Winnipeg is Winnable.
Whiteout of playoffs.
Several more phrases in a series of not-so-clever jabs to describe an Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets conference final that would have generated a larger audience than the stale Canadian-American series we’ve all seen on repeat.
Alas, the Dallas Stars, with their overtime power play and “everyone gets a hat trick” mentality, have crushed all hopes — as they do.
Side note: The respect for Mark Scheifele in game six was touching to see and will make the Oilers fan base slightly less judgmental for all of three days because, well, this is still hockey.
Now the Oilers have one full practice, a little skate, and a giant media avail in Dallas before puck drops on a redo of the 2024 Western Conference Finals.
Or is it repeat?
“I think the way that they play is pretty similar, obviously a little bit of a different team,” guessed Stuart Skinner on the 2024 to 2025 Stars. “They know how to win games, they’ve been in the third round for how many years (in a row) now?”
Just three, actually. Two more than the Oilers.
Though both teams have made the trip twice since the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs. None of which have involved a Dallas Stars advancement.
The question to ponder though — is this their year? Have they improved enough?
“I think their style of play is almost identical.”
Apparently not, per Kris Knoblauch.
“I don’t think they’ve changed anything with their systems, or how they play their game,” added the bench boss Sunday morning. “Each team probably has five or six new players.”
But just between us…
“The change with Rantanen changes their identity a little bit,” confessed Knoblauch.
“He’s obviously an incredibly high-end player, knows how to find guys and get spots,” admitted Skinner. “(He) has a really good shot, good vision. And obviously a huge threat on the power play.
“So he definitely changes some things, but that’s what happens when you get to the top four teams.”
Everyone brings a wealth of strengths.
The Oilers stay alive with newly awakened depth scoring and a different star every night. Dallas brings eight 20-goal scorers.
The Oilers cracked the code on their defensive pairings. Dallas’s defence goes deep.
The Oilers’ goaltending has proved more than a few people wrong. Dallas has Jake Oettinger — enough said.
“It’s gonna be fun,” according to Skinner. “Obviously one of the best goalies in the world for a reason. It’s just a lot of fun to have him in front of me.”
He’s not the Vezina finalist Darcy Kuemper was, but Oettinger’s a “great goalie,” according to more than a few Oilers players.
And with that, Oilers Nation will sleep a little less easy tonight. Unlike the well-rested Oilers who continue to have six days in between playoff series.
That has perhaps become the most overlooked advantage for the Oilers as everyone prepared for who they would play next (before we knew).
“It’s a good chance to just kind of regroup, reset a little bit, and get some energy back and focus on ourselves,” added Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. “I mean, the series are hard and long and definitely zap your energy.
“And I think Saturday would have been probably quick, for both sides.”
Because TV trumps all, the Oilers would have played this past Saturday had Dallas won game five.
But because the games aren’t scripted — save all conspiracy theories — the Oilers are more well-rested this go-around than they were in 2024 and have the luxury of healing more injuries.
Some guys needed it.
“In Stecher’s case, a couple pucks to the nose,” joked Skinner. “He just can’t catch a break.”
Though it gives more time for Mattias Ekholm — now on ice for optional practices — and Calvin Pickard to join the team midway through round three, if all works out.
In such cases, we’d see a more similar conference final to that of 2024 and odds that lean slightly more towards repeat over redo on the pendulum than MoneyPuck reads now.
Only a 45.1 per cent chance of the Oilers making it to the Stanley Cup Final as of Sunday afternoon.
Ok, those are pretty good odds, but just as a friendly reminder from the Oilers’ captain himself: “As good as Dallas is, we’re a good team too.”
