The dice have no memory. We know it’s true. Still, the mind wants to believe the Edmonton Oilers have momemtum after an all-time comeback in enemy territory on Thursday evening.
We’re deep in the series now, there are fantastic performances on both teams that warrant Conn Smythe consideration. In the SCF, the leading five-on-five points total for the Oilers side is shared by Leon Draisaitl (4, 2-1-3), Mattias Ekholm (4, 1-2-3), Vasily Podkolzin (4, 1-2-3) and Kasperi Kapanen (4, 0-3-3).
Draisaitl also heads up the power-play scorers (2-1-3) and captain Connor McDavid has three PP assists.
I’m in the extreme minority, but for me the five-on-five points-60 is the best way to evaluate performance. Not everyone gets power-play time, but four lines of forwards and three pairs of defnesemen play at five-on-five every night. Here are the leaders at five-on-five points-60 in the final:
- Vasily Podkolzin 4.06
- Kasperi Kapanen 3.95
- Viktor Arvidsson 3.59
- Leon Draisaitl 2.36
- Mattias Ekholm 2.3
- Jake Walman 1.76
- Darnell Nurse 1.44
- Evan Bouchard 1.44
- Adam Henrique 1.15
- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins 1.08
- Evander Kane 0.89
- Connor McDavid 0.77
This is a small sample (four games) and far too soon to call any single player out. However, it does tell us that suppression of Connor McDavid’s offense has reached untenable.
If we compare the captain’s five-on-five points-60 during the final (0.77, as above) to his performance in the rest of the 2025 postseason (3.45) excluding the final, we know regression is nigh. However, regression does not run on a schedule, so the 2025 playoffs could end without a McDavid hot streak.
The biggest question for Oilers fans today: Does Connor McDavid kick out the jams and lay waste to this Stanley Cup Final. The dice have no memory. The past is past. Regression screws off until someday. Is today someday? Answers at six.
Gotta get over these nervous feet really quick.
They look like they had the “we might win!” moment and are a bit frozen.
Just play your game and everything will be fine.
How is it that Rats are winning most foot races? They’re playing with great pace tonight and Oilers look like they’re out of gas. Systems? Rats hitting has worn Oil down?
PEDs is my guess. Ekblad has the hook up. Just kidding, mostly.
One team is playing a Stanley Cup Final game, and the other team is playing a mid-week November game.
I’m so disappointed in this so far I feel like getting banned
But then my day to day life would be lacking too much
Win some battles!!! You gotta want it more than they do!!!
We didn’t allow a shot in the first 14 minutes this period.
I still believe.
Florida is owning us
Puck management, something to love ❤️
Drai seems really off tonight, has fallen down a couple of times.
I am thinking the epic push to come back from 3 down and then overtime last game may have emptied the tank. Then short turn around and travel. I know same travel and rest for both teams but our team does not have much jump so far.
Not liking the load up, just yet.
Keep all lines in the game and give them a chance to make an impact
Loading up a “super line” doesn’t work against teams with depth. They will just wall that line, and take advantage on the lesser ones.
Three PPs, nothing to show. Have to say, I can’t see Oilers coming back when down by 2+ again for a third time. Especially when their PP keeps shooting blanks.
We just need one to Ignite the Oil! An Oil fire burns HOT!!!
I like that power play, but posts don’t count on the scoresheet. Gotta cash.
We’re starting to pick it up.
It’s Coming!!!
If Sam Bennett is going to continue to out play Connor McDavid, it’s not looking good
Florida has game planned for McD. I doubt Oilers have game planned for any specific player on Florida.
Maybe we should plan around Bennett. He has 15 goals in the playoffs. Getting close to the record.
Doesn’t every team gameplan for McDavid?
Have to cash in this PP
We got a break.
PP has to calm down. Let Bouch pound it and go get dirty.
Bouch Bombs will open everything up
They must score
Oilers losing every board battle.
Yes. Gotta dig deep and find another gear.
All perimeter no screen no plan
Bend but don’t break. Hard work created that pp.
Calm down, PP. Make plays
was gonna stay unplugged but just gotta say: Stop Playing Scared Hockey.
