Welp…that sucks. Don’t fret, though, Edmonton Oilers fans. Soon, you too will get a break from this team, a much-needed and much-deserved break at that.

However, if you crave one more game – the 58th of the NHL regular season already – well, the Battle of Alberta is tonight.

After an important homestand finishes 4-4, with three of those losses against teams that played the Calgary Flames the night before, maybe the magic elixir is to be the team on a back-to-back playing the Flames.

Or something like that.

It was an exciting contest, nevertheless, against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night. But after some unfortunate calls against, and a myriad of mistakes, the Oilers lost 5-2.

A pair of goals while shorthanded broke the 2-2 tie, and that was all she wrote. That undersells how many are feeling afterwards. What is this Oilers team?

“It’s a little bit of everything,” said Knoblauch post-game.

“Whether you’re fighting for first place or fighting for the playoffs – urgency always ramps up. We’re at that point.”

There will be multiple weeks to armchair GM the flaws and faults, the good and the bad. But in the meantime, this game against the Calgary Flames now bears a bit of significance.

A loss will make the next three weeks feel like an eternity. A win leaves Oilers fans in a lighter mood at least, as the country shifts focus to the first Olympics in twelve years with NHL players.

Is Edmonton going to leave the NHL slate with a sour taste in their mouths, soothed by margaritas on their February tropical holiday?

Not-so special teams

Part of this zig-zag Oilers team that is........

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