(Dallas) Zach Hyman joined the Edmonton Oilers knowing he would have the opportunity to fill the opposing net. The chance to play with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl was just too good to pass up when he hit the free agent market in July 2021.
What the winger perhaps didn’t imagine at the time was that the stars of this offensive machine would retreat into the defensive zone and block shots like there was no tomorrow.
After two decent playoff runs in the last two years, this reality is now part of the equation that has allowed the Oilers to find themselves three wins from the grand final and seven from the Stanley Cup.
The Alberta team leads 1-0 in the West final against the Stars after a 3-2 victory in the second overtime, Thursday evening in Dallas. Connor McDavid scored in the first minute of the second overtime period.
“A desire to win and lessons learned about what it takes to win,” Hyman said of the changes he’s seen within the team’s core. Every year you learn what it takes [faire pour gagner] and what you do less well.
PHOTO TONY GUTIERREZ, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Zach Hyman
“Offensively, we’ve always been pretty good. But I think defensively, as a group, everyone took a step in the right direction, with that “it takes what it takes” mentality. »
The Oilers have scored 49 goals since the start of the playoffs, a record so far. Their penalty-killing units have drained 19 straight penalties – including a high-sticking double minor awarded to McDavid in overtime on Thursday – to show a percentage of 92.5%.
Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch, hired in November when the team was at the bottom of the standings, saw players buy into the cause.
“The personal accolades are great,” said Knoblauch, whose team has six one-goal victories in these playoffs. But with this group it’s about [quelque chose] much bigger than a simple individual who scores a goal. It’s about being successful in the playoffs and being able to play as long as possible.
No team has had playoff success without playing good defensive hockey.
Kris Knoblauch, Oilers head coach
That doesn’t mean, however, that the Oilers have stopped their offensive push at the other end of the ice. And even though McDavid and Leon Draisaitl grab the headlines, Hyman has 66 goals – 54 in the season and 12 in the playoffs – as a complement this year.
Hyman scored as many goals as his entire former team when the Maple Leafs lost in seven games to the Boston Bruins in the first round. He notably physically dominated two defenders in the slot to score the Oilers’ second goal on Thursday.
PHOTO TONY GUTIERREZ, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jamie Benn (14) and Zach Hyman (18) collide
“Strength and will,” Oilers defenseman Brett Kulak said of Hyman. He makes things look easy sometimes, but it’s not easy to get the puck into the slot and put it in the net.
“It is precisely this mentality that has made it successful. »
Before leading the Oilers, Knoblauch knew Hyman, who plays on the same line as McDavid and plays in front of opposing goalies on the first power play unit. He knew he was a good player. But not to this extent.
“If there’s a battle for the puck, he usually wins it,” the coach said. We talk about the benefits of playing with a star. But the advantage of playing with Hyman is that you have the puck a lot more often. »
Hyman believed he could be a good addition to the Oilers core after skating alongside Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner with the Maple Leafs.
“I wanted to play with the best players in the world,” he said. I wanted to go where I was going to have the best chance of winning, and I thought it was Edmonton.
“I am very happy with my decision. »