Latest news with #Oilers'CupFinal
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Oilers Must Make Changes To Win Tonight
EDMONTON – Tonight is a big night. In the grand scheme of things, it's just another Monday. But, for the Edmonton Oilers and their hopes of hoisting a Stanley Cup, it's big. Bigger than the receding hairline on my forehead (I'm bald, btw). Advertisement Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more. Leaving Edmonton with a split was a good outcome. Obviously, being up 2-0 would have been ideal. The Florida Panthers are giving the Oilers a run for their money, as they should be. For Connor McDavid and company to take a 2-1 series lead, they are going to have to make some adjustments. Here are three changes the Oilers can make to have a better chance of winning Game 3. Trending Oilers Stories What Do Oilers Fans Chant? Playoffs Edition What Do Oilers Fans Chant? Playoffs Edition EDMONTON – The playoffs are often a game of inches. Advertisement 'We Are In The Final For A Reason': Corey Perry Keeps Oilers' Cup Final Loss In Perspective Shawn Horcoff's Son Would Love To Play With Oilers' Star How To Make The McDavid-To-Maple Leafs Rumors Stop EXCLUSIVE: Mark Messier On Oilers, Budweiser, His Future & More Oilers 2025 Stanley Cup Final Schedule & 3 Bold Predictions Oilers Secretive Of New Victory Song, Oilers Secretive Of New Victory Song, "Pink Pony Club" EDMONTON – 'I'm gonna keep on dancing.' Better Breakouts No one watching a Cup Final game wants to see a defender parked behind his net, waiting for better passing options. That's exactly what happened in Game 2. Advertisement It felt like various Oilers defenders did that at least 10 total times. I couldn't tell you the last time I've seen them sitting and waiting for better options to break the puck out of their zone. To combat this, at least two of the three forwards must circle around the defensive zone to make themselves an option. With more forward support, cleaner breakouts with possession are more likely to result. Dump And Chase After Game 2, Corey Perry told the media that the Oilers are a team that likes to make plays. He also recognized that they need to make the best play available when the pressure is on. Corey Perry (Walter Tychnowicz-Imagn Images) Sometimes, the best play is to dump and chase. If the Panthers want to play a grinding, physically intense, 1-0 type of contest, the Oilers are more than capable of playing that way – and winning. Have A Zach Hyman Mentality Zach Hyman won't play again until next season. However, during the series against the Dallas Stars, he made a commitment to hit the opposition as much as possible. Advertisement The Oilers could use a little more of that. Vasily Podkolzin and Evander Kane have been noticeably more physical in this series comparative to the Conference Finals. However, it's going to take the entire team to make life as difficult as possible for the Panthers. When the Oilers are in the offensive zone, they must finish every single check against the Panthers defenders as possible. Seth Jones, Aaron Ekblad, and Gustav Forsling are averaging 32+ minutes a game so far in the Cup Final. Niko Mikkola is is entering the same conversation with 55:29 total minutes played in two games against the Oilers. By having better breakout support, a grinding mentality, and 'hit-first-ask-questions-latter' physical game, the Oilers will be poised to gain an advantage in this final series of the year. Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Shawn Horcoff's Son Would Love To Play With Oilers' Star
EDMONTON – The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Or in the case of this former Edmonton Oilers' son, he would like to stay close to the tree. Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more. William Horcoff, son of former Oilers forward (and captain) Shawn Horcoff, is one of the players eligible to be drafted in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Advertisement This past weekend, the Cup Final took a backseat to the Scouting Combine, where all the greatest prospects dreaming of their name being called on draft day gathered for interviews and testing. Trending Oilers Stories 'Everything At Once': Oilers' Leon Draisaitl On Strong Nugent-Hopkins Performance 'Everything At Once': Oilers' Leon Draisaitl On Strong Nugent-Hopkins Performance EDMONTON – 'We all know that he's capable of putting up numbers and scoring and making great plays.' 'We Are In The Final For A Reason': Corey Perry Keeps Oilers' Cup Final Loss In Perspective What Do Oilers Fans Chant? Playoffs Edition 'I Really Hope We Score': Oilers' Stuart Skinner And His Remarkable Talent Of Staying Ready Advertisement Oilers Secretive Of New Victory Song, "Pink Pony Club" EXCLUSIVE: Mark Messier On Oilers, Budweiser, His Future & More EXCLUSIVE: Mark Messier On Oilers, Budweiser, His Future & More EDMONTON – Mark Messier loves Edmonton. William's dad, Shawn, is now a member of the Detroit Red Wings management, operating as the GM for their AHL affiliate as well as Assistant GM to the Red Wings. But Shawn spent many years playing for the Oilers. He played with a current member of the Oilers when they were a rookie. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins entered the NHL in the 2011-12 season. Shawn and Nugent-Hopkins didn't spend much even-strength ice time together, but they did skate together on the powerplay for two years before Shawn was traded to the Dallas Stars. Advertisement When speaking to the press during the combine, William revealed a few Oilers-related tidbits. For starters, he's cheering for the Oilers to win the Cup Final. Additionally, William said that the one player he would love to play with, who his dad played with, is Nugent-Hopkins. The draft hopeful also revealed that he first met Nugent-Hopkins when he was five years old. William also commented that Nugent-Hopkins looks like he hasn't aged a day since he turned 18. William is a US-born player who spent this past season split between the USNTDP and the NCAA. He joined the University of Michigan mid-way through the season. Advertisement The 6-foot-5 and 199-pound centerman is ranked 24th among North American skaters according to NHL Central Scouting. That could increase his chances of being drafted by the Oilers, who's highest draft pick is a 3rd-round selection. If that happened, the apple would be pretty close to that tree. Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.
