At least that's a conclusion coach Kris Knoblauch has drawn from watching the Oilers slog through a 3-6-0 stretch since the break for the 4 Nations Face-Off, a nine-game slump, if you will, that has knocked them out of first place in the Pacific Division.

Stars: Rantanen wore No. 96 after being traded to the Stars by Carolina at Friday’s trade deadline and then signing an eight-year deal worth $96 million. He picked up an assist on the Stars’ opening goal by Johnston and then scored his 28th on a third-period power play.

It’s no secret that things haven’t been superb in northern Alberta over the past few weeks. While the Edmonton Oilers are destined to make it back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, some fans are concerned about whether the team is capable of making another deep postseason run as they did last year.

Tage Thompson scored two goals and led the Buffalo Sabres to a 3-2 National Hockey League victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Monday night.