The Edmonton Oilers took the long way to get to L.A. ahead of Game 3 in their first-round playoff series against the Kings.

Instead of taking a charter flight directly to California, the club opted to fly to Vancouver after their Game 2 win on Wednesday, spend the night in a hotel, then bus over the border on Thursday morning before flying from Bellingham, Wash., to California.

The unique journey allowed the team to avoid COVID-19 testing before entering the U.S.

Current restrictions require people entering the States via air to provide a negative COVID-19 test, something not required at a land border crossing.

Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft said the longer travel day was the smartest move for his group and that players were involved in choosing the itinerary.

B次元官网网址淚 think what you want to do is you want to make the best decision possible for your group and was one that we gave a lot of thought to,B次元官网网址� he said Friday night after the team arrived at its hotel in downtown L.A. B次元官网网址淚t was executed excellently today and weB次元官网网址檙e getting ready for Game 3 tomorrow.B次元官网网址�

The team has not decided whether it would make the same journey if the series returns to California for a Game 6. The best-of-seven matchup is currently tied at 1-1.

Edmonton isnB次元官网网址檛 the only pro sports team choosing to bus over the border amid the current COVID rules.

During their first-round NBA playoff series against the Toronto Raptors, the 76ers bused to Buffalo, N.Y., before continuing on to Philadelphia.

The Red Sox reportedly returned to Boston via bus after a four-game series against the Blue Jays at the end of April.

Other NHL teams are believed to have travelled to Bellingham following games in Vancouver near the end of the NHLB次元官网网址檚 regular season.

It was not immediately clear which route the Maple Leafs used to travel from Toronto to Tampa Bay for Game 3 of their first-round playoff series against the Lightning, set for Wednesday.

Both the Kings and Lightning took direct flights home.

The Calgary Flames took a charter directly to Dallas Friday morning ahead of Game 3 against the Stars on Saturday.

Woodcroft said his group wasnB次元官网网址檛 troubled by the unique logistics.

B次元官网网址淚 thought it was a really well-executed day. ItB次元官网网址檚 a credit to the people that put it together with our travel department,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭he players are energized by how we travelled and being in the California sunshine.B次元官网网址�

The travel day was B次元官网网址渁 little different than normal,B次元官网网址� said defenceman Evan Bouchard.

Asked whether he had exhausted Netflix during his ample time in transit, he smiled.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not too much of a Netflix guy,B次元官网网址� Bouchard said. B次元官网网址淣o, IB次元官网网址檓 more of an Xbox player.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址擥emma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press