EDMONTON – “We’re never going to quit on each other.”
It seems like the Edmonton Oilers have Rick Astley on the mind.
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“Never Gonna Give You Up” is a certifiable hit and describes how the Oilers will fight for each other to the bitter end (apparently).
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has been through a lot in his tenure with the Oilers. All of the ups and downs have led to this moment – a second crack at winning the Stanley Cup.
To come back from a 3-2 deficit is going to demand the best from everyone in the lineup: from Connor McDavid to Vasily Podkolzin to Adam Henrique to Evander Kane to Trent Frederic to Evan Bouchard to Calvin Pickard and Stuart Skinner.
Anyone who believes that the Florida Panthers have the series signed, sealed, and delivered hasn’t been watching the Oilers this year. All season long, they have been proving the doubters and skeptics wrong.
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And now, they have another golden opportunity to do that.
In order to put their stick where their mouth is (see what I did there?), they will need to do things differently in Game 6. Here are four changes the Oilers can make to manufacture a miracle.
Simplify, Simplify, Simplify
Who are the Oilers? Are they a dump-and-chase team or a fly down the ice and burn their opponents with speed and skill team?
Clearly and undeniably, they are the latter. Instead of playing the Panthers game, they need to force the Panthers to play their game.
Naturally, that is easier for me to say than for them to implement against the rock-solid defending of the reigning Stanley Cup Champions.
In Game 5, their biggest obstacle wasn’t breaking the puck out of their zone; it was breaking the puck out of their zone with possession. Countless times, they would get the puck outside of their blueline by one or two feet, only for the Panthers to carry it back into their end immediately.
The Oilers have a ton of speed and skill, so use it. If there isn’t a pass available, follow the open ice and take it into the Panthers’ end. If you find yourself bearing down on the Panthers’ net, then take a shot and follow up on the rebound.
It’s better to take a faceoff in the opponent’s end after any kind of scoring chance than to have the risk of a scoring chance against.
They should strongly consider bringing John Klingberg back into the lineup for Game 6. Troy Stecher performed admirably, but he just doesn’t have the wheels or creativity of Klingberg.
Bring Kapanen Back In
And while we are on the topic of bringing another player back into the lineup, let’s find a spot for Kasperi Kapanen. Having Game 5 off will light a fire under him, prompting him to play like he did when he first showed up against the Vegas Golden Knights.
He brings speed and tenacity, two things the Oilers need more of for Game 6 in Florida. The Oilers are sorely missing Zach Hyman. But now is the time for others to rise and make a name for themselves.
If the Oilers can’t bring Hyman back into the lineup, they need more players to play like him. They need more forwards to forecheck hard and finish their checks in the Panthers’ end to make their life difficult.
Give The Net Back To Stuart Skinner
One of the best aspects of the Oilers’ team is the working relationship and friendship between Pickard and Skinner. They are each other’s biggest cheerleader through thick and thin. That kind of camaraderie doesn’t just happen; they have worked at it for a long time, and everyone gets to see the result of that.
All of that being said, the Oilers should have Skinner start Game 6.
Skinner is great at bouncing back after losses. Even in Game 4 when he gave up three goals, if he wasn’t in the net during that first period, the score could have been even more lopsided.
Had Pickard won Game 5, it would be tough to go back to Skinner for Game 6. Given the circumstances, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Kris Knoblauch go back to Skinner for the next game.
Somebody Get Connor McDavid Some Space
McDavid hasn’t had the most productive Cup Final. That’s not a knock on the best player in the game – that’s the reality of playing against the Panthers.
This is a team that knows how to defend against McDavid, hang off him like you’re his favorite suit.
Someone like Kapanen or Kane (or even Frederic) needs to get put on his wing for Game 6. Their mission (should they choose to accept) will be to make space for Connor to do Connor things.
Things may look bleak right now, Oilers fans, but with some tweaks and a few mild changes, a miracle is possible.
They’ve come too far to quit now.
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