Edmonton Oilers: The COVID/Christmas Break Will Be Helpful
The Edmonton Oilers are in the middle of having a lot of days off due to COVID and Christmas. The break has been a much-needed break for a lot of players. As much as I have missed watching the play games, the time off was much needed for the injured players. Zach Hyman and Mike Smith are the major players who are injured, so the extra time off will be nice for them.
Mike Smith has been injured with his ankle injury for what seems like forever. Zack Hyman has also missed the last 3 games. With the extended Christmas break due to COVID, these two players got a much needed extra few days of rest.
Mike Smith
Mike Smith hasn’t played a game since October 19 where he was pulled against the Anaheim Ducks after allowing 4 goals on 15 shots. Mike Koskinen came in to relieve him and made 20 saves on 21 shots to get victory. Smith in his 3 games he has 0.920 save percentage and a 3.08 goals against average.
The original word on his injury was day-to-day, it then changed to week to week. It has now been more than two and a half months since he has made a start. The Oilers need a healthy Mike Smith if they want to have success.
Having Mike Smith back in the line-up would be a huge help to this team. Although Koskinen and Stuart Skinner have played good since Smith has been out, I personally believe Smith is the best of all the three.
Zach Hyman
Although hasn’t been out as long as Mike Smith, I think he has more of an impact on the game. Playing the majority of the season on the first line with Connor McDavid he has a chance to really have a say in the outcome of each game.
Hyman also gets the start most times on the first unit power play, which also helps this team out. So far this season Hyman has played 26 games, in those games he has scored 11 goals and has added 8 assists.
Getting Hyman back in the line up will hopefully help the Edmonton Oilers put more packs in the back of the net. With his average of 18:57 of ice time he will get the opportunities to help, he will just need to make the most of his chances.
The Edmonton Oilers are currently riding a toro game winning streak. If the Oilers are able to get and stay healthy they should be able to keep this streak going. Which will be a good thing considering the long losing stack they were just on.