The Edmonton Oilers will be harder on themselves than the media and fans are on them. The Edmonton Oilers drop their second game in a row with a 5-2 loss to the Nashville Predators. Ryan O'Reilly scored a hat trick to help secure the win for the Predators. Down a forward, the team played with an 11-6 formation. Mattias Janmark and Connor Brown are both injured. The Oilers started the game well, with a lot of zone time and pressure to kick off the first period. The second line of Sam Gagner, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Evander Kane hit a post with a few minutes of the game's start. As a group they played great in short stints. There were long stretches in-between where the team looked like they were expecting to lose. Ryan O'Reilly celebrates his hat trick goal. [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAxOTg1MDEyNjMzOTcwMTgz/usatsi_21818336_168401874_lowres.jpg] Ryan O'Reilly celebrates his hat trick goal. In his post game comments Zach Hyman told the media that every game they "go in expecting to win." It's one thing to expect to win, it's another to execute. Right now, the Oilers can't execute. There was a response in the game against the Dallas Stars, there was very little response in today's game. There was a big "pass first" mentality instead of getting shots on net with traffic and pouncing on rebounds. I'd fully expect Jay Woodcroft to bring out the line blender in earnest at the Oilers next practice. Visit the Striking Oil Podcast website Subscribe to the Striking Oil Podcast YouTube Channel Related: 3 Goalie Upgrades Oilers Could Trade For Related: Former Oilers Defenseman Placed on Waivers Related: Oilers Coach Calls Out Underperforming Players Related: Oilers Dig Themselves Into Bigger Hole
