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Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Edmonton Oilers smashing through yet another post-season wall in Stars goalie Jake Oettinger
The reason the L.A. Kings were going to get past the Edmonton Oilers in the first round this year was Darcy Kuemper. Remember? The Vezina Trophy finalist finished the regular season with a 2.02 goals against average and a .922 save percentage on a Kings team that gave up two or fewer goals in 14 of its last 19 games. The Kings were all set to shut down Edmonton's offence. What happened? The Kings are done and Kuemper sits dead last among all playoff goaltenders with a 3.74 goals against average. The Oilers lit him up for five goals three times and four goals once in dispatching Los Angeles in six games. Vegas goalie Adin Hill? After closing out the Minnesota Wild with .906, .909 and .935 save percentages in the last three games of that series, he was going to be a problem in the second round. What happened? The Oilers reduced his numbers to .857, .865 and .850 in the first three games, then Stuart Skinner posted shutouts in the last two, as Edmonton made very short work of the first place team in the Pacific Division. Which brings us to Jake Oettinger. He was sensational against the Winnipeg Jets, allowing just 12 goals in that six-game series and posting save percentages of .935, .923, .969, .912, .957. What's happening against Edmonton? It's been 12 goals against in three games and save percentages of .889, .880 and .750. Once again, the Oilers have been able to make one of the top goaltenders in the league look pretty ordinary. This doesn't mean Oettinger is down for the count, there is lots of series left, but he and the Stars need to find a way to slow down Edmonton's offence, or this is going to be another short one for the Oilers. 'We wouldn't be sitting here in the Conference Finals without Jake Oettinger and how he's played,' said Stars coach Pete DeBoer, defending the backbone of his team. '(Game 3's 6-1 defeat) was one of those games where they were opportunistic, and once they got the lead, we're pushing to get back in it, and there's Grade As the other way. 'One thing I know about Jake Oettinger is he's one of the best response goalies in the league.' Goals are supposed to be harder to come by in the post-season, but that hasn't been the case for Edmonton. They have a significantly higher goals per game average in the playoffs (3.93) than they had in the regular season (3.16). And it's not just the Big Two who are feasting. Consider the SportsNet stat that showed Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl combining to score 47.7 per cent of Edmonton's playoff goals two years ago, then 20.9 per cent last year and just 18.3 per cent this year. That speaks to the evolution of the hockey team. It's been tough to slow down Edmonton's offence because the goals are coming from everywhere. Eighteen players have scored a goal in the playoffs, and seven players already have five or more. 'Guys are bearing down and understanding how hard it is to score and how hard it is to get chances, so when you do get those chances there's maybe a little bit of desperation,' said Oilers winger Evander Kane, adding nobody generates anything in the playoffs unless they're willing to get dirty. 'You have to go hard to the net. The closer you are to the goal the better the opportunity for the goals to go in.' Edmonton is piling up the offensive numbers, for the most part, without the benefit of their power play, which is two-for-22 on the road and five-for-25 over the last 10 games (in which the Oilers are 8-2). Edmonton's 39 even-strength goals in 14 playoff games are second only to the Florida Panthers' 44 and miles ahead of third-place Toronto with 27 and fourth-place Dallas with 23. A team that used to be Two Guys and Power Play is an entirely different threat. 'There are fewer and fewer power plays, so if you want to get deep in the playoffs and eventually in a Stanley Cup, you have to have your five-on-five game at the forefront, and that's something we learned from last year,' said Kane. 'We're having some success, and that's something that has to continue if we want to advance.' At the other end of the spectrum, the top Golden Knights players didn't turn a wheel offensively against Edmonton, and now Mikko Rantanen has just two assists in two games. Frustrating the other team's best players and lighting up its goalie isn't an easy formula, but it's guaranteed effective. And the first part often leads to the second. 'Since I've started coaching, my emphasis has been a good defence is a good offence,' said Kris Knoblauch. 'The more time you can spend in the offensive zone, the more time the puck is on your stick, is really important. 'With this team, we have a lot of good offensive players, and they like to have the puck. That's part of the reason why we're a good defensive team.' E-mail: rtychkowski@ Edmonton Oilers deliver another beat down, pull away from Dallas Stars Zach Hyman has been a hammer for the Edmonton Oilers in these playoffs You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun.
