Two points are two points but...

 

Despite coming out with two solid efforts against the San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks earlier in the week, the Edmonton Oilers looked poised to finish the road portion of the 2013-14 schedule in style on Friday night in Phoenix. Dallas Eakins’ side were a mere forty-one seconds away from pulling off the “perfect” road trip. Three games…three solid showings…but ultimately three regulation time losses.

Another loss but the kids keep coming

Despite losing their second game in as many nights to one of the premier teams in the Western Conference, the Edmonton Oilers have to be somewhat satisfied with their play over their last couple of outings. While Dallas Eakins’ side did allow third period leads to slip away from them on back-to-back evenings, the fact this lineup was even in either of these games should be viewed as nothing but a minor miracle.

That was awfully painful to watch

When it comes to sports, critiquing victories is rarely a good idea. Ultimately you play the game to win and in all honesty, how you get there doesn’t usually matter. However, from time to time there are those rare occasions when winning ugly simply isn’t acceptable.

It pays to know Dallas Eakins

Another day and another deal involving the Edmonton Oilers and a player who had previously been coached by Dallas Eakins during his time as the Toronto Marlies bench boss. First came the free agent signings of Will Acton and Ryan Hamilton, then the trade for goaltender Ben Scrivens and today we saw the arrival of Toronto Maple Leafs blueliner Mark Fraser in exchange for the rights to Teemu Hartikainen and minor leaguer Cameron Abney.

Costly mistake

Saturday night’s 4-3 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers marked the midway point of the Edmonton Oilers 2013-14 campaign. Forty-one games are now in the books and the Oilers sit in the basement of the Western Conference with a 13-24-4 record, good enough for 29th spot in the NHL’s overall standings.

Simply not good enough

Heading into their matchup with the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday night, the Anaheim Ducks not only held down top spot in the Pacific Division but were also the only team in the NHL to have lost a game on home ice in regulation time.

Dubnyk stands tall but Oilers still fall to Blackhawks

Saying the Edmonton Oilers have had to deal with inconsistent goaltending throughout much of the opening month and a half of the season would be putting it nicely. However, Sunday night wasn't one of those times. Despite a wonderful effort from Devan Dubnyk and a four goal offensive explosion upfront, the Oilers still found away to lose for the eighth time in nine outings, falling 5-4 to the Chicago Blackhawks.

Smid sent packing in questionable move by MacT

Hate to say I told you so but you could see this one coming from a mile away. Just under three weeks ago, I wrote a piece on Edmonton Oilers blueliner Ladislav Smid apparently not being a guy that head coach Dallas Eakins had much confidence in using as a top four defenceman.

Arcobello saves the day, as Oilers squeak past Panthers

On the heels of five consecutive losses, the Edmonton Oilers nearly found a way to make it six but managed to finally end their run of futility, edging the Florida Panthers 4-3 in overtime on Tuesday night. Mark Arcobello continued his impressive start to the season, scoring twice, including the OT winner, while defencemen Philip Larsen and Taylor Fedun each lit the lamp for their first goals of the year.

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.

Jets spoil Eakins debut

Despite a late third period rally and a solid performance from his starting netminder, Dallas Eakins did not get the result he was hoping for in his debut behind an NHL bench. While third period goals from Mitch Moroz and Philip Larsen made it close on the scoreboard, this was a game the Edmonton Oilers had no business being in, falling 3-2 to the Winnipeg Jets in Tuesday night NHL exhibition action.

2013-14 Preview: Grebeshkov will be Grebeshkov

Denis Grebeshkov is one of those players that generally splits a teams fan base. There are those that love the puck moving abilities that the talented Russian defenceman brings to the table and than there are those that could do without watching the mind numbing turnovers and questionable on ice decisions.

Will Klefbom start in the NHL or AHL?

Ever since being selected with the 19th pick of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Oscar Klefbom was anointed as the next great Edmonton Oilers defenceman. While we have seen our fair share of talented blueliners come through town over the years, one could easily make the argument that current assistant coach Steve Smith was the last high end defenceman this organization actually drafted and developed. To put that into perspective, the Oilers grabbed Smith in the sixth round, 111th overall, of the 1981 Draft.

2013-14 Preview: Oilers hoping Ference is as good as advertised

When a franchise decides to enter the National Hockey League's Free Agent Sweepstakes, they generally tend to go big game hunting.The Edmonton Oilers did exactly that this summer, pulling out all the stops in trying to sign former New Jersey Devils winger David Clarkson to a long term extension.

Schultz could be battling for a spot come September

The moment Craig MacTavish decided to bring aboard defencemen Anton Belov, Andrew Ference, Denis Grebeshkov and Philip Larsen as potential blueliners for the upcoming 2013-14 season, veteran rearguard Nick Schultz instantly became the man on the hot seat.

2013-14 Preview: Is Petry still part of the solution?

The 2013 season was not kind to Jeff Petry. After taking a major step forward in his overall development during the second half of the 2011-12 campaign, the Edmonton Oilers blueliner had his fair share of struggles during an abbreviated 48 game schedule. Be it because too much was being asked of the former second round pick and partner Ladislav Smid or simply chalking it up to just being one of those seasons, the final result wasn't pretty. 

Signing Grebeshkov could guarantee Klefbom time in OKC

Since taking over as the Edmonton Oilers general manager, Craig MacTavish has repeatedly gone on about wanting to add depth to his lineup at the NHL level. With the signing of blueliner Denis Grebeshkov to a one year $1.5 million deal on Thursday afternoon, the Oilers now have nine defencemen under contract for the 2013-14 season.

Oilers will need big seasons from both Belov and Ference

Edmonton Oilers general manager Craig MacTavish had himself a fairly large to-do list entering the off-season. At the very top of that list, was upgrading the club's blueline at the NHL level. While he was unable to acquire the top pairing defenceman this team desperately needed, at least to this point, he most certainly improved the groups overall depth with the additions of Anton Belov and Andrew Ference.

Horcoff leaves town with head held high

Edmonton Oilers captain Shawn Horcoff will have a new home at some point on Friday morning. Word is the veteran centre has been traded to the Dallas Stars, in exchange for a 2016 seventh round pick and defenceman Philip Larsen. Not exactly a king's ransom but a return which should have been expected, considering the Stars agreed to taken on his entire $5.5 million cap hit, for the next two seasons.