Things are just not clicking for the Edmonton Oilers this season.
They entered this year as the favorites to win the Stanley Cup, but things have gone worse than anyone could’ve expected, and superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl haven’t performed up to standards.
Heading into Monday’s game against the Florida Panthers, McDavid was on pace for 76 points this season, which would be his worst season since his rookie year when he recorded 48 points in 45 games.
Connor McDavid, who’s led the league in points five times throughout his career, is the face of the Oilers’ franchise, and when the Oilers don’t perform, it’s often Connor McDavid who takes the heat. McDavid’s start to the season has been a disappointment.
But against the Panthers, McDavid looked like himself again, scoring two goals in the first half of the game. McDavid scored just under six minutes played, and shortly after, Evander Kane gave the Oilers a two-goal lead.
The Panthers scored two goals to tie the game before McDavid scored a beautiful penalty shot to give the Oilers the lead again. But it wouldn’t last long this time either. Just 68 seconds after McDavid’s 3-2 goal, the Panthers equalized, and the Oilers couldn’t get back.
The Panthers won 5-3, which means the Oilers are currently on a 5-11-1 record. The Oilers were devastated to blow another multi-goal lead.
Per Sportsnet Stats, the Oilers have lost an NHL-worst eight games since January 1st when holding a multi-goal lead, and Connor McDavid seems to have had enough responding to the same questions after every loss.
The Oilers struggle defensively and can’t hold out leads, and postgame, McDavid slammed back at a question from Mark Spector, Sr., a columnist for Sportsnet.
”Defensively, you guys are struggling. Offensively, you got a couple tonight. The power play is struggling. Like, are you better off trying to win this thing 4-1, or trying to win it 7-5?” Spector asked.
McDavid couldn’t care less about it, though.
”You love this question, but I’ve answered it so many times,” McDavid said. ”We’re trying to keep the puck out of our net, obviously. That’s our main focus.”
On social media, fans absolutely slammed the question from Spector.
The hate from fans led to a response from Spector, who claimed it’s not easy coming up with new questions for a team that plays and behaves the same every night.
”Hey man, you come up with some fresh questions for a team that loses the same way every night. I’m out of questions, they’re out of answers. Everyone doing the best we can,” he said.”
