Earlier this week, Connor McDavid was interviewed after another Edmonton Oilers loss and said, in effect, if players don’t want to be in the Edmonton locker room, they should leave.
Well, it seems that maybe there are two or three or four players who want to stay and everyone else is looking for the exits.
McDavid had an assist Tuesday night and Leon Draisaitl had a goal and assist in a 3-2 loss to the visiting Detroit Red Wings.
Luke Glendening had two goals in Wings’ win over Oilers – file photo courtesy of Lewis Bleiman
“We just have to keep battling,” McDavid said. “We have said everything that there is to say; it is just up to us to play now. We have had good stretches and we have had bad stretches. We just need to find the consistency.”
Who is battling?
Luke Glendening struck for two goals and Dylan Larkin picked up the game-winner for the Wings.
“It was nice to be able to finish one,” Glendening said. “This trip hasn’t been kind to us in that respect. But we’ve played some pretty good hockey, and to get some results before the break is huge for us.”
Jimmy Howard made 32 saves to get the win as Detroit improved to 19-25-7 and still have push back in their game.
“We started this game the way we have the last number of games. We played very, very good hockey for two periods,” Detroit head coach Jeff Blashill said of the early 2-0 lead. “Our pressure was good, and I thought we had the better of the play for two periods. We found a way to play good and win. We talked about that. It’s certainly not satisfying to play good and lose, you have to find a way to play good and win.”
Matt Benning also scored for the Oilers who have lost three straight.
“When you’re chasing games like we’re doing right now, that’s a formula for losing,” Oilers head coach Ken Hitchcock said. “We’re chasing games every night and the other team can sit back against that one [top] line and defend. It’s hard, because they’re looking at five people all night. When you’re chasing games, that’s not a winning formula.”
Edmonton dropped to 23-24-3.
Talent is not enough in any league. The Edmonton Oilers have talent to spare and that may be the key. There is plenty of talent to jettison for new blood.
[WATCH:Â All Red Wings vs. Oilers highlights]
Mikko Koskinen made 24 saves in the loss.
“We just know we’ve got to get more from some people, and we have to figure out a way. That’s our job,” Hitchcock said.
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