It could be nothing, and I don’t want to oversell it, but the tumblers could be clicking in a nice direction for the Edmonton Oilers this spring. Both western conference series with games last night resulted in 1-1 ties entering game 3. That suggests a long and grueling series for the Colorado Avalanche, Winnipeg Jets, Nashville Predators and Vancouver Canucks. If the Dallas Stars defeat Vegas Golden Knights this evening, and the Oilers win over the Los Angeles Kings, it would leave Edmonton as the lone western conference team with the clean air of a 2-0 series lead. These things are important during the long playoff run. A brief series against Los Angeles would be a tremendous result for the Oilers.
The lines at practice didn’t change yesterday, so the Oilers will likely be running McDavid with Hyman and Henrique, plus Draisaitl with Nuge and Foegele. The third line was effective to my eye in Game 1, and they played a lot. Here’s a look at each line (using centers as proxy) and their top competition in the first game.
- McDavid line: Faced Gavrikov-Roy pairing 9:34. 15-3 Corsi, 6-2 shots, 1-1 goals, 93 percent expected goals
- McDavid line: Faced Doughty-Anderson pairing 4:10. 6-8 Corsi, 4-6 shots, 2-1 goals, 58 percent expected goals
- McDavid line: Faced Danault line 5:45. 11-4 Corsi, 7-4 shots, 3-1 goals, 78 percent expected goals.
- McDavid line: Faced Kopitar line 4:12. 6-2 Corsi, 1-2 shots, 0-1 goals, 86 percent expected goals.
There are no good solutions here for LAK, but the Kopitar line with the Doughty pairing might be the route to take. I did look at the PLD unit but the matchup didn’t really help the Kings at all. Here’s the second line.
- Draisaitl line: Faced Doughty-Anderson pairing 8:30. 6-17 Corsi, 3-7 shots 0-0 goals, 12 percent expected goals.
- Draisaitl line: Faced Kopitar line 7:00. 7-9 Corsi, 4-2 shots, 0-0 goals, 89 percent expected goals.
- Draisaitl line: Faced Gavrikov-Roy pairing 3:42. 5-3 Corsi, 2-0 shots, 0-0 goals. 94 percent expected goals.
- Draisaitl line: Faced Danault line 4:05. 3-8 Corsi, 1-4 shots, 0-0 goals, 5 percent expected goals.
This would seem to confirm the wisdom of running 97 against Kopitar’s unit, allowing Danault to dominate the Draisaitl line. We need to remember these are small, small sample sizes and one can’t get ahead of themselves with this kind of evidence. That said, Draisaitl against Danault’s line and the Doughty pairing didn’t get much done. Kings may need two Doughty pairings.
- McLeod line: Faced Englund-Spence pairing 6:37. 8-7 Corsi, 7-4 shots, 0-0 goals, 86 percent expected goals.
- McLeod line: Faced PLD line 6:34. 8-7 Corsi, 8-2 shots, 0-0 goals, 82 percent expected goals.
- McLeod line: Faced Doughty-Anderson pairing 5:40. 4-2 Corsi, 3-1 shots, 0-0 goals, 97 percent expected goals.
- McLeod line: Faced Lizotte line 5:22. 3-4 Corsi, 1-3 shots, 0-0 goals, 4 percent expected goals.
Looking at these numbers, I’m tempted to suggest the world owes this trio a five-on-five goal for, and maybe we see it tonight. Lazotte line looks like jigglypuff according to these stats. Maybe they should be playing more?
It’s two hours of fun and anticipation today on the Lowdown, noon to 2pm on Sports 1440. Bruce McCurdy from the Cult of Hockey at the Edmonton Journal is the headliner, and we’ll tee up Game 2 for you. Plus, NFL draft, the Jays and more! You can reach me at Lowetide on twitter, in the comments section or on the Sports 1440 text line at 1.833.401.1440 directly.
.
I’m concerned. LA can easily get bounces/prey on bad turnovers like that 3 more times. Time to panic.
Am I the only one or did that last game feel like;
Nah, a 1-1 series was always the most likely outcome IMO.
2-0 would have been great, but the game 1 loser always extra urgency that’s hard to match.
And it’s not like the Oilers laid a turd or anything, that game could have gone either way but the bounces fell to the Kings.
Somewhat disappointed but not surprised.
I’m enjoying the ride. That was still a fun game. I still think we will win this too.
I have talked to Oilers fans and non Oilers fans. ….. almost all agree, if Edm lost in Rd 1 nobody would be surprised and if they went to the Cup Final, nobody would be surprised.
They are a flawed Juggernaut …
Praise Be.
The same could be said of any team in the playoffs (perhaps outside of WAS, NYI and TBL). It’s the NHL playoffs in 21st century and it is reffed to promote parity
It’s not just game 1 now, right.
There is no Yamamoto to blame
Drai
CF% 42
SF% 40
GF 2 / GA 3
RNH
CF% 36
SF% 33
GF 1 / GA 3
I don’t think Ryan touched the puck ( evens) in the 1st period.
Anyone else notice this dead canary on the ground?
Bouchard and Foegele on #1GA. Bouchard on #2GA. Foegele on #3GA.
Doughty decided to bag skate himself on his goal. Foegele…I can’t beat an old man down the ice so I am not even going to try.
Skinner #3GA and #4GA.
Need a save on one of the two.
It happens. He’ll be fine.
The even strength play of the top 2 lines was concerning, they all seemed disjointed.
1-3-1
I guess Nuse thought the puck was going to ring around the net?
Still can’t leave the middle of the ice like that when your partner has stepped up in the nuetral zone. Lack of awareness of opposition without the puck.
For some reason he was crossing over the wrong way. Not protecting the middle of the ice again. D with some big breakdowns tonight. 3 or 4 half breakaways.
been happening for 8 years …. solid player but not more than that
Oilers blew the game with weak team defensive play and poor forward defensive support in the first period.
Agree with this take. Kings had way too many open looks. Gap between the defensemen and forwards was too much and the Kings exploited that. Lots of perfect shots from the Kings, and lots of lucky saves on Talbot’s part. The Oilers still look to be the better team, but LA is not just going to roll over.
But Skinner just had to make one more save. Poor performance after a solid game 1
When will they ever learn?
Jason Strudwick said that some guys never get it. At this point the new GM needs to divest of those players and bring reliable ones in. It’s the last step, and if this group can’t get to the finals, you know the old saying, doing the same thing and expecting different results…
I can only watch highlights as I’m living in Asia. However, goals I watched replays of were not on Skinner. How quickly we look to blame goalie as a fanbase. First one was wicked Kempe shot, second was a deflection in air from Kempe, third was a breakaway. Haven’t had a chance to watch 4th and 5th goal yet but 5th also a breakaway. That’s teams fault, not goalie. If any fault I would choose to target Foegle. Two poor choices and misplays by him ended in goals. He doesn’t have great defensive awareness in d zone or o zone.
I would suggest that most that watched the game would say the main difference was the play of the two goaltenders.
I think not matching the Kings’ desperation and urgency played as big a role. I’d throw in some sloppy play and not taking care of details into the ring too.
As to which one was the main difference maker, who knows? Maybe it takes all three. That and the sheer amount of puck luck the Kings have got in a road building. Take that out of the picture and its a different game too.
Skinner did not have an A game. I think that’s undeniable, but there’s plenty of blame to go around.
Team KK has promised the Oil would be ready for this game but I think he too just succumbed to the same curse other coaches have. (I don’t put the blame on him, like I don’t on the Oil’s past coaches.)
I think the game story was nuanced. YMMV.
well said OP
Fair enough. That’s why I qualified with I didn’t get a chance to watch the game. Only the highlights. However each goal scored was a breakdown in front of Skinner that led to a pretty high quality chance. Have no idea what stops he made and what stops Talbot made.
Talbot had a couple of key stops tonight, kind of similar to Skinner in the first game actually. So Talbot made his,including a breakaway stop, whereas Skinner did not. Kings also had a better quality of finish on theirs too.
If Skinner can’t be better than Talbot that is a major embarrassment.
Goaltending.
Yep. That and no 5 on 5 production from the top line
Damn
And the game ends as it started. Lucky bounce and bam.
King’s were ready for this game, Oilers were not.
Seen that script before.
And the elite teams are going 2-0.
Is Dallas elite? Colorado? Boston?
Dallas is all but done.
Crap. Well at least to bed at a decent hour.
A shaky Skinner wasn’t part of the plan.
Lucky bounce and a great shot. Skinner was the lesser goalie tonight. Not even close
Talbot’s save at the end of the 2nd on Drai was really the difference in this game. Talbot made one huge save and a couple other big one’s – Stu didn’t make any!
Bad playoff Skinner is back. Hopefully this is the only game.
Welp, win the series on home ice then.
That is less than ideal
Not hard tell Singh is a lifelong Flames fan, is it?
Cheered for the Oilers growing up.
Campbell?
Your not allowed to mention his name on this site.
He let in 5 goals himself tonight (35 shots).
Hey who’s this Holloway kid?
…he’s pretty good!
I recall on Holloway’s return game where he had the one goal saying that he was like his namesake, Dylan, making the switch from acoustic to electric. He just looked like he finally got it. Knew what to do and when. His next game he goes out and racks up 3 points. Two massive goals in his second playoff game.
I’d say he has taken the next step. He’s definitely an electric player now. And has the early inside track on this year’s Pisani.
Depth has done their job this game. Time for the big guns to step up at 5v5.
In 97/98, 6’4″ 210 lbs Kris Knoblauch had 193 PIMs playing in the dub for the Edmonton Ice. Surely someone out there had a camcorder and has video of this man chucking the knuckles. I feel like that video should be playing in the Oilers locker room right now. Maybe on the big screen too.
His dad played senior for the Imperial Sabres in the Long Lake Hockey League back in the ’80s – big man as I recall
The 3rd was the weakest period by my estimation. Very little sustained pressure. Not sure if LA made an adjustment or if the Oilers went off script too much.
Easily the Kings best period in the series so far.
Officiating is just how the Kings like it.
Playoff Handbook says if one team has a superior PP the penalty calls must be worthy of incarceration.
Interference all over the ice
Holloway for the hattie in OT
I think as a fan when you go down by a couple you’re always grateful for overtime on some level. Series at 1-1 is a lot less enviable than 2-0 but we always knew there would be tight games, OT games… good god the emotional roller coaster of playoffs this is only game 2 I can’t even.
Looked a lil tired at the end, there. Played safe and didn’t charge super hard.
That’ll change once they drop the puck in extras.
How ridiculous would it be for Hollywood to score the ot gwg for his hat trick goal?
Finish Them!!!
I’ll take Perry for the winner.
Hyman scored the last 4-4 OT winner against the Kings, didn’t he?
Poor penalty call.
Certainly on the weak side, but I was surprised McDavid didn’t drop his stick.
Whistles away if it’s an Oiler getting held or whacked.
Truth – that was a hilarious ‘penalty’ on 97
Dubois held onto his stick for a moment just to sell it. It’s how it looks
We’ve seen this script before.
It would be so NHL to suspend Hyman for that hit. Been a while since they’ve shafted the Oilers
Agree with Bieksa, that was on Danault. He also came back. Moore didn’t get suspended on Desharnais I think, in part, because he wasn’t injured
Hyman has facets to his game I didn’t know existed! Lowered the BOOM!!!
Bet he scores an end to end rush one of these playoff games. His legend Grows!!!
Anyone watching the Vegas-Dallas series? Curious to know what Vegas is doing to shut Dallas down.
Been shifting between games. Dallas look a bit off compared to regular season, like they can’t match Vegas’ pressure. Doesn’t really make sense – the Stars have some experienced players and some guys who made the final a few years back. Of course, VGK are playing with 20% more talent!
Hyman is a gent. He won’t do that unless a guy deserves it. He was tired watching Denault puck, hook, slash McDavid. He didn’t like the Byfield hit either. He is no nonsense when he wants to be.
Do you really think he ID’d the player in a split second and acted to hit in spite versus reacting instinctively?
that was no split second
he lined him up
Yes he did. He would rather it was Byfield, but a top center would do fine.
Vinny caught that Byfield weasel with a nice elbow.
Hyman with the monster hit!
Holy hell Hyman puts Danault in lala land!
Great block by Nurse
Eat shit Doughty.
Wa? Sorry. didn’t realize I was typing.
Just for the record, the whistles have been put away
What a recovery by RNH.
Huge block by Nurse…. huge.
Skinner is not picking up pucks well. Likely Going to need at least 2 more to win this
Skinner will need to make a big save tonight. Nothing fantastic, just the moderately high danger chances, if he wants a 2-0 lead
How about just one save with rebound control.
7 of the 11 goals the Oilers have so far in the playoffs have been scored by players whose surname begins with H.
Hyman (4)
Holloway (2)
Henrique
I would sign a petition for Sportsnet to hire you.
Lovely pass from Carrick there.
Nope, Stu is NOT sharp – lunging at pucks, Mike Smith on a non-heater style.
Good news, Carrick has returned