Edmonton Oilers penalty kill emerging as team’s Achilles heel

The Edmonton Oilers dropped a disappointing 3-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Monday night. The loss was frustrating on several fronts. But one in particular stood out: The penalty kill.

The Oilers took one penalty, a too many men on the ice call. That single penalty (Dougie Hamilton and Zach Hyman had offsetting penalties, as well), led to Jesper Bratt’s third goal of the season. The goal sunk the Oilers to a 2-0 deficit in the second, and it also dropped them to the worst penalty kill in the league.

Yes, that’s right. Dead last.

The Oilers currently rank 32nd in the league with a 60.0 percent efficiency. The next-worst team, the Minnesota Wild, has a 65.2 percent penalty kill rate.

Just simply not good enough

That’s not going to cut it for a team that was one game away from hoisting the Stanley Cup last season. Of course, there are other issues plaguing the team. For instance, the alarming lack of offence is a major consideration.

But the penalty kill cannot be overlooked. Like the power play (in which the Edmonton Oilers also rank near the bottom of the league), the penalty kill plays a huge role in building a successful team. Unless the Oilers do not take another penalty from here till the end of the season, the penalty kill will need to improve.

There’s no other way around it - the Oilers cannot continue to neglect the value of the penalty kill. The game against the Devils proved that even one power play opportunity against, can make a significant difference in a game’s outcome.

Oilers holding themselves accountable for poor penalty kill

Insider Jason Gregor tweeted Adam Henrique’s comments following Monday night’s game, in which forward held himself accountable for the Devils’ power play goal.

Henrique stated: “That one is on me,” taking responsibility for a “wrong turn.” Henrique also pointed out that it was the “small details” that allowed New Jersey to capitalize on mistakes.

The comments underscore how Henrique was out of position during the scoring sequence. He failed to cover Nico Hischier and Bratt, allowing both players to pass the puck and get the shot on goal. While a case could be made that Calvin Pickard should have made the save (especially gauging from the goalie’s reaction), the fact is that the shot shouldn’t have even taken place.

Moreover, it seemed like Henrique stopped skating during the play. Sure, it was a long shift and the penalty kill wasn’t easy, but the lack of effort cannot continue. Everyone makes mistakes. But the Edmonton Oilers must focus on making a stronger push, to get past their pedestrian 6-6-1 mark on the season.

It might seem like it’s still early in the season, but before you know it, Christmas will be coming around the corner. If the Oilers cannot have a firm grip on a playoff spot, the second half of the season may become a desperate one.

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