The race for top spot in the Pacific Division race is intensifying, with the Anaheim Ducks and Oilers Oilers battling it out for first place. Which team will seize control and avoid a potential first-round showdown against the Vegas Golden Knights?<\/p>\n
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Video Transcript<\/p>\n
Michael, of Noblock’s comments, and just the overall situation with Edmonton, ’cause it feels like they’re starting to maybe find a little something and maybe the timing ends up being right.<\/p>\n
Michael, of Noblock’s comments, and just the overall situation with Edmonton, ’cause it feels like they’re starting to maybe find a little something and maybe the timing ends up being right.<\/p>\n
If they win, great.<\/p>\n
If they win, great.<\/p>\n
If they’re not in first, does it matter?<\/p>\n
If they’re not in first, does it matter?<\/p>\n
I don’t think it matters.<\/p>\n
I don’t think it matters.<\/p>\n
th- this is a team that’s been to back to back finals.<\/p>\n
th- this is a team that’s been to back to back finals.<\/p>\n
You know, it, it seems like the, the best playoff teams figure out a, a what, a, figure out a way to kind of flip the switch, um- Right in the final couple weeks of the season or really game one of the playoffs, and I think Edmonton Oilers are probably, amongst those, those teams right now.<\/p>\n
You know, it, it seems like the, the best playoff teams figure out a, a what, a, figure out a way to kind of flip the switch, um- Right in the final couple weeks of the season or really game one of the playoffs, and I think Edmonton Oilers are probably, amongst those, those teams right now.<\/p>\n
So- Mm-hmm you know, whether they finish one, two, or three in the standings, I don’t think it really matters.<\/p>\n
So- Mm-hmm you know, whether they finish one, two, or three in the standings, I don’t think it really matters.<\/p>\n
I actually don’t even ma- think it matters who they match up with.<\/p>\n
I actually don’t even ma- think it matters who they match up with.<\/p>\n
we’ve seen that they can beat the Vegas Golden Knights, so that’s not an issue.<\/p>\n
we’ve seen that they can beat the Vegas Golden Knights, so that’s not an issue.<\/p>\n
Mm-hmm.<\/p>\n
Mm-hmm.<\/p>\n
Yeah.<\/p>\n
Yeah.<\/p>\n
If they have to take a wildcard team, sure, same thing.<\/p>\n
If they have to take a wildcard team, sure, same thing.<\/p>\n
We all know they’re gonna have to go to the Central Division and face either one of Colorado, Dallas, and Minnesota, so I think that’s where the big challenge is gonna be.<\/p>\n
We all know they’re gonna have to go to the Central Division and face either one of Colorado, Dallas, and Minnesota, so I think that’s where the big challenge is gonna be.<\/p>\n
And sure, home ice advantage would be great- Mm-hmm when you’re facing them, but you’re not gonna get it, so that’s out the door.<\/p>\n
And sure, home ice advantage would be great- Mm-hmm when you’re facing them, but you’re not gonna get it, so that’s out the door.<\/p>\n
Right.<\/p>\n
Right.<\/p>\n
It’s out.<\/p>\n
It’s out.<\/p>\n
Yeah, exactly.<\/p>\n
Yeah, exactly.<\/p>\n
Ryan, what do you think?<\/p>\n
Ryan, what do you think?<\/p>\n
Yeah, I don’t think it matters.<\/p>\n
Yeah, I don’t think it matters.<\/p>\n
and, you know, for them it’s gonna come down to, to goaltending and team defense, right?<\/p>\n
and, you know, for them it’s gonna come down to, to goaltending and team defense, right?<\/p>\n
Mm-hmm.<\/p>\n
Mm-hmm.<\/p>\n
If they get it, then they’re gonna go on another long run.<\/p>\n
If they get it, then they’re gonna go on another long run.<\/p>\n
If they don’t, then, you know, they’ll be out in the first or second round.<\/p>\n
If they don’t, then, you know, they’ll be out in the first or second round.<\/p>\n
I think, you know, if they finish first, you know, if they end up playing Utah, that’s kind of an interesting match up.<\/p>\n
I think, you know, if they finish first, you know, if they end up playing Utah, that’s kind of an interesting match up.<\/p>\n
and, you know, you see how that goes.<\/p>\n
and, you know, you see how that goes.<\/p>\n
Yeah.<\/p>\n
Yeah.<\/p>\n
But, you know, a- as Mike said, you know, Vegas is not the, impenetrable fortress it once was.<\/p>\n
But, you know, a- as Mike said, you know, Vegas is not the, impenetrable fortress it once was.<\/p>\n
you know what I mean?<\/p>\n
you know what I mean?<\/p>\n
These Golden Knights are kinda easy to score on lately.<\/p>\n
These Golden Knights are kinda easy to score on lately.<\/p>\n
And, and Edmonton’s pretty good.<\/p>\n
And, and Edmonton’s pretty good.<\/p>\n
And keep in mind, like, Edmonton’s been turning things around with- without Leon Draisaitl in the lineup.<\/p>\n
And keep in mind, like, Edmonton’s been turning things around with- without Leon Draisaitl in the lineup.<\/p>\n
Mm-hmm.<\/p>\n
Mm-hmm.<\/p>\n
So that’s a good sign where other guys- Yes are stepping up.<\/p>\n
So that’s a good sign where other guys- Yes are stepping up.<\/p>\n
it, you know, it, it’s gonna be fascinating is like, is it Connor Ingram throughout the playoffs at this point?<\/p>\n
it, you know, it, it’s gonna be fascinating is like, is it Connor Ingram throughout the playoffs at this point?<\/p>\n
Like, uh- Yeah do you just go with him as, is he the potential solution?<\/p>\n
Like, uh- Yeah do you just go with him as, is he the potential solution?<\/p>\n
You know, they’ve, they’ve made two runs to the Stanley Cup final in the past two years with an, an assortment of goalie options.<\/p>\n
You know, they’ve, they’ve made two runs to the Stanley Cup final in the past two years with an, an assortment of goalie options.<\/p>\n
Uh- Assortment is a nice way of- Whatever, whatever they’ve needed, you know?<\/p>\n
Uh- Assortment is a nice way of- Whatever, whatever they’ve needed, you know?<\/p>\n
so they’re obviously, willing to, sort of go out on a limb when they had to because goaltending had been inconsistent.<\/p>\n
so they’re obviously, willing to, sort of go out on a limb when they had to because goaltending had been inconsistent.<\/p>\n
But, yeah, and, and you know what’s funny?<\/p>\n
But, yeah, and, and you know what’s funny?<\/p>\n
I mean, this is beside the point, but it’s like, yeah, it’s a banner, but it’s like you have better banners already.<\/p>\n
I mean, this is beside the point, but it’s like, yeah, it’s a banner, but it’s like you have better banners already.<\/p>\n
Like, you have, you have two Western Conference championship banners that you just won.<\/p>\n
Like, you have, you have two Western Conference championship banners that you just won.<\/p>\n
Like, so I wouldn’t worry about the division banner.<\/p>\n
Like, so I wouldn’t worry about the division banner.<\/p>\n