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Game Day 3.4 Oilers vs Avs
But nothing says the Oilers can’t win tonight in Game Four, even as they have yet to beat the Avs.
And much says the Oilers have had a fantastic run to date in these 2022 playoffs, with every player making a major contribution at different times.
Here then, as the Oilers ready for what could be their final game of the season, is the best thing (so far) about each player during this playoff run:
Connor McDavid. When the Edmonton Oilers franchise was utterly desperate for a playoff win — having been out of the playoffs in 2018 and 2019 and having lost to Chicago in 2020 and Winnipeg in 2021 — McDavid went supernova. He imagined and executed a fast, physical and skilled game never seen before, piggy-backing his team to playoff wins over Los Angeles and Calgary. He scored two crucial goals, in Game Seven against Los Angeles and Game Five against the Calgary, that were so momentous that even the cool McDavid erupted like a volcano of joy.
Leon Draisaitl. Floats like a butterfly, stings like a bee, he made an unending sequence of brilliant passes and shots, despite playing on a hashed ankle, to put up 17 points in five games against the Flames, giving himself stories to tell and an honoured place at the table one day with Gretzky, Messier and all the others at hockey Valhalla.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. He did it all at different moments at various times, including his biggest moment, one of the biggest in Oilers history, his Game Four winning goal against Calgary, scoring a heavy goal in a desperate moment after Mike Smith had let in a discombobulating, disorienting and dreadful shot from the Calgary end.
Ryan McLeod. On hockey’s biggest stage the kid demonstrated he can not only hang in there, he can play with swagger.
Evander Kane. Hot in the scrums, heated in the corners, cool in front of the net, Kane has been everything you’d hope from an NHL power forward, with his 13 goals now handily leading all playoff scorers.
Zach Hyman. He’s here, he’s there, he’s every facking where, corralling that puck, protecting it and driving it hard to the opposition net, with nine goals in 15 games and with two more playoff series wins than he ever had in all his seasons in Toronto.
Kailer Yamamoto. His relentless effort and sneaky skill paid dividends game after game, and especially as he helped set up RNH’s huge winning goal against Calgary.
Zack Kassian. He’s played a hard game most games, cut down on defensive mistakes and had a good share of strong plays on Grade A shots.
Jesse Puljujarvi. He slammed home a huge and game-tying goal in Edmonton’s Game Five win over Calgary, doing what he does best, charging in to move, pop, tip or tap the puck.
Warren Foegele. He’s played his way back into the line-up with a fast and physical style.
Josh Archiblad. If there was somebody that needing hitting, Arch hit him.
Derek Ryan. Whatever was asked at even strength or on the penalty kill, Ryan stepped up to do it and most often got done.
Tyson Barrie. He has played the best two-way hockey of his career, scoring the biggest goal of the L.A. series, sniping home the winner in Game Six, and setting up the biggest goal of the Calgary series, RNH’s game winner.
Brett Kulak. Super fast and highly efficient, Kulak has again demonstrated he can get the job done for a Stanley Cup contender.
Cody Ceci. The Oil’s best and most steady d-man in the 2022 playoffs, Ceci has toughed it out against the toughest competition, becoming the stalwart, two-way, top-pairing d-man that every team needs.
Evan Bouchard. With nine points in 15 games, he announced himself on the big stage as a top attacking NHL d-man, while also hanging in there most games in a Top 4 role when it came to his defensive chores.
Duncan Keith. He keeps ticking along, fast, smart and intrepid, coming up with big games in a Top 4 role when the Oilers have needed them most.
Darnell Nurse. As his coach Jay Woocroft said recently, Nurse has been a true warrior, gutting it out and giving all he has. He’s done so despite playing with a major injury.
Kris Russell. If this is the last ride in Edmonton for the Caroline Cowboy, it’s been a memorable one, where he’s displayed in key moments all the courage and defensive guile that has seen him play almost 1000 NHL games.
Mikko Koskinen. When he’s been asked to play, he’s made some big saves.
Mike Smith. Few do it better and nobody does it crazier. He’s put on an unforgettable performance, almost singlehandedly losing Game One against the Kings with a turnover, then almost doing the same missing a long shot in Game Four against Calgary, but he’s been reliable and at times spectacular most games for the Oilers these playoffs.
Source: EdmontonJournal
