PRE-GAME REPORT: Oilers at Jets – Game 3

News, content and commentary from Saturday’s travel day, including a look at what the Oilers are focusing on in Games 3 and 4.

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WINNIPEG, MB – Dug into a 0-2 hole on the road with Games 3 and 4 set to be played on back-to-back nights beginning Sunday in Winnipeg, the Edmonton Oilers are hoping they can pull themselves out from the trench before it becomes a crater.

“We got to find a way to get a win,” Connor McDavid said during his pre-game media availability on Sunday.

“This is a massive game for us.”

Games 1 and 2 of the North Division semi-final were typified as defensive chess matches determined by one deciding move. 

Dominic Toninato’s game-winning redirection was the difference in the series-opener and Paul Stastny’s seeing-eye wrist shot from the half-wall, which made its way through Dmitry Kulikov and Adam Larsson, handcuffed goaltender Mike Smith in overtime of Game 2.

The Orange & Blue haven’t received the results but have dictated much of the play overall, outshooting the Jets 4-1 in Friday’s fourth period and holding a 71-58 shot advantage over two games thus far.

The Jets have stifled Edmonton’s attack with safe puck management, read-and-react playmaking and high-calibre goaltending on the part of Connor Hellebuyck. Winnipeg’s Vezina Trophy-winning puck-stopper possesses a near-perfect .048 goals-against average and .986 save percentage in the series. 

During the regular season, Hellebuyck owned a 2.58 GAA and .916 S% but has elevated his performance in the post-season, preventing the National Hockey League’s two most potent threats in McDavid and Leon Draisaitl from hitting the scoresheet.

“We’re still getting chances,” the Oilers Captain, who has 10 goals and 18 points in 19 career playoff appearances, said. 

“They’re kind of sitting back and making us play through all five guys and collapsing hard at the net. We got to find a way to get one through. They’ve had a lot of things go in their favour and we need to switch the tide here.”

Video: PRE-RAW | Connor McDavid 05.23.21

STRIKING A SPARK

With little scoring to show for, Head Coach Dave Tippett is searching for an offensive spark in Game 3. 

The Oilers coach put his forward combos and defence pairings into a blender, modifying both ends of his lineup in hopes that they catch fire. Edmonton’s top unit of Draisaitl, McDavid and Puljujärvi is expected to remain intact but the second line did receive a bit of a shake-up. 

At the morning skate, Young Ryan McLeod centred veteran Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and livewire Zack Kassian for a combination that blends speed with size and skill.

“We’re changing our mix a little bit seeing if we can get a spark,” Tippett said. “It’s not abnormal to make some changes in your lineup and just structure things differently.”

Jujhar Khaira looks to be between fellow role players Devin shore – making his first appearance in the post-season – and wrecking ball Josh Archibald. The trio was a handful to manage as big, imposing forecheckers during the year and are hoping to revive that heavy, grinding style once again.

“We’re comfortable with each other and we like playing with each other,” Khaira said of his linemates. “We’re going to get back to when we were most successful and go out there and try to be an impact line.”

Pivot Gaëtan Haas and winger Tyler Ennis will also be making their ’20-21 playoff debuts on the Oilers fourth line, rounding out the trifecta with Kailer Yamamoto. Haas appeared in one Qualifying Round game last season while Ennis notched one goal and one assist in three before suffering a leg injury to bow out of the five-game circuit. 

“Our lineup is always changing,” said McDavid. “Throughout the year, it’s always been very fluid. We got guys that are very capable of stepping in that can produce and contribute right away.”

On the blueline, Tippett broke up his ever-offensive pairing of Darnell Nurse and Tyson Barrie in the search for that aforementioned spark. Nurse will rekindle the chemistry he had with Ethan Bear from last season while Barrie links up with Slater Koekkoek. 

“I started the season off with Tys this year and thought we did some good things,” Koekkoek said. “I’m just going to complement him the best I can. Take care of my D zone and what’s needed in that end and then let Tys do his thing up the ice.”

LINEUP NOTES

Goaltender Mike Smith will get the start in goal. He has carried his stellar performance from the regular season into the playoffs with a 1.45 goals-against average and .946 save percentage.

“When his game is on, our group plays that much better. He’s done his job and now the team has got to do ours,” McDavid said of the 39-year-old Masterton Trophy nominee.

On the other side of the ice, Jets Head Coach Paul Maurice confirmed that Nikolaj Ehlers will be making his entrance in the series on Sunday. The shifty Dane led all Winnipeg skaters with three goals and eight points against Edmonton during the regular season.

>> VIEW THE OILERS FULL LINEUP

Video: PRE-RAW | Koekkoek, Kassian 05.23.21

OILERS (0-2) at JETS (2-0)

TV: 5:30 p.m. MT; Televised on CBC & Sportsnet

Oilers Team Scope

The Edmonton Oilers find themselves down two games to none versus the Winnipeg Jets after suffering a 1-0 overtime loss on Friday in Game 2.

Jesse Puljujärvi tallied the Orange & Blue’s lone goal of the tight-checking series despite the club peppering Jets netminder Connor Hellebuyck with 71 shots over two games.

“You’ve seen so many teams come back from a 2-0 series,” defenceman Adam Larsson said Saturday before travelling to Winnipeg. “If we win tomorrow, we have a good chance. We’re a group that still believes in each other.”

Jets Team Scope

 The Jets flew out of Oil Country with two wins in the bag, stealing home-ice advantage as the series shifts to Winnipeg for back-to-back matches.

The club has received timely contributions from depth and role players, including game-winning goals from Paul Stastny and Dominic Toninato, as well as superb goaltending from reigning Vezina Trophy winner Hellebuyck.

“There’s almost an advantage to the team that’s down two,” Jets Head coach Paul Maurice said on Saturday. “That fear of giving something up lessens for the team that’s down two, so they come and push harder. I think the advantage goes to them on that.”

Video: PRE-RAW | Jujhar Khaira 05.23.21

Head-to-Head:

McDavid registered a point in every game against Winnipeg in the 2020-21 campaign, notching seven goals and 15 assists. The Oilers Captain has 10 goals and 41 points in 23 career regular-season encounters with the Jets. Draisaitl scored seven goals and added five helpers for 12 points during the season and has 15 goals, 15 assists and 30 points in 25 career games against Winnipeg.

Scheifele has nine goals and 19 points all-time versus the Oilers in the regular season while captain Blake Wheeler has eight goals and 28 points in 33 games. Hellebuyck is 9-10-1 in his career against EDM, holding a .893 S% and 3.35 GAA.

By the Numbers:

Mike Smith is 0-2 in the series but holds a 1.45 goals-against average and .946 save percentage. … McDavid was held without a point in three straight games just once during the regular season (Feb. 27 – March 3). … Draisaitl had three two-game pointless stretches during the 2020-21 calendar. … The Oilers are 0-for-4 on the power play but 2-for-2 on the penalty kill. … EDM went 9-1-0 in the first half of a back-to-back in ’20-21. … 

Hellebuyck possesses a 0.48 GAA, .986 save percentage and one shutout in the series, posting his third career playoff clean sheet after Friday’s 1-0 result. … Tucker Poolman is the only Jets skater with points in both matches of the series. … Winnipeg has recorded 120 hits overall, delivering 68 in Game 1 and 52 in Game 2.

Injury Report:

OILERS – Kris Russell (lower body) is day-to-day; Oscar Klefbom (shoulder) is on LTIR.

JETS – Nikolaj Ehlers (upper body) is day-to-day; Nathan Beaulieu (hand) is on IR.