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Cult of Hockey
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Oilers 2, Kings 3 (OT)
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The excellent news for followers of the Edmonton Oilers is that it’s now 18 video games and counting since your membership misplaced a recreation in regulation.
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The dangerous information? There aren’t any loser factors within the playoffs.
For the second time in 3 postseason video games the Oilers took a recreation to time beyond regulation, then took a penalty and couldn’t kill it. In consequence, they path their opening spherical collection in opposition to Los Angeles Kings, 2 video games to 1.
The Oil at the moment are a wretched 1-7 in playoff time beyond regulation video games the final three seasons, the lone exception being Connor McDavid‘s collection winner at Calgary final spring. That was very candy, but it surely’s additionally very lonely.
It was a tough fought affair through which the Oilers held a big benefit within the total circulation of play — shot makes an attempt 80-55, photographs 40-31 — however didn’t penetrate the Kings’ stifling defence. By our evaluation on the Cult of Hockey, L.A. held a slender 16-15 benefit in Grade A photographs, however a whopping 9-2 edge in 5-alarm photographs, together with all 3 of their targets. (working rely)
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It was an motion packed affair with loads of hitting, loads of chippy play, and loads of controversy. That went proper to the top when the Kings received a video evaluation in time beyond regulation — additionally for the second straight OT recreation — that allowed Trevor Moore’s powerplay objective to face because the game-winner regardless of an obvious excessive stick.
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Welcome to California.
Participant grades
#2 Evan Bouchard, 6. Moved the puck nicely from his personal finish for essentially the most half. A few assists on the powerplay with rote passes to McDavid. Fired a whopping 11 shot makes an attempt, 4 of which have been on the right track whereas 6 extra have been blocked, a persistent downside this season. Contributions to Grade A Photographs (hereafter GAS): +0/-1.
#5 Cody Ceci, 4. By no means emerged from the nook after the Oilers lastly misplaced an prolonged puck battle alongside the wall, and was nowhere to be seen when Alex Iafollo had 2 free whacks on the puck proper in entrance and scored the sport’s first objective. Not the one Oiler to be misplaced at sea on this sequence, which proved to be the one 5v5 objective within the recreation. Additionally received badly overwhelmed by a fantastic set play on the 2-2 objective, a PP tally scored off a protracted financial institution cross off the top wall the place Adrian Kempe zoomed previous Ceci and blasted dwelling a one-timer with no one round him. Had some good moments and even confirmed up within the o-zone a time or 2, however fired huge on his greatest look within the slot. GAS: +1/-3.
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#10 Derek Ryan, 4. Performed simply 6:25 on a little-used fourth line, and one other 2:02 on the PK. Made a nifty play to arrange Kostin for a harmful shot, however missed the goal himself on the rebound. Misplaced a battle on the sport winner. GAS: +2/-1.
#14 Mattias Ekholm, 6. Performed 22:31 in all conditions, with 6 shot makes an attempt (2 on objective), 3 blocks and a couple of hits. Glorious shot shares at even energy. Was befuddled to be known as for a fairly routine-looking cross-check in a board battle, which led to a 3v4 PK however his mates had his again. However didn’t clear the puck and misplaced a few battles within the nook within the build-up to the game-winner. GAS: +1/-2.
#18 Zach Hyman, 4. Made a deadly mistake on the primary Kings objective when he seemingly fell asleep within the nook after an prolonged board battle, permitting what gave the impression to be his man to stroll out unmolested for a deflection on web, then the uncontested rebound. Some respectable work on the different finish of the ice, however nothing very harmful. Oilers desperately want some manufacturing from their top-6 wingers on this collection however aren’t getting a lot. GAS: +4/-2.
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#21 Klim Kostin, 5. Managed to report 1 of Edmonton’s 2 Grade A photographs off a Ryan feed however couldn’t bury. Seconds later took an o-zone penalty that would have been pricey however wasn’t. Simply 1 hit and much much less concerned than in Sport 2. Performed simply 6:35, whether or not that was trigger or impact is difficult to say. GAS: +2/-0.
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#25 Darnell Nurse, 4. Huge minutes (24:34), robust shot shares (shot makes an attempt 31-20 at 5v5) with 8 shot makes an attempt, 4 of them on objective, plus 5 blocks and a couple of hits. However was on the ice for all 3 L.A. targets. Was tagged for a serious penalty early within the contest for the above “hit” on Viktor Arvidsson — the Arjen Robben of the NHL on this night time — but it surely was downgrade to 2 minutes after a evaluation by the stripes. (Undecided there was any contact in any respect to be sincere as Arvidsson did a 3½ gainer within the pike place to get out of the best way.) Arguably out of place on the 1-0 when he tried to cowl off Quinton Byfield excessive within the slot with the web entrance open. However his night time was outlined by a really horrendous play on the sport winner when reasonably than take his man Moore (a.ok.a. the objective scorer) proper subsequent to him, he tried to succeed in over the web to interrupt up the centring cross and failed spectacularly, tying himself right into a knot within the course of and falling awkwardly to the ice. A completely wretched defensive play by a person who is anticipated to ship massive stops at massive occasions. In his defence he’d been on the ice for a shift of two:32 by that time, together with 52 seconds earlier than the powerplay even began. A questionable resolution to go away him on the market, exacerbated by the lengthy change within the even-numbered interval which he by no means may full. GAS: +1/-4, together with 3 in opposition to on that game-ending PK sequence.
