Latest news with #Janmark
New York Times
05-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
How 2023 playoff loss to Vegas made Oilers ‘battle-tested' Stanley Cup contender
EDMONTON — Connor McDavid was already shifting his focus to his team's next task moments after the Edmonton Oilers knocked off the Los Angeles Kings for a fourth year in a row. That next task is facing the Pacific Division's top seed, the Vegas Golden Knights, for the second time in three years. 'We've got our work cut out for us, but we'll be ready to roll,' McDavid said after a 6-4 victory in Game 6. Advertisement McDavid and the Oilers feel good about their chances because of the loss they endured at the hands of the Golden Knights in the 2023 second round. While there's certainly motivation to exact some revenge, that hunger isn't why the Oilers believe they're in a better place to beat the Golden Knights. Instead, it's the way they lost in 2023 that gives the Oilers a sense of confidence going into this matchup. Dropping that series changed the course and the makeup of the team. 'It's brought (out) a fire in us,' winger Mattias Janmark said. 'We're better equipped to handle any team,' winger Zach Hyman said. 'We're a more battle-tested group.' The Oilers didn't think the Golden Knights were the superior team two years ago. In fact, they've maintained that they gave away that series to the eventual Stanley Cup champions. 'We made more mistakes than they did,' Janmark said. 'We put ourselves in positions where we made mistakes. They were a little more calm and a little more opportunistic in that series.' That was apparent in the way things concluded. It was all square heading back to Las Vegas for Game 5, and the Oilers were ahead by a goal just past the midway point of the second period. With the Golden Knights on a power play, Janmark took a careless high-sticking penalty in the neutral zone to hand Vegas a five-on-three. The Oilers surrendered two goals while short-handed and then quickly gave up another one. All told, the Golden Knights scored three times in 1:29. The Oilers also coughed up a lead at home in Game 6. 'Any time you're right there, you look at what could have gone differently,' Hyman said. 'It could have gone our way, but it didn't. A lot of it was self-inflicted.' 'It's difficult any time you lose in the playoffs, especially when you feel like you had a good team,' McDavid said Sunday. 'We felt like we had a good team then.' The entire organization was gutted after being eliminated. Then-GM Ken Holland addressed the players after the game with a clear message. He wanted the players to soak in the gut-wrenching defeat, realize how close they were and try to realize what it takes to win. The message was received. The Oilers lacked cap space heading into the offseason but had room for minimal free-agent spending. McDavid met with Connor Brown to give him the sales pitch before Brown signed a one-year, bonus-laden deal after missing most of that season with a knee injury. Advertisement 'I remember when I first met with Connor, and he spoke about it,' Brown said. 'I could see it in his eyes that it stung. They felt like they could have won that series, and they could have won (the Stanley Cup) that year.' And so a new course was charted. But not all the best-laid plans worked out. McDavid called all the players back to Edmonton a week earlier than usual for pre-camp captain's skates, and top-pairing defenceman Mattias Ekholm and third-line centre Ryan McLeod picked up injuries that kept them out of the exhibition schedule. Ekholm missed the season opener as well, an 8-1 shellacking in Vancouver. Meanwhile, as a direct result of losing to Vegas, coach Jay Woodcroft opted to implement more of a zone defence compared to the man-to-man system. The Oilers struggled to adapt to the new strategies and started 3-9-1. Woodcroft and assistant coach Dave Manson were fired. 'It wasn't a dream start or anything like that,' Hyman said. 'Every year that you lose and come close, you gain experience. With experience, you understand what it takes to win and how slim the margins are in the playoffs.' For all those tweaks — both the intention of being devoted to the cause and the structural on-ice alterations — the most important takeaway from the Vegas loss was a new mindset. Ekholm was one of the newest members of the team, acquired just before the trade deadline, when the Oilers bowed out to the Golden Knights. But he was a veteran and one of three players, alongside Janmark and Brett Kulak, who'd appeared in a Stanley Cup Final. He'd been harping on the need for the group to get more comfortable defending and to manage surviving onslaughts from opponents. That message hit harder after that series. 