Coach Knoblauch Identifies Major Turning Point in Oilers Season
The Edmonton Oilers had a slightly tough start to the season, but seem to be turning it around now with three wins in their last four games.
Coach Knoblauch pointed towards their first win against the Philadelphia Flyers as the team's major turning point. It was a much needed win after losing the first three games, but there was more to it than just that. Knoblauch believed the Oilers got a big confidence boost from the game, which was an eventful one for Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid in particular.
Leon Draisaitl got benched that game for taking some irresponsible penalties and playing an overall poor game to that point. Then he was able to net the game winning goal in overtime, and Draisaitl was awarded the player of the game by Knoblauch after the game. For the entire team it could've been a moment that they can rally around. It might not looked like a lot on the ice, but in the locker room, that win was really important for the Oilers.
Every year a hockey team develops a bit of a new identity, and this year for the Oilers, it could be accountability. Without Connor McDavid in the lineup the Oilers all need to step up, and that was best exemplified by Draisaitl rising to the challenge after being benched to score the overtime winner.
The Oilers can take some lessons from that game that they can apply to the rest of the season, and last game's effort against the Nashville Predators as a building block for the rest of the season. We'll see how the Oilers truly stack up as a team in these two weeks left without Connor McDavid.
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