It's 2-2, but Edmonton Oilers realize this is no way to win a series
They all understand this is no way to win a playoff series.
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Falling behind 4-0 in Game 1. Falling behind 3-0 in Game 2. Blowing a 2-0 lead and trailing 4-3 on home ice after 40 minutes of Game 3. Falling behind 2-0 in Game 4 and needing a goal with 28.4 seconds left in regulation to get to overtime.
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The Edmonton Oilers, for as much character and resilience as they've shown in side-stepping disaster to even their playoff series with the Los Angeles Kings at two games apiece, are pushing their luck.
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If that double review in Game 3 doesn't result in Evander Kane's tying goal and Evan Bouchard's power-play game winner 10 seconds later, the series is over. If Quinton Byfield, with all kinds of time and space, clears the puck out of L.A.'s zone with 40 seconds to play in Game 4 instead of trying to make a play and turning the puck over, the Oilers are done.
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You make your own breaks — Kane worked hard for that goal in the tough area of the ice, and Bouchard made two clutch plays to pull Sunday's Game 4 out of the fire — but the Oilers will be the first to tell you that things have to change.
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It can't always be the Incredible Hulk routine where they get smacked around, look like they're done, and then turn green and kick butt.
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In the first 40 minutes of the first four games, the Kings outscored the Oilers 14-6. From the third period on, when the Oilers' internal alarm goes off, it's 12-5 Edmonton.
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They had six shots in the first period and nine in the second Sunday. Then, when things got desperate, they peppered Darcy Kuemper with 33 shots in the third period and overtime.
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They have to bring that energy sooner and for longer.
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'We can certainly do it, but it's something we have to start doing a little bit more,' said Leon Draisaitl, who's already at nine points in four games. 'Chasing games against a team that's so rehearsed as they are, that can get to you after a while.
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'We're looking to play with the lead a little more and play with the urgency that we brought in the last 30 minutes.'
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Edmonton Journal
41 minutes ago
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Put someone else in who gives us a chance Florida fan Jacob Winans @JacobWinans8 Boy there's nothing I love more than a Matthew Tkachuk Great Clips commercial after he just spent the evening doing absolutely nothing of value in Game 1 of the Final Panthers fan ZeroTrust Capo @The_CyberDon You can't make a terrible mistake like that. Nobody was even pressing you Nosek!!! Panthers fan M33 @Moore33Gaming What a stupid way to lose a game. Bill Horosz of the On the ProwlL Florida Panthers Den podcast Don't sit on a lead. When you get a couple of goals past Skinner, dial up the pressure even more. Panthers failed to do that. With that Panthers need to have a net front presence to screen Skinner and deflect shots/handle rebounds. Article content Panthers fan zubic @zubic_eth What an absolute fumble after being up 2 goals 😭 Panthers fan John Ricard @johnricard Could the media gush any more for Edmonton and Mcdavid? It was gross. 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