Oilers 3 – Stars 1 | Between progress and tradition

Could it be that all this time they knew how to play in their territory? Why did you hide it from us for so long, then?

The Edmonton Oilers completely stifled the Dallas Stars on Friday night. In Dallas, no less. And with a 3-1 win, the Albertans are only one victory away from reaching the Stanley Cup final.

The turnaround is complete. Because after the third duel in this series, the men dressed in orange and blue were no longer given much money for their skin. With Stuart Skinner accumulating bad goals, and given the level of confidence of the Stars, many of us were ready to say “see you next year” to the Oilers and preemptively draw up an incendiary assessment of this team incapable of winning.

However, here we are two games later – sorry, two impactful victories later – during which we (finally) adequately protected the very vulnerable Skinner, thanks to organized play, a limited number of turnovers, blocked shots and, during some 50 minutes, an almost sick surveillance of the enclave.

As for the mustachioed doorman, he returned the courtesy to his teammates. We know that a 3-0 cushion generally gives a good chance of winning, but we also know the goalkeeper capable of escaping it.

Rather than faltering, he stood up, notably against Wyatt Johnston, at the very end of the second period. The young striker, perfectly positioned in the numerical advantage, fired a sharp shot that the goalkeeper saved to maintain the room for maneuver that had been given to him.

Skinner quickly did it again in the last twenty against Matt Duchene, Tyler Seguin and Sam Steel. To be honest, it took an anthology deviation from Johnston to beat him. At real speed, the game seemed banal, but upon resumption, we were able to appreciate the way in which the attacker first placed his stick on target for Thomas Harley before positioning his blade so that the deflection was perfect. A goal that will set a precedent, and which reminds us how difficult this Johnston is not to like.

Esprit de corps

The Oilers acquired this victory by settling at the intersection of tradition and progress.

The defensive tangent described above is not exactly Edmontonians’ habits. She smiled at them though.

This is also what the expected goals model suggests: since the start of the current playoffs, the Oilers have won seven of their nine games with the fewest anticipated goals allowed at five on five, according to the Natural Stat Trick site. Who would have thought that one way to allow fewer goals would be to allow fewer scoring chances?

There is also an esprit de corps which is undeniably strengthening. As evidenced by this blocked shot from Dylan Holloway, shortly after the Stars had reduced the gap, and after a long dominant sequence from the locals. Now everyone is doing their part.

Tradition now. Oddly enough, the Oilers hadn’t scored in four games against the Stars. The slate is wiped clean, courtesy of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins’ double. At the same time, the penalty kill unit continued its good work: it has now not given up a goal in its last nine games.

On a qualitative level, the visitors’ three goals also called for basic recipes. A cannonball from the blue line which turns into a return for Nugent-Hopkins: 1-0. A clear zone exit with a numerical advantage, without a pass in tow, which transforms into a dynamic entry into territory from Leon Draisaitl, whose poetic delivery allowed Nugent-Hopkins to rush alone to the net: 2-0. A faceoff won with authority in the Stars zone and a precise shot from the point, through traffic: 3-0.

At the other end of the ice rink, the Stars players, stuck on the outskirts, increased attempts at passes and plays, without much success. The shots on target statistic can be misleading, but in terms of volume, the trend speaks for itself: over the last seven periods, the Stars have only managed 10 shots once. On Friday, it took them two full thirds of time to reach ten.

That’s too little…from their point of view, at least. Because the Oilers have confirmation that their plan is working. Nothing is won yet, because the Stars can bounce back as much as the Oilers collapse in Game 6 on Sunday.

Still, Connor McDavid has never been closer to achieving his dream. And whatever we say or think about the number 97, if the prospect of seeing the best player in the world play in the Stanley Cup final is not exciting, we no longer know what will be.