Kris Knoblauch needed someone B次元官网网址� anyone B次元官网网址� to step up.
The Oilers were taking on water after a flying start to Game 3 of the NHLB次元官网网址檚 Western Conference final.
Connor McDavid had been shot out of a cannon, setting up EdmontonB次元官网网址檚 first goal and scoring another in MondayB次元官网网址檚 quick-strike opening 20 minutes that saw the home side lead 2-0 and hold the Dallas Stars to just three shots.
The momentum, however, was resoundingly flipped after the intermission. And the Oilers didnB次元官网网址檛 respond nearly quick enough.
Every line Knoblauch, the teamB次元官网网址檚 rookie head coach, sent over the boards in that disastrous 10-minute stretch to open the second was on its heels as the Stars poured into the offensive zone in white-and-green waves.
McDavidB次元官网网址檚 trio couldnB次元官网网址檛 get traction. Leon DraisaitlB次元官网网址檚 and his wingers didnB次元官网网址檛 have any luck either. It was more of the same from the third and fourth units.
Before they knew it, the Oilers were down 3-2.
Edmonton would eventually get back on stable ground, tying the score 3-3, before Dallas winger Jason Robertson completed his hat trick midway through the third period in a 5-3 victory that pushed the Stars ahead 2-1 in the best-of-seven series.
B次元官网网址淲e got away from our game,B次元官网网址� Knoblauch said Tuesday. B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 want to take anything away from Dallas. They played a much better period in the second period than they did in the first. But I look back at what we were doing.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 some things that we werenB次元官网网址檛 doing the second period that we were in the first.B次元官网网址�
That included failing to make simple plays at the OilersB次元官网网址� blue line and missed assignments in the defensive zone B次元官网网址� a lack of attention to detail that has popped up at different points this spring. Edmonton blew a 4-1 lead in Game 1 against the Vancouver Canucks in the second round before nearly doing the same with a 3-0 advantage in Game 7.
And then there was MondayB次元官网网址檚 dramatic shift.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just small, little details,B次元官网网址� continued Knoblauch, whose team hosts Game 4 on Wednesday. B次元官网网址淔or us to be successful, those small details are non-negotiable. If weB次元官网网址檙e going to have success, we need everyone doing them every single time.B次元官网网址�
The Oilers havenB次元官网网址檛 scored a goal in the third period in this series and are 0-4 in the playoffs when tied through 40 minutes, including 0-2 against Dallas after winning Game 1 in double overtime.
B次元官网网址淲e havenB次元官网网址檛 done a good enough job of being stubborn with it and closing out games,B次元官网网址� Draisaitl said. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 a big part of our team.B次元官网网址�
On the other side, second-year centre Wyatt Johnson said the veteran presence in a Dallas locker room that also qualified for last seasonB次元官网网址檚 conference final makes a huge difference in moments like the aftermath of MondayB次元官网网址檚 first period.
B次元官网网址淲e have the patience, the confidence,B次元官网网址� said the 21-year-old, who scored his teamB次元官网网址檚 third goal in Game 3. B次元官网网址淚f we donB次元官网网址檛 have a great period, we take that intermission and regain our thoughts and settle down a bit.B次元官网网址�
Edmonton, meanwhile, didnB次元官网网址檛 respond quickly enough facing a similar situation Monday in a series that has seen some wild swings.
B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e a really good team,B次元官网网址� said Oilers winger Zach Hyman, who scored MondayB次元官网网址檚 opener and tops the post-season with 13 goals. B次元官网网址淭here are times in the game we absolutely dominate and there are times in the game where theyB次元官网网址檙e dominating.B次元官网网址�
Edmonton also trailed Vancouver 2-1 heading into Game 4 at home and wonB次元官网网址檛 be deviating from its process.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 nothing to be upset about, thereB次元官网网址檚 nothing to sulk about,B次元官网网址� Hyman said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been in this position before. We have a great opportunity B次元官网网址� Game 4 at home to send it to a best-of-three.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 the mindset that we should have.B次元官网网址�
But if things once again go of script, the Oilers will need a much better response B次元官网网址� or face an uphill climb down 3-1 when they board the plane back to Texas.
DIFFERENT APPROACH
The Stars arenB次元官网网址檛 nearly as physical as the Los Angeles Kings B次元官网网址� EdmontonB次元官网网址檚 first-round opponent B次元官网网址� or the Canucks. Scrums after the whistle and general animosity just havenB次元官网网址檛 been there against Dallas.
B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檝e almost tried to lull things to sleep,B次元官网网址� Oilers winger Evander Kane said. B次元官网网址淎 tactic on their end. We can be more physical as a group.B次元官网网址�
STRUGGLING NURSE
Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse was on the ice for the third and fourth Dallas goals in Game 3, dropping him to minus-12 B次元官网网址� the worst of any player in the 2024 post-season.
Knoblauch pushed back on that ugly number, but added the blueliner with two playoff assists and a US$9.25-million salary cap hit has more to give.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just playing on instincts,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 know (a defenceman) in NHL that is able to get around the ice as quick as he can and close plays off. HeB次元官网网址檚 so efficient at that B次元官网网址� something heB次元官网网址檚 got to be doing every shift.
B次元官网网址淵ou look at the stats and I think itB次元官网网址檚 unfair to say thatB次元官网网址檚 his game, but Darnell can play better.B次元官网网址�
READ ALSO:
