That was a record-breaking bad performance by the Edmonton Oilers. Prior to last night, Calgary had never scored more than seven goals against Edmonton in a playoff game. They put up nine on the Oilers. The six goals Edmonton scored shouldn’t be seen as anything more than an odd distraction. The Flames controlled the game…
It has been 31 years since Alberta experienced a Stanley Cup playoffs Battle of Alberta, but the past three days have made it feel like 35 years. The anticipation, angst and excitement for both Oilers and Flames fans is at a level they haven’t enjoyed in decades. And it will only increase once the puck…
The best part about the Stanley Cup playoffs is we see how teams react and counter what their opposition is doing. It is the same team every second day, and rarely are there any surprises. The Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames aren’t going to make any significant changes to how they play. There might be…
When the Oilers needed him the most, Connor McDavid played the two best playoff games of his career in must-win games six and seven v. the Los Angeles Kings. He was all over the ice and made an impact in all three zones. “He is the best player in the world and he showed that…
The Edmonton Oilers haven’t hosted a game seven since 1990, when they defeated the Winnipeg Jets 4-1. It’s been a long time since Oilers fans got to enjoy the excited, nervousness of a game seven on home ice. How long? Mike Smith was eight years old. Duncan Keith was six while Kris Russell and @Derek…
For the first time this season the Edmonton Oilers are in a legitimate must-win situation. Lose tonight and their season is over. Win, and they return to Edmonton for game seven on Saturday night. They know the situation, and if they want to avoid another disappointing first-round upset they will need a focused effort right…
Slow starts have plagued the Edmonton Oilers in this series. Even in the two games they won, they didn’t overwhelm the Kings early on. The Kings dominated the first period in games four and five, took a lead and ultimately won the game. Edmonton has yet to be the better team through the first 20…
It is very difficult to play 60 minutes of sound, solid hockey, but you can’t sleepwalk through the first 40 minutes of a pivotal game five and expect to win. You could pick many adjectives to describe the Oilers’ play through two periods: horrendous, dreadful, appalling, shocking, ghastly, hideous, lousy, frightful, awful, and alarming to…
While many of the statistics, possession numbers and zone time favour the Edmonton Oilers, there is one situation they need to improve. “We need a good start,” said Duncan Keith. “I don’t think our starts have been where we want them. We need to recognize the moment and feed off our crowd.”
The Stanley Cup Playoffs often become a battle of attrition, especially if you get to rounds three and four. It becomes a mental battle, and playing an extra game in round one might not seem like much now, but it can become a factor later in the playoffs. The Edmonton Oilers didn’t match the intensity,…
How is this possible? Seven of the eight series are close (sorry Predators fans), but many of the individual games have been blowouts. So far 19 of the 28 games have resulted in victories by three or more goals. We have only seen four one-goal games, and only two overtime games. It is bonkers.
The Oilers’ first power play unit has two goals. Their second power play unit has two goals. Their penalty killers, first, second and third units, have killed off every Los Angeles power play. And Darnell Nurse scored a shorthanded goal. Edmonton’s special teams have been outstanding through two games, and if that continues they will…
