After successfully defending home ice in games 3 and 4, the Edmonton Oilers had the opportunity to take the series lead over the L.A. Kings if they could find a way to win at Crypto.com Arena. Of course, beating the Kings on home ice has proven challenging all season, so it would take a Herculean effort from the visiting side to accomplish that goal. And just as we all manifested, the Oilers came through with their best game of the series and dominated the Kings from buzzer to buzzer, capturing a 3-1 win and a 3-2 series lead.
A GREAT START CARRIED THROUGH
It’s hard to fault the Oilers for the start they put down in Game 5 after we were all begging the boys to be ready on time for the last two days. And they carried the play for most of the first too, outshooting the Kings 19-4 while often pinning the home side into their zone for shifts on end. Had it not been for a brilliant frame by Darcy Kuemper, the score could have easily been 2- or 3-zip for Edmonton. Of course, the downside of dominating a period and not scoring a goal is that it leaves the door open for a short walk down the long pier to sadness. So, it felt about right when the Kings opened the scoring early, with a power play marker from Andrei Kuzmenko at 3:33 of the second period.
The Oilers had dominated almost every minute of action up to that point, and having the Kings cash in the first goal was a tale as old as time. Buzzing at one end, PP goal at the other. The Hockey Gords were testing us. Thankfully, that early test was no match for Edmonton’s resiliency. Only moments after L.A. opened the scoring, Evander Kane tied things up on the back of a hardworking shift that deserved that kind of payoff. The most important part of the strong start without scoring was that the Oilers kept the pedal to the floor and never seemed to get frustrated by the Kuemper-wall that could have easily ruined the party.
EVANDER KANE MAKES ANOTHER IMPACT
When it looked like Evander Kane would be ready to play in the playoffs, I started to get excited about what he might be able to do with his body, likely feeling as good as it has in years. Even with the inevitable rust from missing a season, I thought he’d always be good to bang and crash the nearest King whenever possible. And through the first four games he’s played, Kane has delivered on that expectation. If there’s a King within reach, No. 91 will get a piece of him one way or another, and that’s gotta be wearing on them, given that L.A. is basically rolling with beer league numbers for regular shifts. My point is that Kane is proving to be a massive addition at the perfect time.
What I didn’t expect was how well Kane would get back up to speed offensively. The goal he scored at 6:16 of the second period was a massive moment for the Oilers, and it came because Kane was able to get the puck off his stick in a hurry before anyone could get set. There was no double-clutching on that shot, and the speed combined with a lucky bounce of Gavrikov knotted the game at one apiece. Just like his first goal, Kane came through at a clutch moment. I thought it would take the guy some time to get his hands firing on all cylinders, but they seem to have snapped right back, given the two goals in four games played. Having Kane chip in with big goals and continue owning the Kings is a bonus that is more than I expected, and I’m hopeful he’ll just keep getting better.
PLAYOFF MATTIAS JANMARK
I love sports, and I love playoff hockey. After scoring only two goals all season — neither of which beat a goalie with his stick — Mattias Janmark finds himself with two goals in this series, including the game winner in Game 5. I don’t know what it is about the postseason that brings out the best in our sweet Janitor, but the guy is playing out of his mind for the second straight spring in a row. While he’s always responsible on the defensive side of the puck, the offence seems to come to him when the games matter most, and it’s an incredible storyline that needs some attention.
Janmark’s game winner was a perfect example of crashing the net and cashing in the rebound, and it’s the kind of greasy goal we need more of as the team looks to close on Thursday. Getting a lucky bounce with some finish was quite literally the only way to beat Darcy Kuemper, and even if he can’t come up with another performance like that in Game 6, the lesson for Edmonton has to be to keep crashing the crease for any crumbs he leaves hanging around. If there’s one thing Mattias Janmark is never shy about doing, it’s getting to the net, and it was wonderful to see him finally be rewarded for always being willing to get to the hard areas. Who needs regular season goals when you can get them in the playoffs?
OTHER THINGS WORTH MENTIONING
1. I’ve gotta give some love to John Klingberg for what he’s been doing to keep pucks in the offensive zone. Since getting back into the lineup, Klingberg has been getting better by the game, and has come up with some massive plays with the puck as a result. Personally, I didn’t even expect to see him in the playoffs until Troy Stecher got hurt, but to have him step up and make plays has been wonderful.
2. Calvin Pickard wasn’t nearly as busy as he counterpart at the other end, but he was rock solid when called upon. I’ve never played in net, but I can only imagine it can be tough to stay focused when the opponent is hardly able to get into the zone let alone shots on goal. Even so, Pickard had to be steady as the game wore on and he did exactly that, stopping 21 shots and finish with a .955 save percentage for his third consecutive win. If ever there was any doubt whose net it is right now, I think Pickard has more than answered that question with these last two starts.
3. Darnell Nurse can’t be taking two penalties for stick infractions in a single game. Not only was it bad enough that a big-minute guy was taken off the ice, but the Kings ended up scoring the first goal of the game on the first of two power plays Nurse gifted them. He’s gotta clean that up.
