Mark Spector

Oilers Takeaways: Odds catch up with Edmonton in OT loss to Maple Leafs

Mark Spector

Senior columnist Mark Spector is one of Canada’s leading voices on the NHL. Based in Edmonton, Spector gives Canadian hockey fans exclusive insight into the goings-on in NHL franchises while offering opinion and analysis of the Oilers.

Oilers' Stuart Skinner hates his stats but learning to love his game

For a goalie behind a slow-starting Edmonton Oilers team to have a slow-starting stats line should not surprise. But what might be a surprise is how Stuart Skinner feels about it. Mark Spector explains.

'Never been a player like him': Oilers' McDavid hits 1,000 points in spectacular fashion

McDavid on brink of 1,000 points after huge performance in Oilers' OT win

With a four-point showing Tuesday in an OT win, Connor McDavid moved within one of the 1,000 mark. That makes the Oilers' next game on Thursday must-see TV.

'They came up big': Oilers' seven-goal outburst a promising sign

Edmonton has clawed out a 7-7-1 mark thus far, and pulls to within two points of the Canucks rather than falling six behind, had they lost.

Oilers Notebook: Edmonton seeking identity in front of hostile Canucks crowd

Time is now for disconnected Oilers to start bringing consistent effort

Yes, it's a long road to the Stanley Cup. But the road starts in November, not March. It's time for the Oilers to take their foot off the brake and start bringing their best effort.

Defensively fragile Oilers need to find solutions in a hurry

The Oilers are extremely plain these days, and the solutions are clearly not simple. They’ll have to work harder at a lot of things, because the statute of limitations on a Stanley Cup hangover is surely soon to expire.

McDavid's quick recovery could offer hope for Oilers' lacklustre power play

Time is now for Oilers' Podkolzin to deliver on all that potential

On a team that lost more youth and speed than any other over the summer, Vasily Podkolzin represents a chance for the Edmonton Oilers to recoup.