Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had a one-on-one chance with Sergei Bobrovsky late in SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 first period.
The Oilers forward B次元官网网址� the teamB次元官网网址檚 longest-serving player, one who endured some of the franchiseB次元官网网址檚 darkest days B次元官网网址� was stoned by the Florida Panthers goaltender with a full-stretch pad save.
Nugent-Hopkins then got an opportunity on another power play in the second, but fired high with Bobrovsky at his mercy.
Edmonton bagged plenty of looks in FloridaB次元官网网址檚 3-0 victory to open the Stanley Cup final. The club knows it must bear down even harder to tie the series Monday in Game 2.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 encouraging, in some ways, the way that we played,B次元官网网址� Nugent-Hopkins said of the OilersB次元官网网址� 32-shot performance. B次元官网网址淵ou want to stack up as many wins as you can as early as you can B次元官网网址� but itB次元官网网址檚 a best-of-seven and itB次元官网网址檚 a race to four.
B次元官网网址淲e did a lot of good things. We couldnB次元官网网址檛 find a way to beat them.B次元官网网址�
Edmonton trailed 2-0 after 40 minutes despite outshooting the Panthers 25-12 before the home side started to find its footing in the third.
Much like the chances that fell to Nugent-Hopkins, Oilers captain Connor McDavid, forward Adam Henrique and defenceman Evan Bouchard all had terrific opportunities on Bobrovsky.
B次元官网网址淣ot gripping our sticks too tight,B次元官网网址� Edmonton centre Leon Draisaitl said Sunday of the approach moving forward during a media availability at the PanthersB次元官网网址� practice facility. B次元官网网址淐ontinuing to play loose and continuing to play our game.B次元官网网址�
The fact Florida won despite being second-best for large chunks of Game 1, however, has to be a concern.
B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e just going to be better,B次元官网网址� Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l see more from them.B次元官网网址�
Edmonton defenceman Mattias Ekholm said despite the loss, his team answered some questions about its ability to keep up with the Panthers, who bested the PresidentsB次元官网网址� Trophy-winning New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference final and are in the title series a second time in 12 months.
B次元官网网址淵ou always come in and you have your doubts,B次元官网网址� Ekholm said. B次元官网网址淏ut I think our best is good enough. ItB次元官网网址檚 a matter of getting there every night. ThatB次元官网网址檚 the hard part.B次元官网网址�
Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov said thereB次元官网网址檚 an urgency to get to their own level quicker Monday.
B次元官网网址淲e know we need to be better,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淓dmonton is an unbelievable team, they have so much skill in their lineup. ItB次元官网网址檚 going to be tough.B次元官网网址�
Connor Brown added thereB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渘o panicB次元官网网址� in the OilersB次元官网网址� camp.
B次元官网网址淲e had a great process,B次元官网网址� said the winger. B次元官网网址淛ust keep at it and keep pounding at the door and good things will happen.B次元官网网址�
Edmonton, a team that started the season a disastrous 2-9-1, has been here before. The group trailed the Vancouver Canucks 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 in the second round before falling behind the Dallas Stars 2-1 in Western Conference final.
The Oilers responded each time. TheyB次元官网网址檒l need another pushback Monday B次元官网网址� or face a deep hole when the series shifts to AlbertaB次元官网网址檚 capital for Games 3 and 4.
B次元官网网址淎 great trait of ours throughout the whole season,B次元官网网址� Nugent-Hopkins said of EdmontonB次元官网网址檚 ability to bounce back. B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 take it for granted thinking that itB次元官网网址檚 going to happen. We know theyB次元官网网址檙e going to step up. WeB次元官网网址檙e going to have to step our game up.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 why you prepare for it throughout the season B次元官网网址� for moments like this.B次元官网网址�
NOT AS ABLE
Oilers winger Evander Kane is playing through a sports hernia and has just one assist in his last eight playoff games.
B次元官网网址淢aybe not showing up on the scoresheet as much as he has in the past,B次元官网网址� Knoblauch said of the 32-year-old. B次元官网网址淏ut still contributing to our team. I donB次元官网网址檛 think weB次元官网网址檇 be in the Stanley Cup final if Evander hadnB次元官网网址檛 been playing throughout the playoffs.B次元官网网址�
NURSE, CECI STRUGGLES
The defence pair of Darnell Nurse and Cody Ceci was on the ice for two goals against in Game 1 before Panthers iced it late into the empty net.
Knoblauch said the data shows EdmontonB次元官网网址檚 under-fire duo, which was reunited Saturday, is playing better than traditional stats indicate.
B次元官网网址淚f you look at actual goals scored for and against, itB次元官网网址檚 not favourable,B次元官网网址� Knoblauch said. B次元官网网址淭he expected goals for and against B次元官网网址� doesnB次元官网网址檛 paint the same picture at all. Completely different. WeB次元官网网址檙e always balancing whatB次元官网网址檚 best for those two players. But also whatB次元官网网址檚 best for all six of our defencemen.B次元官网网址�
FINNISH BROTHERHOOD
Barkov is one of four Finnish-born players on FloridaB次元官网网址檚 roster that includes forwards Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen, and defenceman Niko Mikkola.
B次元官网网址淵ou can talk in your own language,B次元官网网址� Barkov said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e chasing the same goal, working as hard as possible every single day.
B次元官网网址淒efinitely special.B次元官网网址�
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