The Edmonton Oilers are sitting second in the Pacific, but they are not exactly a model of consistency this season. Ups, downs, a few “what just happened?” nights sprinkled in.
But when a team has been to the Stanley Cup finals back-to-back, you don’t count them out just because the scoreboard looks messy. Playoffs are a whole different animal. And if they can pull a big win over the Dallas Stars on Thursday? That wouldn’t just be another notch in the win column. It’d be a statement.
The Oilers’ Tipping Point? Playing Good Defence
And yes, let’s get to the heart of it — defence. Or, more accurately, the lack thereof, according to most casual observers. “The Oilers can’t play defence,” people mutter. But maybe that’s not quite fair.
TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button’s take: Edmonton has all the talent in the world, but they’ve got to see for themselves what happens when they actually commit to playing defence. It’s not a mystery, it’s just a choice. When they decide to tighten up, press before teams even enter the zone, make it tough to set up offensively, and suddenly you’ve got a team that looks a lot more dangerous.
Button Saw the Oilers Play Solid Defence Over the Past Two Games
Button saw some of that after the Vegas win against Colorado. Small sample, sure, but the Oilers showed signs of life in the D-zone that made you believe that, just maybe, they do get it. They can play winning defence when they choose to commit.
They need to put out the kind of commitment that makes opponents hesitate and think twice before running the table. That’s the gear that Stanley Cup contenders hit when the playoffs roll around. It’s mental, it’s physical, and yeah, it’s a little bit magical when it clicks.
The Stars Are More than a Road Trip, They Are a Hurdle
Tonight’s game in Dallas is more than just a road trip. A statement win there isn’t about padding the standings. It’s about proving something both to themselves and to the rest of the league. If they do beat the Stars, maybe even the skeptics ready to write them off quickly will change their tune.
The Oilers are loaded with talent, yes, but the question remains: when it counts, will they actually play defence? If the answer is yes, Stanley Cup contenders might have something to worry about. And if the answer is no, then we’re back to waiting for Edmonton to figure it out.
Because the Oilers aren’t just a collection of stars. They’re a team with the potential to scare anyone, if — and it’s a big if — they decide it’s time to play the other side of the ice.
Related: Oilers Get Positive Injury Update on Goaltender Connor Ingram
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