Calgary Herald
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Edmonton Oilers smashing through yet another post-season wall in Stars goalie Jake Oettinger
Article content The reason the L.A. Kings were going to get past the Edmonton Oilers in the first round this year was Darcy Kuemper. Article content Article content Remember? Article content The Vezina Trophy finalist finished the regular season with a 2.02 goals against average and a .922 save percentage on a Kings team that gave up two or fewer goals in 14 of its last 19 games. Article content The Kings were all set to shut down Edmonton's offence. Article content Article content What happened? The Kings are done and Kuemper sits dead last among all playoff goaltenders with a 3.74 goals against average. The Oilers lit him up for five goals three times and four goals once in dispatching Los Angeles in six games. Article content Article content Vegas goalie Adin Hill? After closing out the Minnesota Wild with .906, .909 and .935 save percentages in the last three games of that series, he was going to be a problem in the second round. Article content What happened? The Oilers reduced his numbers to .857, .865 and .850 in the first three games, then Stuart Skinner posted shutouts in the last two, as Edmonton made very short work of the first place team in the Pacific Division. Article content Which brings us to Jake Oettinger. He was sensational against the Winnipeg Jets, allowing just 12 goals in that six-game series and posting save percentages of .935, .923, .969, .912, .957. Article content What's happening against Edmonton? It's been 12 goals against in three games and save percentages of .889, .880 and .750. Article content Article content Once again, the Oilers have been able to make one of the top goaltenders in the league look pretty ordinary. Article content Article content This doesn't mean Oettinger is down for the count, there is lots of series left, but he and the Stars need to find a way to slow down Edmonton's offence, or this is going to be another short one for the Oilers. Article content 'We wouldn't be sitting here in the Conference Finals without Jake Oettinger and how he's played,' said Stars coach Pete DeBoer, defending the backbone of his team. Article content '(Game 3's 6-1 defeat) was one of those games where they were opportunistic, and once they got the lead, we're pushing to get back in it, and there's Grade As the other way. Article content 'One thing I know about Jake Oettinger is he's one of the best response goalies in the league.' Article content Goals are supposed to be harder to come by in the post-season, but that hasn't been the case for Edmonton. They have a significantly higher goals per game average in the playoffs (3.93) than they had in the regular season (3.16).
Vancouver Sun
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
Edmonton Oilers smashing through yet another post-season wall in Stars goalie Jake Oettinger
The reason the L.A. Kings were going to get past the Edmonton Oilers in the first round this year was Darcy Kuemper. Remember? The Vezina Trophy finalist finished the regular season with a 2.02 goals against average and a .922 save percentage on a Kings team that gave up two or fewer goals in 14 of its last 19 games. The Kings were all set to shut down Edmonton's offence. What happened? The Kings are done and Kuemper sits dead last among all playoff goaltenders with a 3.74 goals against average. The Oilers lit him up for five goals three times and four goals once in dispatching Los Angeles in six games. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Vegas goalie Adin Hill? After closing out the Minnesota Wild with .906, .909 and .935 save percentages in the last three games of that series, he was going to be a problem in the second round. What happened? The Oilers reduced his numbers to .857, .865 and .850 in the first three games, then Stuart Skinner posted shutouts in the last two, as Edmonton made very short work of the first place team in the Pacific Division. Which brings us to Jake Oettinger. He was sensational against the Winnipeg Jets, allowing just 12 goals in that six-game series and posting save percentages of .935, .923, .969, .912, .957. What's happening against Edmonton? It's been 12 goals against in three games and save percentages of .889, .880 and .750. Once again, the Oilers have been able to make one of the top goaltenders in the league look pretty ordinary. This doesn't mean Oettinger is down for the count, there is lots of series left, but he and the Stars need to find a way to slow down Edmonton's offence, or this is going to be another short one for the Oilers. 'We wouldn't be sitting here in the Conference Finals without Jake Oettinger and how he's played,' said Stars coach Pete DeBoer, defending the backbone of his team. '(Game 3's 6-1 defeat) was one of those games where they were opportunistic, and once they got the lead, we're pushing to get back in it, and there's Grade As the other way. 