Edmonton Oilers Playoff Thoughts: Round 1, Game 6

I remember this quote from TSN’s Craig Button about Edmonton Oilers Mattias Janmark during a home game against the Montreal Canadiens in March. “You wanna know what a 2 goal scorer looks like?” My friends, that is what a 2 goal scorer looks like.

Never forget how much of an impact your bottom six can make in Playoff games. Whatever they did or didn’t do in the regular season no longer matters from here on out. Even players who weren’t cashing in on the scoresheet often while in the top 6 before the start of Round 1 have been quietly productive. It didn’t dawn on me at all that Vasily Podkolzin has three assists in these last five games, one of them being on Janmark’s game winner the other night. Viktor Arvidsson’s only goal was in a Game 2 loss, but it was important at the time he scored it, and he also assisted on Janmark’s Game 5 goal. He’s put up two important points against his former team. John Klingberg had a primary assist in Game 2 that was a tip-in goal, and his Game 5 assist was a nice play to keep the puck in the offensive zone. We may not get the Dallas version of Klingberg, but he’s been a pleasant surprise as of late. All of that, plus Evander Kane looking like he didn’t miss hockey for 10 months and Corey Perry still drinking from the fountain of youth, there’s been a lot to like about Edmonton’s depth lately.

The feelings of an LA Kings fan have shifted dramatically. In Game 3, there were less than half a period and a successful coach’s challenge away from taking a 3-0 series stranglehold. In Game 4, they were less than a single minute away from taking a 3-1 series lead back home with a chance to end it, and they had a multigoal lead in the third period of that game. In Game 5, their Vezina trophy nominee gave a Vezina trophy level performance at home, the best goaltending performance of the series, and it still wasn’t enough as they’re now in do-or-die mode on the road. In danger of bowing out of Round 1 against the same opponent for the fourth straight year, they hit three separate brick walls. What else are they supposed to do? They even came close to blowing Game 1; this series would’ve already ended if they did. So now the feelings of our team’s fanbase shifted dramatically, too. Seeds of doubt have been planted, and now it’s up to the Oilers to have those seeds blossom. The keys to the game are… 

Edmonton Oilers Thoughts

Killer Instinct: In the opening round of the 2022 Playoffs, the Kings had a chance to knock out Edmonton after Game 5, but lost Game 6 at home and then lost Game 7. The Edmonton Oilers look to avoid making that same mistake; the fourth win is always the hardest to get. One win in Los Angeles against the best home team was hard enough; they’d rather make it easier on themselves and not try it again. Trent Frederic called the sound of the Playoff crowd at Rogers Place “Hockey Heaven”. Well then, built off of Hockey Heaven’s energy. 

Other Heroes?: I praised some forwards in the first paragraph, who else haven’t we heard a lot of in this series that could help save the day? Zach Hyman hasn’t scored a goal since Game 1, and Frederic’s looking more comfortable coming back from his foot injury. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored the empty net insurance marker in the last game, scored the opener in Game 3, and Connor Brown scored two goals in Game 3. Adam Henrique is scoreless, but he also has experience scoring in these scenarios. Does one of these forwards have an elimination game moment in them? Darnell Nurse is getting piled on again. Does he make us eat our words?

Less Is More: There have been 41 total goals scored between both teams in this series. Seeing that much offense back and forth is always nothing short of amusing. But out of each game, Tuesday night was the tightest hockey we’ve seen. You have to expect that when a series gets closer to the end. The Edmonton Oilers have shown before that they can win without scoring 4 or 5 goals. Three goals were good enough the other night, while controlling almost all of the play. Just keep doing the right things consistently, and however many goals you need will come.