Coming into the Western Conference Finals, a big topic was how the Dallas Stars’ forward depth dwarfed the Edmonton Oilers’ and was looked at as what could be the difference maker. This is especially the case given the main trade deadline acquisition Adam Henrique has been out with an injury.
Game 2 saw the Oilers fourth line step up, with Connor Brown scoring the first Oilers goal just 44 seconds after Dallas took the initial lead.
Fourth liners stepping up
Perhaps the players on that fourth line saw that Henrique is nearing a return, and know that it is more likely than not that it would be one of them coming out for him, and so had that “playing for my life” mentality, as Calvin Pickard would say.
Mattias Janmark, Sam Carrick, and Connor Brown line played the third most time on ice at 5v5 for the Oilers. In their 6:42 ice time they had nine chances for, just two behind the top two lines, who had 11 each, and equalling the amount that the loaded up Leon Draisaitl-Connor McDavid-Zach Hyman line produced, and dwarfing the three chances for that the third line of Warren Foegele-Ryan McLeod-Derek Ryan produced.
The line also had the best FF% on the team at 63.64% and led the team with five shots for and a SF% of 62.50%. They again were second for scoring chances for (5), including beating the loaded first line by two in just 11 seconds more of ice time. Granted, they also had the second most scoring chances at five as well, but a fourth line that is even in that respect is still good.
They matched up against the Stars third line of Mason Marchment–Joe Pavelski–Matt Duchene the most, dominating them in chances.
The fourth line played a big role in gaining momentum for the Oilers, who dominated the first period and outshot the Stars 16–4.
The bottom-six players ended up playing virtually the same amount of time, as Janmark played 9:49, Carrick played 9:17, and Brown played 10:33, while Derek Ryan played a team low 8:20, Foegele played 10:46, and McLeod 11:03.
Top six unable to produce
Unfortunately, with the Oilers going down 2–1 three minutes into the third period, the fourth line saw their role diminish. After six shifts in each of the first and second period, they saw just two more shifts together, after which point Connor Brown swapped with Derek Ryan, perhaps in an attempt to give the third line some juice given that Brown was having a good game.
Janmark would get just one more shift the rest of the game, and Carrick and Brown just two, as the Oilers turned to their big guns to try and get the victory.
The Oilers couldn’t score another goal (which isn’t surprising given they were outshot 21–13 the last 40 minutes), and a questionable goalie pull with just over two minutes left when the Oilers didn’t have full possession in the offensive zone led to a dagger insurance empty net goal by the Stars. This wasted a wonderful effort from the fourth line as well as Stuart Skinner, who stopped 22 of 24 shots including multiple 10 bell saves.
A disappointing end result for sure, but those are positives to take going forward in this series, as it is unlikely that the top guns go pointless again (and unfortunately breaking Draisaitl’s point scoring streak).
The big question for next game is, if Henrique is ready to play, who comes out? Is it Carrick, another centre? Is it Ryan, who got moved down and played the least? Given how Janmark-Carrick-Brown played versus Foegele-McLeod-Ryan, one would think the shakeup would go to the third line instead.
