The Edmonton Oilers suffered a 5-4 defeat at the hands of the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night, failing to replicate their Monday's comeback against the same team. Despite a late surge and outshooting Columbus 13-4 in the third period, the Oilers couldn't overcome the deficit. Here are three key takeaways from the game:

1. Slow Starts Continue to Plague the Oilers

Edmonton found themselves chasing the game for the majority of the night. They trailed 1-0 after the first period and quickly fell behind 2-0 early in the second. While they managed to tie the game at 2-2, it was short-lived, as Columbus quickly regained the lead. The Oilers have a troubling trend of starting games slowly, which has put them in difficult positions. They've given up the first goal in 11 of their last 16 games and fallen behind 2-0 in seven of those contests. This pattern of sluggish starts needs to be addressed if the Oilers hope to achieve consistent success.

2. Defensive Lapses and Goaltending Concerns

The Oilers' defensive game was not up to par, contributing to the loss. Turnovers in their own zone and missed assignments led to scoring opportunities for the Blue Jackets. Goaltender Calvin Pickard, making his start, allowed 5 goals on 25 shots. While Pickard can't be solely blamed for the loss, the Oilers need more solid goaltending to win tight games. The team's defensive structure and goaltending need to improve to support the team's offensive capabilities.

3. Draisaitl's Efforts Not Enough

Leon Draisaitl had a strong performance, scoring two goals, but his efforts weren't enough to propel the Oilers to victory. Draisaitl's first goal tied the game at 2-2, and his second brought the Oilers within one goal in the third period. Evan Bouchard contributed with three assists. While the Oilers have offensive firepower, they need more consistent contributions from other players to support McDavid and Draisaitl. The team needs a more balanced offensive attack to take pressure off their star players and achieve consistent wins.

The Blue Jackets capitalized on their opportunities, with Mathieu Olivier scoring twice and Charlie Coyle contributing a goal and two assists. Adam Fantilli continued his strong play with another goal. Ultimately, Columbus managed to hold off the Oilers' late push, securing a 5-4 victory and preventing Edmonton from completing another comeback. The Oilers will look to bounce back in their next game against the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday.