Oilers v Kings, Game SIX Round ONE

The Edmonton Oilers of this era are driven by captain Connor McDavid. He brings elite skills and can push the river all the way to the sea. He is also the emotional leader of the team, and I get the feeling this Oilers team is playing with an extra edge.

McDavid’s comments about the team’s health featured some pointed responses and his postgame interview the other day was out of step with most of those exchanges. I think McDavid feels the Oilers are being disrespected, counted out, and that may be part of the fuel that is the fire on ice currently being endured by the Los Angeles Kings.

There may be more fuel for the fire. Leon Draisaitl was inexplicably excluded from the Ted Lindsay finalists list published yesterday. Draisaitl already has a Lindsay, and the award is often given out to players who have yet to win. This goes back to Bobby Orr only getting one (it was called the Lester Pearson at the time). Then again, Connor McDavid has four. Any road, suspect this will be used as ammo by a team that uses ‘us v them’ effectively.

Tonight is a huge game. The Oilers have finally wrestled home-ice advantage from the Californians, and tonight is the chance to use that to the team’s advantage. Expect a hard fought game, expect the Kings to be better than ever, at least early, and remember nothing is guaranteed on NHL ice.

The change in weather from Games 1-2 through the rest of this series has been truly incredible. The Oilers have adjusted in specific and important areas (John Klingberg in, Josh Brown out, tweaks in outlet progression) and the Kings have not countered with a brand new plan.

Tonight, the Oilers will need another quality start from Calvin Pickard, who has been an absolute star in his three starts. The structure of the team defensively looks stronger too, and the secondary and tertiary scoring has been central to the plot.

The McDavid-Draisaitl-Bouchard magic will once again be central to the plot, but credit to this Oilers team for putting the pieces together. It arrived just in time, the club seemed late for the sky all down the line. At that last possible moment, the tumblers click, the engine roared, and these Oilers are tearing up the blacktop with miles and miles of open road. What a sweet ride Games 3-5. Game 6 tonight!