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Canwest News Service
EDMONTON – Ignoring the standings, ignoring the road record, ignoring the Edmonton Oilers remaining games is the first step to survival explained defenceman Tom Gilbert.
He wasn't the only one figuring that ignorance is bliss. General manager Steve Tambellini, convinced this season can still be salvaged, is ignoring suggestions that this is the time to start looking ahead to next season.
After losing a last-second point to the San Jose Sharks, only to get pasted 7-3 by the Vancouver Canucks just 24 hours later, the club doesn't play again until Thursday when they meet the Red Wings in Detroit, the first date in a five-game road swing.
The Oielrs were in 27th spot in the NHL with a record of 10-13-4 when they reported to practice on Monday.
"We can't look at our record right now. We can't look at how many games we have left," Gilbert said. "It's funny how people will write you off when you've only played 27 games. We can't control that. All we can control is how we play . . . It's all about finding our game and being consistent.
"When you lose a heartbreaker (against San Jose) and a high scoring game on the road (in Vancouver), it's good to have three or four days to regroup and assess the way we've playing."
Tambellini, meanwhile, dismissed talk that it was time to throw in the towel and make a run for one of the top picks in the June draft.
"I'm not concerned about next season at this point," said Tambellini. "We have two young goaltenders who are very skilled. I can't see any reason why they can't do the job.
"It's November and we have a long ways to go as far as improving our team."
Star winger Ales Hemsky has left the lineup for season-ending shoulder surgery, goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin is still out with a bad back, Mike Comrie has missed the last six games with mono, and some of the veteran players aren't meeting expectations.
Defencemen Steve Staios is minus-5 in the last two games. His partner on the blue-line, Sheldon Souray, is minus-6 in the last three tilts, ditto for centre Shawn Horcoff and winger Patrick O'Sullivan. The telling numbers don't end there. O'Sullivan has 77 shots on net and just four goals, which works out to a dismal shooting percentage of 5.2.
"We just need better execution from the standpoint of them being the veteran corps," said head coach Pat Quinn. "The past two games have been pretty tough on five guys."
"We have three practice days to regroup and hopefully win some games. This stretch is going to be crucial for us and all know it," defenceman Ladislav Smid said. "This team is good enough to win games."
If that is indeed the case they'll need to do it with the men still standing. There are no helping hands to be had on the trade market, which has been seasonably quiet.
"There's no use sitting around thinking about what could happen if we had someone else in the room," said Staios. "We have a group of guys in the room, and our job is to go and get the job done. Each individual has to look at themselves, come prepared to practice, and be a true professional."
Quinn did say that while he has questioned his team's skill level and the player's knowledge of the game he wants them to play, he has not questioned the heart of his squad.
The Oilers are now 2-8-2 away from Rexall Place. Only the Carolina Hurricanes (0-10-3) have struggled more on the road.
"We didn't give up after a lousy start the other night (in Vancouver)," Quinn said. "They didn't run away and that to me is a sign we have some character here."
"With the significant injuries we have, the half full answer is that this does present opportunity, whether it's in goal or in some offensive situations without Hemsky," said Tambellini. "The biggest thing is making sure you're ready to take advantage of that."
Edmonton Journal
jireland@thejournal.canwest.com
