Oiler Hockey
Oilers Down 0–2: Time for Adjustments Heading into Game 3

Published Apr 24, 2025

Oilers Down 0–2: Time for Adjustments Heading into Game 3

Two games into their opening-round series against the Kings, the Edmonton Oilers find themselves in a 0–2 hole — and while there’s still plenty of hockey left, it’s clear that a few things need to change quickly if they want to claw their way back.

Penalty Kill Struggles Are Front and Center

The most glaring issue so far? The penalty kill. The Oilers just haven’t been able to disrupt passing lanes or apply consistent pressure, and it’s making an average Kings power play look far more dangerous than it should. Losing Mattias Ekholm hasn’t helped either — he averaged 2:05 per game on the PK during the regular season, second on the team only to Jake Walman. His absence is being felt.

One player who might deserve a shot in game 3 is Kasperi Kapanen. During the regular season, he was fifth on the team in short-handed time on ice per game, and among all regular penalty killers, he had the lowest goals against per 60 minutes at just 2.7. By comparison, the usual PK forwards — Henrique, Nugent-Hopkins, Janmark, and Brown — ranged from 6.49 to 9.29 GA/60. If the coaching staff is looking for a way to plug the leaks, Kapanen could be part of the solution.

Goaltending Not to Blame — But It Could Be Better

While the goals LA has scored haven’t all been on Stuart Skinner, at some point you need your goaltender to come up with a few momentum-shifting saves — and so far, that hasn’t happened. Over two games, Skinner hasn’t been sharp enough, and the lack of big stops has only magnified Edmonton’s defensive lapses. With the Oilers trailing 0–2 in the series, don’t be surprised if Calvin Pickard gets the nod for Game 3. A shakeup in goal might be exactly what the team needs to reset and respond.

Some Mixed Individual Performances

A few player performances stood out — for better and worse. Trent Frederic has been underwhelming and might still be working through lingering health issues. On the other hand, Evander Kane looked surprisingly sharp considering he hadn’t played all season. His timing was off at times, but there were flashes that suggest he could have a much bigger impact in Game 3 and beyond.

John Klingberg, making his series debut, brought some welcomed calm to the blue line. He made smart plays under pressure and clearly offered more composure than Josh Brown, who he replaced. That said, a couple of his outlet passes missed the mark and went for icings — a little rust, but overall a promising addition.

Looking Ahead

Down 0–2, there’s no panic — but there is urgency. The Oilers need better structure, smarter penalty killing, and a few timely saves to turn this around. And maybe a few lineup tweaks — like giving Kapanen a shot on the PK — are exactly what’s needed to get back in the fight.

Game 3 needs to be a turning point.

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