愛污传媒

Skip to main content

Edmonton Oilers hope last year's long playoff run greases their wheels in 2023

Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid (97) and Leon Draisaitl (29) celebrate a goal against the Arizona Coyotes during overtime NHL action in Edmonton on Wednesday March 22, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid (97) and Leon Draisaitl (29) celebrate a goal against the Arizona Coyotes during overtime NHL action in Edmonton on Wednesday March 22, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
Share
EDMONTON -

After their longest playoff run in 16 years in 2022, the Edmonton Oilers have the weapons to go further.

While there's currently no better one-two punch on the hockey planet than Oilers captain Connor McDavid and forward Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton's supporting cast is also deeper and more seasoned heading into the 2023 post-season.

"Being in a Canadian market in a place like Edmonton, with the group we have, it's exciting," Oilers forward Evander Kane said Sunday.

Edmonton kicks off another Stanley Cup quest against a familiar playoff opponent.

The Oilers versus the Los Angeles Kings starting Monday at Rogers Place is a rematch of last year's opening round between the two clubs.

Down 3-2 to the Kings, the Oilers won back-to-back games to advance to the second round.

Edmonton then dispatched Calgary in five games in the first playoff Battle of Alberta in 31 years.

The Oilers were swept in four straight by the eventual champion Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference final.

"We've just kind of grown as a team from last year," Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins said. "The little bit of a run we had last year helps us. Gives us some more confidence.

"At the same time, we understand how hard it is. Every single game in the playoffs is a battle and I think the more experience you have, the more you learn that."

The Oilers (50-23-9) finished second in the Pacific Division ahead of the Los Angeles Kings (47-25-10) in third.

They split the regular-season series, but the Oilers beat the Kings twice in the last three weeks by 3-1 and 2-0 scores.

"It'll be a tight-checking series for sure," Nugent-Hopkins said. "These guys always make it tough to get opportunities and chances, but especially the way we've been playing the last month, we make it tough too."

Game 2 in the best-of-seven series is Wednesday at Rogers, where the Oilers have gone 23-12-6 this season.

The Kings went 26-11-4 at Crypto.com Arena, which is the site of Friday's Game 3 and Sunday's Game 4.

If necessary, Game 5 is April 25, Game 6 is April 29 and Game 7 is May 1.

McDavid, winner of the Art Ross scoring trophy with 64 goals and 89 assists, and Draisaitl are coming in hot with a staggering 116 goals and 281 points between them in 2022-23.

The duo drive a lethal power play that operated at a league-record 32.4 per cent.

Should the Kings try to contain that tandem, the Oilers have other options to poke holes in a defence.

Nugent-Hopkins posting a career-high 37 goals and 67 assists made the Oilers the first team since the 1996 Pittsburgh Penguins to boast three 100-point men in a single season.

Zach Hyman produced a career-high 36 goals.

Kane, who missed 31 games midseason with a wrist slashed by a skate blade, is an X factor who brings both grit and goals.

"He's a warrior who is built for this time of year," Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft said.

Both clubs will start goaltenders either untested or lightly tested in NHL playoffs.

Hometown product Stuart Skinner, 24, makes his post-season debut for Edmonton.

The Kings' Pheonix Copley also has no previous NHL playoff experience, but Joonas Korpisalo does.

The 28-year-old Finn, who was acquired just before March trade deadline in a goaltending swap that sent Jonathan Quick to Columbus, owns nine post-season starts.

The Kings won't be minus star defenceman Drew Doughty this time against the Oilers.

Doughty underwent season-ending wrist surgery a year ago.

TALE OF THE TAPE:

Regular-season series: 2-2

Goals for per game: Edmonton, 3.96 (1st); Los Angeles, 3.34 (10th).

Top points men: Edmonton, Connor McDavid, 153; Los Angeles, Anze Kopitar 74.

Starting goaltender: Edmonton, Stuart Skinner, 29-14-5, 2.75 GAA, .914 save percentage; Los Angeles, Joonas Korpisalo, 18-14-4, 2.87, .915/Pheonix Copley, 24-6-3, 2.64, .903

Power play percentage: Edmonton, 32.4 (1st); Los Angeles Kings, 25.3 (4th).

Penalty kill percentage: Edmonton, 77 (20th); Los Angeles Kings 75.8 (24th).

The Big Stat: McDavid and Draisaitl scored a combined 53 power-play goals; Adrian Kempe and Victor Arvidsson totalled 21 together for the Kings.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 16, 2023.

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

The Maritime Sikh Society says the body of a young employee who died at a Walmart in Halifax last weekend was found by her mother.

Four people are dead and another is in hospital after a Tesla driving through downtown Toronto at a high rate of speed crashed into a guardrail and struck a concrete pillar on Lake Shore Boulevard.

Local Spotlight

A new resident at a Manitoba animal rescue has waddled her way into people's hearts.

Hundreds of people ran to the music of German composer and pianist Beethoven Wednesday night in a unique race in Halifax.

He is a familiar face to residents of a neighbourhood just west of Roncesvalles Avenue.

A meteor lit up our region's sky last night 鈥 with a large fireball shooting across the horizon over Lake Erie at around 7:00 p.m.

Residents of Ottawa's Rideauview neighbourhood say an aggressive wild turkey has become a problem.

A man who lost his life while trying to rescue people from floodwaters, and a 13-year-old boy who saved his family from a dog attack, are among the Nova Scotians who received a medal for bravery Tuesday.

A newly minted Winnipegger is hoping a world record attempt will help bring awareness for the need for more pump track facilities in the city.

A Springfield, Ont. man is being hailed a 'hero' after running into his burning home to save his two infant children.

Hortense Anglin was the oldest graduate to make her way across the platform at York University's Fall Convocation ceremony this week. At the age of 87, she graduated with an Honours degree in Religious Studies.

Stay Connected