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Oilers snap six-game losing streak

Winnipeg Jets v Edmonton Oilers

EDMONTON, AB - DECEMBER 23: Ales Hemsky #83 of the Edmonton Oilers celebrates the goal of his teammate Jordan Eberle #14 (not pictured) against the Winnipeg Jets during an NHL game at Rexall Place on December 23, 2013 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)

Derek Leung

It might just be a happy hockey fan base in Edmonton again. Well, maybe. And if so, it’s only been one game.

The Oilers snapped a six-game losing streak with a 6-2 win over the visiting Winnipeg Jets on Monday, heading into the holiday break in the schedule on something of a positive note.

The good times in Edmonton have been very few and very far between for hockey fans this season. The Oilers still sit dead last in the Western Conference. Yes, even after their triumph Monday.

The recently snapped skid provided even more fuel for already impatient fans fed up with seeing a team that supposedly had so much promise and playoff potential play so poorly through the first three months of the regular season.

Emotions seemed to hit the boiling point when a fan threw his Oilers jersey onto the ice following a loss Saturday. That prompted a lengthy response from head coach Dallas Eakins.

“Whoever threw that jersey on the ice, they’re out, they’ve given up, they’re a quitter,” said Eakins. “We don’t want that here.”

“For some fan to show us all that he quit, he’s done, he threw in the towel, I think that says volumes about the individual. I don’t believe this city was built on people like that.”

Just a few hours prior to puck drop on Monday, Eakins took to Twitter to clarify his earlier remarks.

The game turned ugly late in the third period. Jets’ defenseman Zach Bogosian was given a major penalty for spearing during a scrum that had ensued with less than four minutes remaining.

“It was 6-2, we were embarrassing ourselves. You’ve got to hope there’s going to be some emotion,” said Jets defenseman Mark Stuart afterward, as per Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun.