Oilers Look to Snap Losing Streak Against High-Flying Lightning

The Edmonton Oilers came out of the 4 Nations Face-Off break hoping to gain ground in the Pacific Division. Instead, they’ve hit a wall, dropping three straight games in frustrating fashion. Now, they face an even bigger test as they take on the Tampa Bay Lightning—one of the NHL’s hottest teams—on Tuesday night.

While the Oilers look to shake off their defensive woes, the Lightning are riding a five-game winning streak and appear to be hitting their stride at the perfect time.

Edmonton’s Defensive Struggles Continue

The Oilers kicked off their five-game Eastern road trip with high hopes but have been exposed defensively, allowing 13 goals in their last two games against Philadelphia and Washington.

After a 7-3 blowout loss to the Capitals, captain Connor McDavid acknowledged the team’s post-break slump.

“Sometimes this happens after breaks. Some teams come out flying, some come out flat. We’ve obviously been the latter, so we’ve got to get back to our game,” said McDavid, who has 22 goals and 50 assists in 51 games this season.

Edmonton’s goaltending has also been shaky:

• Calvin Pickard started and lost twice, giving up eight goals on 52 shots.
• Stuart Skinner allowed eight goals on 43 shots in relief appearances and a full start against Philadelphia.

Against a team like Tampa Bay—one of only three NHL squads to surpass 200 goals this season—the Oilers will need a much stronger defensive effort.

Lightning Keep Rolling After Break

Tampa Bay showed some early rust in their first post-break game against Seattle, with multiple turnovers and sloppy passes. But they recovered to secure a 4-1 win, extending their winning streak to five games.

Coach Jon Cooper, fresh off leading Team Canada to victory in the 4 Nations Face-Off, was relieved that his players had a brief break before jumping back into action.

“Thank goodness we had at least one day (off) before starting play. There was a bug going around the tournament, and (Brandon Hagel) picked it up. We weren’t sure he was going to play.”

Not only did Hagel play, but he delivered in a big way, scoring a shorthanded goal to break the ice against Seattle—his third of the season and the team’s 10th overall, the second-most in the NHL.

“It’s a credit to his will and want to win hockey games, whether it’s for the Bolts or Team Canada,” Cooper added.

Key Matchups: McDavid & Draisaitl vs. Vasilevskiy

• The Oilers won the first meeting between these teams on December 10 with a 2-1 victory, powered by McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. But their current form suggests they’ll need much more firepower to keep up this time around.
• Tampa’s Andrei Vasilevskiy has been stellar lately, going 6-0-1 in his last seven starts while maintaining a 2.29 goals-against average and .920 save percentage.

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Final Thoughts: Can the Oilers Turn It Around?

The Oilers are desperate to stop their skid and tighten up defensively, but facing a red-hot Lightning team on the road is no easy task. Tampa Bay, on the other hand, will look to extend their winning streak and continue dominating at home.

Will Edmonton finally figure things out defensively, or will the Lightning add to their woes? Tuesday’s showdown will be a crucial test for both teams.

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