Matchups is dedicated to providing quick news, notes, and stats ahead on game days and within the divisions. We take a look at everything from head-to-head matchups before the puck drops to how teams stack up against each other around the league. We’ll show you the ins and outs from both sides of the ice to ensure that you’ve got the knowledge to power you to chirping victory.
Game one of the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs hasn’t been kind to the Edmonton Oilers. They are 0-3 and have been outscored 21-15, and the score in the series openers v. Calgary (9-6) and Colorado (8-6) flattered Edmonton. As bad as they’ve been in game ones, they’ve been able to make adjustments and rebound with…
The two highest-scoring teams in the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs will meet in the Western Conference Final. The Edmonton Oilers have averaged 4.33 goals/game in their 12 games, while Colorado has scored 4.30 G/GP through 10 games. Bring on the goals. This series should be electric.
The moment Matthew Tkachuk mentioned that “one player” was beating them, and then Rasmus Andersson repeated a similar thought moments later, it illustrated how deeply entrenched Connor McDavid was in the psyche of the Calgary Flames. But it was also fuel for the rest of the Edmonton Oilers. McDavid has been exceptionally brilliant in the…
A few minutes after a dominating 4-1 win in game three, Mike Smith sat at the podium answering questions about his play, the Milan Lucic hit, the play of Evander Kane, Connor McDavid, and Leon Draisaitl. He answered them all, and when he was asked about enjoying this run, at his age, he mentioned how…
There is only one way to go for the Edmonton Oilers: up. From the opening faceoff, the Oilers were overwhelmed by the Calgary Flames in game one. They allowed two goals in the first 51 seconds, a new Stanley Cup playoff record, they were outshot 48-28 and outscored 9-6. It was a dreadful defensive performance,…
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…
Despite missing Darnell Nurse to suspension and having a limping Leon Draisaitl, the Oilers edged out the Kings in Los Angeles and forced a Game 7 back in Edmonton. Buckle up.
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…
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,…
Hit. Pass. Hit. Shoot. Hit. Score. Rinse, wash, repeat. This was the Oilers’ recipe for success in game two, and they will look for more of the same tonight.
One play doesn’t cost you a game. It can, without a doubt, play a significant role in the outcome, but Mike Smith’s brutal third period turnover wasn’t the sole reason the Edmonton Oilers lost game one. Make no mistake, it was a terrible gaffe, and one he can’t make again, but the Oilers have other…
After a longer-than-usual regular season, due to COVID delays, cancelled Olympics and a season that witnessed a record-breaking 1,123 players suit up for at least one regular season game — finally the 2022 NHL playoffs have arrived. And I suspect the wait will be worth it for players and fans. With buildings back to full…
