Published Dec 06, 2023<\/span> \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 57\u00a0minutes ago<\/span> \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 3 minute read<\/span><\/p>\n This is not the same Edmonton Oilers team the Carolina Hurricanes remember from two weeks ago.<\/p>\n A 6-3 dismantling at the hands of the \u2018Canes in Raleigh, N.C., on Nov. 22 marked a third-straight loss for the Oilers, who were just a handful of games into the tenure of new head coach Kris Knoblauch at the time, and sitting near the bottom of the heap at 5-12-1.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Since then, the Oilers have picked things up, winning four straight ahead of Wednesday\u2019s rematch at Rogers Place (7:30 p.m., Sportsnet).<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n REGISTER TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The streak includes a 5-0 shutout of the Washington Capitals, an 8-2 explosion against the Anaheim Ducks and even a shootout-squeaker of a win over the defending champion Vegas Golden Knights. They followed up with a 3-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets to mark their first victory of the season while scoring fewer than four goals. And they head into this one well-rested off of a five-day break in the schedule.<\/p>\n But this one will be a true measuring stick of their progress, while any strides the Oilers took in that span could very well be wiped clean if they end up bookending things with another loss to Carolina.<\/p>\n Which begs the question, what\u2019s changed for the Oilers?<\/p>\n \u201cI think we\u2019ve tightened things up defensively, especially off the rush,\u201d said Knoblauch. \u201cAnd the special teams lately have been really good.<\/p>\n \u201cSince we played Carolina, I think the penalty kill\u2019s good, but I think the power play had been struggling and not clicking. But right now, I feel that\u2019s been going the way it should be.\u201d<\/p>\n And let\u2019s not forget about a once-again healthy Connor McDavid, who seems to have rediscovered the extra gear that makes him so difficult to defend after suffering what appeared to be a lower-back injury early in the season.<\/p>\n Headline News<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n But Knoblauch\u2019s right about the rest, especially when it comes to limiting the Grade-A scoring chances opposing teams are getting off of fewer off-man rushes.<\/p>\n As for special teams, the Oilers penalty kill is on a stretch of allowing just one goal in the past 24 attempts \u2014 including holding the Hurricanes scoreless on five man-advantages \u2014 while the power play has gone seven-for-15 since that last loss.<\/p>\n The Oilers penalty kill had allowed 18 power-play goals in the previous 63 opportunities and currently sits 20th overall (one spot up on Carolina) at 78.16 per cent, while they are 21 for 79 (26.58 per cent) on the man-advantage for sixth place.<\/p>\n If Knoblauch came in with some sort of timeline in place for witnessing a much-needed turnaround by the Oilers, he couldn\u2019t possibly have hoped for it to happen this soon. Now the Oilers just need to show it\u2019s all for real.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, no timeline,\u201d Knoblauch said. \u201cEverything always changes and you\u2019ve got to plan on something working and you\u2019re always proven wrong as a coach. You always think you\u2019ve got something handled and something\u2019s going the way it should be, and it\u2019ll change immediately.<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cBut when I came in here, I couldn\u2019t say, \u2018Oh, we\u2019re going to look after this and it\u2019ll be good after this time.\u2019 No, it was just something that we needed to address and I\u2019m sure after next game or next week, we\u2019ll be revisiting it.\u201d<\/p>\n Unless it\u2019s another win, of course, and the results continue to speak for themselves. Carolina isn\u2019t expecting to have another walk in the park.<\/p>\n \u201cEverything we shot that night went in, so it was good for us,\u201d Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind\u2019Amour said of their previous meeting. \u201cThe game was kind of over early, in that regard. So, we understand what you walk into when you play two of the best players in the world. They\u2019re game-changers.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ve got that unique team, is the way to describe it. They can beat you any night and beat you bad, so you\u2019ve got to be ready.\u201d<\/p>\n The Oilers, meanwhile, need to avoid having a repeat at all costs.<\/p>\n \u201cI think they\u2019re an aggressive team, catching a lot of teams off guard and it\u2019s tough to handle,\u201d said Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl. \u201cTo me, it\u2019s one of those teams you need to make two, three really good hockey plays in a row to even get a look at the net.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ve obviously played that way for a lot of years now. And a good test for us tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Evan](\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Oilers-Hurricanes-Hockey.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&h=216&sig=h13c_sk6bgIES-B7ho8UTw\" "\\"\\"")
The Carolina Hurricanes’ Andrei Svechnikov (37) controls the puck in front of Edmonton Oilers defenceman Evan Bouchard (2) in Raleigh, N.C., on Nov. 22, 2023.<\/span> Photo by Karl B. DeBlaker<\/span> \/The Associated Press<\/span><\/p>\nArticle content<\/h2>\n
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