The Oilers are in turmoil as the team has gotten off to a terrible start. While many expected the team to easily win the pacific division, they are instead doing the exact opposite. Through nine games the Oilers have a 2-6-1 record, ahead of only the Calgary flames (by points percentage) and the league-worst San Jose Sharks, who are yet to win a game this year.
The team is clearly in a tough place right now mentally. During this morning's practice it showed as goal tender Stuart Skinner abruptly smashed his stick against his goal and stormed off the ice in disgust. As a result of the incident, the team cancelled practice just 20 minutes after it begun.
The Oilers schedule has been generous to them. The team has played fewer games than many, which allows them a little extra time to get their game back together. The team's next five games are all against opponents they should be able to beat. They are the Predators, Canucks, Sharks, Kraken, and Islanders. This stretch will be key to proving they are still a playoff caliber team.
While they already lost to Vancouver in embarrassing fashion on opening night, they also played them to an overtime loss while being the better team. That game should be winnable. The Sharks just gave up 10 goals to that same Vancouver squad and they are off to, quite literally, one of the worst starts in NHL history. Through ten games the team is 0-9-1 with a -34 goal differential. That's on pace for a -279 goal differential over the course of an 82 game season. Its safe to say that if the Oilers lose that one, their season might be over.
