Games 1 and 2 against the Los Angeles Kings definitely didn’t go as planned for the Edmonton Oilers.
Giving up 12 goals and scoring just seven? That’s rough. You could blame the goalie, the coach, or even the ref, but none of that matters now. It’s time to move forward.
Luckily, three of the next four games are at home. Rogers Place has been good to Edmonton, as the team went 25-13-3 there this season. Meanwhile, the Kings have struggled on the road, going just 17-19-5.
Take care of business at home, and the Oilers only need to steal one game in Los Angeles.
Injuries have tied coach Kris Knoblauch’s hands a bit, but he still has room to make some adjustments. Swapping Josh Brown out for John Klingberg last game was a smart move. Klingberg wasn’t perfect, but he logged a solid 18:48 and assisted on Draisaitl’s goal. Even getting Klingberg back to half his old form would be huge, especially with Mattias Ekholm still out.
Now, let’s talk goaltending.
There’s no doubt that Stuart Skinner needs to be better, but pointing fingers at him alone isn’t fair. Too many turnovers are putting him in tough spots. Edmonton’s defence needs to step up, limit those dangerous mistakes, and make life tougher for the Kings.
Still, a goalie change might be necessary for Game 3. Calvin Pickard stepped up well when Skinner was sidelined earlier, posting a .906 save percentage behind a depleted lineup. Remember last postseason against Vancouver? Pickard proved he could handle pressure. Why not give him another shot?
On offence, it’s time to split Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl again. They’re definitely electric together, but the second line of Nugent-Hopkins, Hyman, and Kane was invisible in Game 2.
The Oilers should move Draisaitl back between Vasily Podkolzin and Viktor Arvidsson. In their brief Game 1 stint, that trio looked dangerous, outshooting opponents 2-0. Even after dropping to the fourth line in Game 2, Podkolzin and Arvidsson still managed to score. Pairing them back up with Draisaitl could reignite their chemistry.
Meanwhile, Zach Hyman needs a fresh start alongside McDavid. Adding Evander Kane or even Skinner to that mix could give the Oilers a new look. At home, Knoblauch can always reunite McDavid and Draisaitl for key moments, but they shouldn’t spend all 60 minutes together. Balance across all lines is crucial.
Things feel bleak right now, but Edmonton isn’t finished yet. These next two games at Rogers Place are make-or-break.
If Knoblauch pushes the right buttons and the players clean up their mistakes, the Oilers have all the talent they need to bounce back and send the Kings packing again.
