Edmonton Oilers officially rule out forward with long-term injury
Photo credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
In a recent update from Oilers' Insider Bob Stauffer, Edmonton's physical and hard-checking forward Kasperi Kapanen will be out of the lineup for quite a bit longer than originally hoped.
Feisty forward injured in game versus Red Wings
«He's going to be out a little while,» said Bob Stauffer. «I'm going to tell you that right now.»
Kasperi went hard into the boards on Sunday against Detroit, in the kind of play that defines his physical game, where he grinds for pucks and forechecks relentlessly.
We saw this in the playoffs last year, how effective he can be when a playoff-series is on the line. Not having Kapanen available in the lineup will be noticed immediately, given that the Oilers have been one of the league's least aggressive teams, lacking fight and physicality.
Of its game against New Jersey, Bob Stauffer had this to say about Edmonton:
«One of the players I overheard from New Jersey was saying how easy these guys (the Oilers) were to play against. They didn't fight and compete for space. Frankly it didn't surprise me. They got to be better. They got to dig in here I know the Oilers aren't built to be an uber-physically competitive team. But they're going to have to ratchet up the intensity."
The Oilers have been plagued with injuries in the early part of the season, a possible factor for its recent losing streak; but they do need to adapt a 'next-player-up' mentality and increase its fight.
Edmonton is the second last hitting team in the NHL this year, averaging only 16.9 hits per 60. In contrast, the top-hitting team is St. Louis at 28.6.
Edmonton was also a low hitting team last year, but upped its physicality in the post-season, with players like Hyman and Kapanen leading the way on the forecheck, in the corners, and in front of the net, where the battles are fought.
For the Oilers to turn its season around, it could start by playing a more physical and intense game, a mind-set that must filter through the lineup, top to bottom.
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