Game 66: Edmonton 3 San Jose 2 (SO)

The Edmonton Oilers were playing their second game in as many nights and coming off a disappointing loss in Anaheim but still found a way to beat the struggling San Jose Sharks by a score of 3-2 in a shootout. Sam Gagner scored the shootout winner and Jordan Eberle became the first Edmonton Oiler to score thirty goals in a season, since Dustin Penner turned the trick back in 2009-2010. The game also marked the return of winger Linus Omark to the Oilers lineup and in a curious move, Edmonton decided to use the talented Swede in a limited role on the club's fourth line.

Game 65: Anaheim 4 Edmonton 2

The Edmonton Oilers decided to take the day off on Saturday to get in some team bonding, courtesy of owner Daryl Katz. Unfortunately, the Oilers were M.I.A. to start last night's game and it cost them in the end, dropping a 4-2 decision to the Anaheim Ducks. Corey Perry led the way for the surging Ducks, with two third period goals and veteran winger Teemu Selanne picked up his 1,398 career point, which moved him into a tie with his boyhood idol and Oilers legend Jari Kurri, for top spot among Finnish born players to have ever played in the NHL..

February Report Card - Forwards and Coaches

With the month of February now in the books, it's time to look back at the month that was and dish out my monthly report card. Each players rating will be based on their performance from opening night up to and including the teams last game on February 29th. This post will focus on the Oilers forwards and coaching staff.

February Report Cards - Goaltenders and Defencemen

With the month of February now in the books, it's time to look back at the month that was and dish out my monthly report card. Each players rating will be based on their performance from opening night up to and including the teams last game on February 29th. This column will focus on the blueline and netminders, while later today, the focus shifts to the forwards and coaching staff.

Oil Notes: Linus Omark Recalled

The Edmonton Oilers have recalled talented winger Linus Omark. The twenty-five year old Swede will join the club today in Anaheim but there is no word on if he will be in the starting lineup tonight against the Ducks. With Edmonton scheduled to play the Sharks on Tuesday night and Omark coming of three games in three nights with the Oklahoma City Barons, it seems unlikely that he would dress tonight.

Game 64: Dallas 3 Edmonton 1

                          

For the second time this week, fans at Rexall Place we treated to suffocating hockey at its finest. Not sure if it has something to do with the Pacific Division but the Dallas Stars came into Edmonton and did exactly what the Phoenix Coyotes did last Saturday afternoon. They managed to lull both the Edmonton Oilers and their fans to sleep, before skating away with a crucial but uninspiring 3-1 victory on Friday night. In a game that featured a combined shot total of thirty-four, the Oilers could do little to find a way through a Dallas side that at certain points, lined up all five skaters at their blueline...with the puck behind the Edmonton goal. The game also marked the return of former Oiler Sheldon Souray. While the veteran D man did not register a point in his first trip back to Edmonton, he played over twenty-minutes and was a solid +2 despite hearing the boo-birds, every time he touched the puck.

Are the Edmonton Oilers and Ryan Smyth still a good fit?

Ryan Smyth has proudly worn an Edmonton Oilers jersey for thirteen seasons in what has been a seventeen year NHL career. While not one of the most skilled players to have worn Oiler silks in the past twenty years, he is the player who understood best what it means to have the Edmonton Oilers logo across your chest. This franchise's storied history is something that has been lost on nearly all of the players that have played in Edmonton over the past two decades but Ryan is a guy who gets it. He would love nothing more then to be a part of this clubs return to prominence. Unfortunately for the veteran winger, in order for him to be part of what will hopefully be the next great Oilers era, he must accept a greatly reduced role moving forward.  

Game 63: Edmonton 5 St.Louis 2

In what was a very frustrating night for the fans at Rexall Place, the Edmonton Oilers did their best to simply give one of the top teams in the league two points. Led by a three point night from defenceman Kevin Shattenkirk and a two goal performance from Andy McDonald, the Blues picked up another two points beating the Oilers 5-2 and moved to within one point of the Western Conference leading Vancouver Canucks. Rookie centre Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored for the second consecutive game and Nick Schultz picked up an assist in his Oilers debut. Netminder Devan Dubnyk allowed three goals on seventeen shots before being replaced by backup Yann Denis, midway through the second period.