Mattias Ekholm Admits a Hard Truth About the Edmonton Oilers Slow Start
Mattias Ekholm is a one of the Oilers most important veteran leaders, and today in practice, he admitted a hard truth about the team's slow start this year.
Ekholm pointed to the fact that team often have the «Stanley Cup Final Hangover» effect. Whether it's a shortened offseason or the change of intensity from playoffs to regular season, teams that go deep in the playoffs often have a slower start to the year. Ekholm directly said that he didn't expect to the Oilers to be as good as where they left off.
Ekholm does believe the Oilers are at least on the right track towards getting back to being a dominant team, but that's it will just take time to get back to that level.
Whether you agree with Ekholm or not, the veteran is obviously trying to downplay the anxiety in Edmonton about another slow start, or that the team can't make it back to the Final. The Oilers players believe more than anyone else that they have the talent and ability to win the Stanley Cup, and they just need to get back to brining their best game every night. It's preferable that the players stay confident, instead of openly frustrated with their play.
Coach Knoblauch may have seen enough of the Oilers trying to find their groove though. Today at practice, the coach stopped practice to hold a team meeting, and removed three star players from the top powerplay unit.
This message from Ekholm is a great peak into the mentality of the team - still confident as ever that they will be competing this year. With their current record of 2-4-1, the Oilers goal just needs to be getting back to .500, and going from there. A win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday Night would be crucial to that goal.
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