Oilers Power Play Struggles in Western Conference Final Against Stars
The Edmonton Oilers have been known for their exceptional power play, which was the best in league history last season. However, they have yet to find success with the man advantage in the Western Conference final against the Dallas Stars. Despite the series being tied at one win apiece, the Oilers are concerned about their lack of power play opportunities.
In Game 2, the Oilers only received two power plays, with the second coming in the final 90 seconds of the game when they were already trailing by two goals. The wide margin in power play opportunities favoring the Stars can be attributed to how Game 1 was called. The Oilers sent the Stars to the power play three times in regulation, while the Stars only received a bench minor for too many men. This has led to a 7-3 power play advantage for Dallas through two games.
Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm expressed his frustration with the lack of consistency from the referees. He pointed out instances where he felt the Oilers should have received more calls but didn’t, while also highlighting missed calls against the Stars. Ekholm believes that the Oilers need to work harder to draw more penalties.
During the regular season, the Oilers spent more time on the penalty kill than on the power play, which was one of the worst differentials in the league. However, in the playoffs, the Oilers have had more power play opportunities compared to short-handed attempts.
The lack of power play opportunities has affected the Oilers because their special teams have been elite. Their penalty kill has only allowed three goals on 42 attempts, but their power play, which is usually their strength, has struggled. Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch acknowledged that the standard for penalties may change in the playoffs compared to the regular season, which has made it tougher for them to draw penalties. He emphasized that both teams have to play by the same standard, but the Oilers would like more consistency in calling penalties.
The Oilers’ power play has been a key factor in their success, and they will need it to contribute if they want to advance to the Stanley Cup Final. They had the most effective power play in NHL history last season and finished fourth in the league this season. In the playoffs, their power play has been limited, going 0-for-3 against the Stars so far.
Oilers winger Connor Brown believes that the Stars’ disciplined play and their ability to check with their feet have made it difficult for the Oilers to generate power play opportunities. He suggests that the Oilers need to do a better job of holding onto the puck and creating momentum to force the Stars to take penalties.
Overall, it was a frustrating night for the Oilers as they failed to capitalize on their chances and take a 2-0 series lead. Captain Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl were held off the scoresheet, ending Draisaitl’s 13-game scoring streak. The Oilers will need to regroup and find a way to generate more power play opportunities to improve their chances of winning the series.
In conclusion, the Oilers’ struggles with their power play in the Western Conference final against the Stars have been a cause for concern. The lack of power play opportunities, combined with the Stars’ disciplined play, has made it difficult for the Oilers to find success with the man advantage. The Oilers will need to work harder to draw penalties and make adjustments to their game plan to improve their chances of advancing to the Stanley Cup Final.