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Playoff hopes flickering after dismal run in Games 41-50

Edmonton Oilers don’t play again until Groundhog Day, but their fans might think they have seen this movie before.

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The locals limped to their extended All-Star break with a flurry of games that saw them reach the 50-game mark far ahead of any Pacific Division rival. Short-staffed by significant injury woes to significant players and bone-weary from a difficult game schedule and travel regimen, the Oilers reached the break on an all-too-predictable three-game losing streak, their eighth such of the season of at least that duration. That leaves them in a difficult spot, last in the division and eight points out of the final playoff spot, a number that will surely reach double digits once games in hand are made up.

While lip service will be paid to the club pursuing the playoff dream, history tells us that is a mighty big margin to be made up under the NHL’s bizarre points system. Indeed, it is only by taking advantage of that system that the Oilers seem to be as “close” as they are, having won just 9 (nine) of their 50 games in regulation, including just 2 of their last 20 overall and a brutal 1 of 15 games within their own division. While it’s easy to imagine the return of Connor McDavid will help, it’s much more difficult to envision the just-turned 19-year-old sparking a turnaround severe enough to wrestle the Oilers back into contention. But if nothing else, the games should become more interesting again.