*** 2021-22 Playoffs Opening Round: Los Angeles Kings (P3) at Edmonton Oilers (P2) - (EDM WINS 4-3) ***

[Math 793]

9 hours ago, FireDillabaugh said:

Simple as that.

 

Rick Bowness, get out of this body !

[Hockey Junkie 482]

What in the devil is going on here?  Can you believe this?  After that 8-2 thrashing the Kings took at home, who saw the Kings coming back and winning the next two?  I sure did not.  Is it the goaltending?  We know that is the one thing the Kings have over Edmonton is goaltending.  Its not really close when you look at the goalies.  But Edmonton has the firepower.  And now they are in big trouble.  One win away from packing it in.  I do not see Edmonton going much farther than this series.  Depending on who they play.  I do not see them beating Colorado, Calgary or St Louis.  Sorry.  They are tough at home for sure but their best game in this series came in LA.  This would be a bit of a surprise if the Kings put them away.  But its far from over I guess.  Now Edmonton must go back to LA and look down the  barrel.  

[Brewin Flames 747]

Kempe scores in OT, Kings lead Oilers 3-2 in playoff series

 

 

---

ByAP

Updated: 3 hours ago

 

EDMONTON, Alberta -- — Three-point games from Edmonton's stars wasn't enough to save the Oilers. Adrian Kempe's overtime goal moved the Los Angeles Kings within a victory of advancing in the playoffs.

 

Kempe scored 1:12 into overtime to give the Kings a 5-4 win over the Oilers on Tuesday night for a 3-2 lead in the first-round playoff series.

Kempe muscled his way past his defender and wrapped a shot around Edmonton goalie Mike Smith to secure the victory.

 

“There is still a lot to play for,” Kempe said. “We’re obviously very excited where we’re at right now, it was a great win for us and our confidence is good, but we have to rest our mindsets tomorrow. We can enjoy it tonight and play as good as we did tonight at home on Thursday.”

 

The result means the Kings can advance with a victory in Game 6 in Los Angeles on Thursday night. It also means the Oilers need a win to stave off elimination.

 

“They showed their heart in fighting back but we didn’t help ourselves by finding ourselves down early. We have to correct that,” Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft said.

 

”(We’re) going to L.A. to win one game. Pressure’s on them to close us out and for us, our job is to find a way to have a good start to first period.”

 

Kempe also scored and had an assist for the Kings in regulation. Troy Stecher, Andreas Anthansiou and Phillip Danault also scored.

 

Leon Draisaitl scored twice and had an assist for Edmonton. Connor McDavid had a goal and two assists and Zack Kassian added a goal for the Oilers, who were coming off a 4-0 loss in Game 4 on Sunday.

 

“We found ways to produce offense. And we scored four tonight. That needs to be enough in a playoff game,” McDavid said. “Obviously it’s not. We’ve got to keep the puck out of our net.”

 

Jonathan Quick made 24 saves for the Kings. Smith stopped 38 of 43 shots.

 

“I think at the beginning of the series if someone would have said would you take 2-2 and go into overtime for Game 5, we would have taken it for sure,” Danault said.

 

“That’s what we said when we came (into overtime) and we had a big first shift and then right away in the second shift (Kempe) capitalized. It’s just a great mentality that we have and we wanted to win another game here.”

 

The Oilers entered the third period down 3-1 and used their special teams to claw their way back into the game with two power-play goals and a short-handed score.

 

Edmonton scored the tying goal on another man advantage with 4:52 left in regulation after Danault was called for interference.

 

Collecting a slick pass across the slot from McDavid, Draisaitl hammered a one-timer from the bottom of the faceoff circle for his fifth goal of the playoffs and his second of the game.

 

A four-minute minor set up much of the action in the third after Ryan McLeod was called for a high stick on Matt Roy 9:13 in.

 

The Kings took a 4-2 lead at the 11:06 mark when a backdoor shot from Danault trickled over the goal line.

 

The Kings stayed on the power play, but it was Edmonton who scored next.

 

McDavid drove the net, then sliced a puck into the slot where Alex Iafallo tried to sweep it away, but put it instead on Draisaitl’s tape. He scored to make it 4-3 at the 12:33 mark.

