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Edmonton Oilers: Can the Preseason Momentum Translate To Consistency?

By Warsame A

EDMONTON, AB - MARCH 27: Ty Rattie #8 of the Edmonton Oilers skates during the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 27, 2018 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ty Rattie
EDMONTON, AB - MARCH 27: Ty Rattie #8 of the Edmonton Oilers skates during the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 27, 2018 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ty Rattie /
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The Arizona Coyotes fell to the Edmonton Oilers in overtime last night. Can the Oilers build this momentum into the regular season?

The Edmonton Oilers recorded their fifth win of the preseason with an overtime victory over the Arizona Coyotes. It’s been impressive with the type of run this team has had the past week or so. Especially with the number of players that have stepped up and kicked their game to a higher gear.

But that’s what preseason is all about. It sees what you have with the talent you put on the ice and how they perform in any scenario. Granted, a lot of the teams they have faced has been against players that won’t be suiting up for the regular season or be sent down to the minor league.

So can we say that the Edmonton Oilers are more of a pretender even with the minor success they have in the preseason? A lot of experts have already whitewashed the preseason as a nothing burger and have put no stock in it whatsoever.

They point to what happened last year on how the Oilers were good in the preseason and started flat to kick off the regal season. That could very well be the case in the next few weeks and what had happened in the preseason can be a forgotten memory.

Performances like Ty Rattie have had in the preseason so far could look like a fluke if he doesn’t maintain the consistency he has showcased the past week. He might be the league leader in scoring and points right now, but realistically he won’t be in the rigorous 82 games regular season schedule.

If he can maintain his effort and make a positive impact on the Connor McDavid line, nobody will be pointing any fingers at him if this season goes south. He’s been the most surprising part of the preseason, and he’ll be seen as the litmus test if this team has made any improvements to start the season strong.

The preseason might be a facade for the Edmonton Oilers, but their development of guys like Ty Rattie will bring them one step closer to a successful season.

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