Oilers must ‘get more bodies to the net’ after disappointing loss to Devils

NEWARK, N.J. — Pe-rim-e-ter:The outermost parts or boundary of an area or object.

In hockey, an area away from the net, beyond the reach of the defensive team.

The Edmonton Oilers sit near the bottom of the NHL in even-strength goals, and itâ€s no mystery why. In the offensive zone, theyâ€re playing the game right now out on the edges, near the boards. Not in the hard areas where goals come from.

“I agree with that,†said forward Andrew Mangiapane, who went minus-2 without a shot on net in a 5-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Saturday afternoon. “A lot of goals are scored around this league by just being in front of the net and causing havoc. Getting that puck back and doing it again and again and again.

“I feel like weâ€ve got to deliver more pucks to the net, and our forwards have to do a better job of getting to the net.â€

There are two things going on here, as the Oilers wobble through the New York area with a win and two losses, the second-best team on the ice in all three games.

One, their best two net-front forwards last season were Corey Perry and Zach Hyman. The former is an L.A. King now, and the latter is out with a dislocated wrist until some time in November.

Someone has to figure out where the blue paint is, and fast.

“Somebody’s got to park out front … but everybody can have a little bit of that in their game. Go to the front of that when it’s your turn,†explained Adam Henrique, still a fan favourite here after seven seasons as a Devil. “If Iâ€ve got the puck on the outside, I can’t be at the net — so somebody else to. If somebody else is out there, then maybe Iâ€ve got to be there that time.

“When it’s your turn, it’s your turn. And I think we can find a little more of that.â€

The second part is simply this teamâ€s DNA.

The default here, when scoring starts to get a little scarce, is to make more passes. To share the puck more, not less — especially in October — when the answer is likely to get a little more selfish. To shoot more often, or dip your shoulder and take a puck to the net rather than pull up and look to pass.

Weâ€ve seen what this team looks like when it counts. How down and dirty it can become when the Golden Knights, Stars or Panthers push them up against a wall in April, May or June.

It takes a minute for this team to find that game in October and November, no question. But speaking with Connor McDavid after Saturdayâ€s loss, we would expect a little more linear game Sunday afternoon in Detroit.

“Everybody can be simpler. Everybody can do things a little bit easier, more predictable for each other. Get more pucks to the net, get more bodies to the net,†the Oilers captain said. “All the cliches are cliches because they work.

“Weâ€ll get back to our game here.â€

Somehow, a team that blew its opener to Calgary despite outplaying the Flames, then dominated Vancouver in an impressive win, forgot to pack its game for this Eastern swing.

They were average in New York, a ticking timebomb of giveaways on Long Island, and simply blah here. It was only a matter of time before the quicker, more concerted Devils found twine behind Calvin Pickard, and the Oilers were in chase mode the rest of the day.

“We talked about getting off to a good start — and we want to get out to a good start,†said McDavid, whose Oilers are now 2-2-1 after five games. “These games matter, and we didn’t find a way to win or get better today.

“Maybe the second part is more important than the first. Results matter, but I didn’t like that we didn’t seem to get any better today.â€

It was the second straight game in which the power-play unit surrendered a shorthanded goal, this one to ex-Oiler Connor Brown, who steamed in on a breakaway and beat Pickard.

“Those are kind of the special moments in your career,†Brown said of the goal, his third of the season. “You’ve been through so much with that team over there. Obviously, it’s just one of 82, but it kind of felt a little bigger for me, playing the old club. And to be able to pot one in a timely manner like that, it was a fun afternoon.â€

He bore down on Pickard, two former teammates whoâ€ll chuckle over that goal for years to come.

“I was actually just trying not to laugh against Pickard. We’ve got a pretty good bond,†Brown said. “I was telling the guys, (Leon) Draisaitl used to always tell me to go backhand-forehand on breakaways, so I thought I’d try it there and it worked.â€

Said teammate Brett Pesce: “I’m so happy for him. He lit up, too, like a Christmas tree.â€

Well, at least someone had some fun on a Saturday afternoon in Newark.

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