Oilers forget to show up in Columbus

Less than 24 hours after putting together what was easily their finest defensive performance of the season, the Edmonton Oilers proceeded to lay an egg on Friday night, falling 4-2 to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Perfect Debut

Let’s be honest. Could either Ilya Bryzgalov or the Edmonton Oilers organization have asked for a better outcome from the veteran goalie’s debut performance in Orange and Blue? Frankly, it would seem almost next to impossible to see how that would even possible.

Firing Renney when they did, is coming back to haunt the Oilers

With the Edmonton Oilers sitting in the basement of the Western Conference with a 7-16-2 record, one can't help but wonder why this team is sitting where they currently are in the NHL standings. While their roster simply isn't good enough to be considered a legitimate playoff contender, this team should be nowhere near twenty-ninth place in a thirty team league.

Could Phaneuf be the Oilers man?

There is no questioning what is currently the biggest issue with the Edmonton Oilers. Above all else, their lack of a legitimate top pairing NHL defenceman is painfully obvious. They have some very nice pieces already in place, see Jeff Petry, Justin Schultz and Anton Belov, with the likes of Oscar Klefbom and Darnell Nurse waiting in the wings.

Men vs Boys

Having won their last three games, the Edmonton Oilers were looking forward to their matchup against the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday night. They were hoping to use it as a sort of measuring stick for the recently improved play. Mission accomplished. Dallas Eakins' crew is nowhere near ride for prime time. Plain and simple.

Top line remains the key to Oilers success upfront

After struggling through much of the opening month and half of their 2013-14 campaign, the Edmonton Oilers took full advantage of a soft spot in their schedule to turn their early season misfortunes around. A trio of games against the Calgary Flames, Columbus Blue Jackets and Florida Panthers could not have come at a better time. That said, one could say the same about Dallas Eakins' decision to reunite the line of Jordan Eberle, Taylor Hall and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.