Oilers Must Make Changes To Win Tonight
EDMONTON – Tonight is a big night.
In the grand scheme of things, it's just another Monday. But, for the Edmonton Oilers and their hopes of hoisting a Stanley Cup, it's big. Bigger than the receding hairline on my forehead (I'm bald, btw).
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Leaving Edmonton with a split was a good outcome. Obviously, being up 2-0 would have been ideal. The Florida Panthers are giving the Oilers a run for their money, as they should be.
For Connor McDavid and company to take a 2-1 series lead, they are going to have to make some adjustments. Here are three changes the Oilers can make to have a better chance of winning Game 3.
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Better Breakouts
No one watching a Cup Final game wants to see a defender parked behind his net, waiting for better passing options. That's exactly what happened in Game 2.
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It felt like various Oilers defenders did that at least 10 total times. I couldn't tell you the last time I've seen them sitting and waiting for better options to break the puck out of their zone.
To combat this, at least two of the three forwards must circle around the defensive zone to make themselves an option. With more forward support, cleaner breakouts with possession are more likely to result.
Dump And Chase
After Game 2, Corey Perry told the media that the Oilers are a team that likes to make plays. He also recognized that they need to make the best play available when the pressure is on.
Corey Perry (Walter Tychnowicz-Imagn Images)
Sometimes, the best play is to dump and chase. If the Panthers want to play a grinding, physically intense, 1-0 type of contest, the Oilers are more than capable of playing that way – and winning.
Have A Zach Hyman Mentality
Zach Hyman won't play again until next season. However, during the series against the Dallas Stars, he made a commitment to hit the opposition as much as possible.
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The Oilers could use a little more of that.
Vasily Podkolzin and Evander Kane have been noticeably more physical in this series comparative to the Conference Finals. However, it's going to take the entire team to make life as difficult as possible for the Panthers.
When the Oilers are in the offensive zone, they must finish every single check against the Panthers defenders as possible. Seth Jones, Aaron Ekblad, and Gustav Forsling are averaging 32+ minutes a game so far in the Cup Final. Niko Mikkola is is entering the same conversation with 55:29 total minutes played in two games against the Oilers.
By having better breakout support, a grinding mentality, and 'hit-first-ask-questions-latter' physical game, the Oilers will be poised to gain an advantage in this final series of the year.
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