Going into last night if you were to have told me that the Edmonton Oilers lost 5-1 I would have believed you, but if you were to say that the Golden Knights lost to the Ducks and the Kings barely beat the Blackhawks that is where I would have been surprised. I honestly thought that there was no way the Knights were going to lose the third spot in the Pacific Division.
Oilers Vs Avalanche
First, let me take a quick look at the game the Oilers played last night. The main thing about this game was the fact that the Oilers were sitting their top 7 players. There was no McDavid, Draisaitl, Hyman, Nugent-Hopkins, Kane, Bouchard or Ekholm in the lineup last night. As for the Colorado Avalanche, they dressed their whole team.
With the fact, that the Oilers iced that lineup the outcome of the game shouldn't have come as much surprise to anyone. Then watching the game it even became more obvious that there was no chance the Oilers were going to have a chance to win that game.
Oilers Vs Kings
Outside of the Oilers last night there were only two games that mattered to Edmonton Oilers fans. That was the Golden Knights/Ducks and Kings/Blackhawks game. Heading into those games if the Knights won they were to face the Oilers, but they were unable to beat the Ducks and the Kings were able to beat the Blackhawks, albeit barely, to take over that spot.
With the Kings taking over 3rd in the Pacific they will now face the Oilers for the third time in three years in the first round. The Oilers have won the last two series, one in 7 games and last year in 6 games, and I expect them to win this year as well.
Round One Schedule
Game 1- Los Angeles Kings @ Edmonton Oilers- Monday, April 22, 8 PM
Game 2- Los Angeles Kings @ Edmonton Oilers- Wednesday, April 24, 8 PM
Game 3- Edmonton Oilers @ Los Angeles Kings- Friday, April 26, 8:30 PM
Game 4- Edmonton Oilers @ Los Angeles Kings- Sunday, April 28, 8:30 PM
Game 5- Los Angeles Kings @ Edmotnon Oilers- Wednesday, May 1, TBD
Game 6- Edmotnon Oilers @ Los Angeles Kings- Friday, May 3, TBD
Game 7- Los Angeles Kings @ Edmonton Oilers- Sunday, May 5, TBD
This is going to feel like the longest three days as I await game one, but at least there will be other playoff games to watch. The Eastern Conference playoffs will start Saturday when the Hurricanes will host the Islanders in the first game of the postseason. So there will be some hockey to wet your whistle till the Oilers start on Monday.