If there ever was a seven-minute stretch that perfectly summed up the Edmonton Oilers’ 2018-19 season, it happened on Tuesday night against the Colorado Avalanche.
Leading 2-0 nothing in the second period, and with a goal already in the bank by Milan Lucic -- the $6 million man’s sixth of the season -- the Oilers reverted to their true colors in a span of 7:08.
A promising looking contest, one day after Connor McDavid declared that he was “really, really” frustrated with how this season has gone in Edmonton, the Oilers forgot how to play hockey and Mikko Koskinen forgot how to stop pucks and the walls came crashing in. Again.
The result was four-straight goals from the Avalanche in an epic collapse for Edmonton, even by their own lowly standards.
Nathan MacKinnon walked through three Oilers who were just standing still for the 2-1 goal. The tying goal came when Koskinen, who was handed a silly contract extension earlier this season, whiffed on what should have been a routine save on Tyson Barrie.
Alex Kerfoot scored the go-ahead goal after he was left unmarked in front of Koskinen. The insurance marker came on a backhand from the high slot off the stick of Colin Wilson, another puck that needed to be stopped.
And then there was the defeated skate by 100-plus point man McDavid back to the Edmonton bench. It’s ugly in northern Alberta, and who knows how the Oilers -- a cash-strapped team when it comes to the salary cap -- get out of this mess. Two 100-point players (Leon Draisaitl being the other) and the Edmonton Oilers are going to miss the playoffs for the second straight season with the best player in the world in their lineup.
If nothing else, it’s a shame for hockey fans who want to see McDavid’s talents while he chases down a Stanley Cup.
Instead, they’re left with efforts like Tuesday night. As McDavid said on Monday, “It’s just not good enough.”
Scott Billeck is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @scottbilleck