DESPERATE CLUB NEEDS POINTS
Oilers expect dogfight against Kings
The Edmonton Oilers can all but clinch a playoff spot Monday night.
The math won’t sort itself out until later, but if they take down the only team that can catch them from behind in a head-to-head showdown at Rogers Place, it’s all but over.
So expect a Game 7 style response from the Los Angeles Kings when the puck drops.
“I know one thing, and I’ve experienced it before, you never count L.A. out,” said head coach Todd McLellan, very quick to dismiss the notion that Edmonton can put the Kings away for good with a win.
“We don’t announce that to our group that this is Game 7 for L.A. We’re looking at it one game at a time and trying to keep it small picture. For us, it’s an opportunity to get two points against a very experienced and good hockey team.”
After all those years of being beaten down by Los Angeles — run out of rinks and pushed out of games — it will be a major statement for the Oilers, who have modelled themselves after the Kings under general manager Peter Chiarelli, to stick a dagger in their old nemesis.
And it will be desperation time for the Kings, who can’t let Edmonton widen the gap with the finish line in sight.
“They’re a big, strong, tough team that presents a challenge every night,” said defenceman Darnell Nurse. “And we’re in the same boat in terms of having to go out and play with the same desperation. We have to be desperate and on our toes.
“It’s important to come out here and have a really solid effort from start to finish.”
Jordan Eberle, who’s been on the wrong end of a lot of results
We’re looking at it one game at a time and trying to keep it small picture. For us, it’s an opportunity to get two points against a very experienced and good hockey team.
against L.A., doesn’t see Monday as any sort of revenge opportunity.
“They’re a great team and a great organization, they’ve won a lot in the past,” he said. “But for us, it’s about our game. We want to up our level from the game before and play to our potential. We’re trying to move up the standings as well (as holding off the Kings).”
There is that to think about. As much as it would be a relief to knock off the only team with a realistic chance to catch them from behind, the teams right next to Edmonton in the standings might be the bigger concern.
Where the Oilers open the first round, home or away, wild card or two-versus-three, will likely come down to the final night.
“Our whole division is winning,” said Connor McDavid. “It makes the games fun. It makes every play matter. We’re trying to embrace that.”
What’s not to embrace? “Everyone is battling for a spot and we’re trying to set the tone,” Benoit Pouliot said of the Kings. “It’s not going to be easy, everyone knows that, but it’s a good challenge to see where we’re at and what’s going happen later on.”
This is also the last game of an eight-game home stand that the Oilers knew could help lock up their first playoff spot in 11 years. After a 1-2-1 start, a chance to go 5-2-1 for 11 of a possible 16 points is a pretty nice haul.
“We feel very confident. We feel our game has gotten better the last few games for sure, everyone has been doing it every night,” said Pouliot, adding they weren’t even really that worried about the rocky start to the home stand.
“Sometimes that’s going to happen, you’re going to lose two or three and the panic is going to set in (around town), but for us we just have to stay calm and get back to work.”