 

A power-play goal from McDavid 2:50 into the third cut the Oilers’ deficit to 3-2.

 

Just three seconds after Blake Lizotte was called for high-sticking, McDavid sent a backhanded shot off the crossbar and over Quick, sprawled in the crease. The goal was the second of the playoffs for the Oilers’ captain.

 

Edmonton was 2 for 3 on the power play. The Kings went 1 for 5.

 

“We do have to watch our sticks and be a little more disciplined going forward here,” Draisaitl said. “We can’t play half the game or quarter of the game short-handed. So it takes a lot of guys out of the game. So we’ll fix it.”

 

A patient play by Athanasiou boosted the Kings’ lead to 3-1 in the middle period.

 

Dustin Brown collided with Zach Hyman in the Oilers’ zone and took off with the puck, slipping a pass to Athanasiou stationed at the side of the net. Athanasiou waited for Smith to dive, then sent a shot into the far corner of the net 13:34 into the second.

 

The Kings regained the lead midway through the second after Kopitar picked off a pass at the Oilers’ blue line. He took a few strides into the Edmonton zone before slicing a pass to Kempe, who nearly lost the puck but reached behind to retrieve it before firing a wrist shot past Smith to make it 2-1 at the 9:29 mark.

 

Kassian temporarily injected some life into the listless Oilers with a goal 2:32 into the second.

 

McDavid picked up a rebound and instead of trying to force it in past Quick, the captain took it around the back of the net and found Kassian, who popped a shot in over defenseman Mikey Anderson lying in the crease for the equalizer.

 

It was the first goal Edmonton scored in four periods.

 

The Kings controlled the shot clock across the first, outshooting the Oilers 16-5, despite Edmonton having the lone power play of the period.

Stecher opened the scoring 3:43 into the game with a slap shot from about the faceoff circle for his second goal of the playoffs

[Hockey Junkie 482]

How does LA outshoot the Oilers 43-28?  How do the Kings outshoot them 16-5 in first period?  This will be brought up if the Kings can finish them off.  But I do not think it will be easy. And I would not count Edmonton out at all.  Maybe they need their backs against the wall?

[TropicalFruitGirl26 5,420]

Lotsa jump in these LA Kings.

Makes me wonder at times if the Oiler players and Kings players switched sweaters!
But no, #97 is still sporting the Oiler logo...

What a revitalization for one Jonathan Quick!
Left for done, reported "on his way out" of LA.... even us fantasy owners steered clear of him (well, he WAS pretty mediocre during the regular season most nights), but here he is, looking like the Quick of the former champion Kings.

And with LA leading and pushing the Oilers to possible elimination, the Kings may NOT want Drew Doughty in the lineup even if he is ready to go!

[TropicalFruitGirl26 5,420]

Tyson Barrie gives the Oiles a jolt!

3-2 lead for Edmonton with just over 5 minutes to play in this must win!

[JR Ewing 2,507]

Evander Kane with an empty-netter. 4-2 EDM

 

[TropicalFruitGirl26 5,420]

7 hours ago, JR Ewing said:

Evander Kane with an empty-netter. 4-2 EDM

 

 

Your Oilers pushed and got their Game 7.

I have not been able to watch much of this series..... is Game 7 a complete crap shoot between these two?
Or do you think the momentum gained from a convincing G6 win carries into G7 for EDM, while deflating the Kings?

I honestly didn't think LA would have the chops to get this far, and it seems the winner in any given game  in this series has made the loser look bad.
So which version of which teams show up?

Kane flashed "seven" to the crowd and camera as he skated by.... 7 for himself? (goals) or 7 for the TEAM as in G7? Hmmm....

Saturday is gonna be rockin with this series, along with two Eastern series going the distance.

[JR Ewing 2,507]

2 hours ago, TropicalFruitGirl26 said:

 

Your Oilers pushed and got their Game 7.

I have not been able to watch much of this series..... is Game 7 a complete crap shoot between these two?
Or do you think the momentum gained from a convincing G6 win carries into G7 for EDM, while deflating the Kings?

