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Edmonton Oilers sounding like a team that's ready to win it all

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Mentally this team seems to be in a different place than we've ever seen before. The things they're saying, and doing, look like the final pieces of a puzzle that's been nine long years in the making

Published May 02, 2024  •  Last updated May 02, 2024  •  4 minute read

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (93)of the Edmonton Oilers, gives the Oilers a 4-2 lead in the second period against the Los Angeles Kings at Rogers Place in Edmonton on May 1, 2024. Photo by Shaughn Butts /Postmedia

Is this the year?

If words count for anything, the Edmonton Oilers certainly sound like a team that's capable of winning it all.

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Mentally, this team seems to be in a different place than we've ever seen before. The things they're saying, and doing, look like the final pieces of a puzzle that's been nine long years in the making.

"Over the years, you just learn that things are sometimes more important in playoff hockey than scoring on the power play or whatever," veteran winger Leon Draisaitl explained after the Oilers wrapped the Los Angeles Kings up in five games Wednesday.

"I take big pride in defending. Sometimes it gets away from me a little bit, maybe, but when it matters most I enjoy it. Our group as a whole has done a really, really good job of defending and doing it the right way. We're going to score enough, it's about keeping the puck out of our net."

The Oilers woke up Thursday morning occupying the top three spots in the playoff scoring race, with Connor McDavid first at 12 points, Draisaitl second with 10 and Evan Bouchard third with nine. But it's not Edmonton's lethal offence that turned heads in the first round.

It was their poise, their ability to weather a storm, their willingness to lock down their game and to stay disciplined (two penalties in the last two games). All the hallmarks of a championship-calibre team were on full display in their first round series.

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  1. Leon Draisaitl (29) of the Edmonton Oilers, and Anze Kopitar (11) of the Los Angeles Kings watch the play in the corner at Rogers Place in Edmonton on May 1, 2024. Photo by Shaughn Butts /Postmedia

  2. Derek Ryan (10) of the Edmonton Oilers, tries to shovel the puck past goalie David Rittich (31) of the Los Angeles Kings at Rogers Place in Edmonton on May 1, 2024. Photo by Shaughn Butts /Postmedia

  3. Fans of the Edmonton Oilers, celebrate a second period goal against the Los Angeles Kings at Rogers Place in Edmonton on May 1, 2024. Photo by Shaughn Butts /Postmedia

  4. Evander Kane (91) and Leon Draisaitl (29) of the Edmonton Oilers, celebrate a first period goal against the Los Angeles Kings at Rogers Place in Edmonton on May 1, 2024. Photo by Shaughn Butts /Postmedia

  5. Evander Kane (91) and Leon Draisaitl (29) of the Edmonton Oilers, celebrate a first period goal against the Los Angeles Kings at Rogers Place in Edmonton on May 1, 2024. Photo by Shaughn Butts /Postmedia

  6. Fans of the Edmonton Oilers, celebrate a second period goal against the Los Angeles Kings at Rogers Place in Edmonton on May 1, 2024. Photo by Shaughn Butts /Postmedia

  7. Evan Bouchard (2), Connor McDavid (97) and Zach Hyman (18) of the Edmonton Oilers, against the Los Angeles Kings at Rogers Place in Edmonton on May 1, 2024. Photo by Shaughn Butts /Postmedia

  8. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (93)of the Edmonton Oilers, gives the Oilers a 4-2 lead in the second period against the Los Angeles Kings at Rogers Place in Edmonton on May 1, 2024. Photo by Shaughn Butts /Postmedia

  9. Fans of the Edmonton Oilers, celebrate a first period goal against the Los Angeles Kings at Rogers Place in Edmonton on May 1, 2024. Photo by Shaughn Butts /Postmedia

  10. Connor McDavid (97) of the Edmonton Oilers, is chased by Anze Kopitar (11) of the Los Angeles Kings at Rogers Place in Edmonton on May 1, 2024. Photo by Shaughn Butts /Postmedia

