The Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings faced off last night in what could be a preview of a first-round series between the two if the stars aligned, and on paper, it looks like it could be one of the more entertaining matchups.
But the game itself was not what was expected. Even with all the stars between the two, it ended up being more of a defensive battle, with the Oilers winning 3-1. Add in the 2-0 win the Oilers had over the Kings last week, and maybe that’s a sign of what’s to come for these two teams.
Frank Seravalli and Mike McKenna talked more about how entertaining the potential series could be on “Daily Faceoff Live,” and whether or not we should expect a goal-scoring affair or a defensive showcase.
Mike McKenna: I thought it was great hockey, so for me, it was fun, but I’m also defensive-minded being an old goaltender. And I loved seeing Stuart Skinner and Pheonix Copley go head-to-head last night. Both were extremely good.
This was a really tight checking game and for me, it really shows how good that 1-2 punch is down the middle for the Los Angeles Kings. Between Kopitar and Phillip Danault, they check Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl as well as anyone in the NHL. And at 5-on-5 they made the game really tight for Edmonton, they turned it into a special teams battle. Edmonton was better, they scored two goals on the power play, LA couldn’t convert, 0-4 on theirs.
But for me, I’m watching and the goalie in me is thinking “I’m really hot on Stuart Skinner right now”. He looked awesome last night, very in control, patient on his edges, and he’s been so consistent this year. In his last 15 games, his record speaks for itself. 11-1-1, 2.69 with a .911% save percentage, but look at that compared to his full season. 2.84, .911%.
Frank Seravalli: It’s the same.
Mike McKenna: Yes, you know what you’re getting with this guy. But, he’s also starting to get the run support later in the year. Earlier in the year, he wasn’t getting the wins because the team wasn’t scoring as much for him for whatever reason. I think he’s played great for them, I like the strides he’s taken, and yes, this would be a really interesting matchup between these two teams. Not just because of the scoring, but because both clubs have a goaltender that can play this season.
Frank Seravalli: Yeah, it’s been a market change from last year to this year. You mentioned the special teams battle, Leon Draisaitl picks up his 31st power-play goal of the season, he’s now three back of Tim Kerr’s single-season record of 34 from 1985-86.
Based on the way that the Oilers played on Tuesday, are they prepared to pick through a potential matchup like that against the Kings with such little ice? Is that what you got from Edmonton’s effort?
Mike McKenna: I think so. I think they’re ready to grind. I think they know what they’re up against now, and you look at the pickup they have with Ekholm. That guy is +18 in 16 games, he has solidified their defense and made them that match better on the back end.
So yes, I think the Oilers now are the most complete Oilers team we have seen in the Connor McDavid era.
You can watch the full episode here…
