The Edmonton Oilers once again try to right the ship as they take on the Carolina Hurricanes. As it sits right now, the Hurricanes and the Oilers have the same record, both teams sitting with 72 points and a 34-21-4 record. The big difference right now is that the Oilers are playing their worst hockey in a long time.
The Oilers have now lost five in a row, and tonight they look to get at least one win on their road trip. The Hurricanes are a tough team, though, so a win will not come easy for the Oilers.
Despite their recent struggles, the Oilers still have the personnel to compete with any team in the league, but right now most of the team is struggling. Even Connor McDavid is struggling, but at least Leon Draisaitl remains an offensive threat, scoring in 7 straight games, but the rest of the team has struggled to contribute consistently. The absence of key secondary scoring has been noticeable, and it has put even more pressure on the top players to carry the load.
Another major issue for the Oilers has been their defensive play. Over this five-game losing streak, they have allowed far too many high-danger scoring chances and have struggled to keep pucks out of their net. The Oilers goaltending has also been inconsistent, Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard need to step up and deliver better performances if the Oilers hope to turn things around.
The Hurricanes, on the other hand, have been a well-structured team all season. They boast a solid defensive core led by Jaccob Slavin and Brent Burns, and their goalie Frederik Andersen has been solid so far this year. The Hurricanes also play a relentless forechecking style that can cause problems for an Oilers team that has struggled with defensive zone exits and turnovers.
For the Oilers to stop their losing streak, they will need to improve defensively and capitalize on their power-play chances. Special teams could play a crucial role in this matchup, as the Oilers still boast one of the league’s most dangerous power plays, even though lately it has struggled. Additionally, depth scoring will be a key factor, players like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Viktor Arvidsson, and Zach Hyman need to step up and provide offensive support beyond just McDavid and Draisaitl.
The Oilers are in dire need of a win, and with the standings tightening up, every game matters more than ever. A victory against the Hurricanes could be the spark they need to regain their confidence and get back on track as the playoff race heats up. However, if they continue to struggle, they risk falling further behind in the standings, making their path to the postseason even more difficult.