  11. Zach Hyman (18) of the Edmonton Oilers, collides with goalie David Rittich (31) of the Los Angeles Kings at Rogers Place in Edmonton on May 1, 2024. Photo by Shaughn Butts /Postmedia

  12. Zach Hyman (18) of the Edmonton Oilers, is pushed out of the crease by goalie David Rittich (31) of the Los Angeles Kings at Rogers Place in Edmonton on May 1, 2024. Photo by Shaughn Butts /Postmedia

  13. Leon Draisaitl (29)] of the Edmonton Oilers, celebrates his second period goal against the Los Angeles Kings at Rogers Place in Edmonton on May 1, 2024.Photo by Shaughn Butts /Postmedia

  14. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (93)of the Edmonton Oilers, gives the Oilers a 4-2 lead in the second period against the Los Angeles Kings at Rogers Place in Edmonton on May 1, 2024. Photo by Shaughn Butts /Postmedia

  15. Fans of the Edmonton Oilers, react to a late goal by the Los Angeles Kings at the end of the first period at Rogers Place in Edmonton on May 1, 2024. Photo by Shaughn Butts /Postmedia

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"That team makes you fight for every single inch," Ryan Nugent-Hopkins said of the valiant but vanquished Kings. "You have to make sure that every single play counts, that you're focused on the little things, the little details, because one mistake can ultimately lead to them winning the game.

"We have enough skill to make them pay when we need to but our group is defend first and go from there. I thought it was a great first series."

These are hungry, battle-scarred veterans talking now, not blue-chip youngsters paying lip service to the two-way game.

Anyone can talk the talk. This team did that for years. It was 'Yeah, yeah, we totally know how important it is to tighten up in our own end.' And then they would go out and lose 9-6 to Calgary in Round 2 and 8-6 to Colorado in the Conference Final.

This isn't that team anymore. Now they are walking the walk. It starts not with a power play that was a ridiculous 45 per cent in Round 1, but with penalty killing that went a perfect 12-for-12.

A dominant PK is mostly about work ethic, toughness and self sacrifice. It's the hallmark of a team that's ready to do whatever it takes to win.

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When the Oilers went on that 16-game winning streak this year their penalty killing was at the heart of it, allowing just three goals on 47 chances. And now, when they want nothing more in the world than 16 more wins over the next two months, the PK was front and centre again in the first four.

"The penalty kill not giving up a goal is really impressive," said McDavid. "The jobs those guys did killing off big ones along the way, like the PK in the third period of Game 4 (with the Oilers up 1-0) was huge.

"They were moving their feet and sacrificing their bodies, which is something that's not the most fun thing to do. The kill not giving up one is a great thing."

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So was the composure. There were plenty of times in this series when the Oilers had a chance to get rattled and fold, but they didn't blink.

When the Kings scored three fluke goals in Game 1, against an Oilers team that hadn't won the opening game of a series since 2017, they kept their cool and closed it out.

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Outshot 33-13 on the road in Game 4, they won 1-0.

Bad break off a stanchion in Game 5 and fall behind 2-1? No problem. They score three straight to take command.

In the third period of an elimination game in which the Kings were fighting for their life, they gave Los Angeles nothing. Six shots. And when the Kings finally closed it to 4-3 with 2:18 left, the Oilers smothered out the clock.

"There were lots of different situations," said McDavid. "Two games where we closed it out really solid, calmly. When we kind of gave momentum away we were able to get it back. That shows some growth.

"Finding a way to stack some games, get it to 3-1 and finish off the series in Game 5, that's big step for our group. A lot of good signs but it's only one series."

He's right about that. Los Angeles is a tough out but there are still some big dogs that will surely put Edmonton to the test. Colorado, Vegas and Dallas also know what it takes to win and have the firepower to back it up.

In the meantime, with either Vancouver or Nashville up next for the Oilers, they are looking at a very winnable path to the conference final.

Things are falling into place.

E-mail: rtychkowski@postmedia.com

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