I honestly didn't think LA would have the chops to get this far, and it seems the winner in any given game  in this series has made the loser look bad.
So which version of which teams show up?

 

 

I don't know. There's a reason they make them actually play the games.

 

 

2 hours ago, TropicalFruitGirl26 said:

Kane flashed "seven" to the crowd and camera as he skated by.... 7 for himself? (goals) or 7 for the TEAM as in G7? Hmmm....

Saturday is gonna be rockin with this series, along with two Eastern series going the distance.

 

Kane was asked after, and said it was for game 7 and that he didn't know how many goals he'd scored.

 

[Villella McMeans 89]

LA had their chance to advance when Nurce suspended for game 6 now game 7 with Nurce back in I doubt LA chances are any better...

[FireDillabaugh 225]

7 hours ago, Villella McMeans said:

LA had their chance to advance when Nurce suspended for game 6 now game 7 with Nurce back in I doubt LA chances are any better...

Not so sure...  The D looked better with Nurse out of the lineup than they have with him in the lineup.  Especially Ceci.

 

Never been convinced of Nurse being the No. 1 dman he's made out to be, deserving 25 mins ATOI.  Good skater and average point producer.  But, his game in his own zone has some very exploitable flaws.  For a big man that skates as well as he does, he's out of position much more than he should be.  His play in his own zone with the puck on his stick is scary at times, and he must work on decreasing his giveaways if he's going to be on the ice as much as he is.  And, with his size and TOI, he MUST have more than 200 hits a season and be among the top 20 in the league.  Will say, he did better with that this season.  But, still needs to increase that part of his game when on the ice as much as he is.

 

 

Edited May 14 by FireDillabaugh

[Toronto Jules 65]

Gotta feel tonight will become the Connor McDavid show and he will put the Oilers on his back and lead them to a win in game 7. I wouldn't be surprised if he gets a hat trick tonight. 

[JR Ewing 2,507]

After being slew-footed in a scrum and hurting his ankle in game 6, Draisaitl didn't practice this morning. Major blow if he can't play tonight.

 

[FireDillabaugh 225]

At least we don't have to listen to a Leah Hextall play by play.  Even though Boucher is one of the most pathetic analysts and color commentators out there.  Will he have the guts to say anything bad about any player besides "He(insert goaltender's name here) might want that one back..."  Just sad...  Makes Darren Pang look like a good color commentator.  Hurts to even type that...

[Math 793]

Keith high-sticking his own player... Oilers should be pissed for the non call because the penalty bench is the only place where Keith is not hurting his team.

[FireDillabaugh 225]

Ceci having one heck of a playoff series.  Showing he deserves that 20+ minutes ATOI.  Earning that 2 mil salary(3.25 cap hit).

 

Quick looks shaky.  A few shots against have given him some trouble where they shouldn't have.  And, if the Kings aren't prepared to get more shots against Smith, this one could be over quickly.

[Toronto Jules 65]

I am so glad Edmonton won and now hope that Calgary can win tonight for the battle of Alberta to happen in round 2. Now that Toronto is out these are the two teams I am cheering for. Bring the cup back to Canada. 

[JR Ewing 2,507]

It's a weird thing to say when you're referring to a guy who's only 25, but has 4 Art Ross, 3 Lindsay and 2 Hart Trophies (and may have another of both of the last two), but Connor McDavid elevated his game in this series, particularly in the last 3 games, where he was quite literally unstoppable.

 

[Toronto Jules 65]

24 minutes ago, JR Ewing said:

It's a weird thing to say when you're referring to a guy who's only 25, but has 4 Art Ross, 3 Lindsay and 2 Hart Trophies (and may have another of both of the last two), but Connor McDavid elevated his game in this series, particularly in the last 3 games, where he was quite literally unstoppable.

 

I view Auston Matthews as an incredible player and that he is, but I am not going to sit here just because I am a Leafs fan and say Matthews is a better player than Connor McDavid because he is not. Both players contribute a lot to their teams, but McDavid seems to have that extra edge to his game that can take over an entire game on a regular basis. Matthews has that ability as well, but it seems to come in spurts for him. Both are top NHL players for sure and just might be #1 and #2 in the game right now. 

