The streets are singing Mattias Janmark’s name, as L.A. Kings fans have grown increasingly pessimistic about their team’s chances against the Oilers in this first-round series.
For Game 5, social media was a blend of Oilers fans’ enthusiasm for the team’s performance, praise for Janmark’s heroics, and dread from Kings fans as they now face elimination on Thursday night. Here’s how social media reacted.
Mattias “Gretzky” Janmark does it again! – Mathew Panchyshyn via X
Janmark only scoring in the playoffs is objectively hilarious – NaeemNanji via XHoly Janmark scores and next thing you know Knobby’s sending him out with McDrai – OilersRipJays via X
Janmark has been a polarizing player among Oilers fans. It’s fun to watch him receive all this love for his playoff goals when in the regular season, he seemed to be more of a ghost than anything. He now has more playoff goals in the last 12 months than regular-season goals and has three goals in his past six playoff appearances, while he only had two in 80 regular-season appearances.
I knew my mattias GOATMARK was gonna score – Maddiemorinn via InstagramHe’s underrated. Short handed rush more than any other player and usually scores. Love him. – Chantal_24 via InstagramThere are no two players more exciting to watch in the NHL than short-handed Connor brown and Matias Janmark. – Anson_Pollock via Instagram
Janmark is elite when the playoffs come around. – Kamil via Facebook.
Seeing Janmark get his flowers for whatever reason is awesome and hilarious. But as the fans have mentioned, he shows up when it matters most.
On the other hand, hockey media and Kings fans sound frantic, as the team is on the brink of elimination.
Another year. Another f****g year. Can’t believe it’s happening again. Generational Choke. No one to blame but ourselves. – Patrick O’Nalysis (Parody) via X
Bye bye Jim Hiller. You will never be forgiven for wasting the best roster we’ve had since 2014. – @BucketHatMookie via X
Jim Hiller is playing checkers while Kris Knoblauch is also playing checkers. Jim Hiller also doesn’t know how to play checkers. – @PizzaManDanault via XJim Hiller, your days as Head Coach of the Los Angeles Kings are numbered. – @BuiltForLA via XThe Oilers are the true bogey man for this LA Kings team. My god. Pure horror movie stuff. The Shining. The Grudge. The Conjuring. They cannot escape them. – @EmptyNettersPod via XI can’t believe the Kings blew this series . Unbelievable. The challenge in Game 3, the failed clear with 30 sec left in Game 4… now this game They just can’t beat the Oilers. – @ProducerDrew_ via XIf I’m Adrian Kempe I’m outta here when that contract is up. NGL. – @LAKings874 via XAce said on the TNT broadcast last night he picked the Kings to win the series due to their depth advantage top to bottom. Jim Hiller castrated this team’s biggest edge by refusing to roll 4 lines and play 6 defenseman. Most incompetent playoff coaching job I’ve ever seen. – @MarcelAndRogie via X
The tune of Kings fans has quickly changed over the last week. At first, the fanbase had a strong sense of confidence that L.A. could slay the dragon that was the Edmonton Oilers and finally move on to the second round after four years. Now, it’s doom and gloom, and as some stated, the feeling of a wasted opportunity.
Oilers fans, however, highlighted the team’s dominance on Tuesday night.
Most important game of the season and this is what happened. Our goalie stopped this from being a sweep early. Oil in 6. – @NHL_Bouchard via XPure domination by the Oilers tonight. – OilersAccess via XWell done boys. That was domination from start to finish. The only real push the Kings had was with the empty net and, really, not any grade A chances there – had the zone time but the guys defended well. This was a s**t-kicking made to look close by a goalie. – OriginalPouzar via X
This is the performance fans have been waiting to see — the one that exemplifies why they’ve been considered Stanley Cup Contenders — a full 60-minute effort.
WHAT A DOMINANT GAME. A full 60 all day long. These boys are getting into their groove and MAN ITS AWESOME. This team has problems but they can be so damn good it’s scary. LETS KEEP IT GOING MAN RAAAAAHHHHHHHH – Toughcookie9000 via InstagramStarting from game 4 overtime to the end of that game – that’s been the best hockey the oilers have played all year. Alextucker._21 via InstagramMassive W tn and one of the best road performances I’ve seen from this team in a long time, picks played great and we got depth scoring when we needed it. Gotta feel for Keumper he was the only reason why it wasn’t a blow out win. Rest up and get ready to win at home. – Lucas via FacebookBest all round game I’ve seen us play in many months, if not for a few whiffs and a superlative Kuemper that would have been one super ugly defeat of those out of ideas Kings! I had pretty much zero confidence in us doing this coming into these playoffs, but when I saw/heard their coach looking super agitated and picking verbals with the assembled media post-match game 4 well, the impact of such I thought would now be telling and?Outstanding win, scoreline did not do our dominance justice, full 60 minute game was required and very much delivered!! Keep making me eat my doubts please. – Rob via Facebook.
With how the series began for the Oilers, it feels like they’ve restored the fanbase’s belief that they can go on another deep Cup run this spring. Before Round 1 started, some thought that they didn’t see much light at the end of the tunnel and that a first-round exit would be inevitable.
During Games 1, 2, and parts of 3, many were placing blame and finger-pointing as to why this season was deemed a failure. Now that the tune has changed, the Oilers have a series lead, casting doubt amongst the Kings and their supporters. The job isn’t done yet, with Game 6 scheduled for Thursday night at 8 pm MST at Rogers Place.
Edmonton will want to close out the series, but one would think the L.A. Kings won’t go down without a fight.
