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Playoff Game Day 3.5
Edmonton at Dallas
For the second playoff series in a row, Edmonton Oilers return to enemy territory for a critically-important Game 5 with the series tied, 2-2. Last time it was Vancouver, where the Oilers beat the odds by losing Game 5 but coming back to win the series. They surely want to follow a different trajectory tonight in Dallas.
Except for the first 8 minutes or so, the Oilers put together their most complete game of the series in Game 4, storming back from an 0-2 hole to win 5-2. A number of changes by coach Kris Knoblauch paid dividends, notably the one that returned 0-point scorers Ryan McLeod and Corey Perry not just to the line-up but to the top 6, where they flanked Leon Draisaitl on the second line. The dup returned not just to the ice but to the scoresheet, where McLeod kicked off Edmonton’s comeback with a primary assist by Perry.
The other big change was the insertion of Philip Broberg in place of Vincent Desharnais in a defence corps that had been unchanged through 15 games. Broberg responded to that challenge with 14 solid minutes on a pairing with Cody Ceci.
So with the success in that game, surely it’s time to stick with a winning line-up, correct? Not so fast.
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Looks as though Sam Carrick will return to action in place of Derek Ryan, who comes out after playing the prior 12 straight games. Ryan, 37, has been averaging 9:00 per game, 1:20 of that on Edmonton’s superb penalty kill. Most often, the first unit.
The right-shooting Ryan has taken 32 of Edmonton’s 80 faceoffs on the kill, double the total of any other Oiler (Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, 16), winning an impressive 59% of them. Oddly, he’s at just 40% at even strength and 48% overall. Ryan had a limited impact in Game 4, playing just 14 seconds on that unit after taking the first of Edmonton’s 2 penalties himself. On the night he was the only Oiler in single digits (7:15), ending the night -1 after losing a d-zone draw that led to the second Stars’ goal. In his 13 games to this point, Ryan has posted boxcars of 0-1-1, -5.
Into his spot steps Carrick, a fellow right-shot centre with decent faceoff ability and more limited penalty-killing acumen. Primarily playing 4C, he has averaged 9:50 ice time during the 8 games in which he has appeared, posting a solid 55% win rate. That’s second best on the squad behind only fellow trade deadline acquisition Adam Henrique (56%) though just 4/12=33% on the PK. In the first 3 games vs. the Stars, Carrick was an impressive 17/25=68% on the dot.
Like Ryan, he’s not here for his offence (0-1-1, -1). Carrick does bring a more rugged style, credited with 28 hits during his limited playoff minutes.
More to come.
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