Edmonton Oilers are looking to break a pattern that’s been plaguing them lately – playing from behind. After a tough loss in Game 3, the Oilers found themselves chasing the game in Game 4 against the LA Kings. Despite their best efforts, they ultimately fell short, tying the series 2-2.
“We don’t want to be in that position every night,” Oilers coach Bruce Boudreau said. “You don’t want to do that every night, playing from behind, trying to come back. It’s exhausting, and it’s not a recipe for success.”
The Oilers’ coach is right; playing from behind can be a daunting task. It requires a team to dig deep and find ways to create scoring chances despite being down. While the Oilers have shown resilience and determination, they’d rather avoid this scenario altogether.
To achieve this, the Oilers will need to focus on starting strong and establishing a lead. This means getting their top players involved early, creating scoring chances, and capitalizing on opportunities. The Oilers’ offense has shown flashes of brilliance, with Connor McDavid leading the charge. McDavid has 6 points in the series so far, including 2 goals and 4 assists.
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“We need to start strong and set the tone,” McDavid said. “If we can get out to a lead, it makes it a lot easier. But if we’re playing catch-up all night, it’s tough.”
The Oilers will also need to tighten up their defense, particularly in the first period. They’ve struggled to get out of their own zone at times, allowing the Kings to create scoring chances. Goalie Stuart Skinner has been solid, with a .920 save percentage in the series so far. However, he’ll need to continue making big saves to give his team a chance.
Some key stats to keep an eye on:
– The Oilers have outshot the Kings in two of the four games, but they’ve struggled to capitalize on their chances. They’ve scored just 13 goals in the series so far, averaging 3.25 goals per game.
– The Kings’ top line, featuring Anze Kopitar, Adrian Kempe, and Trevor Moore, has been effective, combining for 7 points in the series. The Oilers’ defense will need to shut them down if they want to take the series.
– The Oilers’ power play has been struggling, converting just 12.5% of their opportunities. They’ll need to find ways to capitalize on their man-advantage chances if they want to take the lead.
As the series shifts back to Edmonton, the Oilers will look to bounce back and take the lead. They’ll need to come out aggressive, puck-possession-driven hockey, and create scoring chances. If they can do that, they’ll give themselves a much better chance of winning.
The Oilers’ players are aware of the challenge ahead, but they’re up for it. They’re a talented team with a lot of depth and skill. If they can avoid playing from behind and start strong, they’ll be a formidable opponent.
“We’re a good team,” McDavid said. “We just need to execute and play to our strengths. If we can do that, I think we can win this series.”
The Oilers’ fans are eagerly awaiting the next game, and they’ll be hoping their team can turn the tide. With the series tied 2-2, every game is a must-win. The Oilers will need to come out flying and take the lead if they want to advance to the next round.
In the end, it’s simple: the Oilers need to start strong and avoid playing from behind. If they can do that, they’ll give themselves a much better chance of success. As Boudreau said, “You don’t want to do that every night.” The Oilers will look to take control of the series and make a statement in Game 5.
