Injury-riddled Edmonton Oilers still on playoff road to redemption

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It will always be worse for the Edmonton Oilers.

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Can’t it?

Of course, when not only did they lose one of the biggest offensive weapons, Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid, not only did the Sky lose the biggest offensive weapons in the playoffs, but the Oilers were supposed to push as much home ice as possible in the playoffs.

And it’s still cloudy here, McDavid’s remaining time is (swallowing) another three weeks, which will get them straight into the opening round, wherever it ends up looking like.

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But rest assured, the Oilers are still in playoff form, thanks not only to the recent return of the league-leading goal scorer Draisaitl, who just surpassed 50 goals for the fourth time in his career, but also has the softest team that any team may want to end their schedule.

Of course, there is still a game against the league-leading Winnipeg Jets and the Pacific Division’s escaped Vegas Golden Knights gang. But the Oilers also didn’t attract one, not two, but three of the Gims against the San Jose Sharks in the basement, who managed to keep the league low by 49 points – just half of Vegas’ highest 98 points in the division.

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Those six points alone can give Edmonton 95 this season, which is almost enough to push them to the edge.

And, despite not having a certain thing in the NHL, especially desperately getting closer to the finish line, if the Oilers (McDavid or not) can’t beat three games against the 32-ranked team, then they hope that the Los Angeles Kings will return to the LA Kings in the inevitable first round of the first round of the game, which is an inevitable game, which is an inevitable game, which is an inevitable game, which is an inevitable game, which is an inevitable game, which is an inevitable game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game, which is an excellent game?

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We might suggest whether the Oilers can make their four-game winning streak when they face each other in their homes and on the ice before the playoffs.

So, assuming the king has a bad attitude toward retribution, no one will soon defeat the top dog’s jet or the Golden Knight. Even though the Oilers lost those games and whipped the Sharks, they still played against the Anaheim Ducks and the St. Louis Blues. Although the Blues sat just two points in the barbaric position in Edmonton, the low ducks were on the verge of elimination and were going there.

Win one of them, that will score 97 points, this should Enough to play their playoff tickets. Of course it should be the surgical word. Last year was not enough to enter the Western Conference.

The thing is, it’s not just McDavid and Draisaitl who tinkered. The Oilers are still missing their highest defense since early February, Mattias Ekholm, who has been dealing with illness or injury or a combination of both.

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All nine games he missed this season have been played over the last 22 games, and for the Oilers, it would be nice if they want to win another 16 times in the playoffs, they would need his absolute best.

On top of that, starting goalkeeper Stuart Skinner also didn’t travel with them during his four road trips in Las Vegas Tuesday (8 p.m.), as Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen held his knee last week.

While none of this is ideal, especially when the team wants to play their best hockey of the season, it’s as far away from the world of hockey crazy Mad Edmonton, where, in terms of a goal-wrong side that determines the seventh goal of last year’s Stanley Cup final, can still be felt.

Despite the terrible injuries to the constantly installed piles, the oilers still feel they are still on the road to redemption.

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“I think every team is injured, more than the other teams,” said head coach Kris Knoblauch. “Last year, we were very lucky that we had very little experience.

“And I think we’re lucky that none of these guys look like – except Evander (Kane, recovering from knee and hip surgery)) – I think everyone else will (back) until the regular season is over.”

Email: godejong@postmedia.com

On X: @gerrymoddejonge

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