Good morning, everyone, and a happy Monday to you all. As per tradition, I’ve got a brand new mailbag set to go after taking your questions and sending them to the crew for their takes. This week, we’re discussing the Oilers’ chances against the Anaheim Ducks, Josh Samanski’s spot in the lineup, Cup or Bust, and more. If you’ve got a question you’d like to ask, email it to me at baggedmilk@oilersnation.com or on Twitter at @jsbmbaggedmilk, and I’ll get to you as soon as I can.

Experience, better top-end players and most importantly, better team defence. I expect the Oilers to win this in four or five.

The advantages are that the Oilers are much better at taking care of the puck. When they’re at their best, they dominate puck possession and don’t give the other team a lot of quality opportunities. Their generational power play helps quite a bit as well. The Ducks do have a very good offence, though, and if the Oilers get sloppy with the puck, Anaheim will make them pay.

I think what you said is going to be the biggest. This is an Oilers team that has been deep in the playoffs three years in a row, going through all the trials and tribulations. The Ducks have a few vets with playoff experience, but Edmonton knows how to handle these wars of attrition.

Experience is the obvious answer. But if the Oilers get both Draisaitl and Dickinson back, their strength through the middle of the ice, lines 1-4, is a distinct advantage. Plus, the options to adapt and play Nuge, Henrique, Samanski and Lazar at centre. The biggest disadvantage or concern is how the Ducks attack and have a penchant for comebacks. The Oilers ability to close the deal when ahead, something they’ve struggled with at times, will be tested.

The Ducks don’t have Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl. They don’t have Evan Bouchard, who tends to go nuclear when the playoffs start. What they do have, though, is plenty of youthful exuberance that will absolutely steal them a game or two.

Playoffs are a different beast, but he should be okay. Starting at home helps, as Knoblauch can control the matchups a bit more, but Samanski is very reliable defensively, and that won’t change in the playoffs. It will be more about how he handles the quicker and more intense pace.

I think he could and I think he deserves to be in the lineup over someone like Adam Henrique purely based on how the two have played this season, although Henrique is a much more trusted penalty killer so I can see why Knoblauch might be hesitant to do it. But the fact Samanski rarely makes mistakes and plays a very mature game should make him a fixture in the bottom-six for years to come.

I’ve been saying it for a few weeks now: I’d rather have Josh Samanski in the lineup than Adam Henrique. The coaching staff may not feel the same, though. Samanski’s game has really come around, and I think the first round is the right time for him to get his feet wet.

I think he’s made a strong case to be a regular in the lineup, whether Dickinson is in or not. Samanski has had a helluva calendar year and has gained Knoblauch’s trust more and more. I think he’ll be fine.

I think Samanski has shown he cares about his own zone enough to assume that he’ll be able to give the Oilers quiet, competent minutes when/if called upon.

Cup or bust. The Oilers are very good, and I think they are deeper up front and on the blue line this year than last.

Yes. It has to be. The Oilers are the most battle-tested team in the playoffs, and they have two of the best players in the sport. The goaltending Connor Ingram is giving them should give the entire fanbase plenty of confidence, and their blue line is healthy heading into the first round, unlike last year. Plenty of reasons to think the Oilers can go on a run.

It is, once again, Stanley Cup or bust, much like it is for every other team. The Oilers have done everything but drink out of Lord Stanley’s mug.

The Oilers are in the uncomfortable position where losing in any round will be deemed a failure. Before the season began, I anticipated a loss likely in the second round. Despite Florida going to a third straight SCF, it’s the outlier if you look at teams post-1990. I’ve wondered how much this group could benefit from a longer off-season. On one hand, their forward depth could be better than the last two years, but depth elsewhere is a question. With how weak the Pacific was, there will be real disappointment if Edmonton doesn’t come out of this area of the bracket.

Still Cup or bust until the boys get the job done. While Connor McDavid is here, that’s the plan.

They will be an important combo in the bottom six brining energy and physicality. Lazar comes out for Draisaitl, and then when Dickinson returns, it will depend on how guys are playing to see who stays in, but Dach has brought an element they need. Energy and exuberance.

I think he will be an everyday player. The physicality, the size, the speed and the willingness to mix it up and get under the other team’s skin will all be valuable throughout a best-of-seven series. Even with Dickinson and Draisaitl back, Dach should have a spot on the fourth line.

Dach has only played in eight games for the Oilers, but has shown his style of play is a perfect fit for the postseason. He’s laid 30 hits, or 3.75 per game, and I sense some 2017 Zack Kassian with the way he throws his body around.

Knoblauch always likes keeping guys fresh (unless you’re Spencer Stastney). He says it’ll likely be a rotation of forwards, but I wouldn’t be in a hurry to break up a winger combo that profiles as a great crash-and-bang line with Trent Frederic and Josh Samanski or insert centre.

I like how annoying he is, and that he’s always willing to mix things up out there. I love that about Dach.

Heading into the 2024 playoffs, Skinner had been a top-seven goalie in the NHL in 69 games under Knoblauch. He was solid despite his inexperience. I see the same in Ingram. Ingram has been really good lately, and it helps with the Oilers committing to playing better defensively. It isn’t about the goalie as much as it is about how the team plays. Ingram just needs to be consistent.

I was always a Skinner believer, so I always had some level of confidence when he was in net, but it’s clear that Ingram gives the Oilers a totally different level of goaltending. He doesn’t give up as many weak goals as Skinner did, and I think that will allow the team in front of him to play with way more confidence as well.

I was always a Skinner truther, but I’ll be the first to admit the confidence level with Ingram is much higher. As Devan Dubnyk pointed out, it’s the fact that you know what you’re getting from Ingram every night.

I’m confident that Ingram can maintain a similar level, higher than my level with Skinner. However, my confidence in the entire goaltending department as a whole is less than last year because the Oilers don’t have a backup who’s played well this season. Both Jarry and Pickard have struggled. There’s not much recourse if Ingram gets cracked.

I think Connor Ingram has the quiet, steady demeanour in net that can be beneficial when he’s on top of his game. He was solid down the stretch, and if the Oilers can keep playing defence in front of him, I think we’ve got a good horse to ride between the pipes. I mean, I hope so anyway.