EDMONTON – The stage is set.
The Edmonton Oilers will play the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Final for the second consecutive postseason. It’s been quite the journey to get back to this point.
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The Oilers defeated the Los Angeles Kings and the Vegas Golden Knights in 11 combined games. They have been practicing and recovering since their Game 5 series-clinching game on Wednesday. Now, they will play Game 1 of Round 3 this coming Wednesday.
Against the Golden Knights, superstar Leon Draisaitl was tasked with shutting down Jack Eichel for Games 4 and 5. He and his linemates – Kasperi Kapanen and Vasily Podkolzin – passed the test with flying colors.
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However, a new challenge awaits them with the Stars.
Should head coach Kris Knoblauch elect to make Draisaitl and his line a shutdown line, they will have their most formidable challenge yet.
Can Mikko Rantanen Be Stopped?
Mikko Rantanen currently leads the NHL playoff scoring race, setting numerous records in the process. The Finnish superstar can hold his own in the playoffs, and should be in a similar conversation as Draisaitl and Connor McDavid regarding playoff production.
Utilizing this line in the same way should be the number one thing on Knoblauch’s strategy for the series. Eichel did not register a single point after Draisaitl was given this task.
Eichel was also on the ice when Kapanen scored the series-clinching goal.
Draisaitl knows what it takes to win and is willing to put stats to the side for the sake of coming out victorious. Considering Rantanen's threat, we likely see this assignment for Draisaitl.
Let the games begin.
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