The Edmonton Oilers’ season has been something however clean, with almost each side of their sport dealing with struggles. So as to add to their rising listing of considerations, one other obtrusive weak point has emerged, costing them essential factors. In Saturday’s sport in opposition to the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Oilers let a one-goal lead slip away within the closing minutes. Regardless of scraping out 5 factors, this marks the third consecutive sport during which they’ve blown a third-period lead.
Getting a lead is one factor; holding onto it’s one other, and that’s the place the Oilers proceed to falter. In 4 of their final 5 video games, they’ve surrendered third-period leads within the closing minutes. Towards the Vegas Golden Knights, they gave up three targets within the final ten minutes, squandering a 2-1 lead and shedding the sport. The development continued in opposition to the New York Islanders, the place they allowed two late targets, forcing time beyond regulation. Within the following sport, the Nashville Predators netted an equalizer with simply three minutes left, and the identical situation performed out in opposition to the Maple Leafs. Although the Oilers managed to safe wins in opposition to the Islanders and Predators, the sample is changing into more and more regarding.
Lots of the points stem from brutal, however avoidable errors. Towards the Maple Leafs, Bouchard banked a clearing go off McDavid in a single play and did not backcheck in one other. Versus the Islanders, McDavid too a penalty and Mattias Ekholm was on the ice when Anders Lee received a wide-open look within the slot for the tying objective. Towards the Predators, Jeff Skinner missed a gaping internet within the second interval to increase the lead over Nashville, just for the Preds to return again when the Oilers received caught within the offensive zone and allowed a breakaway within the closing three minutes to tie the sport.
The Oilers Pricey Sample Threatens Lengthy-Time period Targets
The Oilers are tied for the most variety of targets in opposition to within the finals within the final ten minutes of the sport, with 18. Failing to play a full sixty minutes and shut out a sport is a pricey behavior. With the Oilers solely within the second wildcard place, this regarding sample places into query the Oilers means to have a deep playoff run and even make the playoffs in any respect.
This was a group that felt as if they may come again from any lead and this season, with the scoring troubles which have plagued them so far, the added stress of a detailed sport within the dying levels is seemingly proving to be an excessive amount of for the Oilers.
Blowing third-period leads, notably within the dying moments, not solely prices the Oilers precious wins however it slowly breaks down the group’s confidence and momentum. There may be nonetheless time to interrupt this sample, however the membership wants to start out transferring in the proper course now.
Profitable groups know comfortably shut out a good sport, irrespective of how intense the stress is. If the Oilers need to repeat final season and go to the Ultimate, they need to commit to a few full durations with no coasting or overreliance on their offense.
They’ll begin by getting a lead in Monday’s matchup in opposition to the Montreal Canadiens and holding it.
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