This spot seems eerily similar for the Edmonton Oilers.

Exactly two weeks ago, the Oilers visited the Utah Mammoth fresh off a home Saturday night loss where the team didn’t really have it. At that time, the Oilers were third in the Pacific Division. Vibes were low.

Fast forward a fortnight, and the Oilers have gone 5-1 in that stretch, and are first in the division via a tiebreaker. Meanwhile, the Vegas Golden Knights fired a coach and have three in a row, and the Anaheim Ducks have lost three straight and loosened their grip on the Pacific.

Much has changed in 14 days. Starting Tuesday night, the Oilers control their own seeding fate.

“That’s exciting,” said veteran blueliner Mattias Ekholm, who’s been in these situations umpteen times.

“We put ourselves in that position, so now it’s up to us to take care of it. Yeah, we’ve got some big games coming up. These teams are all fighting for their lives, especially these next three, so it’s gonna be a big challenge. But I do like our game. I do think our game has been pretty solid in the last six or seven. Obviously, we didn’t love our Saturday game, but you’ve got to move on.”

But the spot still smacks of familiarity, especially because the Mammoth will surely draw into the Pacific Division playoff bracket and play the division winner in the first round.

Top of mind for the Oilers? A return to those pesky, important details.

“As the league goes on throughout the season, it tightens up. It’s harder to score goals, the details, the physicality, all that. It’s mandatory,” said Curtis Lazar.

‘Work in progress’

Kris Knoblauch said the story of Saturday’s 5-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights was defending the rush. Four VGK goals came after quick entries into the zone, something the Oilers had done much better against in their five game winning streak.

Those details had begun to slip against the Blackhawks the game before, but Edmonton was not punished for it.

The Oilers homestand........

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