First Period Woes for the Edmonton Oilers

Since 2017, the Oilers’ core group of players has been involved in 10 playoff series that required at least six games. Tuesday will be the sixth time they enter Game 6 trailing 3-2. They are 4-1 in their previous five games. However, only one of those games was on the road (2023 in LA).

Edmonton has experience facing elimination, and the players will need all of that experience combined with discipline, smarts, and the energy to play well in the entire first period if they hope to extend the Stanley Cup Final to a seventh game.

The first period has been the Oilers’ nemesis in every game except Game 2. Edmonton did score first in Game 1, but Florida scored twice to lead after 20. Edmonton eventually trailed 3-1 before coming back to win in OT. The Oilers did score three goals in the first period of Game 2, but they only led 3-2 after 20 minutes. In Games 3-5, they’ve been outscored 7-0 in the first period, including being down 3-0 and 2-0 in both games in Florida. If that happens tomorrow, their Stanley Cup dream will most likely be crushed for another season.

The Oilers started well in Game 5. Connor Brown had a great chance, then Connor McDavid did as well, although neither of his shot attempts reached the net. But after that, the Panthers slowly took the period over, and in the final 10 minutes, they controlled the play and scored twice at even strength. Once again, the Oilers were chasing the game. That has been the common theme of the entire series. They’ve barely had the lead.

The longest period of time Edmonton has led is 15:46. That was in Game 2 when Leon Draisaitl made it 3-2 with 7:23 remaining in the first period. Florida tied it 8:23 into the second period. Florida has never trailed by more than one goal and never by more than 15 consecutive minutes.

Edmonton has scored first once, in Game 1 at the 1:06 mark. Florida tied it 9:43 later. They never trailed again until Draisaitl won the game in overtime.

There has been a total of 358:52 of game played in the series. The three overtimes have totalled 68 seconds less than another full game. The teams have almost played six games’ worth of minutes in the five games, and Florida has trailed for only 9.4% of the time. The Panthers haven’t needed to take risks or play outside their comfort zone. They haven’t had to expend more energy because they are trailing. It is draining, physically and mentally, when you are chasing the game and trying to tie it.

It wasn’t a huge surprise that Edmonton looked lethargic in Game 5. They’ve been in chase mode most of the series.

They desperately need a solid first period tomorrow. It is a must. I know they won’t quit, but they can’t continue to chase the game and play from behind. It will catch up to them, and it looked like it did in Game 5.

The Oilers’ best first periods were in Games 1 and 2. However, since then, they’ve been outscored 7-0 and outshot 37-20. Their main focus has to be the first 20 minutes.

Be ready.

Play smart.

Play disciplined.

Defend well.

No mental lapses.

Score first.

“We gotta be ready from the start,” said Corey Perry. “It would be nice to get out and play with that lead. That’s our goal to start strong, get that first one and play from there,” said Corey Perry.

The Oilers have to play with intent, but without nerves, which is difficult, especially with so much on the line. Winning isn’t easy, but it can be easier if you score first.

Over the past two Stanley Cup Finals between these teams, the team that scores first is 10-2. Last year, the only game a team lost when scoring first was Game 2, when the Oilers scored first. Florida tied it in the second period before Evan Rodrigues scored twice in the opening 12 minutes of the third period to secure the victory.

This year, Florida scored first in Game 4, led 3-0, before losing in OT.

The Oilers must have a good start that lasts longer than seven minutes and leads to them scoring first.

Start there and put Florida in chase mode.