I instantly felt regret when I published my last post because I worried perception wouldn’t match my intent. But how quickly I forgot about the summer he spent rehabbing instead of opting for surgery following the Mark Giordano “accidental contact” with the post so he’d be ready in time for the start of the season. He’s banged up, there’s no question about that, but what should not be in question is his willingness to empty the tank.

Make sure you have nothing left to lose … the fact he played last night is inspiring for the coaches, the fans, and most important of all, his teammates.

But they still might be out of gas.

The Blame Game

One of the fundamental pillars of the sport of hockey is blame. Whether you’re a coach or a fan, you want to understand why something is happening, good or bad. When something positive happens, like Leon Draisaitl scoring a power play goal, usually that’s ascribed to the player. Rightfully so! But who told Leon to stand there?

Or, more accurately, who told Leon to skate wherever he wants on the power play in order to maximize his hockey IQ and instincts? Glen Gulutzan did. When the players succeed, it’s because of the players, and when they fail, it’s because of the coaches.

My editor and new pal Zach Laing and I were talking about the noise surrounding the team sitting on leads, and Jason Gregor asked Kris Knoblauch the question after Game 5. “Yes, I tell them to sit on a lead,” said Knoblauch.

Just kidding, he didn’t say that. It was actually the opposite.

Yikes! This even has Knoblauch’s name on it? That doesn’t seem fair. But he’s the head coach, I guess. Hopefully we can agree that the coaches don’t want to be drastically outshot for the second half of every game. So what are they telling the players to do? I don’t know, and I’ll get into why this might be happening later, but this is what I’d be focused on.

Forwards need to be pass-ready in the D-Zone

I’ve written about this before, but when protecting a lead, nothing matters more than spending as little time as possible in the defensive zone. We saw it in game five with two goals scored because Draisaitl and Zach Hyman stopped at the net. Good things happen when you play the right way. When young coaches scream at their players to get more shots on net, what they should actually be teaching them is how to get the puck moving when it’s 200 feet away from said net. The Oilers seemed content to flip the puck into the neutral zone for half the game, and inevitably it comes right back.

So get the forwards back with their sticks on the ice and calling for a pass. Or if they’re too tired to call for it, just look like you want it. Body language is crucial when the opponents are forechecking as hard as the Ducks. Stick on the ice, pass ready, and when you receive it, you need to make the next play.

The D need to pass it to the forwards

Seems simple enough. Just move the puck! Young defencemen can earn a lot of trust from their coaches just by retrieving the puck and moving it north either by skating it or passing. Sure, there’s a time and a place to punt and take the fight to the neutral zone (the Kris Russell School of Defence), but not every 15 seconds. Work harder to get back sooner and give yourself more time and space to make a play.

Once the forwards have it and make that next play and the puck is in the offensive zone, then all the fun O-Zone play can begin. But you can’t skip the first two steps.

Don’t Stop Believin’ (in Forechecking)

When a team is sitting on a lead, you’ll barely see any forecheck in the offensive zone. This is where the sitting back comes from — they literally stay back in the neutral zone. The L.A. Kings did this for 60 straight minutes the past few years in round one of the playoffs, and if that’s your identity, then fill your boots.

That’s not Edmonton’s identity. It works for a few of them, sure, but not everybody. They want the puck, they need the puck. When Barry Trotz was coaching the New York Islanders a few years back, they went on an unlikely run in the playoffs, driven primarily by their willingness to keep forechecking just as hard when they were up two goals or down two goals. The Carolina Hurricanes never change their forecheck. Traditionally they run a 1-1-3 skinny forecheck. Watch how quick the second player gets into the fight.

Forechecking is stressful because you’re a long ways away from your net. It’s natural to sit back and make the opponent come through five guys. But it’s playing with fire. I’d keep my F3 really high in line with the defence, like Carolina, but I would make sure the first two players buzz around the offensive zone hitting everything that moves. Put Colton Dach on a line with McDavid late in games. That’s how you really protect a lead.

Bad penalty though, Mr. Dach.

What I really respect about Joel Quenneville is how much he demonstrates belief in his players. When Chicago was winning Stanley Cups, he had the fourth-line on the ice in the dying minutes, and he’s doing it in this series. That doesn’t start in the playoffs, though. It’s a clear choice from the coaching staff that starts in October.

So why does this happen?

My mom watches more hockey than I do, and she raised a good point when we tried to and succeeded in fixing the Oilers over coffee this morning.

Connor McDavid has played a lot of hockey, and he loves winning more than anything. My mom believes he probably feels guilty going to the Olympics and coming back basically empty-handed. The Oilers are his priority, and he’s been faced with so much disappointment that he’s stuck in his own head.
It’s probably the Olympics thing for him and Draisaitl, but yeah, also he’s not used to the robot foot they no doubt installed.
It’s the mental aspect — sit back, make them come through five, we’ll be fine.
But the Oilers have struggled to flip the switch. We’ve seen that enough now. They were brutal to start the regular season, they weren’t great to start the playoffs, and hopefully it’s not too late, but if they take a couple shifts off, then it’s nigh impossible to get their energy back
They are too confident. They’ve gone to two Stanley Cup Finals in which they were the better team minus the opponent’s goaltender, so they know they belong there. I’m not saying they’re looking ahead, but yes I also am.

It’s a combination of all these factors. The coaches aren’t telling them to nurse a lead. But whatever they are telling them better sink in quick, because no team stresses out their fanbase like the Oilers with a 2-0 lead.

Seriously, I was more comfortable when they were tied at zeroes.

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