OILERS TAKE SCENIC ROUTE TO L.A. FOR GAMES 3 AND 4
Teams get creative with travel to avoid losing players to positive COVID-19 tests
The Edmonton Oilers took the long and winding road to Los Angeles for Games 3 and 4, turning what should have been a four-hour flight into a two-day episode of planes, trains and automobiles.
They chartered from Edmonton to Vancouver after the game Wednesday night and stayed the night in B.C. Then they flew their largely empty charter from Vancouver to Bellingham, Mont., on Thursday morning to wait for the team while it crossed the U.S. border by bus.
Then they got back on their plane in Bellingham, flew to Los Angeles and bused through rushhour traffic from the airport to their hotel, arriving just after 6 p.m.
It was a big hassle, but driving across the border instead of flying (literally going under the radar) meant they didn't have to provide negative COVID -19 tests for the entire team, which meant they didn't run the risk of losing an asymptomatic player for five days in the middle of a playoff series. NHL teams are no longer required to test players unless they show symptoms.
Driving across the border has become a common practice among teams in all sports that don't want to lose players to a test. The Toronto Maple Leafs bused to Buffalo before flying to Tampa for their series with the Lightning.
“We just thought it was the smartest more for our group,” said head coach Jay Woodcroft, adding they involved the players in the decision and they were in favour.
“You want to make the best decision possible for your group. It was one that we gave a lot of thought to and it was executed excellently.”
It also meant for a much longer and more arduous journey, but the players weren't complaining.
“We knew what we were getting into,” said Nugent-hopkins. “It was a bit of an extended day, but we got in with enough time to have dinner and relax a little bit.”
NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said Friday the league has no problems with the creative travel plans:
”We have no objection or issue with them utilizing the rules and policies that have been put in place by the applicable health authorities to their maximum advantage.”
LIGHTS OUT
With the Los Angeles Kings taking their morning skate at a practice rink, the Oilers thought they might get on the ice a little early for their own morning skate at Crypto.com Arena.
But the Kings were having none of it. Though the Oilers were ready to go early, staff at Crypto.com wouldn't turn the lights on or brings the nets out until 11:30 a.m. sharp.
Getting on early would have meant getting off early and enjoying a little more down time before the game, and the Kings weren't about to give their Game 3 opponent any sort of break.
“They definitely had us right on at 11:30, that's when they put the lights on for us,” said Ryan Nugent-hopkins with a laugh. “So we went for a couple of laps before the pucks came out. I don't know if it's rules or whatever, but that's fine, that's usually when we start anyway.”
This kind of gamesmanship is not unusual. Teams love playing mind games at this time of year. It's not quite as extreme as the old days, when there would be no hot water in the visiting team's shower, but it's still kind of funny.
“It is what it is,” said Zack Kassian. “We went through it a few years ago when we were in San Jose. It's the game within the game, it's fun. You just wait it out.
“It's their arena. They can do what they want. We knew the lights were going to come on eventually.”
GETTING PHYSICAL
The Oilers aren't really known for being a hard-edged team that tries to pound opponents into submission, but that's everyone's battle plan in the playoffs and they are buying right in to the rough stuff.
“I think we're at our best when we're physical,” said Woodcroft. “Any time you can do that it's an investment in the series itself. It accrues and pays off over the length of a series.”
The Oilers are employing dump and chase more often to get through L.A.'S tight neutral zone coverage and the resulting forecheck is rattling the boards.
“Part of it is just coming through the road blocks that we have to come through in the neutral zone,” said Woodcroft.
“It sets us up to do that. There's a level of physicality to your forecheck when you have to come through the muddy waters.”
And no defenceman wants to be retrieving pucks when he can hear footsteps.
“No one really likes being hit constantly,” said Oilers defenceman Evan Bouchard. “That's what playoff hockey is. You see it in every game, not just ours. We're capable of doing that as well. That's what it takes for playoff hockey. Everyone has to be on board.”
“You want to make it tough on their D men going back for pucks, knowing they're going to get finished,” added Nugent-hopkins. “That wears teams and individuals down.”