By the time we sing a lullaby this evening, I believe we’ll know the outcome of the Oilers-Kings series. Just like a 1-2 count in baseball, the Oilers are in a tough spot currently. If they can level things at 2-2, having found their bearings, Edmonton should win the day. Tonight is a pivotal game for this team and organization.
Coach Kris Knoblauch is unlikely to change up the playing roster from Game 1, but the lack of ice time for players like Ty Emberson (7:52 at five-on-five, nine fewer minutes than John Klingberg and 11 fewer than Evan Bouchard) may bring Troy Stecher into the conversation.
I also like Jeff Skinner, but Evander Kane ate his lunch and stuffed him in the locker. No one brings what Kane does, so it’s going to be an uphill battle for any left-wing not named Kane, Nuge, Vasily Podkolzin or Trent Frederic. Skinner waited a lifetime to get into a playoff game, and it could be just the one as things look now. Barring injury, or a change of heart in the coaching room, Skinner is on the outside looking in. Good problem to have if you’re the Oilers.
Calvin Pickard should start tonight and every game until he loses a game. I don’t expect that’s a controversial take, but thought it was worth expressing.
I expect we’ll see the same lines tonght. Nuge-McDavid-Hyman and Podkolzin-Draisaitl-Arvidsson are the two most common lines Oilers fans have seen this season at even strength (via Dobber) and Kane-Henrique-Brown might be there too if Kane had been healthy all season.
The Oilers are 12-9 goals at even strength in this series, that is 4.7 goals-60 (a handsome number). On the power play, Edmonton has scored two goals in 9:16 but surrendered six PK goals in just under 16 minutes. Fix those special teams and this series gets much easier.
One of the most interesting things about this series surrounds what Stan Bowman will do about the issues facing the roster. I think he’ll want to add some useful youth, and suspect additions in goal and on defense are likely. The forward group is quality, but aging and needs a torque transfusion. I think the idea of trading Evander Kane is still in vogue, but he is capable of flipping the script with a strong playoff run.
I wrote about the roster and the massive fallout boy should the team’s playoff run end abruptly. It is here. I hope you get the time to read it, it reflects my thinking going in to Game 4.
New for The Athletic: More than any in the McDavid era, this Edmonton Oilers playoff spring could have a massive impact on the path forward this summer.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6312122/2025/04/26/oilers-nhl-playoffs-depth-chart-youth/
Sure it’s been said but…
Never in doubt.
#neverindoubt
In the first game in LA all 3 stars were Kings, in spite of the heroics from McDavid to make it a game.
The 3 star selections in EDM have been suspect and clearly no homerism. Kempe was named 2nd star last game and was a -3. McDavid had 3 points Friday and didn’t even get a star. Tonight, Draisaitl 4 pts and the OT GWG and he’s somehow behind 2nd star Danault? Pickard, McDavid, Draisaitl, and Bouchard were all better than Danault tonight. Kuemper was better than Danault tonight.
The only explanation that would make sense would be if they decided these at the end of the 2nd period
”Sportsnet” chose allegedly.
Leon with 3 primaries and an OT winner. Should have been a rather easy choice.
Relentless. Just relentless. Love that about our guys. And BTW, Pickard provided just what we needed. Now off to LA… gonna make their fans sad.
Please and thank you.
If you had told me a month ago that 2 players would not be back until G1 cold and another 2 until G2 cold and that the team would need a 4 game exhibition series to get on the same page I’d gladly accept a best of 3. Oilers in 6.
Picks did his job tonight – kudos!
All sits .927Sv%, 3.19xGA, 3GA. First game of the series above expected, I believe.
Klingberg’s signing went from the most likely outcome to winning the lottery in 9 periods.
This interview with McDavid is spicy. Very direct. Very emotional. Very combative. Feisty Underdog Mindset.
I absolutely loved his reaction to the GWG. Turned away from the pile around Drai and straight towards the bench and Pickard, screaming “Let’s Go!”. And that interview shows so much growth. Not petulant ‘us against the world’, just reflecting on how people view the team vs. how they view themselves. Taking nothing away from LA but reinforcing how much they believe. Captain.
If Stetcher is ready to go, do you put him in? Who comes out, Emberson?
He’s been cleared and is ready.
I thought that Klingberg started to give the puck away a bit late in the game – he may have tired given how much they played him but zero chance he comes out.
Emberson is not playing much at 5 on 5 but the PK was key tonight and, for now, I think Stech has to wait.
Thanks for your insight, always appreciated. That’s true, Stetcher doesn’t PK, also hard to change a lineup that’s won 2 in a row.
With the wear and tear of NHL playoffs, taking advantage of the extra capable and fresh players you have around should actually be automatic. They don’t do it – but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t.
I agree, but Emberson shouldn’t have much wear with his minutes. He and Stecher are similar players, no pressure to make the switch until needed, but also shouldn’t be any hesitation.
Something that really stood out to me in OT was just how good the Oilers were doing at stick checking, and Bouchard in particular stood out in comparison to earlier in the game.
It felt like LA could barely clear the zone, and even when they did they almost never managed to break into Edmonton’s end without losing the puck.
