The Edmonton Oilers fell to the Calgary Flames, marking their third consecutive loss to start the season, raising concerns in Oil Country. With defeats against two rebuilding teams already, worries are growing about a repeat of last season’s slow start. Captain Connor McDavid is not dismissing the issues; after last night’s game, he emphasized that he needs to improve and that the entire team must work harder.
“We are getting beat in a lot of battles. We’re getting beat in a lot of different ways. Puck play has been bad all over. Guys fumbling it and not handling passes, (passes) in the air, passes behind guys It’s just not good enough in terms of the puck play. When you are not clean with the puck it’s tough to get the offence.”
“Ultimately it hasn’t been good enough. Up and down the lineup, myself first and foremost. Everybody could be better and everybody will be better.”
– Connor McDavid
McDavid had called for more from the team the day before but ended up with just an assist and a -2 rating in the game. Both fans and media criticized him for some costly and lackluster defensive plays.
Despite the current struggles, there’s still considerable confidence within the NHL and the Oilers’ locker room that they will rebound and become a top team again. This dip could be a typical post-Stanley Cup Final slump, but it echoes the team’s poor start last season. The concern over slow starts is real, and the Oilers would face a significant challenge in trying to replicate a 16-game win streak to make the playoffs if they begin the year poorly.
Tomorrow night, the Oilers will have a favorable matchup at home against the Philadelphia Flyers. If they fail to secure a win against another rebuilding team, the questions about their slow start will intensify.
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