May 14, 2022 /

Edmonton Oilers Playoff Talk: Who’s Next on Mikey Anderson’s Hit List?

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The Score

4 questions that’ll decide Game 7 between the Oilers and Kings

Can LA’s Top Six Tilt the Ice?

  • In Game 5’s brief overtime period, Danault’s line hemmed in and fatigued McDavid’s trio right before Kempe subbed in and capitalized off the rush.
  • …L.A.’s top lines, centered by Kopitar and Phillip Danault, have shown they can lean on the Oilers in spurts.
  • Kopitar, Kempe, and Alex Iafallo were on the ice for Edmonton’s first two goals Thursday, which put L.A. in a hole against a team that tends to stifle comebacks.
  • The Oilers went 29-3-1 in the regular season when they opened the scoring and 28-1-0 in games they led at the first intermission. The Kings haven’t trailed in their three wins this series, so starting strong in Game 7 is paramount.

Whose style will prevail?

  • When the Oilers coasted to back-to-back six-goal wins last week, it affirmed that the Kings can’t handle Edmonton’s offense when it shifts to top gear.
  • Mike Smith raised his playoff save percentage to .931 after stopping 30 shots in Game 6, significantly better than Jonathan Quick’s .893 mark.
  • L.A.’s defensive scheme has worked at other points. Four Kings hang back to congest the blue line and the middle of the ice, disrupt the Oilers’ entries, and force giveaways that spark their own offense.
  • L.A. counters Edmonton’s creativity with simplicity.
  • The Oilers rely on pace and inventiveness to generate chances. The Kings attack downhill in transition, drive straight for the crease, establish the cycle if their first foray is deterred, and aim everything on net.

Will Edmonton’s Powerplay be the Difference?

  • The Oilers’ power play ranked third in the NHL this season and enters Saturday’s decider on a 7-for-18 (38.9%) tear. The Kings’ power play ranked 27th in the league. Durzi’s goal upped their success rate in the series to 3-for-24 (12.5%).
  • If the Kings can barricade the zone at even strength and not let Edmonton’s speedsters get a step on them, that’ll minimize the likelihood they obstruct someone and give McDavid an edge to exploit.

Will the Oilers Stay Levelheaded?

  • Duncan Keith carelessly tipped in a Troy Stecher goal and fell over trying to defend Kempe’s OT winner.
  • Deciding to headbutt Danault got Darnell Nurse, Edmonton’s top defenseman and minutes leader, suspended for an elimination game.
  • Smith jabbed Andreas Athanasiou in the groin in Game 6, an unprovoked and avoidable act that was penalized.
  • Playoff success often stems from punishing the opponent’s miscues. Gaffes and slipups are magnified, and imprecision can swing the result of a tight Game 7.

BLH’s Thoughts: Sorry for the delay in posts. I was out of commish with a bout of the Vid, but now I’m back stronger than ever! So let’s get to it, shall we?

What I’ve noticed in the first six games of this series is that when the Oilers get off of their game, LA hasn’t had any issues beating them. They simply clog everything up, outwork Edmonton, and then Jonathan Quick takes care of the rest. It hasn’t helped that Draisaitl, Nurse, and Puljujarvi are dealing with a variety of ailments that’ve slowed them down either, but Kane, Archibald, McDavid, Ceci, Kulak, and Yamamoto have really picked up the slack and Mike Smith has been very good aside from the one gaffe. 

Game 7 will really depend on how much LA can shut Connor McDavid down because he’s looking like he’s entered Mario Lemieux territory where he can take games over at will. I’m really hoping the Oilers don’t lose this series on a questionable call because Connor is doing everything in his superhuman power to push this team to the next round where they’re likely to face Calgary unless Dallas can pull off some sort of miracle. 

The Cult of Hockey

The Edmonton Oilers stave off elimination with a gritty 4-2 win in Game 6 in Los Angeles: Player Grades

  • CONNOR McDAVID. 9. – was on the ice for all 4 Edmonton goals, registering points on 3… Had 6 shots in all, 2 hits, a blocked shot and led his team in TOI with 24:02. The game’s 1st Star.
  • BRETT KULAK. 8. Stepped into the top pairing in Darnell Nurse’s absence and delivered his best game as an Edmonton Oiler in 21:19.
  • CODY CECI. 8. Rock-solid beside his (for tonight) new partner. 2nd Assist on the 1-0 goal.
  • EVANDER KANE. 8. Played just a tremendous game… Laid 2 heavy hits just before the 3-2 goal, helping force a faceoff on the Kings end.
  • DUNCAN KEITH. 7. The Duncan Keith that was so good in Game 2 was back for Game 6. Particularly in the 1st Period, Keith was right on his game, now allowing a single HDSC against.
  • TYSON BARRIE. 7. Won the game with a wicked wrist shot from about 18-20 feet out, his 1st of the series. 
  • MIKE SMITH. 7. Stopped 30 of 32 and continues to be the best goaltender in this series.
  • RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS. 5. “E” for effort but this was not Nugent-Hopkins’ finest game.
  • RYAN McLEOD. 5. McLeod struggled to keep his head above water in this one and just barely did.
  • JESSE PULJUJARVI. 4. Barely visible. Laid a solid hit early. But faded after that and only played 5:30 in all.

