Connor McDavid didnB次元官网网址檛 have an answer.
His head coach, meanwhile, took a long, deliberate pause to ponder the same question B次元官网网址� why havenB次元官网网址檛 the Oilers been able to draw penalties against the Dallas Stars in the NHLB次元官网网址檚 Western Conference final?
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e heard a lot about the past, being a spectator, not a part of the NHL, not as a coach B次元官网网址� sometimes the standard gets changed a little bit,B次元官网网址� Edmonton bench boss Kris Knoblauch said of playoff officiating. B次元官网网址�(Referees) would definitely want to make sure itB次元官网网址檚 a penalty, when in the regular season, maybe some things get let go.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 obviously unfortunate for us.B次元官网网址�
The Oilers and Stars sit tied 1-1 in the best-of-seven series with a berth in the Stanley Cup final on the line following a 3-1 Dallas victory on Saturday.
Edmonton took ThursdayB次元官网网址檚 opener 3-2 in double overtime despite going on the man advantage once B次元官网网址� a call for too many men on the ice B次元官网网址� compared to 10 minutes of power-play time for the home side.
The Oilers and Stars got one power play each through the first 58 minutes of Game 2 before a couple of late calls either way with the result all but decided.
ItB次元官网网址檚 stark contrast compared to EdmontonB次元官网网址檚 two previous series.
The club scored six times off 18 man-advantage chances in the second round against the Vancouver Canucks after opening the playoffs 9-for-25 versus the Los Angeles Kings.
The Oilers, who had the leagueB次元官网网址檚 fourth-best power play in the regular season, have dipped to a still-impressive 34.9 per cent success rate thanks to a 1-for-13 run dating back to Game 5 against Vancouver, but have only had those three opportunities in just over seven periods of conference final action.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e got a very good power play and we win a lot of games on the power play,B次元官网网址� Knoblauch continued in his measured answer. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 unfortunate for us that itB次元官网网址檚 tougher to draw penalties in the playoffs than it is the regular season.B次元官网网址�
Edmonton averaged four minutes 26 seconds of power-play time across 82 games in 2023-24, but have earned a total of just 4:42 in this series.
B次元官网网址淭he standardB次元官网网址檚 the same for both teams,B次元官网网址� Knoblauch added of the Stars matchup. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not saying itB次元官网网址檚 unfair for us, but we would like the same standard (as the regular season).B次元官网网址�
Oilers defenceman Mattias Ekholm was less diplomatic when queried on the same topic in the visitors locker room at American Airlines Center late Saturday.
B次元官网网址淕reat question,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 have no idea. I looked at (Edmonton defenceman Darnell NurseB次元官网网址檚) penalty, and then five minutes later I get cross-checked right in the same spot. ItB次元官网网址檚 hard. ItB次元官网网址檚 physical. ItB次元官网网址檚 playoff hockey.
B次元官网网址淲e need to work harder to draw more penalties.B次元官网网址�
Oilers forward Connor Brown pointed to the StarsB次元官网网址� discipline B次元官网网址� Dallas has averaged a playoff-low three minutes short-handed per game this spring B次元官网网址� as part of the equation.
B次元官网网址淭hey check with their feet,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ut I think we can do a better job of holding onto the puck and creating some momentum so theyB次元官网网址檝e got to chase us around a little bit.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 usually when you get your calls.B次元官网网址�
The Stars have also largely done a good job at even strength against McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who sit 1-2 in post-season scoring. McDavid snagged ThursdayB次元官网网址檚 double OT winner and Draisaitl had a goal and an assist, but both were held off the scoresheet in Game 2 B次元官网网址� a first for the Oilers in these playoffs.
Despite plenty of attention being paid to his two stars, Knoblauch pointed to the looks EdmontonB次元官网网址檚 dynamic duo are still getting on Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 be a little bit alarmed if they werenB次元官网网址檛 getting their scoring chances,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ut weB次元官网网址檒l look at that. We had enough opportunities to score more than we did (in Game 2).
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 going to be some tweaks we can make.B次元官网网址�
McDavid, Draisaitl and Co. will have to find a way through B次元官网网址� especially if the referees continue to keep the whistles largely silent.
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