In a departure from their high-scoring affairs earlier in the series, the Edmonton Oilers showcased their defensive prowess and ability to grind out a hard-fought 1-0 victory over the Los Angeles Kings in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series. The win gives the Oilers a commanding 3-1 lead and puts them one step closer to advancing to the second round.
Connor McDavid, the Oilers’ captain, acknowledged that the victory was not their most aesthetically pleasing performance, but emphasized the importance of finding ways to win in different circumstances. “It’s not the prettiest way to win,” McDavid said after the game. “Sometimes you got to find a way to win a game like that where maybe you’re second best, but you just gut one out.”
Despite being outshot by the Kings 33-13, the Oilers managed to secure the shutout thanks to the stellar play of goaltender Stuart Skinner and the unwavering defensive efforts of their skaters, who kept the Kings to the perimeter throughout the night.
“These are the types of games you have to win in the playoffs,” said Oilers veteran Corey Perry, a Stanley Cup champion and three-time finalist. “It’s not going to be 6-5, 7-4 every night. You’re going to have to dig deep and play defense and grind one out, and we found a way.”
The Oilers’ ability to win in different ways was echoed by defenseman Mattias Ekholm. “Having in our portfolio that we can play a lot of different games is going to be huge here coming down the stretch,” Ekholm said. “These games, we’re not afraid of them.”
The Oilers have been particularly effective on special teams throughout the series, converting on eight of their 15 power-play opportunities while holding the Kings scoreless in 11 chances.
“If you have different ways to win then you win more games, right? That’s the reality,” said forward Zach Hyman. “The margins in the playoffs are so tight, and every year I’ve been here, it’s felt like we could have done more. Having more options on how to win a game, that’s huge. And we’re going to have to win more games like this.”
The Oilers have a chance to close out the series at home in Game 5 on Wednesday, which would mark a significant step in their pursuit of the Stanley Cup. The team has reached the Conference final in 2022 followed by a second-round appearance in 2023, but both times fell short to the eventual champions.
“If you look at the best teams in the playoffs, they always can find a way to win,” McDavid said. “When you get to this point, the margin is so slim and the skill level is so great across the board that you have to find different ways to win. And that’s what we’re doing.”
