Oil Change: Too Little Too Late

[Edmonton Mike]

Thanks to a new playoff seeding format, an 89 pt season and 7th best record in your Conference doesn't guarantee postseason action for your team. In fact, the Oilers experienced that firsthand as they saw their playoffs hope vanished last Sunday, when Anaheim beat Colorado to claim the second Wild Card spot. Edmonton and Anaheim were fighting for the chance to enter the playoffs as the weakest seed and face the best team in the West. Meanwhile, Chicago and St.Louis, which both have fewer points than the Oilers or Ducks, will face each others in the 1st round. Even crazier? Calgary or Phoenix will be watching the 2nd round at home while either Chicago or St-Louis gets its ticket punched for the next round.

In what has been a frustrating and disappointing season, a late push gave Oil Nation hope that an appearance in the postseason dance was possible; and it came close. Very close. Edmonton came up short, even after putting together a 10-2-1 record in the last 13 games to end the 2013-14 season. Impressive enough, six of those wins and the shootout loss were against playoff teams-Calgary, Los Angeles, San Jose and Anaheim. In that stretch, Carey Price was dominant, winning his last 7 starts and posting a 1,97 goals against average. Up front, Jordan Eberle-9 goals & 7 assists-and Nazem Kadri-8 goals & 7 assists-were lights out. But it wasn't enough to extend the season.

As much as there is to hate about the new playoff seeding format, the Oilers only have themselves to blame; from players up to the management. This team was a mess from November to late-January when GM Mike Cleary was forced to take leave of absence. Eventually, things got back on track; underachievers got traded for new blood or were simply bought out and the team started putting winning streaks together. But these moves-great moves for the most part-came at a point in the season when it was just too little late.

A fresh wind of optimism has flown over Rexall Place these past couple weeks and should come back around next October, when the 2014-15 season kicks off. Until then, team brass will focus on the draft where the Oilers own two of the top 14 picks.

[Commish Bub(NYR)]

Nice write-up.

[SharksGM]

A fresh wind of optimism has flown over Rexall Place these past couple weeks

You sure that's not just fumes from the tar sands? Ha ha, I kill myself.

[Virtual Jarmo]

You definitely got screwed by the format. Nice run and a lot to be excited about for next season.