The Edmonton Oilers are in the thick of a battle for the Pacific Division crown, but recent performances suggest they need to clean up their game if they want a legitimate shot at the top spot. Despite a strong showing in a 5-4 win over the Dallas Stars on Saturday, losses to the Anaheim Ducks (6-2 on March 4) and the Buffalo Sabres (3-2 last night) highlight a troubling inconsistency. With just 18 games remaining in the regular season, every point matters, and the Oilers cannot afford to drop games against weaker opponents if they want to chase down the Vegas Golden Knights.
As it stands, the Oilers sit second in the division with a 37-23-4 record and 78 points through 64 games. Vegas leads the division with 82 points in 63 games, while the Los Angeles Kings lurk close behind with 75 points in 62 games. If LA capitalizes on their two games in hand, they could leapfrog Edmonton, pushing the Oilers down to third place. That’s a position the Oilers would much rather avoid, as it could set them up for a tougher first-round playoff matchup.
The Importance of Beating Weaker Teams
Championship-caliber teams don’t just win marquee matchups against top-tier opponents, they take care of business against the bottom-feeders as well. The Oilers' recent loss to Anaheim is a prime example of why they can’t afford to take these games lightly. The Ducks are one of the worst teams in the league this season, yet they dominated Edmonton in a lopsided victory. That’s unacceptable for a team with Stanley Cup aspirations.
Similarly, losing to Buffalo stings not just because the Sabres are outside of the playoff picture, but because it wasted an opportunity to gain ground in the standings. With Vegas maintaining a steady lead and LA nipping at their heels, these dropped points could come back to haunt the Oilers.
The Oilers need to re-establish their identity as a team that dictates play, not one that plays down to their competition. They’ve shown they can hang with the league’s best, as evidenced by their win over Dallas, but if they want to truly be contenders, they must eliminate these costly slip-ups. The Pacific Division is still within reach, but only if they start stringing together wins against teams they should beat. Otherwise, they risk falling behind at the worst possible time.