Oilers Started Season On Wrong Foot

The Edmonton Oilers have started the season on the wrong foot, to the surprise of no one.

There’s nothing like the continuation of what is arguably the most passionate and thrilling rivalry to begin a season! The Oilers began their season on October 9^th by facing off against their archrivals the Calgary Flames at Edmonton’s Rexall Place. The Oilers’ season opener was another chapter in the celebrated Battle of Alberta, which pits the capital of Alberta against the province’s largest city. In short, the game was an absolute disaster for the Oilers. While the Oilers have made significant improvement over the off-season, it just wasn’t enough to guarantee them a victory. In many respects, the Oilers were doomed from the start, as the Flames had a 2-0 lead in less than five minutes of playing time. However, the Oilers began to regain their composure between the end of the first period and the start of the third period. Following this brief interlude of stability, the Flames unleashed an unrelenting and merciless torrent of goals. Oilers superstars such as Taylor Hall and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins didn’t stand a chance. In the third period, the Flames scored three goals, allowing them to claim a 5-2 victory over the Oilers.

On October 11^th, the Oilers went up against the Canucks at Vancouver’s Rogers Arena. Despite improved performances in comparison to the season opener, the Oilers still failed to achieve the glory of victory. However, that’s not to say that the game was anything less than intensely wild. During the game, frustration, passion, and ferocity were in the air. It was evident that both teams had an unquenchable thirst for a win. In truth, it seemed like the players were participating in a playoff game. The Oilers’ emotionally investment in the game was especially apparent when Nugent-Hopkins decided to drop his gloves and engage in his very first fight. In the end, the game went to shootout, and Vancouver’s Chris Higgins led his team to a 5-4 win.

It seems like the Oilers’ poor performances and subsequent loss during the season opener had a profound effect on the team’s drive for success. Hopefully, the Oilers can use these losses as motivations to achieve excellence as they face off against the Los Angeles Kings, Phoenix Coyotes, and Vancouver Canucks this week.