'One thing I know about Jake Oettinger is he's one of the best response goalies in the league.' Goals are supposed to be harder to come by in the post-season, but that hasn't been the case for Edmonton. They have a significantly higher goals per game average in the playoffs (3.93) than they had in the regular season (3.16). And it's not just the Big Two who are feasting. Consider the SportsNet stat that showed Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl combining to score 47.7 per cent of Edmonton's playoff goals two years ago, then 20.9 per cent last year and just 18.3 per cent this year. That speaks to the evolution of the hockey team. It's been tough to slow down Edmonton's offence because the goals are coming from everywhere. Eighteen players have scored a goal in the playoffs, and seven players already have five or more. 'Guys are bearing down and understanding how hard it is to score and how hard it is to get chances, so when you do get those chances there's maybe a little bit of desperation,' said Oilers winger Evander Kane, adding nobody generates anything in the playoffs unless they're willing to get dirty. 'You have to go hard to the net. The closer you are to the goal the better the opportunity for the goals to go in.' Edmonton is piling up the offensive numbers, for the most part, without the benefit of their power play, which is two-for-22 on the road and five-for-25 over the last 10 games (in which the Oilers are 8-2). Edmonton's 39 even-strength goals in 14 playoff games are second only to the Florida Panthers' 44 and miles ahead of third-place Toronto with 27 and fourth-place Dallas with 23. A team that used to be Two Guys and Power Play is an entirely different threat. 'There are fewer and fewer power plays, so if you want to get deep in the playoffs and eventually in a Stanley Cup, you have to have your five-on-five game at the forefront, and that's something we learned from last year,' said Kane. 'We're having some success, and that's something that has to continue if we want to advance.' At the other end of the spectrum, the top Golden Knights players didn't turn a wheel offensively against Edmonton, and now Mikko Rantanen has just two assists in two games. Frustrating the other team's best players and lighting up its goalie isn't an easy formula, but it's guaranteed effective. And the first part often leads to the second. 'Since I've started coaching, my emphasis has been a good defence is a good offence,' said Kris Knoblauch. 'The more time you can spend in the offensive zone, the more time the puck is on your stick, is really important. 'With this team, we have a lot of good offensive players, and they like to have the puck. That's part of the reason why we're a good defensive team.' E-mail: rtychkowski@ Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don't miss the news you need to know — add and to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here. You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun.
Ottawa Citizen
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Edmonton Oilers smashing through yet another post-season wall in Stars goalie Jake Oettinger
Article content The reason the L.A. Kings were going to get past the Edmonton Oilers in the first round this year was Darcy Kuemper. Article content Article content Remember? Article content The Vezina Trophy finalist finished the regular season with a 2.02 goals against average and a .922 save percentage on a Kings team that gave up two or fewer goals in 14 of its last 19 games. Article content The Kings were all set to shut down Edmonton's offence. Article content Article content What happened? The Kings are done and Kuemper sits dead last among all playoff goaltenders with a 3.74 goals against average. The Oilers lit him up for five goals three times and four goals once in dispatching Los Angeles in six games. Article content Article content Vegas goalie Adin Hill? After closing out the Minnesota Wild with .906, .909 and .935 save percentages in the last three games of that series, he was going to be a problem in the second round. Article content What happened? The Oilers reduced his numbers to .857, .865 and .850 in the first three games, then Stuart Skinner posted shutouts in the last two, as Edmonton made very short work of the first place team in the Pacific Division. Article content Which brings us to Jake Oettinger. He was sensational against the Winnipeg Jets, allowing just 12 goals in that six-game series and posting save percentages of .935, .923, .969, .912, .957. Article content What's happening against Edmonton? It's been 12 goals against in three games and save percentages of .889, .880 and .750. Article content Article content Once again, the Oilers have been able to make one of the top goaltenders in the league look pretty ordinary. Article content Article content This doesn't mean Oettinger is down for the count, there is lots of series left, but he and the Stars need to find a way to slow down Edmonton's offence, or this is going to be another short one for the Oilers. Article content 'We wouldn't be sitting here in the Conference Finals without Jake Oettinger and how he's played,' said Stars coach Pete DeBoer, defending the backbone of his team. Article content '(Game 3's 6-1 defeat) was one of those games where they were opportunistic, and once they got the lead, we're pushing to get back in it, and there's Grade As the other way. Article content 'One thing I know about Jake Oettinger is he's one of the best response goalies in the league.' Article content Goals are supposed to be harder to come by in the post-season, but that hasn't been the case for Edmonton. They have a significantly higher goals per game average in the playoffs (3.93) than they had in the regular season (3.16).
