The Oilers have lived off their power play this season but they'll need to shore up their even-strength play to contend. (SportsnetSpec)
EDMONTON — As the players filtered into position for the faceoff that would open the second period of a Jets-Oilers game on that fateful Wednesday evening, Blake Wheeler skated a little closer to Leon Draisaitl, leaning in to hear the Oilers centre. From the press box, you knew what the topic was, on a night when the NBA had abruptly postponed its first game and had a player test positive for COVID-19.
Well, with NHL teams now in mid-summer training camps ahead of an August 1 return to play, let’s take a look at where Edmonton stands heading into this weird, 24-team, ghost game post-season. So general manager Ken Holland set out to help his team at 5-on-5 at the trade deadline, bringing in speedy winger Andreas Athanasiou and puck-moving defenceman Mike Green. Neither one were destined for the first power-play unit, though it was hoped for that both would improve the team in all of those important minutes played at even strength.. Athanasiou struggled with his new team and a re-start in Edmonton would do him some good.
The question the Oilers have to answer is simple: can they keep the puck out of their net enough to win games at a time of year when offence is traditionally more difficult to create?
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