After losing some key players to trade and injuries, the Oilers could have easily packed it in -- but they haven't.
Limping and crawling would have been two ways to describe how the Edmonton Oilers should have been playing through this latest stretch of the schedule.
And who could have blamed them?
On Trade Deadline Day, out went Dustin Penner by trade, Tuesday it was Ales Hemsky through a hit, and on Thursday, gone was Taylor Hall because of fighting.
Three different ways to lose the team’s three top scorers as of a week ago.
So hold on while I get out the suitcases, the Oil can pack it in.
Well something funny happened on the way to staying in 30th place in the National Hockey League. The Oilers got hot. Really hot.
So hot in fact, only and handful of teams played better during that stretch. That included the New Jersey Devils and Chicago Blackhawks’ 9-1 run, San Jose’s 8-2 streak along with Boston and Calgary's 7-2-1 marks.
The reality is, the Oilers are playing better hockey then 24 other teams in the league. Can't say even the most diehard Oilers fan could have expected those kind of results.
It shows that even if you're last or second-last, you don't have to take a defeatist attitude into every game. Apparently the Oilers aren't. They're not worried about who isn't playing but instead, it’s more about who is.
They have reeled off three straight wins which is one off tying a season-high. Whether they get there matters less than what they learn along the way. That they can be good and that they can compete.
And of course, we have to note that the latest three wins have come against non-playoff teams, which is not what they will face in the next six days. Instead in their next four games, they get two recent Stanley Cup winners in Detroit and Pittsburgh. There's also a Cup finalist in Philadelphia and throw in Washington for good measure.
A chance to measure up against top-end teams, even if they're at a bottom-end position.
No need for Anthony Robbins or Dr. Phil here. They might be better served spending time with Charlie Sheen.
