Latest news with #JohnKlingberg
Edmonton Journal
2 days ago
- General
- Edmonton Journal
Edmonton GM branded a 'loser' for failing Oilers at trade deadline, but how things have changed
Article content Walman is partnering with John Klingberg, a free-agent signed in January, to give the Oilers a strong second-pairing. The two are part of unit that features six defenders all highly skilled at breaking out the puck from Edmonton's end. On Stanley Cup Final media day Tuesday in Edmonton, Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch pointed out that a key to handling Florida's aggressive forecheck is Edmonton's puck-moving d-men. 'They are a good forechecking team,' Knoblauch said of Florida. 'The best way to beat that is good puck movers. And there's one thing about just having a defenseman to be able to just get it out of trouble and get it out of the zone, but if we're continually just getting it out of those zone, we're giving the puck back, and then we have to defend and just defend, defend. It's not a good recipe. .. Our defense have been great at moving the puck.'
Newsweek
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
How to Watch Stars vs Oilers: Live Stream Game 3, TV Channel
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars will meet on Sunday in Game 3 of the NHL Western Conference Finals. The two teams are tied at one win each, making this an important game that can give one side an advantage in the series. Tune in to ABC on Sunday to see which team takes this all-important win. John Klingberg #36 of the Edmonton Oilers fights with Colin Blackwell #15 of the Dallas Stars during the first period in Game Two of the Western Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at... John Klingberg #36 of the Edmonton Oilers fights with Colin Blackwell #15 of the Dallas Stars during the first period in Game Two of the Western Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center on May 23, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. More Photo byHow to Watch Stars vs Oilers Game 3: Date: Sunday, May 25, 2025 Time: 3:00 PM ET Channel: ABC Stream: Fubo (Try for free) Dallas opened the series with a 6-3 win, but Edmonton fired back on Friday with a 3-0 win to even up the Western Conference Finals. Edmonton got on the board in the first period when Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored his fifth goal of the postseason, capitalizing on a power play. That goal gave the Oilers an early lead, one they held onto for the rest of the game. The team scored twice more in the second period, with the goals coming within two minutes of each other. Brett Kulak scored his first goal of the playoffs, followed by Connor Brown putting the Oilers up 3-0. Evan Bouchard had a pair of assists in the game for Edmonton. Can Dallas find some offense on Sunday, or will Edmonton continue to pour in the goals? Tune in to ABC on Sunday afternoon to watch this game. Don't have a way to watch ABC? Subscribe to Fubo now to catch the NHL action. You can start your free trial now to get started. Live stream the Stars at Oilers Game 3 on Fubo: Start your free trial now! Regional restrictions may apply. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.
Edmonton Journal
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
'Want to win for the fans': Edmonton Oilers thrive under pressure of hockey-mad city
Article content All that's missing is a sign that reads, 'Do not bang on the glass, as it scares the reporters.' Or, 'Please don't throw food at the reporters.' The post-game news conferences, and the fan hulabaloo that surrounds them, is just a sign of how much the Oilers mean to Edmontonians. And it's also a sign of why there's so much pressure on the shoulders of the players who wear the blue and orange. 'I think the pressure is higher than it's ever been,' said Chris Joseph, who played with the Oilers from 1987-1994. 'I think that's because it's such a high-profile game, now. There's so much money at stake. Edmonton has a bit of a history with Cups, the pressure is higher now than it was even in our era, the '80s and '90s.' Quieting the outside noise And dealing with the pressure and outside noise is a balancing act. Take current Oilers defenceman John Klingberg, who loves the fact the fans here care so much, but also puts limits on how much he exposes himself to the outside world.
