Kris Knoblauch stated boldly he was looking forward to the next 10 days.
The Oilers head coach shared those feelings hours before his team faced elimination down 3-0 to the Florida Panthers in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup final.
Edmonton then went out and thumped the Eastern Conference champions 8-1 to earn a stay of execution.
Knoblauch B次元官网网址� confidently, again B次元官网网址� is now eyeing the next eight days he expects his team to spend together.
There remains, however, zero margin for error.
The Oilers face another back-against-the-wall, no-tomorrow test Tuesday against the Panthers still trailing the best-of-seven title series 3-1.
On the heels of EdmontonB次元官网网址檚 emphatic Saturday home triumph that had fans celebrating late into the night around Rogers Place, KnoblauchB次元官网网址檚 group is firmly focused on buying yet more time and, as superstar captain Connor McDavid said after Game 4, B次元官网网址淒rag (the Panthers) back to Alberta.B次元官网网址�
KnoblauchB次元官网网址檚 words B次元官网网址� he really had nothing to lose B次元官网网址� could have served as bulletin board material for the other side.
But the rookie coach, hired in the fall with Edmonton in a 3-9-1 tailspin, had reason to share his unwavering belief publicly.
Apart from the Xs and Os, his job has never been about confidence B次元官网网址� or keeping it high. HeB次元官网网址檚 instead focused on not allowing frustration to creep into his ultra-talented roster.
That was the mission six weeks into the season, in the playoffs, and over the course of this series, where the Oilers feel they could very easily be up 3-1.
B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檝e been counted out,B次元官网网址� Knoblauch told reporters Monday following practice at Amerant Bank Arena. B次元官网网址淥thers have said, B次元官网网址楾heyB次元官网网址檙e done, theyB次元官网网址檙e not that good, itB次元官网网址檚 over.B次元官网网址� Whether that was in November or throughout the playoffs.
B次元官网网址淚t doesnB次元官网网址檛 mean anything to them.B次元官网网址�
The OilersB次元官网网址� attack meant a lot in Game 4, exploding after being largely held in check by Florida.
McDavid led the way with four points, while Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins finally got on the scoresheet as Edmonton took an initial step toward potentially becoming the fifth team in NHL history to win a series after trailing 3-0.
And just the second in a final, some 82 years after the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs.
B次元官网网址淚f you look at the top of the mountain right now, itB次元官网网址檚 pretty steep,B次元官网网址� Draisaitl said. B次元官网网址淏ut taking one day at a time doesnB次元官网网址檛 sound so bad.B次元官网网址�
The Oilers put a dent in Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who stopped 82-of-86 shots through the first three games before he got the hook after allowing five goals on 16 pucks on target Saturday.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e not going to decide how he plays (Game 5), weB次元官网网址檙e not going to decide how their team plays,B次元官网网址� said Edmonton defenceman Darnell Nurse, who ended BobrovskyB次元官网网址檚 night with his first goal of the post-season. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e not going to decide what calls are called.
B次元官网网址淲e can only control what we can control.B次元官网网址�
That calm approach is something Knoblauch brought with him when he was thrust into a hockey-crazed Canadian spotlight with a floundering Cup contender seven months ago.
B次元官网网址淔ound a way out of it,B次元官网网址� said Nugent-Hopkins, whose team is aiming to force Game 6 in Edmonton on Friday. B次元官网网址淗e has belief in us and we have belief in each other.B次元官网网址�
The Oilers have demonstrated an ability to push back all season. Knoblauch has been steering that ship.
B次元官网网址淎 very resilient group,B次元官网网址� Draisaitl said. B次元官网网址淵ou donB次元官网网址檛 want to find yourself in these situations too many times, but weB次元官网网址檝e always done a really good job of collectively pulling on the same rope together. ItB次元官网网址檚 not individuals, itB次元官网网址檚 all of us together.
B次元官网网址淟ove playing for each other.B次元官网网址�
The big German added the belief Knoblauch has is justified.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檇 be a shame if he didnB次元官网网址檛 have confidence in us by now,B次元官网网址� Draisaitl said with a smile. B次元官网网址淔aced a lot of adversity this year, and always found a way to push through.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 lots of confidence.B次元官网网址�
Knoblauch has still made plenty of tough calls throughout the spring.
He sat goaltender Stuart Skinner down 2-1 in the second round against the Vancouver Canucks before returning him to the crease after a two-game reset. Edmonton also trailed the Dallas Stars 2-1 in the Western Conference final.
No panic.
B次元官网网址淣ever really worried about whatever situation that weB次元官网网址檙e in,B次元官网网址� Skinner said of Knoblauch. B次元官网网址淭hat belief that we (were) going to spend the next 10 days together B次元官网网址� weB次元官网网址檝e got a lot of work to do and a lot of battle to go through in order to make that happen, but it does a lot for everybody.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 been like that all the way through,B次元官网网址� Nugent-Hopkins added.
The Oilers have faced tough challenges. This is simply another box to check in an adversity-filled campaign.
B次元官网网址淕uys who have seen hard times and have persevered,B次元官网网址� Knoblauch said of his players. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e just having a lot of fun with it right now.
B次元官网网址淗opefully we can continue this on for another eight days.B次元官网网址�
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