VICTORY!
The Edmonton Oilers have defeated the Los Angeles Kings in the first round of the NHL playoffs for the third season in a row. This time, they accomplished the feat in five games, continuing the trend of it taking one fewer game each time.
As always, it was a hard fought series that the Kings showed a relentless physicality in an attempt to wear the Oilers down and gain momentum. But this time it did not work. Not only did the Oilers show resilience to match and battle back through this series, but they did not bite and fall into retaliatory plays. The composure that Edmonton showed within this series played a huge role in keeping the advantage in their favour.
By far the biggest swing factor in this series was directly linked to this Kings physical play/Oilers composure dynamic. Special teams. Edmonton let the Kings play their game and get called for a ton of penalties, giving them a power play advantage—one that they capitalized on in a big way.
In this five game series, Edmonton had 19 power play opportunities, scoring on nine of them. With at least one where the goal counted as even strength but was set up on the power play, like Zach Hyman‘s goal in Game 5.
Additionally, the penalty kill was superb. The Kings had 12 power play opportunities. They scored on none of them.
This special teams swing gave the Oilers more than enough of a goals advantage to take this series easily.
Series breakdown
Game 1
EDM 7 – LAK 4, Edmonton winning series 1–0
Edmonton took an early series lead in an action packed first game full of wild bounces. Hyman picked up where he left off and scored a hat trick to open the playoffs for Edmonton.
Game 2
LAK 5 – EDM 4 (OT), series tied 1–1
The blemish for the Oilers in this first round as the Kings dominated most of Game 2 to eventually take it in overtime. Although the Oilers battled back from a deficit in the second period led by a major momentum shift started by Evander Kane, they were not able to sustain it as the Kings made quick work in overtime to end it.
Game 3
EDM 6 – LAK 1, Edmonton winning series 2–1
A bounceback game for the ages after a disappointing Game 2 had the Oilers rout the Kings in their playoff home opener. The Oilers dominated all the way through, creating separation in a rough third period where the Kings continued to attack Kane relentlessly. They did not bite, the Kings took unnecessary penalties, and Edmonton won
Game 4
EDM 1 – LAK 0, Edmonton winning series 3–1
In what was the best performance of his playoff career, Stuart Skinner recorded his first career playoff shutout as the Oilers snuck away with this game. Despite being heavily outshot, Edmonton took advantage of a single power play goal to win the game.
Game 5
EDM 4 – LAK 3, Edmonton wins series 4–1
Despite a slow start that had many fans worried about this game, Edmonton found their mojo heading into the second period where again, some key power plays helped them take control of the game. For the third year in a row, Edmonton knocked out the Kings in round one of the playoffs.
We now await the results of the Vancouver Canucks and Nashville Predators series to determine who the second round opponent will be.
Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire
