LOS ANGELES – NHL PLAYOFFS – From flat-footed to firing on all cylinders, the Edmonton Oilers have found their game—and their identity—just in time. Five days ago, they were down 0-2 in the series and missing top defender Mattias Ekholm. Now? They’re heading back to Rogers Place with a 3-2 series lead, thanks to a 3-1 win over the Kings in Game 5 and a blue-line unit that has stepped up in a major way. The Oilers are now one win away from bouncing LA from the playoffs for the fourth straight year.
“You don’t replace a guy like Ekholm,” said head coach Kris Knoblauch, “but what we’ve seen from our group is everyone raising their level. That’s playoff hockey.”
Next-Man-Up on the Blue Line
With Ekholm sidelined, Edmonton’s D corps has delivered by committee. Evan Bouchard, Darnell Nurse, and Brett Kulak have logged heavy minutes, while John Klingberg and Jake Walman are finding their rhythm just when it matters most.
Bouchard: Logging 25:59 per game
Nurse: Leading physically at 24:53 per game
Klingberg-Walman: Quickly becoming a reliable pairing
Klingberg, whose season has been a saga of injury and recovery, made his playoff presence felt with a slick assist in Game 5—fending off Drew Doughty and feeding Evander Kane for the tying goal midway through the second.
“This is the best I’ve felt in a long time,” said Klingberg. “Now it’s about building off that.”
Trade Deadline Payoff
Jake Walman, acquired in March from San Jose, missed the final stretch of the regular season with an injury, but he’s been impactful since Game 1. His growing chemistry with Klingberg has become a storyline of its own. “We work well together,” said Walman. “He’s a smart player, and I just try to complement him.”
Meanwhile, the Oilers have also seen their goaltending improve significantly. Calvin Pickard has stepped in for Stuart Skinner, who struggled in the first two games, allowing six goals in each. Pickard has provided a steady presence, with a .913 save percentage over his last three starts, earning three consecutive wins.
“Calvin has been great for us,” noted Knoblauch. “He’s stepped up when we needed him most.”
The Oilers’ turnaround has also been marked by a resurgence in offensive production. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have been at the forefront, with McDavid leading the team in points during the playoffs. Their chemistry remains undeniable, and they’ll need to continue that as they approach the critical Game 6.
“We know what’s at stake,” said McDavid. “We have to keep pushing. We’ve come too far to let this slip away.”
As the Oilers prepare for Game 6, the atmosphere at Rogers Place is expected to be electric. Fans are eager to see their team close out the series on home ice, and the players are ready to deliver.
“We want to finish this,” said Nurse. “We’ve put ourselves in a good position, but we can’t let up now.”
With the Kings struggling to find their footing after their early series lead, the Oilers are poised to capitalize on their momentum. They’ve outscored Los Angeles 6-1 since the third period of Game 4, and their defensive play has drastically improved.
“It’s all about adjustments,” said Bouchard. “We learned from our mistakes early on, and now we’re playing our game.”
As the puck drops for Game 6, all eyes will be on the Oilers’ blue line and their ability to maintain the level of play that has brought them this far. It’s not just about winning; it’s about proving that they can compete at the highest level and make a deep playoff run.
Game time is set for 8 p.m. MDT on May 1, 2025, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Will the Oilers complete the comeback and send the Kings packing, or will Los Angeles force a decisive Game 7? Only time will tell.
