National Hockey League (NHL) October Review: Edmonton Oilers
The last time Edmonton saw their team anywhere near the Stanley Cup was during the 2006 National Hockey League (NHL) Playoffs when Oilers reached the finals, but lost in a game-seven decider against Carolina Hurricanes, 3-1.
Since then, Edmonton has not only seen their team being eliminated before the finals, but fans have also witnessed the team totally out of the playoffs before the postseason even gets to kick off.
The 2011-2012 NHL regular season is termed to be different for Edmonton Oilers, who have a lot of hope vested this time around.
Having acquired some top-notch players over the offseason, the team is performing well and seems confident to continue doing so as the season progresses.
Probably the biggest part of Edmonton’s process of get better was acquiring Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, by using their second straight top pick in the annual NHL Entry Draft. Having acquired Taylor Hall as number one a year earlier, Nugent-Hopkins was destined
to provide the struggling Canadian franchise with a young and dynamic duo.
So far in the season, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will continue playing with Edmonton and not be sent back to his Red Deer Rebels team in the Western Hockey League (WHL).
In the 11 games of October, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has potted a spectacular 11 points (5 goals, 6 assists), making him one of the highest performing rookies in the entire league. He ranks 14th overall in goals scored and 13th in terms
of points in the NHL, which is certainly a good sign for Edmonton.
Edmonton kicked off the season with a, 2-1, shootout victory over Pittsburgh Penguins, followed by another shootout against Minnesota, which they unfortunately lost.
Nugent-Hopkins waged a strong battle against the 2011 Stanley Cup finalists team, Vancouver Canucks, and potted his first career hat-trick through veteran goalie, Roberto Luongo, scoring all of Edmonton’s goal, but barely losing, 4-3.
Their near victory against a team like Vancouver and the performance put up by Nugent-Hopkins certainly raised the bar for future rookies and gave Edmonton the reassurance they needed.
Edmonton managed to win the next game against Nashville, but after a two-game straight loss to Calgary Flames and Minnesota Wild again in a shootout, Edmonton countered back and closed the month with five wins in a row.
Surprisingly, Edmonton sits on the number one spot of the Western Conference and if things keep progressing the way they are, it would not be difficult imagining Oilers being a top contender in the playoffs next year.
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