The last two matchups Edmonton and Colorado have played have been absolute must watch hockey. Both games were won by the Avs but Edmonton played phenomenal in both. Both games ended up needing extra time with Colorado first winning in overtime and in the second game winning in the skills competition.
At 5 on 5 however Edmonton came out on top. The Oilers outscored Colorado 1-0 in their first game and in the second game while the teams went 1-1 at 5 on 5, Edmonton heavily outchanced the Avs 14-3 in High Danger Chances. In the playoffs there is no 3 on 3 or shootout and penalties are harder to come by. This is why 5 on 5 performance matters so much and under Jay Woodcroft the Oilers have shown they are an elite 5 on 5 team.
Jesse Puljujarvi will miss the game tonight with a non-COVID illness:
Kane – McDavid – Yamamoto McLeod – Draisaitl – Hyman Foegele – RNH – Ryan Brassard – Kassian
Nurse – Ceci Keith – Bouchard Kulak – Barrie Russell
Smith
The 11/7 format has been working really well again for the Oilers as of late and I see no reason to switch out of it.
The playoff race for all teams is looking pretty locked in now. The Vegas Golden Knights announced that Robin Lehner will be undergoing season ending surgery; that seems to be a message that the team is throwing in the towel. While not mathematically eliminated, the Knights have no legitimate way of making it to the post season now. A massive collapse by the Preds and Stars and the Knights winning every game might just make it possible.
Do I feel bad for Vegas? I do not. Every fanbase has gone through hardship and tough times. The Golden Knights will be back again before you know it.
Many are discussing the Kings as the worst team in the post-season but I would argue the Stars are a worse team. Not only by total points but Dallas also is the only team set to make the playoffs with a negative goal differential on the season. They sit -11 on the season. The Kings aren't much better at a 0 but still, the Stars should not be much trouble for whoever faces them.
It seems like Mike Smith will get the start tonight but how should Woodcroft split games between him and Koskinen for the final four games? I would play Koskinen against the Blue Jackets and probably the Canucks, giving Smith the starts against the Penguins and Sharks. While both netminders have been great Smith has been superior over the last three weeks and I expect to be the starter when Edmonton plays, either on Monday May 2nd or Tuesday May 3rd in their first playoff game.
A short blog today, my apologies. I hope you all have a great weekend and enjoy the game tonight.