7-2-2. 1st place in the Western Conference. Solid special teams. Great goaltending. Players who love their team and work together.
Who stole the "real" Edmonton Oilers? What have you done with them?
October was ridiculous for this team. My pre-October prediction had the Oilers optimistically finishing with a 5-6 record. Not many people predicted .500 hockey. No one predicted a 1st place record. So what's really going on here?
There is no way to attribute the Oilers success in October to one specific source. Several factors deserve credit for how the team is doing:
1. Ryan Smyth - He was the heart and soul of the Oilers when he was dealt. It's no coincidence that the team played like they had no heart while he was gone. It's no coincidence that he returns, and suddenly, everyone starts caring again. It's hard to articulate what exactly it is about Smyth...he's not a flashiest of players. Not a great skater; doesn't have a great shot. Every success he's experienced in hockey comes down to honest, hard work. Smyth plays reasonable defensive hockey, and has been chalking up the goals. He currently has 5 in 11 games. If his goal-scoring pace is sustained over an 82 game season, it would be a 37 goal year.
2. Defense First - Teams that play against the Oilers are use to the Oil playing run-and-gun offense, whether they had the talent to win that way or not. This season, Oilers players come back to protect their net. They block shots. They take the man. They're playing a mature and responsible style of hockey.
3. Hall/Nuge/Eberle - The Oilers have an actual top line that is equal in skill to just about any other top line in the league. Watching these three kids play, I keep reminding myself they are all 1st and 2nd year players who are going to get much better...and that thought makes me giddy. They're pretty good now, so in time they'll be great.
4. Unsung Heroes Galore - Ladislav Smid is leading the league in blocked shots. Eric Belanger and Shawn Horcoff are great in the face-off circle. New editions Belanger, Smyth, Anton Lander and Lennart Petrell are all excellent penalty killers. The entire defensive group (outside of Ryan Whitney) are a collection of no-name players, but they're stubborn, responsible and reliable. Great stuff.
5. Goaltending - Nikolai Khabibulin looks like a man on a mission. Devan Dubnyk is good enough to be an NHL starter now. Combined, the pair give the Oilers a chance to win every game they play, regardless who is in net. The goaltending situation couldn't get much better for the Oilers right now.
Oilers Fever is sweeping the nation. In recent weeks, I've been listening and observing more national media than local media when it comes to hockey. Nationally, the Oilers are in the conversation, and not for any negative reasons. Everyone in the league is noticing what has happened in Oilerville. Yes, they are riding a hot streak right now, but you get the feeling the Oilers team we are currently seeing will be the team we see all season. Why? Because the team has enough talent (for once), the players care, and no one, from the coaches, to the players, to the management, will accept losing anymore.
November is going to be a huge test, as the Oilers will be on the road for 10 of 14 games. In itself, 14 games in 30 days is a busy schedule...and it's not like the Oilers are completely healthy, either. Their best defenseman Ryan Whitney and their best offensive forward Ales Hemsky will be out till at least the middle of the month. Andy Sutton, who was playing great shutdown D, will receive a 5-10 game suspension tomorrow, so he's gone. Sam Gagner is coming back from an ankle injury, and Ben Eager is coming back from a concussion. Cam Barker is nursing a nagging shoulder injury, and numerous Oilers are playing with minor situations. No one is whining, though. This team believes in itself.
The Oilers big bad road-trip starts with a huge challenge. On Thursday, they'll be in Los Angeles to face the Kings. During the six-game trip, the Oilers will face two other top-ranking clubs (Chicago and Detroit) and three clubs that aren't doing as well (Phoenix, Montreal and Boston). I'd like to predict .500 hockey during these six games, but I fear doing so will sell them short. They should win against the Coyotes and Habs, and considering how bad Boston is doing, a win there is also completely possible. The Oil could beat LA, but I don't see them winning against the Hawks or Wings. If they go 4-2 for the trip, I'll be thrilled.
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • 
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