EDMONTON — It was bound to occur at some point. The irritating and potentially troubling part is the Oilers couldn’t even play one game first, though.
They got a glimpse of what was in store from the season opener right up to April’s end.
Let’s put aside the outcome or even how they played. The Oilers were brutal in the beginning and uncoordinated all through. They were fortunate to show a lot of determination and get some great goaltending. Jack CampbellAs the game progressed, they managed to overcome a three-goal deficit and beat the opponent. They were able to overcome a deficit of three goals and beat the Canucks 5-3.
Uneven games happen. You’d hope not in Game 1. But they do. This should be a great team, so let’s not go overboard here.
This is not about Oilers dressing 17 skaters to start the season because of injuries to their wingers. Kailer Yamamoto Warren Foegele. This is the unfavorable situation of playing short-handed.
“It felt different. It felt different to me,” Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft said. “I don’t think that’s the scenario that we look to start the season with, but it was what it was.”
Woodcroft’s statement that it felt different is quite telling.
It shouldn’t have been a problem considering how comfortable Woodcroft is with having 11 forwards on his bench.