Oil not even finishing their checks ffs. At Home.in EDM. Game Five SCF.
Play like you can and just light ‘em up already. It’s time.
I was just going to say is it a choice between running around or not hitting?
Pod could have rocked Bennett good
And clean
Where is Connor.
Maybe Florida is just that good? Oilers just cannot find their game. At all. I have not see them since Dallas.
Like say… since Hyman was injured? What a coincidence…
I have little doubt Ekholm will be getting surgery in a week or so.
He’s been pretty darn awful for sure. Not at all the Viking.
He played a role on both of those goals against.
There must be a reason he’s on the third pairing and Kulak is on the first. I wonder if he tweaked something in the last couple games.
Now it feels like we need some McMagic
Connor needs to slow his attack down until his brain catches up
Fluffing good looks with forcing. He could have one for sure
Hands are also behind his feet.
Very Disappointing Period.
Nurse and Ekholm were both completely out to lunch on that first goal.
Why were they even out there together?
Not sure I have witnessed a breakaway goal off a center ice face off. Heads simply not in the game whatsoever.
Yes, why were they out there together?
Ekholm responsible for 2 goals against.
First goal was embarrassing can’t get beat by a 37 year-old
This team…will NEVER DO ANYTHING the easy way. Florida running the show again. Too many invisible players for the Oil.
Spotting Florida another huge first period lead again, and letting the Cats dominate them again. When is McDavid going to show up in this series?
Doesn’t seem like Florida is going to let him. They’ve been shutting him out for the most part all series.
The only player that shuts Connor down is him. He’s not playing smart enough. Look at mediocre 50 point Bennett looking like a genius scorer
He’s trying to do too much. Case and point: selfish solar drive to the net on the power play when surrounded by four cats. Coughs off the puck and it goes up the other way.
Stay the course. A great play and a bounce has us behind.
Hard work is gonna get us back into this.
We could’ve had two as well.
Keep playing the right way. The results will come.
No, don’t stay the course. The “course” in the first period was terrible.
We had opportunities. Gotta keep working hard but can’t cheat. The only way out of this is through it.
McCauley and Charron make me miss Marc Joanette.
There’s no rules for Bennett. Just unbelievable.
What a disappointing period Florida dictated the play.
They hemmed us in our end and only 97’s line spent any time in the O zone. D struggling to make quick accurate pass’s to the forwards. We look like the tired, nervous team.
Need to start taking the body they look listless get a goal and get this crowd back into it.
We deserved better after the first few minutes. But damn is Florida ever opportunistic.
And our power play is terrible.
Deserves got nothing to do with it.
Thought Ekholm especially looked bad.
I guess they have the scenario set now.
I guess.
He has not looked good since coming back.
Not sure why this team insists on starting in this fashion so often.
Well only 2 goals down this time. This team
Progress
Probably the most pathetic power plays in have seen in an entire year. This team doesn’t look like it could beat the Chicago Blackhawks if their life depended on it. I do not think I have ever seen a team look so bad and then so good in the same game consistently
Time for a new PP coach. McDavid and Leon have clearly tuned out Gulutzan.
Finally Nuge makes a play
This is just awful
Calling motivational speaker Cory Perry PLEASE!
3 shots in the first. Great effort.
Wow.
Oilers playing with fire.
All those good vibes from G4 evaporated.
Yup. Really disappointed in that period. They came out of the gate like they were shot. No cannon.
Where are McDavid and Draisaitl again. Need the stars to be the best players.
Try to do it all and not getting it done. Use the guys on the ice with you
I am thoroughly unimpressed that they are in fight or flight mode. Again
Knoblauch needs to step in on the bench and not wait to the intermission. Or a player
I would prefer to not have to watch another 3-0 comeback but I will if I have to.
Man was already falling.
Eff off Wes.
That was Charron. Who’s actually worse.
Bounced right to him.
Keep playing the right way.
Calgary’s now gonna offer Bennett $20MM AAV.
I’d be happy with ‘Calgary Bennett’ right now
Janmark off to a really bad start.
He was bad last game and was AWFUL on the 2nd goal again – take the trailer as opposed to floating in open ice doing nothing.
jamark as useless as tits with eye lids