NEW DELHI: After a challenging West Coast road trip, the
Edmonton Oilers
are back home for a single game against the
Detroit Red Wings
before embarking on another three-game journey against Central Division rivals. The
Oilers
had a historic 16-game win streak, falling just short of the
NHL record
, which ended with a loss to the
Vegas Golden Knights
.
Despite bouncing back with a victory against Anaheim, they were shut out by the
Los Angeles Kings
in their most recent outing.
Oilers coach
Kris Knoblauch
remained composed despite the recent setbacks, acknowledging the quality of their opponents and the need for improvement, especially in special teams. "I think our first game against Vegas was probably our best game," Knoblauch stated. "We won the second game and then (Saturday), it was probably a game we were finding ways to win during that (winning) streak and wasn't good enough."
Forward
Zach Hyman
echoed Knoblauch's sentiment, emphasizing that the team is playing the right way but acknowledging the Kings' superior performance on Saturday. Meanwhile, the
Red Wings
are on a positive trajectory, with recent wins including a thrilling overtime victory against the Vancouver Canucks after overcoming a third-period deficit.
Red Wings coach
Derek Lalonde
highlighted the importance of avoiding late-game heroics despite their success in such situations. "It's a good group but not a recipe for success," Lalonde cautioned. "You don't want to continue to put yourself in those situations, especially against elite teams like (Vancouver)."
However, Lalonde acknowledged the significance of their ability to secure points in challenging situations, recognizing the resilience of his team. "This is going to be a battle for us," Lalonde remarked. "To get there you got to have some believability, and wins like this help." As the Oilers regroup at home and the Red Wings gear up for a demanding road trip, both teams are focused on maintaining their competitiveness as they navigate the remainder of the season.
(Inputs from Reuters)
English (US) ·