The Edmonton Oilers and the Los Angeles Kings faced off in a pivotal Game 4, with the special teams play becoming the deciding factor. Throughout the series, the Oilers have dominated in this aspect, and Game 4 was no different. Despite being outshot in five-on-five play, the Oilers limited the Kings’ scoring opportunities and generated less offense themselves. The Oilers’ success on special teams can be attributed to their power play and penalty kill units.
Under coach Kris Knoblauch, the Oilers’ power play has been exceptional. Led by assistant coach Glen Gulutzan, the power play has consistently ranked in the top 10 since Gulutzan took over in 2017. By utilizing their skilled players like Leon Draisaitl, Connor McDavid, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, the Oilers have been able to capitalize on their power play opportunities. In fact, they have scored on 24 of 50 power plays against the Kings over the past three years. This power-play efficiency has been a key factor in their series lead.
On the other hand, the Oilers’ penalty kill has shown significant improvement under assistant coach Mark Stuart. After a coaching change earlier in the season, the penalty kill unit adopted a more aggressive approach and saw immediate results. They went on a streak of killing off 20 straight penalties in November, showing a vast improvement from their previous ranking. In the series against the Kings, the penalty kill has been crucial in shutting down the Kings’ power play and preventing them from capitalizing on their opportunities.
The success of both the power play and penalty kill units can be attributed to the players’ preparation and mindset. They have developed a strong understanding of their roles and have adjusted to different strategies employed by opposing teams. The penalty kill unit is led by defensemen Vincent Desharnais, Mattias Ekholm, Darnell Nurse, and Cody Ceci, while forwards like Nugent-Hopkins, Adam Henrique, Mattias Janmark, Warren Foegele, and Ryan McLeod provide support. The entire team takes pride in their penalty killing abilities and understands the importance of their contributions to the overall success of the team.
Overall, the Oilers’ dominance on special teams has been a significant factor in their 3-1 series lead against the Kings. Their power play unit, led by Gulutzan, has consistently been one of the best in the league, while their penalty kill unit, under Stuart’s guidance, has shown significant improvement throughout the season. The Oilers’ ability to capitalize on power play opportunities and shut down the Kings’ power play has given them a clear advantage in the series. With their special teams performing at such a high level, the Oilers have a good chance of closing out the series and advancing to the next round.