[grimes]

if you think the number of injuries and illnesses the oilers have sustained this year is normal (which no sportscaster or news editor i've seen discuss the situation has said...they all say how bad it is for one team to have that many key players out) then thats your call.

It's not what I think. It's called reality.

The Leafs still lead the league with 296 man-games lost to injury. The Chicago Blackhawks (292), St. Louis Blues (270) and Philadelphia Flyers (244) are next.

Source

So where does it say the Oilers? I guess the folks who cover the Oilers need to do a little more research about how bad it is.

I would say it's probably not a coincidence that of the 4 teams listed there, none are currently in a playoff position. I'm not sure what the Oilers' number is either, but if they're anywhere close to those four, it does give some weight to injuries being an excuse for missing the playoffs. Nonetheless, it's certainly no excuse for mailing it in like they have been lately.