Things look to drastically change for the last three games of the regular season for the Edmonton Oilers.
Things look to drastically change for the last three games of the regular season for the Edmonton Oilers.
EDMONTON -- With last night's loss, things are potentially changing for the Edmonton Oilers.
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It sounds like there was a specific plan in place before the puck dropped last night. However, after a 3-1 defeat at the hands of the Vancouver Canucks it looks like things have shifted for the Oilers.
In his post game comments, head coach Kris Knoblauch discussed a couple changes that are more than likely heading the Oilers way.
Giving Players Rest
Knoblauch was asked about how last night's loss will affect his strategy going into the final three games of the regular season. Knoblauch stated that, "it's definitely an opportunity to give guys rest if it's needed."
Connor McDavid has now been out for three games - and it sounds like he won't be the last guy to get a game off before the playoffs. If the team is going to rest guys, I imagine they will do it a few players at a time.
They don't have a lot of extra bodies with the team, and if players are just "banged up" rather than injured, I suspect they won't be able to use any emergency recalls. Resting guys wasn't going to be the focus of the final stretch, but that is obviously not the case now.
As far as McDavid goes, I suspect he will see himself play one more game - so he can hit his 100 assist milestone for the season. There is no reason to risk further aggravation of whatever is ailing the captain.
More Responsibility For Other Players
The flip side of resting guys is (naturally) giving other players more responsibility than they typically would have. Knoblauch touched on that aspect last night as well, "giving guys a little more responsibilities in certain situations - Dylan [having] an opportunity to keep on playing and show us what he's got."
Dylan Holloway has done everything asked of him so far - primarily using his speed and physicality to be dangerous on the forecheck and hold onto possession while in the offensive zone. He's been dangerous around the net and scored in his first game up with the team.
More Call Ups on the Horizon?
Knoblauch had mentioned weeks ago about calling up players to give them an audition before the playoffs hit - so they wouldn't be thrown into the fire of the hardest competition in the toughest league at the worst time.
Holloway was called up earlier in the week, and there might be more players from the Bakersfield Condors finding their way up with the Oilers, "yes [there is a] possibility of being a call up. Obviously [Philip] Broberg would be somebody that we consider."
My peers Marc Spector and Jim Mathison both speculated on Twitter last night, that they expect Philip Broberg to be called up. I am of the same mind that I believe a call up is virtually guaranteed at this point.
There is still a chance that the Oilers could take over the Canucks for the top seed in the Pacific Division - it's more than likely that they remain in second and face whoever is in the third seed.
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