After learning a lot from their 2022 playoff series loss to Colorado, the Oilers are now more filled with “belief” than “hope.”
The Oilers’ 2022 Western Conference Final matchup with the Colorado Avalanche felt more like a two-by-four when the Avs took the Oilers to task, winning the series in four games and clinching the Stanley Cup.
The home team’s belief system is far stronger than it was two years ago when the two teams square up for the first time this season in Game 65 for the Oilers, featuring the two finest players in the world on the Saturday playbill in Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon.
In addition to the fact that Colorado was on a playoff quest with MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and team captain Gabe Landeskog leading the way, another factor was that Darnell Nurse was skating with a torn hip flexor and Leon Draisaitl was playing on a leg and a prayer at the time.
The Oilers are now deeper and stronger. Thus…
With rookie Sam Carrick starting on the fourth line, Oilers centre Derek Ryan, who may be in attendance on Saturday at Rogers Place, noted, “That series was the beginning of the foundation of confidence and faith.”
“Our faith is bigger now that we’ve won so many games here over the last two seasons.”
Nurse did not dispute.
After defeating Calgary in five games, Nurse remarked, “We went into that series with lots of hope and came out of it saying we had a lot of work to do as a team, to get to a point where we could compete with teams like that on a nightly basis.”
“We seemed pretty confident heading into the series, but things didn’t work out the way we had hoped.however, you now see the highs and lows in the room (3-9-1 began when Knoblauch replaced Jay Woodcroft),” the nurse remarked.
What has changed since two springs ago?
McDavid going above and above.
The captain of the Oilers remarked, “Just being there, experiencing that for the first time, understanding the level you need to get to.”
Naturally, a few years prior, they had already sort of banged on the door. They were playing really, really well, and it was their moment. I believe that just the experience has improved us.
More conviction, time for t-shirts with the saying?
Indeed, but I believe that belief must be earned. We’ve gained that trust in our group and that we can play against anyone over the course of a few years of really great work, McDavid added.
It’s unlikely that Saturday’s score will be 1-0 or 2-1, especially if there are more power plays.
Heck, Colorado won the opening round of the 2022 playoffs 8–6. The score in Game 4 was 6-5.
The Oilers, who finished the previous season with 109 points, are currently sitting comfortably in second place in the Pacific with 83 points. Under Knoblauch, they have a 37-12-2 record versus the Avalanche (89 points), and they are in a tie for first place in the Central with Winnipeg and Dallas.
The game on Saturday is fantastic. In the Oilers’ final regular-season game, which is set for April 18 in Denver, McDavid said, “Those guys are as good as anyone in the league, a good test for us to see where your team is at, where your game is at.” The game might have significance for the Oilers’ playoff seeding, or it could just be a matter of playing out the string.
This Saturday’s game is amazing. April 18 in Denver is the Oilers’ final regular-season game. McDavid stated, “Those guys are as good as anyone in the league, a good test for us to see where your team is at, where your game is at.” It may be a simple case of playing out the thread, or it could mean anything in terms of the Oilers’ playoff seeding.
Saturday’s game is a part of an insane quilt schedule. Once more, this will be game 65 and MacKinnon vs. McDavid will be seen for the first time. On the other hand, the Oilers did not play the Vancouver Canucks again until Game 79 on April 13, despite playing them three times in the first 14 games.
“This is an excellent chance for us to settle into a rhythm and style of play in an environment where feelings are likely elevated to some extent… the game, too,” stated Nurse.
Top point scorer MacKinnon (113) and his first-line Avs partner Mikko Rantanen (90), who is sixth overall, will take on MacDavid (106, third) and Draisaitl (eighth, 86) in this first meeting.
As dessert, Makar (73 points, 17 goals) will square up against Evan Bouchard (63 points, 16 goals) of the Oilers and Zach Hyman (46 goals, second in the NHL) on the blueline.
Because Sid has matured, Colorado-Edmonton, McDavid vs. MacKinnon, is now a more relevant and superior appointment watch than McDavid vs. Crosby. Despite being nearly a decade older than McDavid, he is an excellent player. Among contemporaries, MacKinnon (874 points) is 18 months older than McDavid (956). It reminds me more of Gretzky vs. Lemieux in the 1980s.
When they have the puck on their stick and are tearing up the ice, particularly during a power play, McDavid and MacKinnon are the fastest skaters in the world.
“He’s simply really strong. He is huge, powerful, and confident, and he skates really well. Only a strong player,” remarked McDavid, whose collection of trophies is far larger than MacKinnon’s, but he lacks the one he desires most—the Stanley Cup.
The Oilers signed Corey Perry as a free agency prior to this deadline and added Troy Stetcher, Adam Henrique, and Carrick, for a total of four signings.
When they have the puck on their stick and are tearing up the ice, particularly during a power play, McDavid and MacKinnon are the fastest skaters in the world.
“He’s simply really strong. He is huge, powerful, and confident, and he skates really well. Only a strong player,” remarked McDavid, whose collection of trophies is far larger than MacKinnon’s, but he lacks the one he desires most—the Stanley Cup.
The Oilers signed Corey Perry as a free agency prior to this deadline and added Troy Stetcher, Adam Henrique, and Carrick, for a total of four signings.
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