Edmonton Oilers Captain Calls for Intensity After Avalanche Loss

EDMONTON, Alberta — After a tough 9-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche, Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid is calling for a renewed sense of urgency and intensity from his team. The Oilers face the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday at Rogers Place, hoping to improve their 6-6-4 record this season.

McDavid acknowledged the team’s struggles after practice on Sunday, emphasizing the need for players to find more emotion in their game. “It’s been flat — that starts with me as a leader,” McDavid said. “There has maybe not been enough energy, and we have to find a way to bring some of that into the game.” The loss to Colorado marked their worst home defeat since 2009.

While the Oilers have dealt with slow starts for three seasons, McDavid believes they need to collectively elevate their play. “We talk about in here that everybody is trying to bring something,” he said. “We all have a hand in bringing just a little bit more — emotionally, physically, and just to our game as a whole.” Edmonton is missing forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins due to injury, but McDavid is optimistic about the team’s ability to bounce back.

Last season, the Oilers managed to turn their season around after a sluggish start, finishing strong and advancing to the Stanley Cup Final. McDavid attributes some of their current struggles to complacency, stating, “We’ve kind of let things get to this point, and I think [Saturday] night was the accumulation of a lot of different things.” He is encouraging his teammates to respond positively to this challenge.

Looking ahead to Monday’s match against Columbus, McDavid urges his team to focus on getting off to a better start and maintaining energy throughout the game. “It starts with a good start, and we have to find a way to put a good game together here,” he said. As they prepare for this critical matchup, the Oilers aim to reclaim their competitive spirit and return to form.