Posted by Time is one thing you can’t buy in this world, especially during the stretch-drive of the NHL season. Not that the Edmonton Oilers would be able to afford it anyway with a salary cap hit over $55 million.
The Edmonton Oilers may not be celebrating when the playoffs arrive.
If a team happens to be on the outside of the top eight in their conference during March, the players tend to look back on matches where they failed to achieve points due to a lack of effort.
Other squads compete their hardest earlier in the year which allows them to relax during the final weeks and possibly rest players. Points in November are just as valuable as grabbing them in April. It’s a hard mindset to keep, but it obviously reaps benefits.
Washington’s amazing 15-4 run to clinch a playoff berth last season was a rare incident. You normally need assistance from other teams being defeated and the league isn’t quite accommodating for the most part. The only team you can really depend on is the one you represent.
That’s what separates the good teams from the elite ones. Look no further than the Boston Bruins, San Jose Sharks and Detroit Red Wings, all of which wasted no time starting the season in rapid fashion.
Boston finished October with a 5-3-3 record. Through the next two months, the Bruins would only lose two games in regulation thus certifying their status as a contender.
San Jose saw an opening month record of 9-2, followed by an 11-1-1 November. Their first regulation home loss didn’t occur until the middle of January at the hands of the Calgary Flames.
Finally, the Red Wings saw an 8-2-2 record in each of the two months to begin the year. These groups haven’t looked back since their spectacular starts and are in a state of alleviation.
Meanwhile, Edmonton is looking for some late heroics in the schedule to boost them into eighth place. Ironically, the Oilers’ longest winning streak of the season came when the team opened the season with four consecutive victories.
Unlike the three previously mentioned groups, Edmonton wasn’t able to sustain such momentum as the year progressed. Defensively, they have great presence as Sheldon Souray, Lubomir Visnovsky, Tom Gilbert and Denis Grebeshkov have each totaled more than 30 points.
Dwayne Roloson has experienced a re-birth of sorts by claiming the starting goaltender status after losing it to Mathieu Garon in 2007/2008. Having a 27-23-9 record, the 39-year-old has reminded everyone that it was his work which brought the Oilers to the Stanley Cup Finals following the lockout.
The key component which has resulted in Edmonton possibly missing the postseason for the third straight year is lack of consistency from their offense. Ales Hemsky is the sole star who can change the outcome of a game on any given night. His 22 goals and 41 assists lead all skaters and Souray is the only other 20-goal scorer.
Sam Gagner and Andrew Cogliano haven’t necessarily been in sophomore slumps, but their point totals will be slightly less than that of their rookie seasons. Shawn Horcoff managed nearly a point per game last year in 53 games. This season, he has shown common struggles without the services of Hemsky.
Edmonton's success largely depends on Ales Hemsky's performances.
Dustin Penner has failed to live up to the massive contract he signed in 2007 and will likely finish the campaign with under 20 goals. Trade deadline acquisitions Ales Kotalik and Patrick O’Sullivan haven’t responded to the change of scenery as much as Craig MacTavish would prefer.
Edmonton’s last seven games include a six-game home stand prior to a regular season finale Battle of Alberta with the Calgary Flames.
Having lost the first three home contests, the Oilers haven’t made their task of creeping into eighth place easier on themselves.
Four games remain and four points separate the team from eighth place St. Louis.
These set of circumstances make each of the matches left a must-win. Edmonton Oiler fans still believe, but it may not be enough.
The clock is ticking.
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