The Oilers celebrate Sam Gagner's goal during the second period against the Detroit Red Wings at Rexall Place on Friday. Detroit won 3-2 in OT. (Codie McLachlan/QMI Agency)
Yup. Any more games like the one against the Wings and the Oilers won’t have a playoff prayer.
Up 2-0 through 40 minutes at home, with a chance to keep themselves in the playoff picture, the Oilers melted like butter in the sun, losing 3-2 in overtime to Detroit.
The Oilers had a 2-0 lead after 40 minutes and looked like they had this one in the bag, but took three-straight penalties and spent all of the third period on the ropes while Detroit pounded away at their body.
Sure enough, by 14:07 the lead was gone.
And 3:39 into overtime, thanks to Pavel Datsyuk, so was the game.
Ouch.
Returning to Edmonton after a nine-game, 17-day road trip that saw them go 3-4-2 and stay within striking distance of a playoff spot, the Oilers desperately needed to keep their momentum going at home.
The Wings, meanwhile, arrived in Edmonton in a costly slump that saw them fall out of a playoff spot.
