from Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal,
Yes, deju vu, all over again. How can we get a rewind of last season? Last year, the Oilers never got the swarm defence, chasing people around and leaving people wide-open and their goalie at the mercy of shooters, fully-cocked. There were not nearly enough saves, either, from Devan Dubnyk or Jason LaBarbera to bail the team out, somewhat. Dubnyk admits that.
This October, there is no swarm to denigrate, after the fact. Now, the Oilers can’t seem to check anybody in a different colour jersey in their end of the rink. The goal Arizona’s Rob Klinkhammer, hardly a sniper of the Steve Stamkos variety, scored Wednesday- the 4-2 goal where he was standing all by his lonesome- was painful to watch. Five guys in a freeze-frame, nobody taking a man. Certainly, Ben Scrivens has to make some saves–he admitted as much, more than once after the 7-4 loss (one empty netter to give Mikkel Boedker his first hat-trick, five goals in three games, the first-ever Coyote to start that hot–but, again, the Oilers team defence is, frankly, non-existent right now. It is, as we’ve said, like the opposition is playing against air.
Below, watch coach Eaking post-game...
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