Time for Edmonton Oilers Fans to Take a Step Back

To say the 2011-2012 campaign has been a disappointment to the Edmonton Oilers and their fans would be an understatement. Heading into the season some felt the Oilers would be a bottom feeder while others, myself included, felt they could compete for a playoff spot...if they remained relatively healthy and upgraded their roster as the year progressed. Unfortunately, none of those things have happened and Edmonton currently sits twenty-ninth in league standings and are only seven points in front of the last place Columbus Blue Jackets. Having said that, as bad as things have been this year there is definitely a light at the end of the tunnel. However, now it is up to this organization to make sure they take that next step in their development and in turn give the masses what they desperately want...a competitive hockey team.

Oil Notes: Taylor Hall Update

Taylor Hall met with the media on Thursday morning to discuss his freak accident/injury on Tuesday night in Columbus. I have placed a link to the video below but all I can say is the kid is all about the team. He just has his skull cut open and after he is stitched up, he jumps on the bike to show he's good to go but his gash started bleeding...how shocking! Hall just wants to play and help this team win and this organization is very fortunate they stunk when they did and were able to draft this type of player. He is going to be a special player in this league for a very long time.

Game 46: St.Louis 1 Edmonton 0

Despite a Herculean 37 save performance from netminder Nikolai Khabibulin, the Edmonton Oilers managed to continue on their losing ways. Edmonton were simply outclassed and dominated by a St.Louis Blues side that are currently firing on all cylinders. Goaltender Jaroslav Halak had to make only 15 saves in earning his second consecutive shutout...both by the identical score of 1-0. While leading scorer Jordan Eberle returned to the Oilers lineup after missing the previous four contests, the club were without star winger Taylor Hall, who is out indefinitely after being cut for thirty stitches in a scary accident during warmup on Tuesday night in Columbus.   

Game 45: Columbus 4 Edmonton 2

The frequency in which the Edmonton Oilers are losing players to freak injuries is becoming almost comical. With star forward Taylor Hall getting injured in an accidental but scary skate to face collision with teammate Corey Potter, during the pre-game skate, you would think this franchise is due a bit of good fortune. Unfortunately for the Oilers, their string of bad luck and ability to blow leads continued last night in Columbus. The Blue Jackets fought back from an early two goal deficit and defeated the severely under manned Oilers side by a score of 4-2. The win moves Columbus to within seven points of Edmonton in the race for fifteenth place in the West.

Oilers trade bait come deadline day

 

With the Edmonton Oilers no longer in playoff contention, the club will have some very interesting decisions to make, leading up to the NHL Trade Deadline. This year's D-Day is Monday, February 27, 2012 at 3 pm EST and the Oilers look as though they could be a major player. With likely the most sought after UFA pending forward available being Ales Hemsky, one can expect GM Steve Tambellini will be fielding his share of phone calls leading up to the deadline. How I see it, the Oilers have five players that may interest more then a few teams that are looking to shore up their roster and make a run at a possible playoff spot or a shot at winning the Stanley Cup.

The Difference Between Ottawa and Edmonton

Heading into this season, many felt the Edmonton Oilers and Ottawa Senators would struggle mightily in their respective conferences. I expected the Oilers to be the better of the two clubs this season but the Senators would take strides towards becoming a much improved club, as early as next season. After losing their first five games of the season, the Sens turned things around and like Edmonton, found themselves near the top of the NHL standings heading into November. Not surprisingly, both clubs slid down the standings as the season moved along but there has been a big difference in how far each club has slipped. While Edmonton has plummeted down to thirteenth in the West, the Senators have managed to stay in contention and are currently in fifth spot in the East. So what has been the big difference between the two sides in the last two and a half months? That answer is easy...the play of their veterans.

Game 44: Edmonton 2 Los Angeles 1 (OT)

After suffering their fifth consecutive loss at the hands of the Anaheim Ducks, coach Tom Renney started to question this clubs ability to compete in his post game comments. He nor the fans liked what they witnessed at Rexall Place on Friday night and hopefully the players got the message loud and clear. Not only did they respond but they played arguably their most complete game in ages. Granted, they were up against a tired Los Angeles team that  played the night before in Calgary and thumped the Flames but the Oilers got the job done, Taylor Hall scored 3:06 into overtime to give Edmonton a well earned 2-1 victory and snap their season high five game slide.