While many outside the team are already writing off the Edmonton Oilers, the players and coaching staff are holding onto their belief, whether that feeling is genuine or just a necessary facade.
This mindset is typical in professional sports, especially within an NHL team. Players understand that the vast majority of seasons conclude with a loss, making resilience and belief crucial.
Maintaining belief alone doesn`t guarantee victory – that`s an undeniable truth.
However, losing that belief completely assures defeat.
Therefore, no matter how bleak the situation seems, a team facing adversity will continue to believe until there is absolutely no possibility left.
The Edmonton Oilers are following this standard approach; it`s simply how things operate in the league.
Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch expressed his team`s perspective when speaking to reporters in Los Angeles before their return flight for Game 3 on Friday night. “Well, we`re very optimistic,” he stated. “We`ve spent a significant amount of time in the offensive zone, and our forecheck has been effective at forcing turnovers… But now, the key is the next play.”
It`s understandable that outside observers might be less confident about the Oilers` immediate future, especially after seeing the struggles that led to two defeats and 12 goals against in the first two games of the series.
The Los Angeles Kings, on the other hand, are clearly driven by a strong desire for redemption and revenge, particularly after being eliminated by Edmonton in the playoffs three consecutive times. No other franchise or fanbase in the NHL would relish the Kings` current dominant position more than them.
For a sports writer, finding a positive angle can be challenging at this point. But let`s consider the possibility.
There is a scenario where the Oilers manage to play with more discipline and secure a win in Game 3. Building on newfound confidence and potentially effective strategic adjustments, they could then have a chance to win Game 4, potentially turning the series into a best-of-three battle that, while perhaps a long shot, could go either way.
So, what is the source of this hope?
How deep must one look to find traces of the Oilers team that once effectively controlled games against Los Angeles? What level of execution is required to consistently neutralize the Kings` impact players like Kempe, Byfield, Kopitar, and Danault once again?
