The Oilers fell 5-2 to the Nashville Predators in their game this afternoon. The team now tied with Calgary for 7th in the Pacific division. With a 2-7-1 record through ten games, the Oilers just can't seem to get anything going. Under normal circumstances, they would likely be dead last in the NHL. Luckily for them though, they are in the same division as the historically bad Sharks, so at least it could get worse. McDavid let his frustrations show in his post-game interview.
The Oilers next two games are against the Canucks and the aforementioned Sharks. The team has already lost twice to Vancouver, including an 8-1 spanking on opening night. While their second matchup against the Canucks went much better, they still lost in overtime despite outplaying the opposition. That game could go either way, but the Canucks have got to be one of the most confident teams in the league after putting up an 8 and a 10 spot in their first 10 games.
At this point, one must question if this team is actually capable of making the playoffs. It seems unimaginable that a team with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on it would not be in the top half of teams in the conference but right now they are not just outside the playoff picture looking in, they are in a different post code than the playoffs. The next couple of games are extremely important for this group. If they cannot win against the Sharks on Thursday, expect to see major changes in Edmonton.
