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Edmonton Oilers Blogger •
The Edmonton Oilers have been hearing footsteps throughout the 2009 stretch drive, so it’s no surprise that those boots are now poised to give them a swift kick in the backside, should they lose Tuesday night at home.
Sitting only a single point behind the Oilers (32-27-9-73), the hard-working St. Louis Blues (32-29-8-72) have fought their way back into the Western Conference play-off picture.
Blues’ Head Coach Andy Murray’s club has thrown together a nice 7-3 run over the last 10 to climb within striking distance of Edmonton. Sunday, the Blues, with the help of former Oiler Brad Winchester, (12 G) knocked off the Minnesota Wild, 5-3, to continue their late-season surge.
The Oil, meanwhile, are playing some of its most uninspired hockey of the campaign, going 3-2-5 over the last 10 games, including the team’s third consecutive OT loss, this one a 3-2 defeat to Ryan Smyth and the Colorado Avalanche.
The stench of underachievement is becoming rather disturbing, even for long-time fans of the NHL’s most northern outpost, who have come to expect late-season heroics from their team.
What they haven’t come to expect is 60 minutes of spirited hockey on most nights, during a stretch drive that has been accentuated by soft play and a hard-to-swallow effort level.
Make no mistake, Edmonton’s late-season MO has been exciting, even addictive over the years, as the club fulfills its underdog role to perfection.
This year, however, the team’s engine is lacking that usual horsepower, that surge for the playoffs.
An oil change is definitely required, regardless if they’re lucky enough to qualify for a post-season berth or not. With teams like St. Louis and Nashville (7-2-1 in last 10) finding their respective games at just the right time, Edmonton could very well miss the playoffs for the third consecutive season.
Dwayne Roloson and company will get out of Dodge for three following Tuesday’s tilt with St. Louis, beginning with a visit to Denver Thursday evening, before games in Chicago Friday and Minnesota on Sunday.
It doesn’t get any easier for the Oil, who return home to face the defending Stanley Cup Champion Red Wings on March 24th.
There’s still time for this team to gel – to find its viscosity, if you will, but its current talent pool is strongly suggesting otherwise.
Sitting only a single point behind the Oilers (32-27-9-73), the hard-working St. Louis Blues (32-29-8-72) have fought their way back into the Western Conference play-off picture.
Blues’ Head Coach Andy Murray’s club has thrown together a nice 7-3 run over the last 10 to climb within striking distance of Edmonton. Sunday, the Blues, with the help of former Oiler Brad Winchester, (12 G) knocked off the Minnesota Wild, 5-3, to continue their late-season surge.
The Oil, meanwhile, are playing some of its most uninspired hockey of the campaign, going 3-2-5 over the last 10 games, including the team’s third consecutive OT loss, this one a 3-2 defeat to Ryan Smyth and the Colorado Avalanche.
The stench of underachievement is becoming rather disturbing, even for long-time fans of the NHL’s most northern outpost, who have come to expect late-season heroics from their team.
What they haven’t come to expect is 60 minutes of spirited hockey on most nights, during a stretch drive that has been accentuated by soft play and a hard-to-swallow effort level.
Make no mistake, Edmonton’s late-season MO has been exciting, even addictive over the years, as the club fulfills its underdog role to perfection.
This year, however, the team’s engine is lacking that usual horsepower, that surge for the playoffs.
An oil change is definitely required, regardless if they’re lucky enough to qualify for a post-season berth or not. With teams like St. Louis and Nashville (7-2-1 in last 10) finding their respective games at just the right time, Edmonton could very well miss the playoffs for the third consecutive season.
Dwayne Roloson and company will get out of Dodge for three following Tuesday’s tilt with St. Louis, beginning with a visit to Denver Thursday evening, before games in Chicago Friday and Minnesota on Sunday.
It doesn’t get any easier for the Oil, who return home to face the defending Stanley Cup Champion Red Wings on March 24th.
There’s still time for this team to gel – to find its viscosity, if you will, but its current talent pool is strongly suggesting otherwise.
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