For the first time this season, the Edmonton Oilers are on a losing streak.
Is it time to panic?
“The sky is not falling here,” captain Connor McDavid said Monday afternoon, a day after the Oilers were beaten 5-1 by the LA Kings, marking the team’s first consecutive losses of the season.
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“It is an everyday league. You have to show up at every game and give yourself a chance to win, “added McDavid, highlighting one of the Oilers’ big problems: they just weren’t there on time.
Tobias Bjornfot (7) of the Los Angeles Kings and Connor McDavid (97) of the Edmonton Oilers battle for the puck during NHL second period action in Edmonton, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021.
THE CANADIAN PRESS / Jason Franson
The early periods of the team have often lacked energy and production. They have been lagging behind, having allowed the first goal in 14 of their 23 games.
“I don’t think there are tricks. I think it’s just a way of thinking, ”defender Tyson Barrie said of the bad starts.
“I’ve been on some teams that have gotten off to a notoriously slow start. We certainly don’t want to be put in that category. “
Edmonton Oilers defender Tyson Barrie (22) crosses Seattle Kraken right wing Joonas Donskoi onto the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021, in Seattle.
AP Photo / Elaine Thompson
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“I think there are ebbs and flows of the year,” McDavid said. “Obviously right now it’s a bit calm. We can’t let that happen for long.
“We have done a good job of not losing matches in a row for a while. We can’t let it get to a third. “
As the charade begins to pile up, head coach Dave Tippett has reached into his bag of tricks looking for a solution.
“One thing works once and the other doesn’t,” reflected Tippett.
“We have little challenges from time to time. Shots or hits in a period to start the game, all those things we talk about all the time. “
Edmonton Oilers head coach Dave Tippett speaks to his players during the second period of action of the NHL preseason game against the Winnipeg Jets in Winnipeg on Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021.
THE CANADIAN PRESS / John Woods
On Monday, Tippett decided it would be best to keep the players off the ice. Changed the practice from mandatory to optional. Instead of skating, the players who got dressed on Sunday took a training session and video session.
“I watched the game again last night,” Tippett explained.
“We were a tired group the whole time. Heavy legs, doesn’t react to things. “
Tippett added that injured goalkeeper Mike Smith could have participated in practice had there been one. Smith has been out since October 16.
McDavid didn’t offer much when asked about the biggest misconduct penalty in the game and the tackling he received in the game against the Kings.
“I’m not talking, I want to talk too much about refinancing or anything like that. The call was the call, ”he said.
“It’s good that now they have the opportunity to review it on ice. They stuck to their decision. “
The Oilers (16-7) will host the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday night. Watch the game at 630 CHED with The face-to-face show at 5:30 pm The game starts at 7 pm
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