Oilers fans are in for a treat in the first round of the playoffs, as Jack Michaels and Louie DeBrusk will have the broadcast call on Sportsnet for their series against the Kings.

Michaels has called Oilers games since he got the start on the radio in 2010, taking over for the legendary Rod Phillips, before adding the Sportsnet games to his repertoire in 2021.

This, however, will mark the first time Michaels has called an Oilers first-round series. In 2020, Scott Oake called the Oilers’ Qualifying round games alongside DeBrusk, but in each of 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, Harnarayan Singh called the games with DeBrusk at his side. Last season, Chris Cuthbert and Craig Simpson took over the call from the second round through the Finals.

Oilers fans have clamoured for Michaels’ energetic calls on the Sportsnet playoff broadcasts, but in recent years, they’ve only had a chance to hear it when the team would edit his call over the television broadcast, like in the electric ending to last years Conference finals against the Stars.

Playoff calls are nothing new for DeBrusk as the colour commentator, as seen by the many years he’s worked Oilers games. He took over from Ray Ferraro as an analyst on Sportsnet calls of Oilers games in 2008, but Drew Remenda replaced him in 2014, holding that role for four seasons before DeBrusk returned as the colour commentator ahead of the 2018-19 season.

The Oilers begin their series with the Kings Monday night at 8:00 pm MST, the latest start time of any of the first round matchups. Game 2 will go Wednesday night at the same time in L.A., before the series shifts back to Edmonton next Friday and Sunday night, with 8:00 pm and 7:30 pm MST start times, respectively.

If required, Game 5 goes in Los Angeles on April 29th, Game 6 in Edmonton on May 1st, and Game 7 in Los Angeles on May 3rd.

Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s associate editor, senior columnist, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the DFO DFS Report. He can be followed on Twitter, currently known as X, at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.