"Not even a handful of days away could change the cold hard facts awaiting the Edmonton Oilers when they returned to Rexall Place on Monday.

The Oilers have 33 games remaining, starting with a visit from the Colorado Avalanche tonight. They are so far back of the Western Conference playoff pack that they would have to win 25 of those games to make the playoffs — presuming they also get three overtime points and that 94 ends up being the cut-off mark.

So the task has become less daunting. The Oilers have instead set their sights on catching the 28th-place Anaheim Ducks."