'Trying to find solutions here': Oilers seeking answers amid ongoing losing streak
The Edmonton Oilers are hoping the Battle of Alberta can inject some life into a slumping squad that’s yet to win in 2022.
Last night, the team opened strong before giving up four third-period goals in a 6-0 shutout defeat to the Florida Panthers, the club’s seventh straight defeat.
“Instead of feeling sorry for yourself you have to play. Get out there and do things right. Continue to do them and hope it turns around,” said Oilers head coach Dave Tippett.
“We didn’t finish the game very well so you got to come out tomorrow and regroup and go back at it.”
The Oilers are next on the ice on Saturday night when they host the Calgary Flames.
“When you’re not getting the results you’ve got to chip away at it,” Tippett said. “You’ve got to build on some positives right now.”
The teams haven’t met since the Oilers second game of the season on Oct. 16, a 5-2 Edmonton win.
“If you can come out and win a big divisional game it starts moving in the right direction,” Tippett said.
“People are trying to find solutions here … and we’ll continue to pound away until we get them.”
Thursday night’s loss was the latest setback in what has been a remarkable downturn since after Dec. 1, when the team had the best record in the NHL with 16 wins out of 21 games.
Since then, the Oilers have the worst record in the league, with only two mid-December wins in their last 15 contests.
Over that stretch, the team has a league-worst .856 save percentage as well and has started three different netminders in its last three games.
“We all feel responsible right now,” said forward Warren Foegele. “For us to get out of this we all have to do our part.”
The Oilers now sit seventh in the Pacific Division and six points back of the final playoff spot.
“As a group we’re frustrated we’re not getting those results,” Foegele said. “It’s frustrating that sometimes we’re in games and then we just can't seem to get over that hump.”
Also Friday, the team placed veteran forward Kyle Turris on waivers. The 32-year-old centre has four points in 21 games this season.
Minor league forward Tim Soderlund was also placed on unconditional waivers after being acquired in the deal that brought Duncan Keith to the team this summer.
The team was also without forward Zach Hyman who was placed on non-roster injured reserve.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.