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Edmonton Oilers: Second half needs to be quite a bit higher than the primary half

By Mike D. Wagner

  1. Edmonton Oilers

Edmonton Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft speaks at a media availability in Edmonton on May 23, 2022. Edmonton Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft speaks at a media availability in Edmonton on May 23, 2022. Photo by Jeff McIntosh /The Canadian Press

LOS ANGELES — As the Edmonton Oilers returned to Staples Center for the first time since breaking through their post-season glass ceiling last year, there was a temptation to suggest that this is where they finally took their long-awaited next step.

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But, after a quick look at the standings, it’s fair to wonder if they’ve moved forward at all.

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“The organization had a few years of not getting out of the first round,” said head coach Jay Woodcroft before the Oilers and LA Kings took to the ice for a key divisional battle Monday night.

“We’re proud of it, for everyone who was involved in it, but it’s a new year, (the playoff series) feels like forever ago. We’re in a dogfight right now for points every night.”

Indeed, the Oilers have no time whatsoever to reflect on how far they’ve come as a team and an organization. When the puck dropped on the second half of their Monday season, they were halfway to missing the playoffs.

Based on points percentage, they sat 10th in the 16-team Western Conference at .549.

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A lot has to change in the second half of the schedule because their current pace simply isn’t good enough.

“We’ve left some points on the table,” said Woodcroft. “That’s been a message to our team. The first half is done, it’s in the rear view mirror. It’s about improving on a daily basis.

“We’re not where we want to be, but I believe we’re taking steps. In the end, it’s about playing the right way come Game 83. Now, there are a lot of things you have to do in order to get to Game 83 and that’s what we’re attending to on a day-by-day basis. ”

The focus will have to be on Edmonton’s five-on-five play, which remains a gaping black hole. They’ve been able to hide it behind a historically-effective power play, but teams that sit 23rd in the NHL in five-on-five goals against and 21st in the league in five-on-five goals for don’t have a very long shelf life.

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“As the season goes on there is more emphasis down the stretch on five-on-five,” agreed Woodcroft. “There are fewer power plays down the stretch and teams play tighter and are a little bit more disciplined, so you can’t just rely on (a power play) to find offense.

“On the other side of it, it is a weapon for us, we’re proud of it, it’s an important part of who we are and if teams do get undisciplined it’s a way for us to strike back.”

While Edmonton is fourth in the NHL in total offense with 144 goals, only 78 have come at five-on-five. They’ve scored 48 with a man advantage, three with the goalie pulled and seven more into an empty net.

In fairness, the Oilers also lead the NHL in power play opportunities, which means they’ve been creating chances at five-on-five and might have scored more even-strength goals if they weren’t being hooked, held or interfered with set up those power plays. But there have also been too many nights like Saturday against Colorado.

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Edmonton looked like a turtle on its back at even strength against the Avs (shots were 36-17) but two power play goals and some stellar netminding made a 3-2 game look close.

Woodcroft attributes some of the even-strength numbers to the run of injuries in December.

“There was a stretch where we were missing four or five of our top nine forwards, so we were doing what we had to do in order to survive that stretch,” he said. “I thought we learned a lot about different people and found ways to win hockey games and be in the position we’re in right now while weathering that storm.”

They are pretty much back to health now, except for the massive crater left behind by Evander Kane, who is still at least a month away. The sense is that when Kane comes back, the Oilers will look a lot more like the team that charged its way down the stretch and through the playoffs last year.

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“As guys get healthy it gets competitive to be in the lineup and the batting order gets reset and people are in positions that might help them succeed a little bit more,” said Woodcroft.

Having a batting order that succeeds a little more is imperative. While the power play masks Edmonton’s weakness at even strength, their top four players mask an overall weakness when it comes to depth.

Of Edmonton’s league-leading 144 goals this year, Connor McDavid has either scored or assisted on 76 of them. The quartet of McDavid (33), Leon Draisaitl (22), Zach Hyman (20) and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (19) account for 94 of those 144 goals. The defense accounts for 17 more.

Beyond that, the production falls off a cliff.

“We have guys on the verge (of being regular contributors),” said Woodcroft. “But something has to happen.”

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On Twitter: @Rob_Tychkowski

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Mike D. Wagner 1140 posts 0 comments

Love to write so I write about Edmonton my beloved City!!! Studied at University of Alberta, I love this place. Ask me anything!

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