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
What Does The Los Angeles Kings' Next GM Need To Address?
What Does The Los Angeles Kings' Next GM Need To Address? What Does The Los Angeles Kings' Next GM Need To Address? In the wake of the Los Angeles Kings' fourth straight season of losing to the Edmonton Oilers in the first round, you knew something had to give in the Kings' organization. On Monday, the ramifications of the disappointing season resulted in Kings GM Rob Blake parting ways with the team. Whoever takes over from Blake has some obvious areas to address. Let's break them down below. 1. The Defense The Kings allowed the second-fewest goals in the regular season, but that doesn't matter after what happened in the playoffs. They didn't have problems putting the puck in the net against the Oilers, averaging four goals-for per game. But the defense was a disaster, as the Kings allowed 4.50 goals against per game. It certainly wasn't all the fault of goalie Darcy Kuemper, although his 3.74 GAA and .889 SP didn't help matters. You could see the Kings' defensive struggles all over the place, including their penalty kill, which had an embarrassing 61.5 percent efficiency. So, with that in mind, it's obvious what Blake's successor has to do – namely, tweak the defense corps and make the Kings harder to play against in their own zone against offensive powerhouses. That was their style all season long, but they need to replace a blueliner or two to achieve that style in the playoffs as well. Brandt Clarke will be a year older, which should help his development, but so will 35-year-old Drew Doughty, who can't average 24 to 25 minutes a night forever. Effecting change on the back end won't be easy, as there aren't many shutdown blueliners on the UFA front this off-season. Complicating matters is that veteran blueliner Vladislav Gavrikov is a pending UFA. To keep him in the fold, the Kings will have to give him at least the $5.875 million he's earned this season. Letting Gavrikov walk shouldn't be an option for L.A., but it's the other moves the next Kings GM makes regarding the defense that will probably be the difference between the Kings getting out of the first round next spring or failing once again to follow up on a strong regular season. NHL Playoffs 2025: Winners And Losers From Round 1 Feature Rantanen, Necas And More NHL Playoffs 2025: Winners And Losers From Round 1 Feature Rantanen, Necas And More Just like that, the NHL's 2025 Stanley Cup playoff field is cut in half. 2. Spending The Kings' Cap Space Wisely Los Angeles has about $23.26 million in salary cap space, but Blake's replacement won't be able to throw all of it at the best UFAs on the market. A good deal of that will go to bringing back Gavrikov and fellow UFA Andrei Kuzmenko, who turned out to be a solid addition for the Kings. But the Kings also have RFA right winger Alex Laferriere to re-sign, and they need a backup goalie as well. As you can see, the Kings' cap space will evaporate quickly unless the new GM clears out some cap space on the trade market. Let's say we're still focused on Los Angeles' defense: would targeting experienced D-men Ivan Provorov, Brent Burns or Dmitry Orlov make sense for the Kings' back end? None of them will come cheaply, but the allure of playing in sunny California on a team that, at least on paper, isn't that far off from a long playoff run, could be the hook that brings in new blood for the Kings' defense corps. Regardless of how Blake's successor spends the Kings' cap space, they can't swing and miss on the talent they do bring in. There will be huge pressure on the new GM to hit a home run with the roster changes they make, and right out of the gate, all eyes will be on Blake's replacement in the roster and the financial choices they make. 3. Decide On The Coach At this time last year, the Kings were very happy with coach Jim Hiller, removing the interim tag from him and signing him to a three-year contract extension that began this season. In the collapse against the Kings, some of the coaching staff's choices came under intense scrutiny, including a lost coach's challenge in Game 3 that had some fans irate. The Hockey News' Connor Doyle also said Hiller shortened the bench during the series, and their top players looked gassed at times. But now, with Blake gone, his replacement may want to install a replacement for Hiller behind the Kings' bench. With veterans out there, including Peter Laviolette, Dan Bylsma and John Tortorella – as well as newcomers or NHL assistant coaches who could be available – the Kings may find someone else with a different play style in mind for this squad. There's no salary cap limit on coaching, so if L.A. does want to move in a new direction with their coaching, it will only cost them two years of Hiller's remaining salary. But after the disappointment of two straight first-round exits under Hiller's tenure, the status quo may not be a viable option for Blake's replacement. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on
