Falling behind in a playoff series isn’t uncharted territory for the Edmonton Oilers. Just last spring, they clawed back from multiple deficits — 2-1 and 3-2 against Vancouver, and 2-1 against Dallas — to advance deeper into the postseason.
But this time feels different.
Heading into Friday night’s pivotal Game 3 at Rogers Place, the Oilers find themselves down 2-0 in their best-of-seven first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings. They’ve allowed 12 goals through two games, and their usually explosive offense has looked anything but unstoppable. Now, with pressure mounting and questions swirling, the Oilers are making a change in goal.
Pickard Steps In as Skinner Struggles
Goaltender Stuart Skinner, who’s been the Oilers’ starter for most of the season, has come under fire after back-to-back six-goal outings. While he’s not solely to blame for the lopsided losses, the team is turning to journeyman netminder Calvin Pickard in a bid to stabilize the crease — and maybe the series.
Pickard came in relief during Wednesday’s Game 2 blowout, allowing one goal on three shots. Now, he gets the Game 3 start — the first playoff start of his NHL career.
“I’m going to approach it the same way I have every other game,” Pickard said Friday. “Do my job, give this team a chance to win. We all know the last two games weren’t good enough across the board. We’ve got a better effort in us — and we’ll show it tonight.”
Defenseman Darnell Nurse echoed those sentiments, taking responsibility for the team’s defensive lapses.
“We’ve been leaving our goalies out to dry way too often,” Nurse said. “Skinner made some big saves, but we haven’t helped him nearly enough. That needs to change immediately.”
Special Teams Meltdown
If the Oilers want to flip the series, it starts with special teams. And so far, they’ve been a disaster in that department.
Edmonton’s power play — which was historically dominant during the regular season — has gone ice-cold, 0-for-5 so far. Meanwhile, their penalty kill has been exposed repeatedly, allowing the Kings to score on 5 of 10 power-play chances. That imbalance is killing any chance of gaining momentum.
“If we want to turn this series around, it starts with special teams,” Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said. “It’s not about changing our system. It’s about elevating our intensity, especially on the kill.”
With the series tilted heavily in L.A.’s favor, the margin for error is now razor-thin. Statistically, teams that go up 2-0 in a best-of-seven series win 86 percent of the time.
Desperation Mode for Edmonton
The Oilers know they’re capable of coming back — they’ve done it before — but as Leon Draisaitl put it, this isn’t the time for nostalgia. It’s time for action.
“We’ve got the hunger to win — but it’s time to ramp it up,” Draisaitl said. “We’ve got to dig in and start playing our game. No excuses. It hasn’t been nearly good enough.”
And while McDavid posted a four-point night in Game 1, the Kings completely silenced him in Game 2. The frustration was visible on the Oilers’ bench, with McDavid and others looking visibly shaken as the Kings continued to pile on.
Kings Confident and Clicking
The challenge facing Edmonton is made even steeper by just how well Los Angeles is playing. From dominant special teams to rolling four dangerous lines, the Kings have shown the depth and balance that wins playoff series.
Adrian Kempe has been electric, with three goals and four assists already. Captain Anze Kopitar continues to defy age with five points, and Kevin Fiala has chipped in with timely contributions. But it’s the second wave that’s truly set L.A. apart — trade-deadline acquisition Andrei Kuzmenko has sparked the power play with two goals and three assists, while Quinton Byfield and Phil Danault have both found the back of the net twice.
“We emphasized special teams before the series even started,” said Kings head coach Jim Hiller. “Last year, they had the advantage there. We knew if we wanted a different result, that had to change.”
And it has — dramatically.
Even more impressively, the Kings held McDavid off the scoresheet in Game 2 and have limited Draisaitl’s high-danger looks. L.A.’s forwards have been physical, smart, and relentless — and they’re thriving in the moment.
“We respect them — but we don’t fear them,” said Kings forward Warren Foegele. “You know McDavid and Draisaitl will make plays, but it’s about limiting those chances and making them work for every inch.”
The Stakes for Game 3
With the series heading to Edmonton, the Oilers must draw on experience, home-ice energy, and urgency. But if they can’t solve the Kings’ special teams dominance or stabilize defensively, this series could be over quicker than anyone expected.
For the Kings, a road win would all but seal the series. For the Oilers, Game 3 is no longer just important — it’s essential.
