It was a quiet 6-4 game, favouring an Edmonton Oilers win that barely reached the 10 goal minimum expected after the first six minutes between the Los Angelas Kings and formerly mentioned home team. But as it’s been said, a win is a win, and the Oilers aren’t compelling.
They played fast and hard, and more importantly, kept the puck alive while Darcy Keumper could do little more than keep track of the players in his crease, let alone those around it.
It was an early days kind of series close.
The one where game six looks a little too familiar to game one, and the question then becomes if the low scoring games four and five where the outlier, instead of the Oilers’ expected brand of playoff hockey, highlighting an offensive punch.
But surely these matured teams with an average age of 29 and 30 would have the ability to keep the goals down, penalties at bay, and lock down the blue line. At the very least, they’ve now had four years of practice to do.
That just wasn’t the case.
It was expected by the Oilers, still struggling to find their balance on defence without Mattias Ekholm. Now forced to start backup goaltender, Calvin Pickard who, while earning his position with 4-0 playoff record, was never supposed to play this many games.
But it was the Kings, with a conference best goals against average and a vezina nominee between the pipes, who allowed Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl’s bunch to score 30 goals in round one.
Sure the stars went to work early in the series, but game winning results came from depth scoring, trades finally working out, and injuries that recovered just in time.
“Our depth guys have really stepped up during the playoffs when we’ve needed them most,” commented Kris Knoblauch in the face of Connor Brown’s point production and the two assists generated by his fourth line in game six.
Now what if I told you McDavid, Draisaitl, Corey Perry, and Evan Bouchard combined for only one point, and it wasn’t even a goal?
“Obviously we rely heavily on Connor and Leon to provide most of our offence throughout the regular season and playoffs,” agreed the bench boss. “But as good as they are, they can’t provide it every single night, so it’s nice to see that other guys step up.
“During the regular season, we thought (those guys) could provide a little more offence. They were good defensively. But we needed them most during playoffs. It’s more difficult to score, so it’s nice to see them contribute.”
A goal here and there.
A blocked shot every now and then.
Finishes on their checks.
And most importantly, a plus-minus not in the negatives.
It shows the depth forwards have bought in and have earned their ice time.
Their contribution helped flipped an 0-2 Oilers gearing up for a short-lived homestead, into a team coming home with the chance to punch a ticket for round two, after beating the winningest home team, on home ice.
“No quit,” as Brown would say.
Not only was it depth scoring, but it was players coming of injuries with unclear expectations that were eating valuable minutes — John Klingberg (16:26 in game 6), Evander Kane (17:08), and to an extent, Trent Frederic (9:21).
“It was a difficult decision, but we felt that this is why we had them,” according to Knoblauch on the Oilers trade acquisitions, Klingberg and Frederic.
“They are playoff performers with either their experience or type of player that they are. And we’re very fortunate that we stuck with it, because I think they’ve been a great addition for our team.”
It’s safe to say they’ve worked out.
How they’ll fair against the always challenging, Las Vegas Golden Knights… That’s another story for another round.
