3 Takeaways from Oilers’ lackluster 4-1 loss to Flyers
A look at what went wrong for the Edmonton Oilers in Philadelphia on Thursday night, as they made it three losses in four games to start the 2023-24 season.
Following Tuesday night’s 6-1 win in Nashville, it seemed as if the Edmonton Oilers had rediscovered their mojo. How wrong we were.
Looking set to build up some momentum on the back of the win versus the Predators, the Oilers instead came to a crashing halt in Philadelphia. Harsh or not, the Flyers deserved their 4-1 win on Thursday night.
Jack Campbell got the start for a second consecutive game, as reward for his fantastic effort versus the Predators. And while he wasn’t great against the Flyers, he can really only be blamed for one of their goals.
So what went wrong, in a game where the Oilers were expected to win their second straight? Here are three takeaways from a disappointing performance at Wells Fargo Center:
1) Lack of urgency
It was a case of Déjà vu in Philadelphia, with the Oilers looking similar to how they played during the season opener in Vancouver. As with the game versus the Canucks, they were second-best to a team which they really should have beaten, but who just wanted it more.
Of course this is the NHL, so it’s always possible to lose to a less talented team, especially on the road. However, the severity of the two beatings by a combined 12-2 is, quite simply, unacceptable.
Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft didn’t mince his words, when discussing the performance of his team versus the Flyers. Speaking to the media postgame, he said:
“You know, I thought our game lacked urgency today. I didn’t see second and third effort in all areas of the game from up and down our lineup. Not to our standard. We play towards a standard and it wasn’t there for us tonight and that’s disappointing. It’s going to have to get fixed quickly here.”
In terms of getting fixed quickly, the Oilers are notorious for their slow starts, including going 10-10-0 through the first 20 games of last season. However, you can’t keep relying on your ability to recover, especially if the early-season form costs you the chance at a higher seeding come playoff time.
While appreciating the Oilers’ status as preseason favorites with a lot of media types, it really doesn’t mean a thing in the grand scheme of things. They’re playing like a team which thinks they just need to turn up to get the two points, which is a bad look for a team with a core group that hasn’t actually won a Stanley Cup yet.
Understandably though, Woodcroft doesn’t believe this is an issue. He said:
“I don’t think so, I think we’re past that point. I think sometimes, younger teams at different life stages might feel that way if they have a bunch of skill, that they can go and earn two points just based on their skill level. Where we’re at in our life stage of team, (where) we should know better.”
2) Too many mistakes
What’s worse than not putting in the level of work you expect of a hockey team? How about combining this with a multitude of sloppy plays and mental miscues.
It’s one thing to give up goals when the other team puts together a good sequence. However, it’s another matter altogether, when you’re guilty of contributing towards your own downfall and essentially screwing over your own goaltender.
Let’s start with Evan Bouchard, who’s just having a nightmare start to the 2023-24 campaign. Even being paired together again with Mattias Ekholm hasn’t helped galvanize the blue-liner.
Bouchard gave away the puck, which set up Cam Atkinson to score the Flyers’ second goal of the night. And he just wasn’t concentrating in the third period, when Atkinson flew past him on the breakaway, to essentially seal the game at 4-1.
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Don’t worry though, there was plenty of blame to go around on the night. For example, Brett Kulak got turned inside out on the Flyers’ first goal, while Ekholm’s reaction — or lack thereof — on the second goal, was evidence that he’s still finding his way back.
In addition, Darnell Nurse — similar to Bouchard — just seems to have regressed from where he was at last season. And the forwards are certainly not doing their part either. (More on this shortly.)
Woodcroft acknowledged the part the Oilers played in helping the Flyers’ scoring effort on the night. He said:
“Well certainly we didn’t live up to what our standard of work ethic is tonight. I thought the goals against that we gave up tonight, three of them were off our stick. The first three were on our tape and we didn’t execute. There are plays which can be made that weren’t made. We have a standard that we play towards and we didn’t meet it tonight.”
3) First line is MIA
Well those reshuffled lines sure worked well didn’t they? For one whole game to be exact, with the all-star first line highlighting how terrible the forwards were on Thursday night.
On paper, a first line of Connor McDavid flanked by Leon Draisaitl and Evander Kane, should be one that strikes fear into the opposition. Instead, the Flyers effectively crumpled up that piece of paper, with their own first line of Atkinson, Sean Couturier and Owen Tippett.
McDavid, Draisaitl and Kane could get nothing going, as they combined for a -4 plus/minus rating on the night, compared to +7 for the Flyers’ first line trio. Kane in particular, is (still) looking nothing like the player he was before his wrist surgery during last season.
As for McDavid, Thursday’s game was one he’ll want to forget in a hurry. While he notched an assist on the Oilers’ only goal, he failed to have a shot on target for just the fifth time in four seasons.
In addition, the three-time Hart Memorial Trophy winner had the key turnover, which allowed the Flyers to score a short-handed goal to make it 3-1. It’s tough to imagine him having a much worse game over the remainder of this season. (Famous last words …)
Turning to Draisaitl, even he was impacted by the ‘jinx’ of playing on the first line. He saw his goal streak to start the season halted one short of the Oilers’ record, as he was held without a point for the first time in 2023-24.
Speaking to the media postgame, McDavid was asked about the Oilers being outworked by the Flyers. He said:
“Yep, I mean obviously we all have another level to get to. We haven’t been there yet this season. Lucky for us it’s only four games, but with that being said, it’s been four games, so it’s time to put our best foot forward here and starting playing better games.”
Quote of the night
Perhaps best summing up what an out-of-sorts night it was for the Oilers, was McDavid’s response to one of the reporters. He said:
“That was a really long question. Can you shorten that for me?”
Next. Oilers should give Nugent-Hopkins the green light. dark
Overall, it’s still way too early in the season to be pressing any panic buttons. At the same time however, there’s no reason to be calm either, as these Oilers are just not playing up to the talent level at their disposal.