That’s the Oilers from last years run, great intensity and puck management.
Bouchard holds the line so well. Even the 3rd LA goal I’d put more on Nurse, he’s got to react and protect when his partner is pinching.
Guilty of counting this team out. Still a long series but lesson learned.
Those last 2 periods were simply incredible. Most exciting and dominant OT I’ve ever seen, and I was there game 3 SJ in 2006. They should have drawn 4 penalties that period, and Kuemper must have had 4 or 5 GSAA in OT alone. Just wow.
Someone should misinform the team that they’re down 0-2 to start the game Tuesday.
2 critical and improbable game 4 comebacks in the last 3 years against this team.
Coming in to the playoffs, McDavid, Drai and Bouchard were all time historic producers in the playoffs – all three are increasing their scoring rates this playoffs.
incredible stuff.
McDavid just overtook Kempe for playoff scoring lead, and I daresay that lead should not be relinquished
Scratch that, they took away his assist on the OT winner. Still only a matter of time with McDrai even with Kempe at 9 pts, these 2 are inevitable
Klingberg definitely dipped into that elite player reserve tonight. They needed it and he delivered.
Holy balls what an OT period. Kings couldn’t keep up, not even close.
Can you imagine how worn down the Kings would be if the Oil played like that from puck drop?
Kings are tiring late in games given they used 4 d-men and 3 lines (at most). They had 4 d-men between 31:40 and just over 36 minutes.
Four forward between: 1:43 and 5:19.
Has Foegele played 24 minutes in an NHL game in his life?
For sure, I also heard they were sitting Kuzmenko for much of the 3rd. I think the Oil could wear those players down quicker if they play with the intensity and relentless forecheck and stick battles as per 3rd period & OT. KKs club has seemingly been playing a bit of rope a dope and that is not a recipe for success.
Wow. Joel Edmundson played 36:16.The Kings only played 5 d basically. Moverare played two and a half minutes.
A nice tidy 26mins for Klingberg, well done
He played a terrific game, damn played half the 3rd period.
Hey, we had a game with a save percentage over .900!
woooooooooooot!
We’ve got ’em right where we want them!
Lol!!!
OT shots 18-7
bieksa: never sees such a one sided overtime
I should have learned from last year that this team will do everything in it’s power to make winning as painful as possible.
Kings are going to California with an aching in their hearts.
oh yeah, the levee broke!
And I anticipate the Kings get trampled under foot
Dancing days are here again!
Un – effing – believable.
I would not have predicted the Oilers to be the team with the more endurance in this series, but that’s a pleasant surprise
Kings are only playing 4D. We may have discovered a new vulnerability.
Never in doubt
That was absolutely incredible.
And Mikey Anderson with the game-winning assist! Couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy!
So it’s Pickard for game 5 then?
I know you’re being sarcastic but is that even a question?
My resting heart rate is at 97!
Crazy game. I was full of doom and gloom most of the game, but they pulled it off
That McDavid celebration was everything! That man would go through a wall for his team, folks!
LEON YOU H OT BYO OT CH
First OT winner for Leon.
Playing with 15 skaters may take a toll in a 6-7 game series.
Very good point. Kopitar, Doughty and Edmundson aren’t getting younger. The longer the series, the harder it will be for them.
HH has assured us for years that LA has EXTREME depth on D.
I mean, I think Sean Durzi is pretty fresh right now.
Hell Ya!
OH HELL YEAH!! #PlayLaBambaBaby
🚨
Leon’s the man. Pure and simple.
Whooooo!
Nice game, Oilers.
Bring that intensity at the start of each game and you won’t have to go to OT anymore.
Wow. Crazy game.
The Kings looked absolutely gassed in OT.
HOT DAMN
I BELIEVE!
I cannot believe they called that penalty!
Make em pay!!!
It looks like the refs decided to call about one in every 12.
Knob should start PP2 or call a timeout to rest PP1.
Oh, this is nerve-wracking. Henrique was so close. He had the Five Hole wide open! The heart can’t take much more of this.
Hyman’s mom must be tracking hits tonight. Credited with 12!
Is that fact that LA isn’t playing a third of their lineup nightly a factor in these 3rd period and OT pushes by the Oilers?
Unless this goes really far and they pull a Klima.
A 35 year old Doughty is at 30 minutes, I’d think yes.
Keep it up!!!
John Klingberg led the Oilers team in 5 on 5 TOI through three periods (no goals either way).
Makes playing Brown ahead of him a baffling decision
I can’t watch.. about to start my teaching day in Saudi. Let’s go Oil!!! Get this!
Teach the class about NHL playoff OT hockey……
Like I said Bouchard just needs a legit 1D defender with him and he’s a star.
Missing Ekholm terribly in this series.
Then he can’t be paid like a 1D. Already have one of those contracts
Agreed.
I’m picking Kaner for the OT. A wicked shot from the high slot.
As I was saying, all Bouchard needs is a pep talk and he’ll be good to go
Do we come back against the Kings because when they get the lead they drop back into their 1-3-1 that we picked apart for years?
You might be onto something.