Author: Stephen Vani

Oilers fan in Toronto. Staying up past my bedtime for Western games since the mid 2000s.

Oilers Game 19: Washington Capitals

I hope that all of our American hockey fans and Inside The Rink readers had a happy Thanksgiving yesterday. I believe they have a lot to be thankful for. I am particularly cheering for teams that are not the Edmonton Oilers. In the Florida trip, they had two-goal leads that they couldn’t hang onto. Against […]

Oilers Game 18: Carolina Hurricanes

Connor McDavid had his first two goal game of the season on Monday night. Yes, that does sound weird to say. No, I didn’t make that up. That’s how odd of a season it has been, along with every other issue plaguing the Edmonton Oilers. McDavid is currently on pace for 80 points in 80 […]

Oilers Game 17: Florida Panthers

Saturday’s loss was bad. It’s one of those games you look back on later in a season and wish you could replay. But of course, no sports team wins every single game. The Oilers won three and lost one. That’s the sort of consistency they need to hang onto to make up for the points […]

Oilers Game 16: Tampa Bay Lightning

Not the ideal way to win your third straight game, but that’s what matters in the end. Down 3-1 late in the third period, and then Evander Kane becomes a hero with the hat-trick. Before this comeback win against the Kraken, remember that Edmonton had a decisive 4-1 win against them on the road last […]

Oilers Game 15: Seattle Kraken

They won again? I mean, they won again. Of course, they won again; who said they wouldn’t? You said it, not me. It took a month, but the Edmonton Oilers finally have a two-game winning streak. It was also just their first win at Rogers Place this season. Their other home win was during the […]

Oilers Game 14: New York Islanders

I’ve never felt disappointed writing about a win before. I went to bed on Saturday night with relief that the Oilers played perhaps their best game of the season and finally got another win. All four of their goals were in the first period, and neither Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl got points on any […]

Oilers Game 13: Seattle Kraken

A win, my kingdom for a win. My kingdom for saves, my kingdom for defense, and my kingdom for offense. Of all the low points in the first 12 games of the season, Thursday night’s loss to the San Jose Sharks was the lowest. At least San Jose already recorded their first win before beating […]

Oilers Game 12: San Jose Sharks

The death by 1000 cuts Connor McDavid alluded to last week struck again on Monday night. Edmonton could not have gotten themselves into a better start against Vancouver. Twenty shots in the third period, 10 of them in only the first five minutes. Thatcher Demko showed why he’s the best goalie in the league right […]

Oilers Game 11: Vancouver Canucks

During my day, when I was scrolling through social media, there was a post about yesterday being the two-year anniversary of Connor McDavid scoring what’s arguably the best goal of his career against the New York Rangers. If you’re a fan of another team reading this and, for whatever reason, haven’t seen that goal, just […]

Oilers Game 10: Nashville Predators

Well, I can’t give the usual rant I have about the Oilers losing due to a lack of effort. They were the better team on Thursday, just really unlucky. Evan Bouchard had a hat trick of goalposts hit, and too many fluky bounces didn’t find their way into the net. But they couldn’t get a […]