Talbot's return could spark win streak Oilers desperately need
The Edmonton Oilers have played well lately, going 6-4-0 in their last 10 games, but they need to be even better to climb back into playoff contention.
Fortunately, help is on the way, as goaltender Cam Talbot, who missed the last six games with an upper-body injury, told Robert Tychkowski of the Edmonton Sun he hopes to be back in "less than a week."
Talbot hasn't been great this season, posting a pedestrian .903 save percentage and a 3.00 goals-against average, but with the way the Oilers have been putting the puck in the net lately, they don't need greatness in goal - they just need consistency.
Backup Laurent Brossoit has reeled off three strong games in a row, but overall, he's been inconsistent. His tendency to let in soft goals is demoralizing for a team that has already been brought down to earth.
The Oilers were projected by many to be a Stanley Cup favorites, but won just three times in their first 11 games. They're still trying to climb out from the hole they dug themselves early on, but they're going to have to go on a run to make it happen, as they sit seven points out of a playoff spot.
With Talbot on the cusp of returning, a prolonged winning streak doesn't seem so far-fetched.
Over the last 10 games, the Oilers have averaged four goals per contest. Perhaps the biggest reason why the offense has been clicking is because head coach Todd McLellan has found a lineup with perfect balance.
At the beginning of the year, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl were skating on the same line, but, as he figured out, putting your two best players - who both play center - side by side isn't conducive to team success.
Lately, McLellan has rolled out the following lines, and has seemingly struck gold:
| LW | C | RW |
|---|---|---|
| Milan Lucic | Connor McDavid | Jesse Puljujarvi |
| Jujhar Khaira | Leon Draisaitl | Ryan Strome |
| Patrick Maroon | Ryan Nugent-Hopkins | Mike Cammalleri |
| Anton Slepyshev | Mark Letestu | Zack Kassian |
The emergence of Jesse Puljujarvi, the surprising production from Jujhar Khaira, and a major bounce-back season from Ryan Nugent-Hopkins have all been X-factors in the team's recent success. How long Puljujarvi and Khaira can continue to produce remains to be seen - they've each scored four goals in the last 10 games - but their play is encouraging, nonetheless.
While the balanced attack has certainly been tough for opposing coaches to match up against, it's possible this scoring spree has been long overdue for the Oilers.
On the season, the team ranks second in Corsi For percentage, second in scoring chances for per 60 minutes, and fifth in high-danger scoring chances for per 60 minutes, all at five-on-five, according to Natural Stat Trick. However, they sit in the middle of the pack when it comes to goals per game.
Their poor puck luck couldn't have been better demonstrated in their 1-0 loss to Toronto on Sunday, in which they out-chanced the Leafs 51-27 in all situations, and hit at least five posts.
If the Oilers' offense can keep it up, and Talbot can be the rock in net he was a year ago, they could easily reel off a prolonged winning streak and secure a playoff spot. Both are big ifs, but the numbers are in their favor.
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)