BLOG: Pressing reset

EDMONTON, AB - Pause. Reset. Restart.
Rather than digging their blades into the ice to run drills, do system work and engage in board battles, the Edmonton Oilers elected to press the reset button on Monday by holding an optional practice at Rogers Place.
The decision came a day after a 5-1 drubbing at the hands of the Los Angeles Kings and with the Orange & Blue experiencing their first losing streak of the 2021-22 season.
"The sky is not falling," Oilers Captain Connor McDavid, who was held off the scoresheet versus LA for just the third time this year, assured.
"It's a good chance for us to reset. We had a good video session and we didn't skate, so I think there's a good chance to get a little bit of energy back. We don't want to dismiss how we've played of late and need to get back to playing our game."
Upon closer evaluation of Sunday's effort, Head Coach Dave Tippett could see the fatigue hampering his group and chose to use the day as an opportunity for some players to skate, others to train and everyone to review their recent performances.

MONDAY'S CONTENT

WRITTEN
GENE'S BLOG: Just what the doctor ordered
BLOG: Monday's optional at Rogers Place
VIDEO
OILERS TODAY | Welcome to the NHL
RAW | Coach Tippett
RAW | McDavid
RAW | Barrie
Spectacular NWT Play of the Week

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"We were a tired group all the way through," Tippett told the media from the Oilers Hall of Fame Room. "Heavy legs, not reacting to stuff. I came in this morning, made them have a little workout and the guys that didn't play last night skated. Everybody that played last night stayed off and watched a bit of video."
Clicking down on the reset button as a team involves pressing rewind in the video room to analyze areas of concern. Video sessions can be informational, constructive and at times, difficult to withstand because it forces players to self-assess but Tippett explained some of the methods he uses in the theatre room to keep everyone empowered during the evaluation period.
"You have a good and a bad side," he said. "You got to show the good stuff that works and then you got to show the areas you got to clean up. As you go through it, there's always a little bit of both."
Aspects the Oilers seek to rectify include the early phases of matches, stronger efforts at even strength and maximizing the output from every player in the lineup - from the top forward line down to the backup netminder. But it all begins by playing with purpose right off of puck-drop.
"Making sure the battle level and compete is there right from the get-go, that's big," McDavid said. "You've seen it a couple of times where the goalies have had to make big saves early and we've kind of waded our way into games. We're fine once we get going but that's not a real recipe for success."
Since the 2019-20 season, the Oilers have been one of the most successful teams in the League when breaking the ice with a 61-10-4 record after scoring the game's first goal. Conversely, the club has gone 27-41-7 when conceding it against.

"I don't think there are any tricks," defender Tyson Barrie said of shaking off the slow starts. "I think it's just a mindset and maybe the extra thought about it starting tomorrow. I've been on some teams that have been notoriously slow starters. We certainly don't want to be put into that category."
At even strength, the Oilers have been outscored 54-48 during the '21-22 campaign and have veiled the issue with stunning special-teams efficiency. Coach Tippett broke down the 5-on-5 predicament into the specific components that need attention.
"There's defending, offence, faceoffs; there's a lot that goes into 5-on-5. It's more than just saying, 'We've got to play better at 5-on-5.' There are different aspects that come into play," Tippett said.

A fervent attack at the net is something McDavid says is missing at even strength while Barrie believes the squad could do a better job of being in the right positions on the ice.
"I think right now, we're just unsure of where we're supposed to be or what we're doing. We just have to be committed to playing the right, correct way at 5-on-5. It will change some things around for us," said the defender.
As for the individual performance of players, that comes down to effort, accountability and reflection. "You have to do a good job of self-assessing, looking yourself in the mirror and asking if you can do more to help this team," Barrie said.
"We're all proud guys in here and I'm sure most guys feel like that on a nightly basis they could do more. If you can bring more, you have to do it. It's your job."