Let's get physical: Oilers eager to combat aggressive Panthers even minus NHL hits leader

CTV News

2 days ago

Los Angeles Kings winger Warren Foegele, centre, loses his helmet as he is hit by Edmonton Oilers winger Zach Hyman, left, and winger Evander Kane as defenceman Darnell Nurse watches from the Oilers' bench during the second period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in Los Angeles.
Zach Hyman will be missed by the Edmonton Oilers in several ways.
For his scoring: the team-leading scorer of 54 goals last season has five goals in the 2025 National Hockey League playoffs, tied for third on the team list with three others, and 11 points, good for fifth on the Oilers with Evander Kane. He has scored 40 goals and 73 points in 100 career NHL playoff games.
For the winger's character: The 32-year-old is a popular leader. His speech in the dressing room after last June's heartbreaking Game 7 loss in the Stanley Cup final resonates with teammates and coaches alike now almost a year later.
And for his physical play: Before going down to injury in Game 4 of the Western Conference final and having surgery the next day to most likely be sidelined for the rest of the playoffs, Hyman was No. 1 on the NHL list in hits with 111. Sam Bennett of the Florida Panthers, who the Oilers are facing again in the Cup final that starts Wednesday at Rogers Place, is second on that list with 85. Oilers forward Vasily Podkolzin ranks fourth in the league with 74.
The Oilers will miss everything top-liner Hyman brings to the ice, but on Monday, players and head coach Kris Knoblauch all touched on the importance of physical play against the defending champions.
Both Kane, who was hobbled by injury during last year's post-season and didn't play past Game 2 of the 2024 Cup final, and defenceman Darnell Nurse said the team will have to collectively replace what Hyman brings to games.
'We're going to have to all pick that up by committee,' Nurse, who has 50 hits these playoffs to sit 23rd among NHLers, told media on Monday. 'With that said, we're very confident in the group that we have and in the players who are available.
'There have been guys who have stepped up in huge moments so far over the course of the playoffs, and I'm sure over the course of this series, we'll need more of that.'
Oilers vs. Golden Knights
Vegas Golden Knights goalie Adin Hill (33) makes a save on Edmonton Oilers' Zach Hyman (18) as Nicolas Hague (14) defends during second period of Round 2, Game 4 NHL Stanley Cup playoff action in Edmonton, Monday, May 12, 2025.
(JASON FRANSON/THE CANADIAN PRESS)
Nurse is bang on about players stepping up after coming out of the press box and into the lineup.
Wingers Kasperi Kapanen and Jeff Skinner come to mind on the scoring side of things.
Kapanen scored the game-winning goal in overtime in his second game played this post-season to eliminate the Vegas Golden Knights in the second round. The mid-season waiver wire pick-up from St. Louis has three goals in seven games played.
Skinner drew back onto the active roster in Game 5 against the Dallas Stars – he played in the Oilers' playoff opener then was assigned to press box duty when Kane returned to action – scoring his team's third goal of the game in the Western Conference final-clinching 6-3 Edmonton win.
Kane, seventh on the NHL playoff hits list with 68, says it's evident team depth is benefitting the Oilers.
Oilers vs. Stars
Dallas Stars' Roope Hintz (24) and Edmonton Oilers' Evander Kane (91) battle for the puck during second period NHL Western Conference final playoff action, in Edmonton on Tuesday, May 27, 2025.
(JASON FRANSON/THE CANADIAN PRESS)
'If we need scoring, we have scoring. If we need some guys who can be a little more physical, we can be more physical,' said Kane, who has 68 hits this post-season, good for second on the team and seventh on the NHL list.
'We're going to have to use that depth, and we're going to have to get the job done with it.'
'We have a lot of guys in the room that can play that (physical) style, too.'
— Darnell Nurse
Knoblauch said the Oilers are 'better equipped this year' to handle the physical Panthers, who led the NHL in team hits during the regular season with 2,446 – an average of 29.83 per game.
The Oilers ranked 32nd, last, in that category with 1,241, although until the playoffs began, they were without the likes of Kane and Trent Frederic, gritty power forwards both known for banging bodies.
So far in the 2025 playoffs, Panthers players have delivered a collective 812 hits, their Oilers counterparts second among conference finalists with 636.
Oilers Stars Hockey
Dallas Stars centre Colin Blackwell (15) tussles with Edmonton Oilers defenceman Jake Walman, front left, and forward Trent Frederic (21) during the first period in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals in the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs Friday, May 23, 2025, in Dallas.
(LM Otero/AP)
'I think we're better equipped this year. We've got, especially up front, a lot more physical players,' said Knoblauch, highlighting the addition of Kane and Frederic to the lineup.
Nurse said he expects the Cup final rematch with the Panthers will 'be a fun series.'
'They play a hard style of hockey. They play physical. They're in your face,' Nurse said. 'In each and every shift, you've got to go out there and – I know it's a cliche – give 100 per cent and work as hard as you can, because they're a team that doesn't give any free space.
'We have a lot of guys in the room that can play that style, too.'