New York Times
21-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
The Edmonton Oilers look better than ever on defence — and might improve soon
DALLAS – The traditionally firewagon Edmonton Oilers enter the Western Conference final against the Dallas Stars playing arguably their best brand of defensive hockey ever. That they've done so without the services of probably their top defenceman, Mattias Ekholm, only adds creditability to their work. Advertisement 'You don't play defence with one guy. You play defence with five guys,' veteran blueliner and longtime former Star John Klingberg said. 'It comes down to that everyone on the ice is buying into that.' A former NHL player who keeps close tabs on the Oilers told The Athletic that the way they've defended has been a 'hallmark' of their success in these playoffs, as they head into Game 1 on Wednesday. It's hard to disagree. It was evident throughout the second-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights. The Oilers allowed only 10 goals, the fewest they've surrendered in a single series in the Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl era. That was capped off by shutting out the Golden Knights twice, allowing just 47 shots against over nearly six and a half periods in that span. 'We've been a very good defensive team for years now,' Draisaitl said. 'Are we going to give up a couple more goals than we'd like to every now and then? Yes. Of course. Every team does. The league's too hard to just shut out every team and just give up one or two goals. But we're a good, structured, defensive team that can defend really well.' Draisaitl seemed perturbed to be asked about how well the Oilers are keeping the puck out of the net, just as McDavid was after Game 5. Regardless, it's clear the team has taken another step. Just ask Ekholm, the stalwart defender, who travelled to Dallas with his teammates and whom the Oilers hope can return from a lower-body injury to make his 2025 postseason debut sometime during this series. Ekholm has preached, almost from the time he arrived via trade from Nashville in February 2023, that the Oilers need to be more comfortable playing in their own zone and withstanding opponents' offensive pressure. The Golden Knights had a couple of sustained stints in the Oilers' end in Game 5; the Oilers essentially gave up nothing. Advertisement 'That's something that you learn,' Ekholm said. 'If you look over seven games against Florida (in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final), they may have been a little more comfortable defending than maybe we were. A little bit more stubborn. 'Sometimes, it's not about what you get. It's about what you leave. You're not going to score every game. As a line or a D pair, you've got to understand that I'm not at least going to hurt the team by letting those in the other way. Our team has done a tremendous job of that.' Defending, as Klingberg notes, requires commitment from everyone. But the six blueliners — or seven, given the recent lineup swap of Troy Stecher for Ty Emberson — deserve their share of the credit, particularly in Ekholm's absence. 'They've done really, really well. Playing fast. Playing simple. Moving pucks,' Ekholm said. 'Our D corps has been really sound. There's a lot of experience on that back end right now. I love the way they're playing. Hopefully, we keep it going.' Goaltender Stuart Skinner praised the way they've blocked shots and had tight gaps on oncoming forwards. 'When the guys in front of me are doing a good job, it makes my job a lot easier,' he said. The Oilers have gotten something positive out of every rearguard. Evan Bouchard has led that charge. After struggling early in the first round, Bouchard is having yet another outstanding postseason. He's third on the team in scoring with 12 points and is doing so with the power play producing at only a 25 percent clip. The Oilers are outscoring opponents 16-13 with him on the ice at five-on-five, including a 9-2 advantage against Vegas, all without his Ekholm, his regular partner. 'It's a hard void to fill, but everybody's got to step up in their own way,' Bouchard said. 'For me, it's focusing on my game and elevating my game as we keep getting further (along).' Advertisement Darnell Nurse, who had a rough postseason a year ago, has been much better. Brett Kulak has built off a career season, in which he got a bigger role and received regular penalty-killing duties. He's gotten top-four minutes and has provided versatility, continuing to often play the right side instead of his more customary left slot. 'We did that a lot throughout the whole season, so it's not something like we're sitting in the second round and you're asking someone to do something they haven't done all year,' Kulak said. 'It's prepared you for this.' Though Emberson provided PK work, Stecher's inclusion in the lineup for Game 4 of the Vegas series, after entering the playoffs with an injury, has given the Oilers more stable pairings. He's worked well with Nurse, his most common partner in the regular season, whereas Kulak and Bouchard have found chemistry. And then there's the duo of Klingberg and Jake Walman, two players Oilers GM Stan Bowman targeted for their puck-moving abilities. Klingberg was signed in January after a double hip surfacing procedure that kept him sidelined for more than 14 months. Walman was acquired just before the trade deadline. 