Name it the third annual Wayne Gretzky Bowl.
The “Nice One”‘s first two groups, the Edmonton Oilers and the Los Angeles Kings, meet the within the first spherical of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the third season in a row.
The collection begins Monday at Edmonton’s Rogers Place at 10 p.m. ET.
The Oilers received each of the earlier collection – in seven video games in 2022 and in six video games final season – and are favored to make it three straight. That is principally as a result of Edmonton nonetheless has the NHL’s Dynamic or Devastating Duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. They’re the Dynamic Duo in the event you’re rooting for the Oilers and the Devastating Duo in the event you’re rooting in opposition to them.
McDavid had 132 factors this season and – together with Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning – turned one in all solely 5 gamers in NHL historical past to complete with 100 assists in a marketing campaign. The others are Gretzky (11 occasions), Mario Lemieux and Bobby Orr. For his half, Draisaitl had 41 objectives and 106 factors.
Coach Kris Knoblauch, who took over early within the season after Jay Woodcroft was fired, has principally been capable of preserve McDavid and Draisaitl on separate strains 5-on-5 due to the manufacturing of wingers Zach Hyman (54 objectives), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Evander Kane.
However the Kings, who additionally undergone a training change with Jim Hiller changing Todd McLellan in February, have two of the league’s greatest defensive facilities in Phillip Danault and Anze Kopitar. Kopitar stays excellent offensively (26-44-70) regardless of being 36 years previous. So, in idea, they may be capable of restrict McDavid and Draisaitl individually.
However Edmonton has overwhelmed Los Angeles three out of 4 regular-season video games this season and has taken 8-of 12 from the Kings during the last three campaigns.
It appears like Gretzky’s unique crew nonetheless has the benefit.
