Like a stunt plane pulling up from a perilous dive at the last possible moment, the Edmonton Oilers are once again climbing away from disaster. After a start to the season that had fans bracing for impact, the team is banking wins and showing the form that has defined their recent campaigns.
Signs of Life on the Ice
The most compelling evidence came in a decisive 6-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets at Rogers Place on Saturday, December 6, 2025. This commanding performance followed a 9-4 rout of the Seattle Kraken, signaling a potential shift in momentum for the struggling squad.
With these wins, the Oilers have posted a record of 4-2-1 in their last seven games, injecting a dose of optimism into their season. The resurgence isn't limited to the scoreboard; players and observers note marked improvements in team defence, goaltending, and overall structure.
A Familiar Pattern, But a Needed Response
Star centre Leon Draisaitl, who has contributed six points in the last two games, acknowledged the team's frustrating habit of slow starts. "Nobody wants to start the way we have the past couple of years," Draisaitl stated. "We want to get off to better starts but at the end of the day there is an underlying confidence within our group that we know how to play."
He described the recent struggles as a "lull" before the breakout, emphasizing the regained belief in the team's collective ability. The offensive numbers are staggering, with the team scoring 28 goals in their last six games, a stretch that included a tight 1-0 loss to the Minnesota Wild.
Building from Defence Outward
Ironically, that narrow loss to Minnesota may have been the first true sign of life. In that game, the Oilers' much-criticized team defence and goaltender Stuart Skinner were stellar, matching the league's hottest goalie save-for-save.
Veteran forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins pointed to a return to fundamentals as the catalyst. "I think the feeling is that we're starting to get that back," he said. "You could see the way that we want to play creeping into our game. It's never going to go super smooth, but we know what we're capable of."
He stressed that the team's high-end skill shines brightest when supported by hard work and simplicity. The recent wins, while encouraging, come with a note of caution. The challenges ahead will be steeper than those presented by a "mediocre Seattle and exhausted Winnipeg," but the Oilers believe they are finally identifying the key elements of a genuine turnaround.
The urgency to win is now palpable in Edmonton. After 29 games of anxiety, the Oilers have, for the moment, pulled back on the stick and are aiming for the sky. The question remains: can they maintain altitude for the long haul?
