Edmonton Oilers looking to get back to a defence-first philosophy

Article content

Two-thirds down, one to go.

Fifty-five games into the 2023-24 season, the Edmonton Oilers are tied for third place in the Pacific Division with the Los Angeles Kings.

Article content

The big picture shows there is one week to go until the NHL trade deadline, after which time rosters will be locked in for the final push toward playoff placement.

“Well, this is all new for me so I can’t say that I know a plan for how to handle it, personally,” rookie head coach Kris Knoblauch said following Friday’s practice. “Obviously, a lot of talks with the players in order to ease their anxiety and frustrations.

Article content

“But we’re very happy with our team and you always hope to be getting stronger, but we’ve got a lot of hard-working hockey players and we don’t want to see anyone go. But obviously this is the trade deadline and, obviously, things can happen, but it’s out of their control. It’s out of my control.”

Suddenly, the one thing that seemed so far out of reach as the Oilers stumbled to a 2-9-1 start to the season, is now on the horizon. But Knoblauch cautions against setting their sights on anything but the next task at hand.

“I think everyone’s been thinking about playoffs since probably the first day of the season wondering what’s going to happen,” he said. “And I think if we’re looking too far down the road it’s unhealthy, it’s distracting. As they get closer, you’re thinking about them more but we want to get ready for the playoffs.

“So, yeah, we are thinking about it, but we need to get better. We worked on our breakouts and goal-scoring previously. There’s always an area that we’re addressing. But as for the playoffs, where we are, who we’re going to play and when they start? Not at all.”

Article content

Article content

So, it’s the smaller picture that the Oilers choose to focus on this weekend, with back-to-back games beginning on the road against the Seattle Kraken on Saturday (2 p.m., Sportsnet), followed by a return to Rogers Place to take on the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday.

After dropping their last double-feature one weekend prior, the Oilers bounced back with a 4-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings and a 3-2 overtime victory over the St. Louis Blues. It marked a return to giving up two-or-fewer goals per game after surrendering at least three each over the previous 10.

“I think we’re tightening up things and looking a little bit better, not giving up those goals,” Knoblauch said. “A lot of it has to do with the penalty kill being so good, and then also the play, it starts with (goalie Stuart) Skinner. We could have easily given up more than two goals the last two games, but he has been really, really good.”

Skinner had 38- and 32-save performances as the Oilers posted consecutive wins for just the second time since going on a run of 16-straight over December and January — the last 14 of which also saw them give up no more than two goals a game.

And the results spoke for themselves.

Anyone questioning the Oilers’ resolve to get back to a defence-first mindset need only look to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.

Article content

The versatile centreman brought out the loudest cheer in the house when he chased down Blues forward Robert Thomas to lift his stick on the back check, breaking up a breakaway.

“I just kind of saw (Evan Bouchard) and Connor (McDavid) come together, which is a little dangerous,” Nugent-Hopkins recalled. “I just saw Thomas pick it up and I think he kind of thought he was alone there for the whole way and slowed down enough so I could just kind of pick his pocket there.”

But a former first-overall draft pick developing the defensive side of his game isn’t something that happens overnight.

“I think I came in and definitely was more of an offensive guy in junior and growing up, like most guys who are high picks,” Nugent-Hopkins said. “So, when I came in I understood that I needed to definitely try to hone in my defensive game and learn about the defensive side of the game.

“So, it’s not just something that you can turn on and just magically be good at it. It takes a lot of work, a lot of video and a lot of watching other players around the league that are the best in the game. I was fortunate I got to play against some of those guys, like (Pavel) Datsyuk and (Henrik) Zetterberg, (Jonathan) Toews, (Ryan) Getzlaf. Guys that are elite on both sides of the puck.

“So, I definitely tried to emulate parts of my game after those guys and it’s definitely still a work in progress, I think.”

E-mail: gmoddejonge@postmedia.com

On Twitter: @GerryModdejonge

Article content