Oilers have their work cut out versus bogey team
The Oilers have significantly more success historically in the NHL compared to the Wild, but it’s a different story in the all-time head-to-head meetings.
If you go through the annals of the Edmonton Oilers and Minnesota Wild, it’s no contest. The Oilers have enjoyed considerable success during their time in the NHL, when compared to the Wild.
Since joining the NHL for the 1979-80 season, the Oilers have won five Stanley Cups, seven Conference Championships and two Presidents trophies. They’ve also won six Divisional titles and qualified for the playoffs 25 times in total.
As for the Wild, they have just one Divisional title and 13 playoff appearances since entering the NHL for the 2000-01 season. You wouldn’t think there was such a disparity however, based on the head-to-head matchups between the two teams.
Actually, that’s not entirely true – there is still a disparity, it’s just the opposite way around. Pure and simple, the Wild have dominated their all-time series with the Oilers.
Nothing to write home about
Consider that the Oilers’ all-time record versus the Wild is 36-61-4. Perhaps the only qualifier is that 10 of the 61 losses came via overtime or shootouts, but ultimately, the Wild still won those 10 games.
Putting the Wild’s dominance into even more context, is that the Oilers’ win percentage versus them is their second-worst versus all NHL teams. They’ve historically only performed more poorly versus the Boston Bruins, with a 27-46-10 all-time record.
What’s of interest, is that since the Connor McDavid era started in 2015-16, there’s been no difference in terms of the Wild’s superiority. The Oilers’ head-to-head record during this time, is 7-14-2.
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It’s even worse more recently, with the Wild going 9-1-0 in the previous 10 games. This includes the last matchup between the two teams, earlier this season.
The meeting came during the Oilers’ horrific start to the 2023-24 campaign. They actually held a 3-2 advantage through 40 minutes, but subsequently allowed five goals during the final period, to ultimately lose 7-4.
Playing better of late
Since then there’s been a turnaround in the Oilers’ fortunes, as they’ve won five straight games and eight of their previous 11. With every passing game, they’re looking more and more like last season’s team which won 50 games and led the NHL in scoring.
However, that’s the thing about having a bogey team. No matter how superior you theoretically are, your bogey team often seems to still find a way to beat you.
Heck, even playing at Rogers Place doesn’t offer much more solace. In nine all-time meetings between the two teams in the arena the Wild have a 5-3-1 record, although the Oilers did win the previous meeting at home 5-2, during last season.
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In any event, there’s no chance of the Oilers taking anything for granted versus the Wild, as the teams renew hostilities on Friday night in Edmonton. No matter how well Kris Knoblauch’s men are playing right now, they’re going to have their work cut out versus their bogey team.