How The Edmonton Oilers Can Turn Around This Series

Through two games of the Stanley Cup Final, the Edmonton Oilers have been outplayed by the Florida Panthers. They lost Game One 3-0 and dropped Game Two 4-1 to put them down 2-0 in the series. 

It seems like an uphill battle to beat the machine that the Panthers have become. A lot must go right and they must turn around this series fast or a series that is starting to slip away can get out of hand.

Draisaitl Must Add Depth Scoring

Leon Draisaitl scored 10 goals and 18 assists in 18 playoff games. He disappeared in the first two games of this series, failing to record a point thus far. 

He’s regarded as one of the best in the NHL and an elite scorer and it makes his ability to take over a must. He can find open shots on the net and take advantage to allow the Oilers offense to wake up. 

Sure, Connor McDavid, the best in the world, can step up as well. But, he’s going against Aleksander Barkov and the Panthers' top line, which is suffocating defensively. Draisaitl doesn’t have that excuse. He’s lined up against the Panthers' second line and he must add depth scoring.

Oilers Defense Must Step Up on an Individual Level

The Oilers have played well defensively throughout the playoffs and they wouldn’t have made the Final without the unit taking over games. That said, the Panthers have exposed weaknesses.

Darnell Nurse is the one who has particularly struggled as he’s been on the ice for multiple Panthers scoring chances and goals. He’s paid like an elite defenseman but isn’t playing like one and he must step up in the next few games and lead the charge for the defense.

Oilers Must Open Up The Offense at the Point

Ironically, the one goal from the Oilers came off the stick of a defenseman when Mattias Ekholm fired a shot to the back of the net in Game Two. It’s a reminder that the Oilers can open up the offense and subsequently spread out the Panthers' defense.

The Panthers aren’t giving the Oilers forward anything near the net and there’s no space to operate. It’s why the defensemen must add a spark at the blue line and Evan Bouchard can lead the way as he’s scored six goals and 22 assists in the playoffs thus far. 

Ultimately, All Eyes Are on the Offense

The Oilers offense is what will get them back into the series. It’s what led them all season and will be the reason they come back in this series. Game Three and Game Four are crucial for this reason as they can take back momentum by running up the score in either game. 

The Oilers also must step up on the power play, a unit that has looked hapless so far. Adding a few goals with the extra skater on the ice will go a long way as well as the offense as a whole taking over and making this series a high-scoring one. The Panthers controlled the pace on their home ice and the Oilers must do the same if they hope to win this series.