Oilers vs. Kings
The Oilers vs. Kings series continues with Game 3, as the Edmonton Oilers return home for a crucial showdown against the Los Angeles Kings. Trailing 2-0 in the best-of-seven playoff series, the Oilers need a strong performance at Rogers Place to stay alive in their quest for the Stanley Cup. After losing both games at Crypto.com Arena, this game marks a vital turning point in the series for Edmonton’s hopes of a comeback.
Game Details:
- Date: Friday night
- Time: 8:00 p.m. MDT
- Broadcast: Sportsnet (TV) / 630 CHED (Radio)
The Return to Rogers Place: Edmonton’s Advantage
After the first two games in Los Angeles, the Oilers will be relying on their home crowd for a boost. The Rogers Place crowd is famous for its intensity during the playoffs, and with the series at a critical juncture, the team is looking to ride the crowd’s energy. Oilers defenseman Brett Kulak discussed the significance of returning home:
“Huge and thrilling for us, and that’s going to give us a huge boost for sure. Something we’re anticipating, and the fans here in Edmonton certainly bring it to another level in the playoffs.”
Kulak is optimistic that the Oilers can turn things around and start to chip away at the Kings’ 2-0 series lead. Historically, the Oilers have been a solid home team. The task now is to fix the issues they had on the road and use their home ice to their advantage to get back on track.
A Tough Road: Oilers’ Struggles in Games 1 & 2
The Kings outplayed the Oilers in the opening two games of the series. They lost 12-7, with the Kings capitalizing on the Oilers’ defensive mistakes. Game 1 was an ugly one for Edmonton, as they lost 6-5 on the last minute. Game 2 was not different, with the Kings crushing 6-2. Special units were one of the biggest worries for the Oilers, as they gave up three power-play goals alone in Game 2.
Los Angeles has been a very strong team on the power play, having gone 5-for-10 in the first two games. The Oilers’ power play has yet to get on track. They could muster only once score all throughout the two games despite having a lot of opportunities.
Leon Draisaitl’s Game 2 score was one of the silver linings for Edmonton. His second goal in the series gave him a 16-game point streak in the playoffs against the Kings, but it wasn’t enough to create a comeback. Viktor Arvidsson scored a goal to tie the Oilers at one, 3-2, to begin the third period, but defensive miscues provided the Kings with a cushion in the second half of the game.
Special Teams Struggles: Kings Dominate the Power Play
One of the largest categories the Oilers are going to have to correct is special teams. The power play of the Kings has been outstanding in the first two games, converting five of ten attempts. The Oilers’ penalty kill has not come even close to this, and the Kings have been able to score against them on more than one occasion.
The Oilers’ own power play has not yet surpassed the level of achievement they had last season. This season, during the 2023-24 season, Edmonton had the league’s best power play team, but this playoffs they have yet to be as productive, with the Kings being able to break up their offense consistently.
As head coach Kris Knoblauch pointed out, the Oilers need to tidy up their special teams and ensure that they capitalize on their chances when the Kings are on the power play. “We need to clean up our penalty kill and capitalize on our own power play,” Knoblauch said. “We have to be more disciplined and on point with our overall game plan.”
Road Woes: The Kings’ Weakness Away from Home
Though the Kings are invincible on home ice, winning both in Los Angeles, their away record this season hasn’t been nearly as good. The Kings recorded an impressive 33-6-4 in Crypto.com Arena, but when on the road, they were considerably weaker at.476 percentage of wins. This difference brings hope to the Oilers, and they attempt to use their home-ice strength to their benefit.
The Kings did find some success away from home later in the regular season, posting their last three games outside Los Angeles, including a 5-0 win against the Oilers at Rogers Place on April 14. The Oilers will hopefully look to exploit the Kings’ road vulnerabilities in Game 3, though.
Oilers’ Goaltending: A Possible Change in Goal for Game 3?
One of the issues for the Oilers has been goaltending. While Stuart Skinner has been good in general, the team has allowed too many quality scoring chances, particularly in Game 2. Coach Knoblauch is considering changing goal for Game 3, but hasn’t made up his mind yet. Skinner has been under tremendous pressure all series, with most of the Kings’ goals being due to breakdowns in front of him rather than poor goaltending.
Most of those goals weren’t Skinner’s fault,\” Knoblauch said. “He’s been left in a bad spot with the team not doing enough to kill off quality opportunities.” However, Knoblach has indicated that a goaltending change is an option on the table, depending on how Game 3 goes.
Player Returns: Kane, Frederic, and Klingberg Shake Off Rust
Evander Kane, Trent Frederic, and John Klingberg all returned to the lineup in Game 2 after extended stints on the injured list. Kane, in particular, had not suited up in over 10 months, and while his return was a positive development, the veteran forward said there’s still more to do.
Kris Knoblauch believes these players can get better with each game. “It’s a tall order for these guys to jump back in, but we believe they’ll continue to improve,” Knoblach said. The return of these players adds depth to the Oilers’ lineup and gives the team more options as they attempt to rebound.
The Pressure is On: Oilers Must Win Game 3
Game 3 is a must-win for the Oilers. With a 2-0 series deficit, they cannot afford to fall further behind. This game represents the last chance for Edmonton to turn the series around before facing an even more uphill battle. Knoblach and his team will focus on special teams adjustments, tightening up their defensive play, and capitalizing on their home-ice advantage.
“We have to be ready to give our best effort and make a couple of adjustments,” Kulak said. “We believe we can be better, and we know we need to be.”
Conclusion: The Oilers’ Road to Recovery Starts Now
Game 3 is a turning point in this series. As the Oilers fall behind 2-0, they must take advantage of home-ice benefit and start building their comeback. Special teams tweaks and defense will be the solutions if the Oilers are to get back into the series. A win in Game 3 could prove to be just the momentum needed for the Oilers to tie up the series and look forward to the remainder of the playoffs.