"We'll have some time to think about this one," admitted Jonathan Drouin, who returned from a four-game absence on Saturday, but was held off of the scoresheet against Edmonton. "We'll have time to prepare for our next game. We have some big tests coming up, and some big points up for grabs at home and on the road."
Coming off a pair of one-goal losses -- including Thursday's overtime decision against the Flames -- Saturday's result nevertheless sits as an outlier among the Habs' last eight games, a span over which the club went 5-2-1.
"Sticking to tonight, I don't think it's fair to group [the three consecutive losses] together. Everyone has to have the idea that they're going to create offense and go down there and play as a unit of five," stressed Max Pacioretty, who registered an assist on Alex Galchenyuk's second period tally. "I know we've gone through streaks, one way or the other, but tonight there just wasn't any offensive killer instinct."
Not for the Canadiens, at least.
The Oilers for their part jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead before the game was halfway done, potting a pair of goals just 73 seconds apart at the start of the middle frame.
The visitors would add two more just 30 seconds apart, later in the third.