Oilers are good at hockey again: Back in the plofs

[Czechboy]

The first 12 or 13 games were an abberation. It happens sometimes.

The key to the Oilers' recent success? Of course, it's this guy:

With Desharnais in the line-up (since mid-January 2023), the Oilers' record is 55-19-4.

Vinnie for the Hart!

We are also exceptionally good when Connor Brown does not score a goal. To me that is the key to our success. Keep Connor of the scoresheet!

 

[Bobby9]

Somebody put an asterisks on the win streak!!!!!11!!!!111!!!!one!

Just some insight on the streak. Don't be so insecure.

 

[mkatcherin00]

they had an 8 game winning streak before that with wins over Vegas, Carolina, Washington (when they were good), NJ and Winnipeg

Common, it's easy winning 8+ games multiple times in a year. I mean, I'm sure many teams have done it

 

[SaltNPeca]

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Chicago is 2-0-0 vs. Leafs with 8 GF

But seriously, go back to the coaching change and the Edmonton Oilers have a 25-6-0 record since November 13, 2023 (or 25-3-0 since Nov. 23, if you will). There was an 8 game W streak with wins over Winnipeg, Vegas, and Carolina. Notable losses to both Florida teams in that span.

 

[mkatcherin00]

Okay, this is what I was wondering myself. It seems like they've had the easiest schedule playing a ton of bottom feeder teams lately.

Aren't you guys like 8-0-2 lately and have played one playoff team

Where are all of the other win streaks in the nhl. Who did they beat on the 8 gamer?

It's just par for the course with fandom. Fans will try to find whatever negative they can. Like me with Vancouver lol.

The Oilers have more games in their last 50 against non playoff teams. Their starting stretch was tougher.

 

[Muffin]

The answer is always somewhere in between. They're not as bad as they were at the start of the year but not as good as they seem winning 15 in a row. I don't know about cup favorite but definitely a contender.

 

[mkatcherin00]

Chicago is 2-0-0 vs. Leafs with 8 GF

But seriously, go back to the coaching change and the Edmonton Oilers have a 25-6-0 record since November 13, 2023 (or 25-3-0 since Nov. 23, if you will). There was an 8 game W streak with wins over Winnipeg, Vegas, and Carolina. Notable losses to both Florida teams in that span.

Frustrating games. Got up 2-0 in both those Florida games, but they weren't playing this tight defensively yet at all

 

[VivaLasVegas]

In October and November, many people were calling for the Oilers to blow it up. Fast forward a couple months and they have won 15 in a row and 23 of the last 26.

I just don't understand how a team turns around this drastically. Is it simply McDavid and Ekholm becoming healthy? Or goaltending improving? Or is it the coaching change? A combination of all of this?

McDavid got healthy, coaching change, but also a large pinch of playing cupcakes and dinged-up teams.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

love the "soft schedule" excuse....as if "great" teams haven't lost to bad ones lately lol

Common, it's easy winning 8+ games multiple times in a year. I mean, I'm sure many teams have done it

ya, teams like Columbus are cupcakes..."Cup contenders" like the Canucks and Leafs would NEVER lose to them

 

[mkatcherin00]

love the "soft schedule" excuse....as if "great" teams haven't lost to bad ones lately lol

Fans just don't realize, as a whole, those first 12 games were a blip from where they left off last year.

They also ignore the 8 gamer that should have been 9 from vasi Hasek impression. Those teams didn't seem too bad to to me.

It is unfair that the Oilers are getting to play a lot of non playoff teams and every other team has to play top 5 teams every game.

Gary gonna have to fix that next year. You can't just hand one team so many soft games and fix the schedule just for them

 

[Bobby9]

Aren't you guys like 8-0-2 lately and have played one playoff team

I am a canucks fan and yes, the Canucks should deserve the same criticism.

Just because you point out something for another team it doesn't automatically mean you don't apply the same perspective to your own team. Only a homer does that

 

[Coffey]

Thank you schedule maker for giving us these easy few months so we could achieve new records!

Thank you for giving the Canucks difficult opponents like the Blues and Blue Jackets so they couldn't streak.
Thank you for giving the Jets difficult opponents like the Flyers and Leafs so they couldn't streak.
Thank you for giving the Bruins difficult opponents like the Penguins and Coyotes so they couldn't streak.
Thank you for giving the Avalanche difficult opponents like the Habs and Blackhawks so they couldn't streak.

