Sweet Jesus… That game last night… I nearly puked when Ehlers scored that OT winner. I was pacing all about my house in the extra frame but I think if we’re being honest with ourselves, we knew that the Winnipeg Jets were going to take it. You don’t simply come back from a 4-1 deficit to lose in overtime…
Credit to Winnipeg though. They found a way to win and Edmonton found a way to lose. Simple as that.
As for tonight’s game, I will go on record and pick the Oilers to win. They’ve lost three on the trot before this year and replied with four wins in a row. Now, I’m not saying they’re going to come back and take this series, I just don’t think that they’ll be laying down for anybody.
Should they be in the lineup, here are three players that I think you should keep an eye on for the Jets tonight,
- #27 Nik Ehlers – What a gamebreaker this guy is eh? Comes in to the series rusty and not even 100% and scores what might be one of the most important goals in Jets playoff history.
- #26 Blake Wheeler – I’ve loved his play all series. He’s been a bit of a ninja in the way he’s phased in and out of the play at just the right times. The Jets’ captain still has fantastic speed and a laser of a wrister.
- #81 Kyle Connor – He seems due for a good game soon. He’s had his chances but just hasn’t been able to capitalize. Personally, I hope he stays on the schneid :p
With regards to Edmonton, I’ll be watching these three individuals closely,
- #97 Connor McDavid and #29 Leon Draisaitl – I put these two together because I think they’re going to go supernova tonight. They both had three points last night and my feeling is that they’re going to do everything humanly possible to keep this team in the series. I’m expecting them both to play between 25 and 30 minutes tonight if the game is close.
- #93 Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Pointless and -3 in the series… When folks talk about Edmonton’s depth scoring I think most think they’re speaking to the 3rd and 4th lines but they’re really pointing at RNH and Yamamoto. Nuge MUST have himself a game tonight or else he’s going to get labelled a post-season choker. In 20 career posts-season games, he’s only scored TWO goals… Could you blame the team if they chose to let him walk this summer?
Oilers Notes
I don’t know about you, but I’m hoping to see another game out of The Flyweight Line (Ennis, Haas, Yamamoto). They gave the Jets’ defenders fits last night with the speed, aggression, and quickness.
If Coach Tippett could show his second line more trust instead of elevating the Khaira line, his team may just be able to hold onto the lead (should they get one).
Josh Archibald is going to sit tonight as he’s been suspended by the league and I believe the belief is that Alex Chiasson will draw back in. That’ll take a little bit of speed and bite out of the lineup but Chaser will bring his old-school brand of honest ice-hockey to the ice and a veteran’s touch might come in handy this evening.
It’s a shame things have gone as they have for the Oilers but it is what it is and now the pressure is squarely on the Jets to close this series off. Maybe this is exactly where Holland’s men need to be in order to get back in. Nobody believed they would finish 2nd in the division this year or last, right? Could it be that they’re more comfortable being the underdog?
It’ll be a long off-season for Edmonton if they shit the bed tonight.
Final 4 teams and their "5v5 Goal share with best player off" for the last 5 years:
2020
TBY 53.2 – Cup winner
DAL 51.4 – Cup finalist
VGK 47.4
NYI 47.02019
BOS – 52.6 – Cup finalist
SJS – 50.2
STL – 48.8 – Cup winner
CAR – 47.1(1/
— Woodguy (@Woodguy55) May 24, 2021
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