Being up 2-0 in a series isn’t completely foreign to this core of the Edmonton Oilers.
They had been in that spot once before against the Anaheim Ducks in the 2017 playoffs, but the only problem with that series is that they wound up losing in seven games. That was a heavy Ducks squad that still had the likes of Ryan Getzlaf, peak Corey Perry and Ryan Kesler on it, who helped them to the series win.
Their foe in this second round, the Vegas Golden Knights, have a few grey beards of their own, but the Oilers are a much different team now than they were in 2017. They’re battle-tested, having played among the most playoff games in the NHL in the last few seasons.
A wealth of experience earned has left them comfortable in their game, highlighted by the fact that all six wins so far in these playoffs have come from behind, an NHL record.
But now, after stealing two from the grasp of the Vegas Golden Knights in Sin City, they know they can’t squander the opportunity ahead of them on Saturday night for Game 3 or Monday for Game 4.
“Two good efforts here, but it means nothing if we’re not ready to roll for Game 3,” said Connor McDavid after setting up Leon Draisaitl for the Game 2 winning goal. “We’ve come from behind lots, we’ve given up a lead today, we’ve won overtime games — we’ve won different ways. You got to do that this time of year.
“This group is feeling confident, but I feel like the best is still coming. We’re just building and building our games. I feel like our best is still coming and I hope to see it at home here.”
That’s something that should send a chill down the spine of the seven other teams remaining in the playoffs — especially those in the Western Conference — as this Oilers team is playing at levels we haven’t seen before.
McDavid and Draisaitl lead the way, as they do, but the depth of this team has stepped up in such a massive way.
As highlighted by our own NHL_Sid, the Oilers are controlling a staggering 64 percent of the five-on-five goal share, getting more offence from their depth at this point than all of last year’s run to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
“It takes everybody — we know that, everybody knows that,” said McDavid. “It takes everyone up and down the lineup and we’re getting help all over. That Janmark line has been really, really, really good since they’ve been together.
“I guess you could call them the fourth line — they’re hardly the fourth line. They’re playing great, same with that Nuge line, Henrique’s line scores a bunch the other night. We’re getting help all over. The back end has scored a couple, Picks was great.”
Picks, commonly known outside of Rogers Place and the Oilers locker room as Calvin Pickard, has been a revelation, keeping his team in games since he was thrust into the lineup in Game 3 against the Los Angeles Kings. The crease is firmly his at this point in time, and while his save percentage, a .888, doesn’t jump out as a great number, he’s virtually broke even in terms of goals saved above expected. Those marks are a bit below average, but are improving, and numbers aside, the most important column — wins — he leads all playoff goaltenders in.
“Not too after a game a goalie lets in four goals you’re raving about how well he played and tonight, the amount of good quality chances we gave up, Picks stole one for us,” said Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch after Game 2. “If you’re going to have a long run in the playoffs, you’re going to need games — once in a while — to play like that and steal one. Tonight, we’re very happy with his performance. He made some big saves.”
