The injury bug picked the worst time of the season to nail Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. With news that, as per Oilers TV host and reporter Tony Brar, the team will be without their two top players in their upcoming three-games-in-four-nights stretch this week, the situation could be devastating for Edmonton.
The Oilers will play the Dallas Stars on Wednesday night. Then, they visit the Seattle Kraken on Friday night before taking on the Calgary Flames on Saturday night. While the three-game set features two non-playoff teams, the Oilers could face disastrous consequences to their season.
Let’s suppose the worst-case scenario, that the Edmonton Oilers lost all three games. That situation would cost the Oilers six points in the standings. As such, it opens the door for the LA Kings to distance themselves from the Oilers.
Meanwhile, the Kings also play four times this week. On Tuesday, they meet the New York Rangers at home, then visit the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night. They close off their week with a back-to-back set against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night and the San Jose Sharks on Sunday.
If the Oilers lose all three, they remain at 87 points. The Kings, on the other hand, could rack up as much as 95 points. Such an outcome could all but doom the Oilers to third place in the Pacific Division.
While that situation wouldn’t change the playoff seedings, as the Oilers and Kings would still meet in the first round, it could open the door to an unexpected scenario.
Edmonton Oilers could risk falling to wild card spot if losing streak occurs
The Vancouver Canucks are currently in fourth place in the Pacific Division with 78 points. However, the nine-point lead the Oilers currently hold over the Canucks could suddenly get uncomfortably close.
The Canucks play the New York Islanders on Wednesday night, the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday evening, and the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday afternoon. Assuming the Canucks pick up four points, and the Oilers lose all three games, their nine-point lead could shrink to five.
Nothing to worry about, right?
Well, that depends on how the final seven or eight games go. There’s always the possibility of an epic collapse by the Oilers and a miraculous run by the Canucks. But being realistic, things could be too close for comfort, but the outcome may not change very much.
Ultimately, the Oilers hold their destiny in their hands. All they need to do is win as many games as possible down the stretch and they’re in a playoff spot. Lose a bunch of games, and things suddenly get tight.
That is why this next batch of games could pretty much make or break the Edmonton Oilers’ season. If everyone on the ice does their job, the Oilers could come out of this speed bump better off than anticipated.
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