'You have to learn from your failures, and that was one of them,' McDavid said. Advertisement The Oilers worked on that last season, and it became a calling card of their run to Game 7 of the Cup Final last June. 'We learned that every shift matters,' Hyman said. 'You don't know what play is going to be the defining moment in the game or the series. As you get older, you learn.' Their first-round series against the Kings was far from perfect. They trailed 2-0 and could have easily been swept or down 3-1 through four games. But they never let Game 3 or 4 get out of hand. Their comebacks in those two contests not only evened the matchup but propelled them forward to close out the series even when they weren't at their top form. 'This team's been on the brink,' Brown said. 'Even last game, there were times where we were missing assignments down the stretch that we normally wouldn't miss. But we're doing it less and less and less and less. 'It's one thing to do it in Game 50 (of the regular season). But to be able to clear the mind and make sure that you're composed in the big moments, that's where winners are made.' The Golden Knights present a stiffer test, and the Oilers are still missing Ekholm. He sat out the first-round series with a lower-body injury and has been ruled out for Round 2. Still, they feel they're better equipped to handle the Golden Knights because of how much that loss a couple of years ago has changed them. 'Lessons learned along the way,' McDavid said. 'Hopefully, we can use them moving forward in this series.' 'This team has the ability, and it's going to come down to little plays, little moments,' Brown said. 'This team has battled itself into good spots over the years to earn the experience to break through.' (Top photo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl: Harry How / Getty Images)
CBS News
03-05-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Mattias Janmark's goal sends dominant Oilers past Kings 3-1. They take a 3-2 series lead to Edmonton
Mattias Janmark scored the tiebreaking goal in the third period, and the Edmonton Oilers beat the Los Angeles Kings 3-1 Tuesday night for their third consecutive victory and a 3-2 lead in their first-round series. Evander Kane and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins also scored and Calvin Pickard made 20 saves for the defending Western Conference champion Oilers, who can advance with a win in Game 6 in Edmonton on Thursday. Edmonton was finally rewarded for dominating possession and shots throughout Game 5 when Janmark converted a rebound of Viktor Arvidsson's shot with 12:48 to play. After some fraught final moments, Nugent-Hopkins added an empty-net goal to finish the Oilers' franchise-record third consecutive comeback playoff victory. "I think the feeling was really there after the first period that we're outplaying 'em, we got them where we want, and now we've just got to push," Janmark said. "Keep pushing the gas. And even when they scored, just try to get back, and Kaner got it right back, and away we went." Andrei Kuzmenko scored and Darcy Kuemper stopped 43 shots for the second-seeded Kings, who are one loss away from their fourth consecutive first-round playoff exit at Edmonton's hands despite winning the first two games at home and holding third-period leads in the next two. Los Angeles led in the final minute of Game 4 before losing in overtime. After a slow start, the Oilers have tilted the series decidedly in their favor. Edmonton has outshot the Kings 79-35 since the start of the third period of Game 4. "They executed way better than us tonight," Kings coach Jim Hiller said. "They were stronger. They beat us in every area of the game, except for the special teams, oddly enough. The goaltender was great for us to give us a chance. They were just better in every way. We can't look to one part of our game and think that was acceptable." Kuemper made 19 saves in the first period, and Los Angeles went ahead early in the second when Kuzmenko tipped home captain Anze Kopitar's shot during a power play. Kuzmenko recorded his sixth point of the postseason and his 23rd point in 27 games since joining the Kings less than two months ago. The Oilers answered less than three minutes later with Kane's goal from the slot. Kane went unpunished later in the period for a knee-on-knee hit on Kings scoring leader Adrian Kempe. Edmonton's 33 shots in the first two periods were the most allowed all season by Los Angeles, which was shut down after scoring 19 goals in the first four games of the series. "We wanted to be desperate, like we were in the third period and overtime the last game," Pickard said. "And we did it for 60 minutes."