OILERS ARE SO BLESSED TO BE THE CHOSEN ONES, THANK YOU AGAIN SCHEDULE MAKER

 

[Czechboy]

Here are the last 130 games.. going back to the start of last season. By points percentage we are 6th (not everyone has played the same amount of games).

I still don't think we are a big cup threat... gotta get past Avs and Knights who are both playoff proven and excellent. In the East, Devils are not in the playoffs and I think they could be a real contender if they ever get healthy as they always have some very good players out of the lineup.

I actually think the West will be a nightmare.. Jet's are killing it, Nucks are killing it, LA is struggling but that is a damn good team. No easy matchup.

And, to the post above... I would also like to thank the schedule makers for these easy 126 games.

 

[Cup or Bust]

The complete knobs claiming an easy schedule is the reason they Oilers are 22-3 in their last 25 games. I am impressed with people who are not embarrassed to say such moronic things. To have no shame of stupidity is truly impressive.

 

[CupofOil]

I'm still not seeing it. They were 'Stanley Cup bound' at season's start and completely floundered. Now they've worked their way back into the conversation (impressive to be honest, not trying to take that away from them) but can we definitively say "these are the real Oilers"? I don't think so.

The extremes of both sides will eventually find its neutral level and that's just not a Stanley Cup winning team IMO.

They went 2-9 and are 26-6 since, not to mention the 109 point team they were last season. It's pretty clear which one is the outlier.
Obviously the 15 game winning streak isn't sustainable but I don't see why they shouldn't be considered a contender.

 

[Czechboy]

I am a canucks fan and yes, the Canucks should deserve the same criticism.

Just because you point out something for another team it doesn't automatically mean you don't apply the same perspective to your own team. Only a homer does that

The way it works on HF today

Oil fans - enjoy your PDO regression!

Nucks fans - enjoy your easy schedule!

 

[Oilslick941611]

07-08 caps when Boudreau took over.

First 21 games, dead last .310 P%, second worst team being .395.
Next 61 games, 4th best P% with .664

That’s 17 years ago. It’s practically ancient. In 2008 17 years ago would have been 1992. It’s not so obvious

 

[Kerberos]

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Trying to trivialize a 15 game winning streak is about as reductionist as you can possibly get. Especially in Bettman's artifical parity NHL where game management is prioritized.

You can only beat the teams you play. The Oilers' performances in those games and the type of hockey they're playing is what's most impressive considering they usually play down to the competition.

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

Teams have slumps. They just happened to have it at the start of the year where it was painfully obvious. No one bats an eye when a team cant buy a win from games 50-65

 

[blundluntman]

McDavid and Ekholm's recovery was a major factor at the beginning of their run (as well as Knoblaugh's coaching changes) but it seems like Skinner finding his stride again has made the hugest difference recently.

In his last ten games, he's had a .953 sv%.

 

[PaulD]

McDavid is healthy.

and Skinner is top notch

 

[Oilslick941611]

Just some insight on the streak. Don't be so insecure.

I don’t see many teams going on 15 win streaks if it’s so easy

 

[Fishy McScales]

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I like how the last bracket is 12 teams to make it appear larger.

Besides, what exactly does this prove in your opinion? You're kind of just posting a tweet and leaving it there. After all, a team can't do anything more than win all those games.

 

[NVious]

View attachment 810796

Here are the last 130 games.. going back to the start of last season. By points percentage we are 6th (not everyone has played the same amount of games).

I still don't think we are a big cup threat... gotta get past Avs and Knights who are both playoff proven and excellent. In the East, Devils are not in the playoffs and I think they could be a real contender if they ever get healthy as they always have some very good players out of the lineup.

I actually think the West will be a nightmare.. Jet's are killing it, Nucks are killing it, LA is struggling but that is a damn good team. No easy matchup.

And, to the post above... I would also like to thank the schedule makers for these easy 126 games.

I think some Oilers fans are a bit too sour on the team, you've had some great runs, winning is harder than ever and you always have a decent shot with McDrai.

I mean if it weren't for Matt Murray turning into God 2x, the Pens would have an easy top 10 player of all time and arguably top 20-30 guy who only won one cup together.

 

[McAsuno]

Okay, this is what I was wondering myself. It seems like they've had the easiest schedule playing a ton of bottom feeder teams lately.

Okay, and?
How come other teams that had or have an apparent easy schedule not been able to achieve 15 wins in a row?
Bottom feeder teams or not, the NHL is never an easy league to win.