Kris Knoblauch: No Panic About the Oilers’ Power Play

Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch addressed the media ahead of Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers. The Panthers won Game 2 in overtime. One of the central questions was obvious: What’s wrong with the Oilers’ power play, and is it time to panic?

What Is He Saying?

Knoblauch’s answer was calm and measured. While the Oilers’ power play has failed to convert in the first two games of the series, he doesn’t believe it’s time for major overhauls. In fact, he sees no reason to sound the alarm. Why? Because the team is still generating quality scoring chances. “It’s one thing if we’re not getting our opportunities or not getting shots,” he explained, “but I don’t think that’s the case.”

Knoblauch emphasized that what matters most is whether the plays the Oilers are running are repeatable and structurally sound — not whether every chance goes in. He wants to focus on patterns, not outliers. “You want to eliminate outliers… and address the things that will happen over and over again,” he said. That means prioritizing systemic adjustments over emotional reactions to missed opportunities.

Knoblauch’s Non-Radical Approach to the Oilers’ Game

The message from Knoblauch is clear: the Oilers’ power play isn’t broken — it’s just not finishing right now. But it’s doing everything else right. Against a Panthers penalty kill that’s been aggressive and opportunistic, the Oilers have still found ways to create chances. It’s just a matter of time, Knoblauch suggests, before the dam breaks.

He’s also confident that his stars — including Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl — don’t need radical new systems to find success. They need patience, persistence, and maybe a bounce or two.

Knoblauch Trusts the Oilers Process

Knoblauch’s approach is important because it sets the tone heading into Game 3. Rather than reacting emotionally to a lack of production, he’s trusting the process. That steadiness is essential in a high-pressure environment like the Stanley Cup Final. Players feed off their coach’s belief. If the message had been panic or frustration, it could have made the team tighten up.

Instead, Knoblauch is reinforcing trust in what has been the NHL’s most dangerous power play for the past two seasons. He’s also subtly turning the pressure back on Florida: if the Oilers keep getting high-quality looks, eventually the Panthers’ penalty kill may crack.