Another Oilers meltdown would be sad but inevitable
Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl's performance in the third period of the Oiler's Game 5 OT loss to the Kings was some of the best hockey we've seen in the 2022 playoffs but Edmonton's flaws remain too many and it will take a miracle to pull them them through to the second round.
Video Transcript
JUSTIN CUTHBERT: It's a shame, too, because like I understand that there's people in the chat here that don't want to see the Oilers advance. But the last 10 minutes of regulation there, when the Oilers were trying to tie the game, like that was the most electrifying stretch of hockey I have seen in a long time. Like Connor McDavid took the first period off, but him and Leon Draisaitl were sensational in that period. And to think that we're not going to see that again in a second round, a third round, maybe a Stanley Cup Final because they missed out on Jacob Markstrom two summers ago?
JULIAN MCKENZIE: Yes.
JUSTIN CUTHBERT: And didn't get anyone last year. Always left just watching the goalie carousel stop in front of them without jumping on the ride themselves. Like what-- it's just they only get so many chances at this. You only get so many chances of having Connor McDavid on your team in the spring doing what he did in that third period. And Ellay's been awesome as well, like fantastic defensive play.
They've been game. Jonathan Quick's played very well. I mean, we're getting to know that team right now. The Sean Durzi's of the world, the Mikey Anderson's, like a really, really impressive group they've got building there. But it should be the Oilers right now and it should be McDavid and Draisaitl, but because Mike Smith gives away game one.
JULIAN MCKENZIE: Yes.
JUSTIN CUTHBERT: Awful in game 4.
JULIAN MCKENZIE: Literally gave it away.
JUSTIN CUTHBERT: Awful in game 5. We're not going to get the Oilers probably because the Kings are probably going to win one of the next two games with Darnell Nurse straight up headbutting dudes and the implosion beginning as we speak. Like I hope they can find it in them because I want to see that in the next round, but this team has just made too many mistakes around these guys. It sucks.
OMAR: Yeah.