Edmonton Oilers: Five Players That Need To Rise To The Occasion
The playoffs start tonight for the Edmonton Oilers. The first-round matchup against the Winnipeg Jets is set and things are going to be interesting.
Before the puck drops tonight I want to talk about five players that need to be on their A-game if the Oilers are going to walk away with a win in this series. While everyone expects Connor McDavid to be at his best, everyone around him needs to match it for Edmonton to win game one.
All that hard work to get home ice in this series could be for nothing if the Oilers lose one home game, plus with no fans in the stands the home-ice advantage really doesn’t mean much and neither does the fact that the Oilers beat the Jets in 7 of their 9 matchups this season.
So today I want to highlight a group of Oilers that need to rise to the occasion this playoff run. A lot of these guys had great regular seasons, and now they need to find another level in the playoff, similar to what I was talking about regarding James Neal the other day.
Jesse Puljujarvi
Jesse Puljujarvi just had his best regular season with the Edmonton Oilers. The former fourth overall pick in 2016 put up 25 points this season including 10 goals. Puljujarvi really came into his own on a line with Connor McDavid and I think it should only grow in the future.
Puljujarvi has some pretty good stats all around this season, his play with the puck is as good as his play without it and he has been physical at times as he is fifth on the team in hits. Playing on a line with McDavid I hope Puljujarvi can bring the physicality and skill that McDavid needs on his wing.
This playoff run could cement Puljujarvi as an NHL forward and can help make him a staple in the lineup. There is a lot to play for in the next couple of days.
Leon Draisaitl
Leon Draisaitl probably does not get the credit he deserves. Playing on the same team as Connor McDavid, no one really is talking about the fact that he put up 84 points in 56 games. He is regarded as one of the best in the league, but that is in the same way people talk about Malkin behind Crosby.
Draisaitl and McDavid shouldn’t be on the same line this postseason. Letting the two beat down opposing teams and making sure one of them is on the ice for the majority of the night will really make Winnipeg pick their poison.
Draisaitl is a goal-scoring machine and is one of the best NHL players without McDavid and now it is time for him to really show that this postseason. The Jets are not going to have an answer to McDavid, opposing teams just have to find a way to make up the difference in goals when McDavid is not on the ice. Draisaitl will have to be just as good.
Mike Smith
It is kind of incredible that we are talking about a playoff run for Mike Smith when the longtime NHL goalie is 39 years old. Smith has been to the playoffs just four times in his entire NHL career. He went once with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2011 playing three games, once with the then Phoenix Coyotes in 2012, playing in 16 games.
He also played in 2019 with Calgary and last season with Edmonton playing in one game against Chicago in the qualifiers. Smith hasn’t won that elusive Stanley Cup despite a great NHL career and now is his opportunity to really win it all.
In 32 games this season Smtih had a team-best .923 save percentage and 2.31 goals-against average. The Oilers are obviously going to start with him in net as he is the best option. Smith went 4-0-0 against Winnipeg this season and if he plays well he could do that again in the postseason.
Ethan Bear
The entire defence needs to be great, but that has to start with Ethan Bear. The Oilers know what they are getting out of Tyson Barrie and Adam Larsson. It is Bear that needs to find another level this postseason.
This was a down year for Bear offensively after putting up 21 points in 71 games in 2019-20. granted he did only play in 43 this season. There are a lot of question marks revolving around the defence moving into next season so making sure Bear has a good playoff run and helps the team win will be a game-changer.
Ryan McLeod
Last up is Ryan McLeod who only played in 10 games this season. There is a good chance that McLeod starts the playoffs on the third line and he could potentially help decide the outcome of the series.
If I am the Winnipeg Jets I am going to be starting some of my best players against the third line. McLeod is just 21 years old and has only played ten games in the NHL. He has six giveaways in ten games and has not scored an NHL goal yet. While he does have skill and probably should be in the lineup, he is a player that Winnipeg is going to try and target all night long.
The Oilers Jets series is not going to be won by just one line, it takes a deep lineup and every line contributing to win. If Ryan McLeod can play the same way as he did in his ten games in the NHL then they do have a real chance at winning.
It is almost time for puck drop, are you ready?