[Math 793]

Finally, talent can make the difference in a tight series like this where bottom-6 players are usually the ones that come from the shadow (Paul and Domi yesterday). That somehow a shame that superstar players like McD and Draisaitl never passed the second round, these guys should at some point compete for the Cup.

[JR Ewing 2,507]

Once in a blue moon, there are otherworldly performances in the National Hockey League. We expect players the calibre of Edmonton’s Connor McDavid to perpetually raise that bar. They are simply that talented.

 

McDavid raised that bar once more in the first round.

 

In a surprisingly competitive seven-game series against the Los Angeles Kings, McDavid put together one of the best individual performances I can recall. At times it looked like his body had been taken over by a force in the universe – distinctly faster and stronger than everyone else on the ice, with lethal execution to boot. And this is in the playoffs against a Kings team who exhibited an ability to slow teams down this season, armed with perhaps the NHL’s best shutdown player in Phillip Danault. (As an aside, it’s hard to say enough about how great Danault was both during the regular season and playoffs; Los Angeles finding an elite shutdown defensive forward who suddenly can score 30 goals in a season is remarkable. 

 

Colour me impressed!)

 

Edmonton was the more talented team in this series, but McDavid was the difference. That’s no slight to goaltender Mike Smith, who was – save for a few puck-handling gaffes – strong in net. And players like Evander Kane and Leon Draisaitl (a combined 12 goals) were invaluable.

 

But McDavid was on another level. He had four goals and 10 assists, played defencemen-level minutes (37 per cent of available ice time), and prevented the Kings from winning any of the minutes when he was on the ice.

 

Look at the game flow of the series, differentiating between the minutes played by McDavid versus the minutes played by any other Oilers line. This was a very game and lively series until McDavid stepped on the ice, when it always looked like a man against small children.

 

Territorially, this was a bloodbath:

Over the course of the series, the Oilers won about 47 per cent of the shots and 46 per cent of expected goals with McDavid off the ice, with notable out-performance in Game 2 and Game 7. McDavid’s line, on the other hand, went supernova: the Oilers owned 61 per cent of the shots and a staggering 68 per cent of expected goals. Layer that into his 37 per cent usage rate, and that’s a tidal wave.

 

How did this territorial domination effect the series? I would say that without McDavid, Edmonton is at real risk of losing a series to perhaps the weakest team of the 16 that qualified for the postseason. But having the best player in the universe tends to help balance things out:

Simply put: Los Angeles was the better team if you measured bottom-nine forwards versus bottom-nine forwards. That’s true in possession time, true in scoring chances and true in goals. But Edmonton’s first line’s obliteration of the Kings was so exceptional, it balanced the ledger and then some.

After Saturday night’s showing, I was curious how McDavid’s dominance of Los Angeles would hold up against some of the better playoff performances we have seen over the years. If we look at net expected goals (blind to goaltending, important in this context) over the past 15 years, we’ve seen plenty of dominant skaters – from Pavel Datsyuk’s Detroit Red Wings, the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning, and the decade-of-dominance team in Washington D.C.

 

And yet, none of those skaters can hold a candle to what McDavid did in this opening round:

Whether it was Datsyuk’s wizardry in 2008 or what individually accomplished in the bubble over the course of two rounds in 2020, we have a clear baseline for what we consider exceptional, one-sided hockey.

 

The best performances over the years have seen players create 1.5 to 2.0 of an expected goal advantage for every 60 minutes played, which is the type of stuff you see from Stanley Cup-calibre teams. McDavid just posted a +2.8. (If points are your thing, don’t worry, it’s the same conclusion. McDavid is averaging 5.6 points per 60 minutes, which again, is the best number we have seen in 15 years.)

Perhaps teams will be incrementally more effective at slowing McDavid down over the rest of the postseason. Certainly, the Colorado Avalanche (to name but one team), who remain in Edmonton’s way for the time being, are armed with the weaponry to do just that.

But, after what we just witnessed over the past two weeks, who is foolish enough to bet against McDavid?

 

Not I.

 

https://www.tsn.ca/travis-yost-connor-mcdavid-carries-edmonton-oilers-into-second-round-1.1800287

Edited May 16 by JR Ewing