'They're underrated players,' a former NHL coach told The Athletic. 'I don't think people realize how good they are. 'John Klingberg never gets the credit he deserves for how good of a player he is.' Klingberg and Walman took on most shifts against Golden Knights star Jack Eichel to close out the second round. With their help — along with Draisaitl, Vasily Podkolzin and Kasperi Kapanen up front — the Oilers held Eichel in check, as he had zero points in games 4 and 5. 'When I've thrived the most playing hockey, I've had a defence partner that's moving the puck and thinking the game the same way that I do,' Klingberg said. 'I love to play with a guy who plays thinks the same way as me, skates the puck really well, because then you play with the puck more during the game. You never have to waste that much energy playing defence. You're more playing with the puck and you're more driving offence. Advertisement 'That's something I'm excited about playing with Jake. He's a really good skater. He's got really good hockey sense. He's got a great shot. Really good offensively. He can all see how good defensively he is.' The Oilers appear to have found the correct mix when it comes to how they try to fend off opponents collectively and as a group of six defencemen. The thought of Ekholm joining the fray is tantalizing. It's not hard to envision Ekholm rejoining Bouchard, with Klingberg and Walman remaining together and Kulak getting more action on the right side with Nurse – a duo that was used at times in almost every game this season. That's before even considering Stecher and Emberson. 'I've played with him a lot. These guys have played with him for two years now,' Klingberg said of Ekholm. 'We all know how good he is. He's one of the biggest keys to this team. That would be a great addition for sure.' Until then, the Oilers just have to keep buttoning down defensively. With McDavid and Draisaitl leading the charge at the other end of the rink, there might be no stopping this team if they can continue limiting pucks from entering their net. 'We know that we're going to be a really good offensive team,' Klingberg said. 'We can score goals, especially with those two top guys that we have. If we just take care of our own zone and the neutral zone and doing the right things there, we know that when we get in the O zone, we have a really good chance to score. That's been the goal.' (Photo of Mattias Ekholm: Kyle Ross / Imagn Images)
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Klingberg's playoff return brings discovery for Oilers, Stars
John Klingberg #36 of the Edmonton Oilers in action (Credit: Getty Image) John Klingberg 's postseason presence for Edmonton is less about numbers and more about timing. After enduring long-term hip and foot issues, the veteran defenseman now finds himself in a pivotal role. His resurgence has become a subtle storyline of this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs . What began as a depth signing evolved into a playoff revelation. His return wasn't guaranteed. After surgery and multiple setbacks, the idea of Klingberg playing against Dallas in the Western Conference Final would have seemed far-fetched earlier this season. But timing, recovery, and opportunity aligned at just the right moment for both him and the Oilers. Oilers discover value in Klingberg's poise RAW | John Klingberg 05.19.25 Edmonton didn't sign Klingberg, expecting him to dominate the blue line. Instead, they found someone who could stabilize a pairing under pressure. His calm presence alongside Jake Walman has given the Oilers a reliable duo during the most chaotic moments of playoff hockey. Dallas sees a familiar face with a new purpose John Klingberg #36 of the Edmonton Oilers in action (Credit: Getty Image) Klingberg's eight years in Dallas helped shape the current Stars' core. Now, facing his old teammates with a different jersey on, the matchup takes on an emotional edge. But his connection to the Stars is no longer the defining part of his identity. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Instead, this series marks a turning point, where the past meets the present on even footing. Playoff stakes elevate Klingberg's return The Western Conference Final is about momentum, execution, and depth. Klingberg's ability to elevate in this moment adds another layer to Edmonton's playoff push. The shift has been dramatic from being sidelined in March to making a postseason impact in May. Read more: Unpredictable Conn Smythe race reveals deeper playoff truths John Klingberg's playoff journey is a testament to the unexpected. From injury doubt to reliable contributor, his path reflects the essence of postseason hockey. It's not just about star power. It's about those who rediscover purpose at the perfect time. For the Oilers and for Klingberg, that rediscovery may yet define how this series ends. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
