Oilers searching for solutions

The 2017-18 NHL season has felt like “death by a thousand cuts” for Edmonton Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli.

And there is no magic pill to cure the team’s troubles, he said Tuesday.

In a frank conversation with reporters before the club’s game against the Arizona Coyotes, Chiarelli acknowledged that lack of scoring and subpar defending, goaltending and special teams have all contributed to the Oilers’ woeful start that has seen the team tumble down the standings to 27th place in the 31-team league.

It’s not what was expected of the promising young squad that boosted beleagured fans’ hopes by making the playoffs last season after an excruciating 10-year drought.

The Oilers, led by scoring champ Connor McDavid, came within one game of the NHL’s final four last spring, and pre-season forecasts this year have them breaking through and challenging for the Stanley Cup.

“I’m disappointed as to where we are,” said Chiarelli. “There are a number of areas. It’s a little bit of a death by a thousand cuts right now so when you’re patching up one area another area opens up.”

Heading into Tuesday’s game, the Oilers were 9-13-2 on the season, but had only been able to string together back-to-back wins once.

“There are a lot of things that aren’t going right at this point and we’re trying to work our way through it,” he said.