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R1 G4 Oilers at Sharks: The Legend Of Zack Kassian |
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Edmonton has ratcheted the pressure up on the San Jose Sharks with a pair of shutout victories including the first home game in the SAP center and the return of Jumbo Joe Thornton. The Oilers and Sharks are a very evenly matched team and that’s exactly what we saw play out this past week.
Edmonton was thrashed in the final 40 minutes in game one. The Sharks were punching bags in game two. Game three was as tight of a game as you could get without going into overtime. Kassian’s game winner has added to his legend early this post-season. He just seems to have San Jose’s number this Spring, but it was more than just a player getting some good luck.
The Kassian goal was the product of some clever hockey on the part of the big winger. I think the panel did a good job to explain this later, but first Kassian sealed off the wall and when Dillon put his head down to handle the puck before firing it into what he thought was an open lane, Kassian peeled off the wall and into the lane. The puck hit his body and he took the opportunity to put a backhander on net. That’s a quality play and some savvy forechecking.
The story of Zack Kassian’s redemption in Edmonton is a compelling one. To go from Public Enemy number one as Gagner’s attacker to having your name chanted in the stands during the playoffs is big enough. What makes it so much more than a hockey story, though, is that he has gone through a massive personal transformation from a man in active addiction to a man in recovery.
You can read takes from me on this very website when the trade was made condemning Kassian’s character. There’s no question I still hated Kassian for what he did to Gagner and his subsequent behavior. Even though Scrivens was awful I was not sold on Kassian’s ability to positively impact a hockey club. And it definitely wasn’t immediate, but over a season and a half Kassian has changed my mind on his character. That guy who demolished Gagner’s face and mocked him afterwards? I still hate that guy. But I think there’s a very real case to be made that Kassian isn't that person. Certainly not Kassian today.
He’s still a little crazy. He still has that look in his eyes that’s a touch too dangerous. He still likes to make an impact with his physicality and get into the ear of the opposition. Still, I haven’t seen him cross the line to disrespect the game as he had done before. People who get a closer look than I do say he’s in the best physical condition of his life. They think he’s moving faster than he’s ever done on a regular basis. He’s re-dedicated himself to hockey.
Zack Kassian is a 3rd line player on the Oilers and has been given the responsibilities that go with that role. He plays the penalty kill more than he’s ever done before. He doesn’t score a ton of goals but he’s finding a way to contribute. And now that the goals ARE going in (and not being called back by video review) his teammates couldn’t be happier for him.
Kassian’s personal journey has been done with all eyes on him. That’s one hell of a mountain to scale. Out of respect for him I will not be talking about Kassian’s personal off-ice issues beyond this article today. I want to focus more on him as a player.
This year Zack Kassian was 6th among the Oiler forwards in 5v5 Points per 60 minutes with 1.74 P/60. That production per minute was almost identical to Jordan Eberle’s this year. He was quietly producing offense and that’s with a load of goals taken back. By shot attempt he wasn’t positive during the regular season. It’s still not great as it stands today in the playoffs. The Sharks have been so caught up in stopping Kassian from running around that they matched Burns against him at home. Kassian saw Burns for 4:39 in game two and that was ratcheted up to 7:30 in game three. He's living rent-free in their heads.
Kassian has San Jose’s attention. He seems to have their number. If his line can continue to draw the attention away from the Oilers top 6 then it’s mission accomplished for the former 13th overall pick of the Buffalo Sabres. If they can re-adjust to the attention they're getting from San Jose's top defenders then all the better.
LINEUP
Why make changes? The only question is how McLellan starts his lines. I’ll go old school formation until it looks like they go with the new look.
Maroon McDavid Draisaitl
Lucic RNH Eberle
Caggiula Letestu Kassian
Pouliot Desharnais Slepyshev
Klefbom Larsson
Sekera Russell
Nurse Benning
Talbot
Brossoit
OILERS KEYS TO THE GAME
1) Don’t Say It. We can’t say the word out of pure superstition. If we do the Hockey Gods will punish us harshly. From the ethereal plane their hand will guide the most innocuous of shots to the back of the net. However, Cam Talbot has not allowed a goal against in 120 straight minutes. On back to back nights he blanked the Sharks including during their playoff home opener. The skaters, for their part, have really limited the Sharks chances and total shots against during these last two games. San Jose has mustered just 39 shots in the last two games combined. Regardless of his workload, Edmonton is getting some inspired goaltending from Talbot. The final gift Sather gave to his former club has been outstanding. In fact, after playing just 3 games for the Oil in the playoffs he is already tied for 3rd in career playoff shu- ah…I almost said it.
2) Snake Bit. With the pressure firmly back on the Sharks tonight their star players must be feeling it more than anyone. Brent Burns, Joe Pavelski, Logan Couture, Patrick Marleau, and Joe Thornton have a combined 1 point. One. Point. A loss tonight puts this squad squarely behind the 8-Ball and down 3-1 while also having the distinction of dropping both home games. A win breathes life into their series and really opens the door for a big comeback. These Sharks listed above have a combined 583 games of playoff experience. If anyone can handle the pressure in this series, it’s them. Edmonton has an opportunity to take a strangle hold on the series but betting on those 5 players to stay out of the offense for much longer is a good way to lose money. Couture has been limited to injury, but Thornton looked good in his first game back and Burns is a shooting machine.
3) Streak Snapped. Connor McDavid ended the regular season on a 14 game scoring streak. He continued that two more games in these playoffs, but 97 in orange and blue was prevented from hitting 17 in San Jose. He has yet to register an even strength point this post-season as well. He was the NHL’s leader in 5v5 offense but has a big goose-egg going. If you’ve been watching you know he’s been getting some chances, but Maroon has failed to close the deal on some great looks and Jones has done his part. He’s never gone more than two games without a point in his career. He hates not scoring. With his streak snapped he’ll say all the right things (like it’s the Win that matters) but he wants to be the offensive difference maker for this team. He wants to impose his will. We’ll watch for him to be dancing with the puck tonight.
Puck drops tonight at 8PM Mountain Time on Sportsnet. Game On!
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