With all the cheerful Whos and roast beasts removed, the Edmonton Oilers’ eight-game winning streak that was supposed to salvage the season and make Christmas cheerier has now devolved into a Grinch-like three-game losing streak
The New York Islanders put a stop to whatever aspirations Edmonton had of breaking the run with a 3-1 setback to start the first of six straight road games in defeat. The Oilers lastly went down the chimney and into their house.
The Oilers (13-15-1) have a long way to go before they can contend for the playoffs in the upcoming season, as demonstrated by the Islanders.
Before playing the Washington Capitals on Wednesday, New York improved its record to 15-8-8. The Islanders want to close the gap on the New York Rangers, who are now leading the Metropolitan Division (22-7-1) and leading the Eastern Conference.
The Oilers’ final game of the journey, against the Rangers on Friday, doesn’t get any easier. They first had to make a detour in New Jersey to play the Devils (16-12-2). In their only prior encounter of the season on October 26, the Rangers easily defeated Edmonton 3-0.
Despite having an 8-game winning streak and a 4-9-0 record, the Oilers have lost more games than they have won away from Rogers Place, where they are a solid 9-6-1. They did, however, defeat the Devils 4-1 at home during the eight-game run.
With a 4-9-0 record and more losses than wins when away from Rogers Place, where they are a
 respectable 9-6-1, the Oilers have shown themselves to be less of road warriors and more like road kill. Despite defeating the Devils 4-1 at home during the eight-game stretch.
No, nothing is improving. Oilers are glancing upward. in the standings, that is. at almost all of them.
Returning to their own conference, Edmonton is a full seven points off of a wild card playoff place, sitting in the bottom quarter at 13th out of 16 teams.
