7 games in 2022
6 games in 2023
5 games in 2024
Either Edmonton is getting better, or L.A. is getting worse... Or both.
Well, as none of the three goalies was great (Skinner not bad) and as depth scoring was weak on both sides, it's pretty clear that this series was won by Edmonton's power-play and L.A.'s complete lack thereof. In other words, McDavid, Draisaitl, Bouchard, and Hyman "power-played" their way to the victory. (Oilers' PP is officially at 45% but actually it was at least 50% as two of today's goals were just as L.A. penalties expired.)
McDavid put up 12 points in five games, but to me he still doesn't look like himself. The 2021-season McDavid, the '22 playoff McDavid, and the 2022-23-season McDavid was better than the current guy. There's definitely something wrong with his arm or wrist or something, as he doesn't have as strong of puck-control as in the past, and he isn't capable of those killer shots off the rush we were seeing consistently last year. But he's so good that he finds ways to lead in scoring anyway...
The Kings have probably seen enough of Draisaitl --- 17 goals in the 18 playoff games against L.A. Knoblach has (so far) looked a genius in putting Evander Kane back on Drai's line. I speak for many Oiler-fans when I admit I was worried about that line because Drai at times and Kane all the time are very mentally-absent defensive players. But Drai has taken on the responsibility of covering for Kane's miscues and suddenly he's a two-way beast again. All hail the Kaiser.
Bouchard 9 points in five games. Hyman 7 goals. 'Nuff said.
The Oilers do have a much more defensively aware aura about them now, which speaks of Holland's veteran acquisitions and the core-group's maturity. The unsung Vinnie Desharnais is a beast on the penalty-kill, and was (I thought) the co-best player on the ice in game four.
But the Oilers were fortunate in two ways in this year's series with L.A.: (1) L.A. is just not a good offensive team. The Oilers tends to look worst vs. other high-scoring clubs (teams built like them) who apply a heavy offensive forecheck. And L.A.'s coaches (both recent ones) never seem to learn that the 1-3-1 doesn't work against Edmonton... And, (2) For the first time since, I think, the late 1990s, the refereeing in an Oilers' series didn't seem rigged against them!! Hooray! I think the Oilers got off a little lucky in this series in terms of borderline calls going against L.A. and not them, and that obviously factored in with their PP being so deadly.
I have no idea what to expect going forward, though. I really think the Oilers at some point are going to need some better even-strength support from McLeod, Foegele (who after a generally great season has been putrid in the playoffs thus far), Perry, and Holloway (who at least scored twice in game two, but they lost it).
And while the team defence is looking good against this weaker offensive opponent, clubs like Vancouver and Colorado are going to push Edmonton's D-core a lot harder. (I have nightmares already about MacKinnon going one-on-one against Desharnais if the Oil are slow making a line change.) Darnell Nurse, as usual, is key -- he was just okay in this L.A. series (made a typically bad pinch tonight, leading to the 2nd Kings' goal and ended up -2 in a victory) and if he pulls off another brain-fart series or plays injured (both occurred in '22 vs. Colorado) the Oilers are toast.
But... so far, so good. It is HUGE that they got through a series in 5 games, which has only happened once in the McDrai era previously. And they're definitely going to be more rested than whoever they face next.
Go Nashville...!