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Edmonton Oilers rally to win Game 5, put Kings on the brink of elimination again
Kings right wing Quinton Byfield reacts during the second period of his team's Game 5 playoff loss to the Oilers Tuesday night at Arena. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times) Edmonton's Mattias Janmark pushed the Kings to the brink of playoff elimination, scoring off a rebound early in the third period to give the Oilers a 3-1 win in Game 5 of their first-round Stanley Cup playoff at Arena. The Oilers, who lead the best-of-seven series 3-2, can end the Kings' season for a fourth straight season with another victory. Janmark's goal marked the fourth time in five games the Kings have given up a game-tying or go-ahead score in the final 13 minutes of regulation. It was also the third consecutive come-from-behind win for the Oilers, the first time they've done that in the franchise's playoff history. Advertisement Evander Kane had Edmonton's first goal while the lone Kings' score came from Andrei Kuzmenko, both in the second period. The Oilers' Ryan Nugent-Hopkins closed out the scoring with an empty-net goal in final minute. The Oilers had the stronger opening 20 minutes, during which they took the first 11 shots, building a 19-4 advantage for the period. But Kings goalie Darcy Kuemper, who on Monday was named one of three finalists for the Vezina Trophy, proved why, leaving Edmonton with nothing to show for all that effort. Kings left wing Andrei Kuzmenko gets tangled up with Oilers defenseman Brett Kulak in the first period. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) That allowed Kuzmenko to put the Kings in front 3:33 into the second period. The winger parked himself in front of the net and was shielding Edmonton goalie Calvin Pickard when he reached out to redirect a pass from Anze Kopitar near the blue line. The goal, the Kings' eighth power-play score of the series, came eight seconds after Darnell Nurse went off for tripping. It also marked the fourth time in five games that the Kings scored first. Advertisement Kopitar's assist was his seventh in five games while Adrian Kempe, who also assisted on the goal, has six. However the lead lasted less than three minutes before Kane tied it on a wrist shot from the high slot. That goal came seven seconds after the Kings killed off a tripping penalty to Drew Doughty. Kings left wing Kevin Fiala goes after the puck against Oilers center Leon Draisaitl in the first period. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) Edmonton then went in front to stay 7:12 into the final period when Janmark scored off the rebound of a shot by former King Viktor Arvidsson that Kuemper had pushed out to his stick side, not knowing that Janmark was perched just inside the circle. Kuemper deserved a far better fate after turning away 43 shots. He has faced 93 shots in the last two games. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
Edmonton Oilers rally to win Game 5, put Kings on the brink of elimination again
Edmonton's Mattias Janmark pushed the Kings to the brink of playoff elimination, scoring off a rebound early in the third period to give the Oilers a 3-1 win in Game 5 of their first-round Stanley Cup playoff at Arena. The Oilers, who lead the best-of-seven series 3-2, can end the Kings' season for a fourth straight season with another victory. Janmark's goal marked the fourth time in five games the Kings have given up a game-tying or go-ahead score in the final 13 minutes of regulation. It was also the third consecutive come-from-behind win for the Oilers, the first time they've done that in the franchise's playoff history. Evander Kane had Edmonton's first goal while the lone Kings' long score came from Andrei Kuzmenko, both in the second period. The Oilers' Ryan Nugent-Hopkins closed out the scoring with an empty-net goal in final 62 seconds. The Oilers had the stronger opening 20 minutes, during which they took the first 11 shots, building a 19-4 advantage for the period. But Kings goalie Darcy Kuemper, who on Monday was named one of three finalists for the Vezina Trophy, proved why, leaving Edmonton with nothing to show for all that effort. That allowed Kuzmenko to put the Kings in front 3:33 into the second period. The winger parked himself in front of the net and was shielding Edmonton goalie Calvin Pickard when he reached out to redirect in a pass from Anze Kopitar near the blue line. The goal, the Kings' eighth power-play score of the series, came eight seconds after Darnell Nurse went off for tripping. It also marked the fourth time in five games that the Kings scored first. Kopitar's assist was his seventh in five games while Adrian Kempe, who also assisted on the goal, has six. However the lead lasted less than three minutes before Kane tied it on a wrist shot from the high slot. That goal came seven seconds after the Kings killed off a tripping penalty to Drew Doughty. Edmonton then went in front to stay 7:12 into the final period when Janmark scored off the rebound of a shot by former King Viktor Arvidsson that Kuemper had pushed out to his stick side, not knowing that Janmark was perched just inside the circle. Kuemper deserved a far better fate after turning away 43 shots. He has faced 93 shots in the last two games.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Last chance gas for big name Edmonton Oilers newcomer?
