Oilers eager for potential chance at playoffs, Tippett says

Dave Tippett said he believes hunger will be a strength for the Edmonton Oilers whenever the NHL resumes play after the pause due to concerns over the coronavirus.

In Tippett's first season as Oilers coach, Edmonton is 37-25-9 and in second place in the Pacific Division, three points behind the Vegas Golden Knights. It is in good position to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2017 and the second since 2006.
"Our group is a very motivated group," Tippett said Tuesday during a video call arranged by the Oilers. "They wanted that learning experience of playing down the stretch. We feel like we've earned the right to be a playoff team, and now they want to see what we can do in the playoffs, and they were excited for that.
"The teams that think they can jump into the playoffs and have a chance to go on a run are going to be the most motivated, and I put our group in that category. There will be teams that know they don't have a chance at a playoff spot, and they'll play hard because they're playing for jobs next year.
"But the teams that are really motivated to go on a run in the playoffs, those are the ones that will get the jump. I would like to put our team in that mix."
Tippett, who was hired as Oilers coach May 28, 2019, said he knows that opportunity is going to take some time. He said he has been in contact with players and they are eager to be busy but that everyone knows social distancing and other safety measures remain a priority.
"There's a little bit of frustration on the players' part because they just want to play," Tippett said. "That's what they want to do. But they all understand the gravity of what's happening in the world right now and understand that patience is of the essence. They just hope at some point we get back and get to continue what we started here this year."

Compared to some of their Western Conference rivals, the Oilers lack experience in the playoffs and other pressure situations. But Tippett said he's looking forward to the potential opportunity of watching his players finding their way together.
"You get to those games that the intensity level is there, the pressure to win is there, and those are all things you put in that memory bank," Tippett said. "That's in the regular season, to get that playoff spot. ... Those are things that teams need to learn, not just our team. There have been teams over the history of the League that they go through those experiences and then they break through. We'd like to have some those experiences. Hopefully we get our kick at the cat to break through."
Tippett said he's already been thinking of preparation and methods he might use once practice might be permitted and when and if the season may resume. The Oilers would have the benefit of having the top two scorers in the NHL: Forward Leon Draisaitl led the League at the pause with 110 points (43 goals, 67 assists) in 71 games, and center Connor McDavid was second with 97 points (34 goals, 63 assists) in 64 games.
"There will be adequate time to get fitness levels up and get back skating for players, but it'll be a little bit like the start of a season, where you've got to get up and going pretty quick," Tippett said. "You're not going to have a 28-day training camp.
"I've looked back at some of my notes from the lockout year (2012-13) when I was [with the Arizona Coyotes] and we started in (January), a short training camp, what it looked like, what we did, and had some looks at that to see if you can get up and going quick.
"I look at our team and driven by our core players, I think we could get up and running pretty quick. I'm always optimistic that we could get up and going and get playing well as quick as possible."
Better health could help Edmonton. At the pause, forward Joakim Nygard had missed 21 games because of a broken hand, and defenseman Mike Green, acquired in a trade with the Detroit Red Wings on Feb. 24 for forward Kyle Brodziak and a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2020 or 2021 NHL Draft, had missed seven games with a knee injury.
Nygard has nine points (three goals, six assists) in 33 games in his first NHL season; Green has 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in 50 games, none in two games with the Oilers.
"Both of them will certainly be ready to go when we get started again," Tippett said.