3 Oilers who needs to step up to secure a Game 6 victory

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After a comeback for the ages in Game 4 at Los Angeles to tie the series 2-2, the Edmonton Oilers followed that up with an emphatic Game 5 victory to push them one win away from advancing from the Western Conference semis. Although the team and all of Edmonton are rejoicing at the moment, there is still a ton of work to be done in order for the Oilers to win this series.

Trying to close out a playoff series is by far the hardest thing to accomplish, but when presented to do so, the team has to give it their all to complete the task. The top 2 scorers in the NHL this season, Connor McDavid and Leon Draistl had been doing everything in their power to push the team to the next round. It is up to the players around them to help them and the team to reach that goal. We witnessed what this Oilers team can do when everyone is involved in the scoring, and it eases up the burden from McDavid and Draistl.

Oilers have to be ready as the Kings will surely do whatever it takes to push this series to a decisive Game 7. Every momentum is on the Oilers side right now but they have to keep pressing on that pedal and finish the job in LA. In order to guarantee that the Oilers move to the next round, much like in Game 5, the team needs everyone to be involved in every aspect of the game, defensively and offensively. These 3 players have to really step up to help the Oilers secure a Game 6 victory.

Apr 1, 2023; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse (25) celebrates after scoring a goal during the second period against the Anaheim Ducks at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports /

D Darnell Nurse

Even though the Edmonton Oilers are one win away from advancing to the Western Conference Semis, the team needs every single player to be at their very best in Game 6 against the Kings in LA to guarantee that from happening. One of the key players that must step up is defenseman Darnell Nurse. Game 6 will be a hard-fought, physical game, we can guarantee that the Kings will not go down without a fight. Nurse must be ready to throw his weight around and not allow Kings’ players to push them around.

In some of the key goals the Kings have scored in this playoffs, we noticed that Darnell Nurse was on the ice. Even if he has a plus/minus rating of +3, he has missed some defensive assignments enabling the Kings to put the puck in the net. Those mistakes cannot happen in Game 6 if the Oilers want to close out this series in LA. Another aspect of Nurse’s game that the team mightily will need in Game 6 is his scoring, so far in 5 games in this playoffs, Nurse has only totalled 3 assists. This is not asking for too much from Nurse, this is the time to show the Oilers and their fans that the amount they paid him is warranted.

Mar 30, 2023; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers forward Kailer Yamamoto (56) looks to make a pass in front of Los Angeles Kings defensemen Drew Doughty (8) during the first period at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports /

RW Kailer Yamamoto

This will come to no one’s surprise, Kailer Yamamoto has been struggling not only in this series but also before the playoff started. Granted that Yammer maybe is not yet to speed as he was coming from an injury, but this is the playoffs, everyone is banged up and nursing some sort of injury. We already saw him being demoted from the second line in Game 5, he cannot seem to finish his scoring opportunities. When you are playing in the same line with arguably the best passer in the game Draisaitl, there will be plenty of opportunities to bury the puck in, however somehow, Yamamoto cannot do it.

In a game the Oilers might have to rely on secondary scoring, it is critical that Yamamoto finds his scoring touch right away. Having nothing to show for in the stats sheets is unacceptable for a top 6 player. Even if he is not playing top 6 minutes in Game 6, Kailer still has to find a way to help the Oilers in the scoresheet. Time for Yammer to get in the groove and show the Oilers on why his contract must be extended next season as he is a pending RFA in 2024.

Jan 17, 2023; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers defensemen Vincent Desharnais (73) skates against the Seattle Kraken at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports /

D Vincent Desharnais

Desharnais is another Oilers defenseman who must step up in Game 6 to help the team advance to the next round. Much like Nurse, Desharnais must be ready to answer to the physicality that the Kings will surely implement against them. However, Desharnais has to keep in mind not to take unnecessary penalties when trying to defend against LA. He is a young defenseman and there will be growing pains along the way, but this time of the year is not the time to make those mistakes that can cause a team a loss.

We have seen how the first five games had been called, and even some minuscule defensive mistakes can impact the result of the game. Desharnais and the Oilers cannot put their playoff fate in the hands of the referees, and it is imperative that they have to play Game 6 as cleanly as possible to secure a win. We are not asking Desharnais to play like Ekholm, but to hold his own against this ferocious LA Kings team, that will be fired up as soon as the puck drops. It will go a long way for the Oilers to eliminate the Kings in Game 6 if Desharnais can throw his weight around without being sent into the penalty box.

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