A few observations from last night's lopsided 8-1 loss versus the Vancouver Canucks.
Good thing each team plays 82 games - because last night's game the Edmonton Oilers want to quickly put behind them.
It's not uncommon for a great team to lose in spectacular fashion. In light of the lop-sided loss against the Vancouver Canucks, here are a few things to take note of:
No One Has Claimed The Net...Yet
Stuart Skinner and Jack Campbell both allowed four goals against last night. But based off of how the team in front of them played, it's hard to fault either player.
Jack Campbell & Stuart SkinnerMany fans fell into one of two camps: the fans who think Campbell earned the right to be the starter based off of a strong pre-season, and those who believe the team should stick to Skinner after his year last season. We will see if game one has changed that approach from the Oilers perspective.
Ekholm Is More Important Than Most Realize
Newsflash, Mattias Ekholm is a really good defensemen. The Oilers sorely missed his presence last night.
Ekholm has had a hip-flexor issue all pre-season and was a game time decision last night. Obviously he sat out, but hopefully he's ready to go for Saturday's rematch.
It's Only One Game
Everyone can take a deep breath in - and out. Now that the first game of the year is out of the way, the Oilers can focus on gaining their rhythm. The regular season is a marathon, not a sprint.
Connor McDavid.The Oilers are not guaranteed an injury-free season - and need to learn to win games as a team when those injuries strike.
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