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#27 Brett Kulak, 5. Performed simply 10:31 at 5v5 and 12:19 in all conditions on an evening Edmonton relied closely on its prime 4. Puck was going steadily north throughout that point (shot makes an attempt: +8/-3). 1 shot, 4 hits. GAS: +0/-1.
#29 Leon Draisaitl, 6. His recreation was down a quart from his 2 excellent performances in Edmonton, although he actually had his moments. Made 1 dangerous turnover on a 4v4 that led to a 2-on-0 breakaway, however Skinner had his again. Earned an help on McDavid’s second objective, however took the cheesiest of tacky penalties in its aftermath for “unsportsmanlike conduct” when he frivolously tapped Ser Drew Doughty on the shinpad. This inside seconds of Doughty attempting to run McDavid proper out of the rink… no penalty for that, in fact. And this on an evening when there was loads of motion post-whistle, together with quite a few actual, precise slashes. Sadly, LA scored the tying objective on the following powerplay. 3 photographs, a block, a takeaway, a success, and quite a few superb passes, however simply 6/17=35% on the dot. GAS: +7/-1, 5 of these on the powerplay.
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#37 Warren Foegele, 6. Performed 10:01 and delivered an brisk efficiency with 5 shot makes an attempt, 3 on objective, together with a success and a takeaway. Oilers outshot the Kings 6-1 throughout his minutes. Drew a penalty when he absorbed a knee-on-knee hit from the infamous Alex Edler that would even have been initially known as a serious and at the very least prompted a evaluation, however wasn’t. GAS: +2/-1.
#56 Kailer Yamamoto, 6. He too introduced the power in 15:33 of motion, firing a few photographs and touchdown 5 hits. Oilers loved a 15-7 edge on the shot clock on his watch. Alas, he fired huge on an incredible look from the slot off a Draisaitl feed. Later had a uncommon (on this night time) 5-alarm shot, forcing a superb cease from Joonas Korpisalo from shut vary. GAS: +1/-0.
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#71 Ryan McLeod, 6. Skated nicely and performed a typically robust 2-way recreation in quarter-hour of motion that included time on each particular groups. Had an incredible likelihood on a partial breakaway, however tried an additional dangle and was checked by the trailing defender. Had 0 photographs on objective all night time, however blocked 2 on the different finish with 3 hits and 5/7=71% on the dot. A bit of an excessive amount of on the periphery at occasions, however at different occasions he joined the battle and held his personal. GAS: +1/-1.
#72 Nick Bjugstad, 5. A lightweight night time statistically with 0 photographs and simply 1 hit, however did muster a stable 12/19=63% within the faceoff circle. His most notable second got here within the d-zone, when his desperation clearing try was proper on his personal web, forcing an excellent save from Skinner. GAS: +1/-2.
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#73 Vincent Desharnais, 5. Performed 11:35 at even energy and 13:02 in all conditions, a bit greater than his veteran companion Kulak in each counts which is surprising. Took a marginal penalty for a really gentle elbow which was thought-about roughing. GAS: +1/-1.
#74 Stuart Skinner, 7. Gave his crew an opportunity with quite a few superb saves, the perfect of which was in opposition to Viktor Arvidsson on a 2-on-0 breakaway. Little to no likelihood on the three targets, every of which got here on 5-alarm likelihood the place he received nearly no assist from his teammates. 31 photographs, 28 saves, .903 save share.
#86 Philip Broberg, incomplete. Performed simply 3:10 on 5 shifts with virtually no impression on the sport. GAS: +0/-0.
#91 Evander Kane, 5. Strong sufficient effort with 4 photographs and 6 hits. Made a key defensive error on the lone 5v5 tally when he took a nasty path to the puck and was unable to get to the taking pictures lane, permitting an uncontested exterior shot in a extremely harmful state of affairs. Struggling to complete performs, with simply 1 empty web objective within the collection. GAS: +1/-2.
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#93 Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, 5. He too is struggling to gentle the lamp with 0 targets within the collection, although he did handle to select up a secondary help on the powerplay. Rang an outdoor shot off the iron. However took the penalty in OT when he was a trifle sluggish to acknowledge the hazard man (Kempe), then hustled again however received tagged for slashing the stick of the would-be shooter. It didn’t assist issues any that Edmonton’s prime penalty killing ahead was within the sin bin for the lengthy sequence of ache that adopted. GAS: +2/-1.
Connor McDavid, 8. By far the perfect of the Oilers skaters, did his greatest to hold his crew on his again however merely didn’t get sufficient help to complete the job. Scored each Edmonton targets on a pair of powerplay snipes simply 1:40 aside, which oh-so-briefly put the Oil forward 2-1. Led the squad with 26:43 of ice time, 7 photographs on objective and a couple of takeaways, whereas additionally touchdown 5 hits. 9/17=53% on the dot. Took a bodily beating and gave the impression to be in discomfort on the bench a time or two, however saved enjoying exhausting all through. GAS: +9/-2, with 6 of these plusses on the powerplay.
Not too long ago on the Cult of Hockey
McCURDY: Woodcroft’s “secret sauce” performed main position in Gme 2 win
STAPLES: What’s improper with McDavid? Completely nothing
STAPLES: Video games grades in Oilers massive win over L.A.
McCURDY: Janmark out, Oilers prone to revert to 11/7 deployment
McCURDY: It took simply 1 recreation for Oilers to seek out system for achievement… & for failure
LEAVINS: Participant grades as Oilers blow third interval leads, fall in OT
Comply with me on Twitter @BruceMcCurdy
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