I don't mind this as it was started by an oil fan.
I don't know what to make of the Oilers. For years their defense personnel have looked subpar and yet they've been their best defensively in recent times. I don't even know how they've sustained a decent PK. Maybe that can be chalked up to Tippett.
When I watch them I see a group with all the telltale signs of having the wheels fall off.
The way I see it they start off great because McDavid and Draisaitl are still fresh early, and most teams haven't yet elevated their game, so it makes sense that the Oilers start with an advantage over teams due to early confidence and game breaking talent.
When other teams ratchet up their effort level, attention to details as the playoff race begins to intensify, the Oilers lose talent-sustained advantage because other teams close the gap with their systems work. Then you factor in the slowly accumulating fatigue for McDrai playing every other night and having well over 20 minutes of ice time. Their initially great ppg pace slowly normalizes with the rigors of the season which means the team suffers as a result. The depth which is never all that great loses its offensive production due to competition level again rising. On the whole, that's why you see the drop off you have.
Of course then there's goaltending. Smith vezina like numbers last year covered up the issues we're seeing mount this year. Now they don't have it, so again makes sense.
I don't really know what the system is. I'd say they started well at moving pucks out of their d zone efficiently but now they've started their old collapsing ways and are relying more and more heavily on the two guys to drive and offensive zone time.
|