 funny B次元官网网址� even games you feel like youB次元官网网址檙e playing well in, you donB次元官网网址檛 get results,B次元官网网址� Barrie said. B次元官网网址淭hen everything starts to tighten up, guys lose their confidence.
B次元官网网址淲e have to work our way out of it.B次元官网网址�
If they donB次元官网网址檛, change B次元官网网址� in some form B次元官网网址� could be coming.
B次元官网网址擩oshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press
