Though the Edmonton Oilers didn’t stun in their 6-4 loss to the Los Angeles Kings Tuesday, there were some positives to take away. One of them was the power of the second line.
Edmonton Oilers
Of course, the Oilers’ top scoring line was putting on pressure and making the most of their time on ice, but the second unit appeared to recapture their chemistry. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Jordan Eberle and Milan Lucic were all effective on the forecheck. Here’s how they all stacked up Tuesday.
Nugent-Hopkins was probably the Oilers’ top player. He made effective entry into the offensive zone and proved impressive with speed and nifty stickhandling. Though he has struggled to put up impressive point totals this season, Nugent-Hopkins showed flashes of his greatness and true potential, and ended up with two goals.
He also made sure he was in the right places and took good care of the puck. If he plays like this each night, he will remain a top-six centre and surely will hold onto his spot as one of the most important core members of the team.
Eberle hasn’t impressed this season, either, but looked good on Tuesday. He wasn’t sluggish and made smart passes, while also maintaining puck possessions and making good plays. He kept up with the rush and made the most of his time in the zone, and made sure to find his linemates. Eberle finished the night with one helper.
Lucic made his presence in front of the net prominent and also used physicality and speed to keep up with the offensive rush. He was vital in keeping up with the play, and ended up with a power-play goal early on.
Overall, the second line was by far one of the top units on the ice. If they can keep up the good plaay, they will be vital in making that late Pacific Division push.