They’ve won just three of the nine games they’ve played since the end of the 4 Nations Face-Off break, but the Edmonton Oilers have done a good job of keeping their emotions under control, their head coach says.
Kris Knoblauch told media after Wednesday’s practice in Newark, N.J. – site of the Oilers' game Thursday (5 p.m. MT) against the New Jersey Devils – that the squad that had been the hottest in the National Hockey League for a 25-game stretch two months ago has been keeping an even keel.
“With us not playing nearly as well as we are (capable of) playing, I’ve got to commend the guys on the frustration level,” Knoblauch said.
“A lot of times, guys are blaming the other players (and are) angry, but I think we’ve done a good job of keeping those emotions in check.”
Whether it’s veteran savvy – the Oilers are the oldest team in the NHL – or recent experience – a Stanley Cup Final Game 7 series loss – helping alleviate visible frustrations, it could be working against them in this recent swoon, the latest setback a 3-2 loss to the 30th-place Sabres in Buffalo on Monday.
Knoblauch called his team’s adept ability at handling adversity “a weakness,” recounting the trials of last year’s playoffs.
“On the flip side is when you’re good at handling adversity and you’re calm, often you’re missing that switch to turn it on,” he said.
“Right now, I think we can push a little bit harder and be more ready for these games and playing a full 60 minutes.”
Skinner practises on Draisaitl line
After standing out to Knoblauch in Monday’s loss, Jeff Skinner found himself on a line alongside star centre Leon Draisaitl and Viktor Arvidsson at Wednesday’s practice.
“We did some switching later on in the (Sabres) game, but (Mattias) Janmark, (Connor) Brown and himself in the first period, I thought they might have been our best line that period,” the coach said.
Janmark missed practice because of illness.
Knoblauch said after practice that “there’s a good chance” Skinner will slot onto the Draisaitl line.
“He’s a great player, so he creates a lot of space,” Skinner said of playing with Draisaitl. “For wingers, that’s a nice thing to have down the middle.”
Skinner, in his 15th NHL campaign after coming to the Oilers from the Sabres in the summer as a free agent, started the season on the line with Draisaitl and Arvidsson but was soon shuffled down the lineup in favour of Vasily Podkolzin, who the Oilers had acquired via trade.
Skinner, who has scored 11 goals and 21 points in 54 games this season, has recorded 30-plus goals five times and reached the 40-goal plateau five years ago.
Projected lineups
Oilers
Forward
- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins • Connor McDavid • Zach Hyman
- Jeff Skinner • Leon Draisaitl • Viktor Arvidsson
- Vasily Podkolzin • Adam Henrique • Connor Brown
- Max Jones • Kasperi Kapanen • Corey Perry
Defence
- Jake Walman • Evan Bouchard
- Darnell Nurse • Troy Stecher
- Brett Kulak • Ty Emberson
Goal
- Stuart Skinner • Calvin Pickard
Devils
Forward
- Timo Meier • Nico Hischier • Stefan Noesen
- Ondrej Palat • Dawson Mercer • Tomas Tatar
- Erik Haula • Cody Glass • Jesper Bratt
- Paul Cotter • Curtis Lazar • Nathan Bastian
Defence
- Luke Hughes • Brett Pesce
- Brian Dumoulin • Johnathan Kovacevic
- Brenden Dillon • Simon Nemec
Goal
- Jacob Markstrom • Jake Allen
