That is “one” step in the right direction. That is the motto that the Edmonton Oilers and Oil Country will now be thinking. Playing at home was able to change the storyline in a big way. After playing their first game of the series at home and the third game in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Edmonton Oilers now find themselves down 2–1 to the Los Angeles Kings.
What does this mean for Game 4? The Oilers are bound to give it 110% and their all, as they continue their push to tie the series at two a piece.
Changing goalies was “maybe” the answer
For this all important game, the Edmonton Oilers and their coaching staff, made the decision to sit Stuart Skinner and to give Calvin Pickard the start. They were hoping that Pickard would play way better and make the big saves when needed, but that was not the case.
The Oilers somehow found themselves with a multi goal lead and like Game 2, it didn’t last long as they ended up down 3–2. Connor Brown was able to tie the game at three a piece and as Rogers Place was celebrating, Trevor Moore scored just nine seconds later to give the Los Angeles Kings the one-goal lead.
After allowing six goals in Game 1 and six in Game 2, the Oilers goaltending allowed four goals in Game 3, with Pickard in the net. As of writing, even though the Oilers won this game, they have now allowed 16 goals in the series and this gives the team an average of 5.33 goals against per game.
Special teams continue to be the story
The Oilers were dominant on the penalty kill in last year’s postseason run and so far this year, the team penalty kill has been nowhere close to where it was.
The Oilers on the power play have been 2/7 in this series so far, which gives them a rate of 29%. They were 0/5 on the man-advantage through the first two games and were perfect on both attempts in Game 3. Thanks to a bad challenge by Los Angeles, the Oilers were able to take a 5–4 lead only ten seconds into their power play. In that process, they scored the goal to tie the game and the goal to take the lead, which were separated by only ten seconds as well.
The Edmonton Oilers and their “BBM”
The Edmonton Oilers may not use BBM, but they do have an Evan Bouchard, Connor Brown, and Connor McDavid. These three guys were definitely the main reason why the team won this game, the way that they did. Bouchard scored the team’s two power play goals, while Connor Brown potted two himself and Connor McDavid did his thing with a goal and two assists.
If we can get more of what we saw in this game, minus the four goals against, the Oilers “BBM” program, will most likely be used in Game 4.
The Edmonton Oilers will be looking to build off of this momentum, on Sunday night back home at Rogers Place.
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