Slumping Oilers full of excuses after blowout loss to Avalanche

EDMONTON — Excuses.

That’s what we’re hearing from an Edmonton Oilers team that lost by eight on a Saturday night at home. A team that quit after its goalie let in a softie at 2-0, curled up in a ball and watched the Avs score seven more goals without so much as a roughing minor in response.

Excuses.

Like this one from Trent Frederic, whose impact since joining this team at the trade deadline last season has been less than microscopic.

“I’m trying to check my way out of it,” offered Frederic, who was as quiet as a church mouse while the Avs had their way at Rogers Place.

He has one point and six PIMs this season. He doesn’t have a top-six forward’s hands, or a bottom-six forward’s attitude.

“The fighting stuff comes. You can only ask so many guys when you have one goal in 15 games, n