Back To Reality

It was nice while it lasted but the Edmonton Oilers four game win streak was destined to come to an end and come to end it did on Wednesday against the high-flying Nashville Predators. While the 4-1 scoreline frankly flattered the team wearing Orange and Blue, they still had every chance to stretch their run to five straight despite putting together what was simply a dreadful opening twenty minutes of hockey. 

Boyd Gordon....

Much of the praise for the Edmonton Oilers recent run of finding ways to win hockey games has been given, right or wrong, to netminder Ben Scrivens. While the twenty-eight year old Spruce Grove native has rebounded quite nicely from an absolutely dreadful start to his 2014-15 campaign, as a collective unit the Oilers are playing a far more disciplined style of game in their own end of the rink and in turn, give themselves a far better chance of earning two points on a nightly basis. 

The Floodgates Open!!!

After coming out and playing what was easily their best hockey of the season over their last three games, the Edmonton Oilers were nowhere near their best on Friday night against the Carolina Hurricanes. 
Despite struggling mightily over the opening thirty minutes of play, the Oilers exploded for six goals over the final period and a half and cruise to a 6-3 win over the winless Eastern Conference cellar dwellers. 

Can Joensuu take advantage of his opportunity?

The Edmonton Oilers improved to 4-2 on the pre-season with a 3-2 victory over Devan Dubnyk and the visiting Arizona Coyotes on Wednesday night at Rexall Place. For an exhibition game against a divisional rival that had almost none of their key regulars in the starting lineup, Dallas Eakins crew looked fairly solid…this despite another dreadful performance from both power play units. 

Time For Pitlick To Claim A Roster Spot

The moment Edmonton Oilers general manager Craig MacTavish decided to bring Benoit Pouliot and Teddy Purcell on board for the upcoming 2014-15 campaign, Tyler Pitlick had to have been wondering if he had missed his opportunity to stick with the team that drafted him back in 2010. 

Preview: Oilers vs Sabres

With the 2014 Sochi Olympic break less than a week ago, hockey fans everywhere will be treated to battle between the NHL’s two worst teams on Monday night. Yes it’s the matchup everyone has been waiting for, as the Edmonton Oilers pay a visit to the Buffalo Sabres…or maybe not.

Bryz comes up large on David Perron night in Vancouver

While much of the hype following the Edmonton Oilers surprising 4-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks has revolved around a hat-trick performance from forward David Perron, he was not the star of the show during Monday night’s victory.

Where have these guys been this season?

In a season in which very little has gone right for the Edmonton Oilers, last night’s 4-2 loss to the Boston Bruins was about as close to a win as a team can get without actually earning any points in the standings.

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.

Dubnyk lays an egg in season opener

It wasn't supposed to be like this. Despite being without the services of both Sam Gagner and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, the Edmonton Oilers were expecting to open their 2013-14 season with a win over the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday night. Thirty minutes into the opener, everything was going according to plan.

Pitlick and Belov impress in win over Jets

On a night in which the Edmonton Oilers did not dress the majority of their core forward group, the likes of Will Acton, Jesse Joensuu and Tyler Pitlick used the opportunity to send a message to head coach Dallas Eakins. Second period goals from Acton and Joensuu proved to be all the Oilers would need, as they reeled off their third consecutive preseason win, edging the Winnipeg Jets by a score of 2-1.

Oilers dump Canucks, as Luongo struggles in return

The Edmonton Oilers wasted little time to familiarize themselves with the Vancouver Canucks and one Roberto Luongo. After torching Luongo and the Canucks for seven goals in the Oilers 2013 season finale, Edmonton continued their recent domination of one of the league's premier netminders, scoring four first period goals in just over seven minutes, en route to an easy 4-1 victory over their Pacific Division rival. 

Eakins may need Perron and Hemsky to play a different role

Heading into training camp, almost everyone felt the Edmonton Oilers top six forwards were pretty much set in stone. While Ryan Nugent-Hopkins may end up  missing a handful of games to start the year, the spots on the Oilers top two lines looked to be earmarked for Jordan Eberle, Sam Gagner, Taylor Hall, RNH, David Perron and Nail Yakupov.

Joensuu steals the show, as Oilers spilt with Flames

On a night in which the Edmonton Oilers opened up both the home and road portions of their 2013 exhibition schedule, a pair of late rallies from the Calgary Flames sent both teams home as winners and losers on the night. 

2013-14 Preview: Jones will get his opportunity to rebound

After putting together a pair of very productive campaigns during his first two years in Edmonton Oilers silks, the 2012-13 season was one Ryan Jones would love to forget. It started with the NHL Lockout, was followed by a freak eye injury that ultimately required surgery and nearly cost him his career. Upon returning to the Oilers lineup in late February, Jones struggled with his confidence and never found his game.

2013-14 Preview: No reason for Smyth not to see regular PP duty

Barring some sort of turning back of the clock, Ryan Smyth is headed for his final days as a member of the Edmonton Oilers. After suffering through what was easily the worst 90 or so game stretch of his career, it appears as though Father Time has finally caught up with the veteran winger. That being said, with the Oilers lack of depth on their bottom two lines and special teams, Smyth should be given the opportunity to show if he can still contribute on the power play in 2013-14.

Joensuu will be given a real shot at earning a top nine spot

Of all the moves Craig MacTavish has made during his first off-season as general manager of the Edmonton Oilers, none have been more surprising than the signing of Jesse Joensuu. While bringing in the likes of the former second round pick of the New York Islanders is by no means a shocker, inking him to a 2 year/$1.9  million deal, raised more than a few eyebrows.

Hemsky for Ward swap, would benefit both the Oilers and Capitals

With the month of August quickly approaching and many NHL teams having already filled out the vast majority of their rosters via trade and/or unrestricted free agency, Edmonton Oilers general manager Craig MacTavish has been unable to find Ales Hemsky a new home. While no one would ever question the veteran winger's talent, finding someone willing to take on his $5 million cap hit, has proved to be rather challenging for the rookie GM.

Oilers add Jones to a suddenly overcrowded forward group

2013 was a tough year for Edmonton Oilers winger Ryan Jones. Thanks to the NHL Lockout, Jones was unable to start what would have been his third full season in Orange and Blue and final year of his contract, on time. To make matters worse, he suffered a freak eye injury in late December, delaying the start of his year even further and ultimately cost him the first month of the season.

MacTavish starts reconstruction of Oilers roster

 

It started with the trading of captain Shawn Horcoff on Thursday evening and continued early Friday morning. Everyone was expecting Craig MacTavish to be busy on the opening day of unrestricted free agency and the Edmonton Oilers GM did not disappoint. The organization wasted little time in announcing a trio of the signings, veteran defenceman Andrew Ference, centre Boyd Gordon and goaltender Jason Labarbera.