Edmonton Oilers Insider Explains Locker Room Reason Why The Team Had a Tough Week

Oilers defenceman Evan Bouchard was listed as a game time decision tonight, and according to Oilers insider Gene Principe, it's because of an illness that went around the locker room.

If this illness has been circulating the Oilers dressing room and bringing down the energy levels of each player, it might explain the up and down results this week.

The Oilers were embarrassed with the two losses in Toronto and Montreal, but bounced back with a good effort over the Ottawa Senators. Once they got home, their effort against the Minnesota Wild was brutal, but tonight's game over the Rangers was complete domination.

Particularly in those poor efforts against Montreal and Minnesota where it looked like the Oilers simply had no energy, an illness could've been a real factor.

Athletes never like to make excuses and would never admit to a sickness bringing down their performance, but the reality is that some players must've been playing not at 100% health.

That's not uncommon in the NHL though - recently, the entire Penguins roster was listed as day to day with illness.

The reassuring sign for Oilers fans is that Bouchard was able to be in the lineup tonight, and Edmonton dominated a quality New York Rangers team.

That's a sign that things are greatly improving for Edmonton, who until this point, have only beaten one team ahead of them in the standings- the Calgary Flames.

Stuart Skinner was able to keep the Oilers above water as well, a massive bounce back effort after he was called out by coach Knoblauch after his last performance.

The Edmonton Oilers will now have a long layoff until next Friday to rest and recover, and head up for a much improved stretch of hockey. The Oilers need to dust off this identity of mediocrity, and rattle off a win streak to get them back on top of the standings.