This in from Bob Stauffer of the Oilers, Edmonton's lines at practice, with controversial winger Jeff Skinner getting a bump up to the position most of us thought he'd occupy all year, second line wing with Leon Draisaitl. RNH-McDavid-Hyman J. Skinner-Draisaitl-Arvidsson Podkolzin-Henrique-Brown Jones-Kapanen-Perry (Janmark not on ice) Walman-Bouchard Nurse-Stecher Kulak-Emberson Pickard Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch said Janmark was at the hotel sick but was expected to play Thursday night. Asked about Skinner playing with Leon Draisaitl, Knoblauch said, 'If he's gonna play, he's complimentary of playing with skill players. He's a guy who can score goals. The other night (against Buffalo), we did some switching later in the game, but in the first period Janmark, Brown and himself in the first period, I thought they might have been our best line that period. But with Janmark uncertainty, and then tomorrow night there's a good chance that is where Skinner will be playing.' On injured and ill Mattias Ekholm, Knoblauch said Ekholm is likely to stay in Edmonton and rejoin the team when it comes home. 1. Skinner's even strength analytics have been mediocre this year. He's been just OK as an even strength player, OK at creating Grade A shots, but leaking too many Grade A shots against for a winger. That's not what was expected of him when interim GM Jeff Jackson signed him to a one-year deal at $3 million. Many hoped and expected he and fellow newcomer Viktor Arvidsson would slot in on Leon Draisaitl's line, giving Edmonton two top scoring lines. But not to be. The scrutiny and vibe around Skinner is all the more tempestuous because instead of making sure he signed Dylan Holloway to a new deal, Jackson spent his cap space on veterans like Skinner, Arvidsson and Adam Henrique. It was a brutal error. 2. While Arvidsson has played solid two-way hockey, he's had terrible puck luck. He can't buy a goal. He should have about 15 goals now based on his shot quality. Skinner, meanwhile, has been iffy on defence all year, but he's found a way to put up even strength points. He's got skill around the net, and has. put up a good rate of even strength points, 1.84 per 60 minutes. That is second only to Draisaitl and McDavid on the team, and it's a big reason why so many fans are pushing for Skinner to get a shot on a top line again. 3. Of Skinner's 620 even strength minutes he's played just 66 with McDavid, the two of them getting outscored one goals for, eight against. In 105 minutes with Draisiatl, Skinner and he are three goals for, three against, a better signal of possible success in games to come. 4. Instead of getting regular shifts with Draisaitl or McDavid, Skinner has been relegated to playing on the third or fourth line. He's looked better in that role in recent games, but it's still possible he can make a mark on a top line. This is starting to feel like 'last chance gas,' however, in that regard. Newcomer Trent Frederic will soon be joining the team, and he might slot in on a top line or play third line centre, and bump Adam Henrique on to a top line. That might well cut into Skinner's playing time even more, not to mention the possible return of Evander Kane for the 2025 playoffs, or even the return of hot shot rookie Matt Savoie from Bakersfield. McCURDY: Game grades vs Sabres