BLH’s Thoughts: Funny, Elliotte Friedman was on Oilers Now (630CHED) yesterday and he said that was the best game he’d every seen McDavid play considering the circumstances and it’s hard to disagree with that sentiment. Also, there seemed to be a consistent feeling amongst pundits online that Ryan Nugent-Hopkins played extremely well after being thrusted into the two-hole after Draisaitl was moved to the wing. 

Evander Kane is an absolute wrecking ball out there and it would be such a shame if we weren’t given another seven game series to watch him continue on his path of destruction. 

I thought Josh Archibald and Kris Russell were effective in their given roles too but Leavins only gave them an “above average” score. 

Now, there’s some who are thinking that since Kulak and Ceci played so well a couple of nights ago and with Nurse returning to action that maybe Darnell will get paired up with Tyson Barrie on the third pairing and I’ve got to say that I’m not entirely against that notion. If Nurse is skating on one leg, why not run seven dmen again and deploy them in a similar manner as was done in game six? Seemed pretty effective to me and with last change afforded to the Oilers, Dave Manson will have the ability to be more proactive than reactive. 

Pulju and Foegele… Don’t ask me what’s going on with these two. I think Jay Woodcroft made the right decision scratching Foegele and dressing seven dmen the other night but can you see any scenario where he gets back into the lineup vs. LA?

With JP, I’m happy that Woodcroft has decided to keep Jesse in the lineup, but I have no idea what Pulju’s deal is. Bob Stauffer was all over his case the day after game six because JP collided with RNH early on in that game and he feels that Jess hasn’t been the same since contracting covid. Take that for what you will. 

Pulju has a very simple role on the team and he performs it really well, but the problem is, they need him to do a little bit more and at the moment he’s having a tough time with the added responsibilities and I’m wondering if he’s dealing with multiple ailments that are preventing him from contributing in an acceptable (to the coaching staff) manner. 

If he’s only going to get 30 sec shifts and 5 minutes a night, send him to the press box and put Devin Shore in. At this point in their careers, their playing/skating styles are similar but Shore tends to get stuck in a bit more. It’ll help JP to heal up and to get a different perspective too. In addition to that, it might help calm his nerves a bit if that’s something that’s bothering him too. 

Trade Rumors

Spector’s Hockey

  • LAS VEGAS SUN: Danny Webster reported Reilly Smith could be a hot commodity in this summer’s free-agent market… Webster suggested clubs like the Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings, New Jersey Devils or Ottawa Senators might be willing to pay that much ($5M/yr).
  • DAILY HIVE: cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman speculating the Vancouver Canucks could attempt to trade Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
  • THE ATHLETIC: Eric Stephens recently reports Max Comtois’ disappointing season with the Anaheim Ducks saw his name pop up in trade rumors.
  • OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch noted the Senators will have the opportunity to add another promising talent to their roster with the seventh-overall selection in the 2022 NHL Draft. However, he noted there’s a belief GM Pierre Dorion could be willing to part with that pick if a rival club offers up a player who can help the Senators compete for a playoff spot.
  • NYI HOCKEY NOW: Stefen Rosner wondered if the New York Islanders might use their pick (13th overall) to address more immediate needs.
  • THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz reported on the New York Islanders’ surprising decision to fire head coach Barry Trotz on Monday. He speculates Trotz’s handling of young forward Oliver Wahlstrom and the reduction in Mathew Barzal’s role and ice time may have factored into general manager Lou Lamoriello’s decision to part ways with Trotz.
  • THE HOCKEY NEWS: Mike Stephens suggested the Philadelphia Flyers, Seattle Kraken and Winnipeg Jets as three landing spots for Trotz.

The Daily Goal Horn

  • “I’m told the New Jersey Devils really do like Kevin Fiala,” Jeff Marek said. “I’m sure they can see him playing with fellow countryman Nico Hischier as well. The Minnesota Wild will be going through a cap crunch next season.”
  • “In San Jose, there were some very preliminary trade talks this year involving defenseman Erik Karlsson and a couple of teams,” Elliotte Friedman said. “I don’t think it will go anywhere but it says that the Sharks recognize that having two elite Norris winning right defensemen that hasn’t worked out.”
  • “Burns has less term,” Friedman added. “If they get something they like, that is something everyone will have to watch in San Jose.”
  • Seattle also had some interest in trading for New York Rangers pending UFA center Ryan Strome. If the two sides can’t find common ground, expect the Kraken to pursue. Same for other Rangers’ UFAs in Andrew Copp and Frank Vatrano.
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CategoriesArmchair GM Beer League Hero Edmonton Oilers NHL Rumors

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Beer League Hero Written by:

I'm the Beer League Hero! I am from Camrose, Alberta but I make my home in Taipei City, Taiwan. I've been through the ups and downs and the highs and the Lowes, the Bonsignores and the McDavids, the Sathers and the Eakins but I'll never leave my Oilers, no matter what! They're with me until the end and then some. GO OILERS GO!