4. I loved the Ryan Nugent-Hopkins empty-netter because a) it locked in the Oilers’ win and b) they could never do it in the regular season. Lots to like there.
5. Zach Hyman had 10 hits and six shots on goal in Game 5, which made it the second straight game where he’s had a hit count in the double digits. I don’t know why he can’t score right now, but there’s little doubt he’s still working his bag off anyway.
6. Absolute domination on the shot clock by Edmonton, as the boys outshot the Kings by a ridiculous 46-22 margin.
7. Need a pick-me-up for the rest of your Wednesday? Unfortunately, it won’t be when I tell you that the Oilers won only 41.1% of the faceoffs?
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After getting snubbed for one award, one of the top players on the Edmonton Oilers is in the running for another.
On Thursday, the NHL announced the three finalists for the Hart Trophy as the league’s most valuable player. Among the trio is Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl.
Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov and Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck are the other candidates.
Follow your Hart.#NHLAwards
Leon Draisaitl, Connor Hellebuyck, and Nikita Kucherov are finalists for the Hart Memorial Trophy, awarded annually "to the player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team."pic.twitter.com/udt1LXhSQP
— NHL (@NHL) May 1, 2025
The announcement comes one day after the league revealed the three players up for the Ted Lindsay Award, the MVP as voted on by members of the NHLPA, which Draisaitl is not a finalist for. Kucherov is the only one who is a finalist for both the TLA and the Hart.
Draisaitl has undoubtedly had an MVP-calibre season. While he might not have posted 128 points as he did during the 2022-23 campaign, the German star was efficient at putting the puck in the back of the net. In 71 games, which saw him miss time late in the year due to injuries, Drasaitl led the league with 52 goals, finishing the regular season as the only player to hit the half-century mark, winning the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy for the first time.
The 29-year-old also finished tied for third in the NHL in points with 106, marking the fourth consecutive season he has registered over 100 points. It was the sixth time in Draisaitl’s 10-plus seasons that he notched the century mark.
Draisaitl is looking to win the Hart Trophy for the second time in his career. He first earned the honour in 2019-20, when he also won the Ted Lindsay Award after posting 110 points.
If Draisaitl or Hellebuyck were to win the Hart, or Colorado Avalanche teammates Nathan MacKinnon or Cale Makar take home the Ted Lindsay, it would mark the first time since the 2017-18 season that one player didn’t take home both the TLA and Hart. That year, former Oiler Taylor Hall, then with the New Jersey Devils, was given the Hart, while Oilers captain Connor McDavid won the Ted Lindsay.
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Bring on the Vegas Golden Knights.
The Edmonton Oilers beat the Los Angeles Kings by a score of 6-4 on Thursday, finishing off this first-round series in six games. This is the fourth year in a row that the Oilers have beaten the Kings in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Let’s go through what happened in Game 6.
The Kings opened the scoring just over one minute into the first period, capitalizing on a misplay by Darnell Nurse and Evan Bouchard. Quinton Byfield was sprung on a partial break and he made no mistake, putting L.A. up 1-0 early.
Quinton Byfield silences the Rogers Place crowd
: Sportsnet | #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/CSdE7Kz6uP
— Daily Faceoff (@DailyFaceoff) May 2, 2025
Under two minutes later, the Oilers had an answer. There was a mad scramble in front of Darcy Kuemper, with Connor Brown eventually picking up the puck and taking it to the slot. Brown’s shot took two deflections, one off a King defender and one off Adam Henrique and into the back of the net for the 1-1 tie.
THE OILERS TIE THINGS UP
— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) May 2, 2025
The Kings scored again just 33 seconds later, once again on a weak-side rush opportunity. This time, it was Brandt Clarke who ripped it past Calvin Pickard to restore the Kings’ lead. This is one that Pickard needed to save.
Brandt Clarke rips a shot past Pickard
— Daily Faceoff (@DailyFaceoff) May 2, 2025
But again, the Oilers had an answer. Just under six minutes into the first period, the Oilers had their first power play of the game, and Connor McDavid found Ryan Nugent-Hopkins at the faceoff dot. The longest-tenured Oiler snapped it past Kuemper to tie the game once again.
NUUUGGGGEEEEE
— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) May 2, 2025
With about seven minutes left in the first period, the Oilers won a faceoff after a television timeout. Darnell Nurse shot the puck once he got it, with Zach Hyman tipping it over Kuemper’s shoulder for the 3-2 lead. What a wild first period.
WHAT A TIP BY ZACH HYMAN
— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) May 2, 2025
The Oilers added an insurance goal with about five minutes left in the second period, as they had a nice passing play on the rush, with four different Oilers touching it. The last one was Darnell Nurse, who shot the puck over Kuemper’s blocker and in to make it 4-2.
— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) May 2, 2025
It took 96 seconds for the Oilers to extend their lead to three. The Kings gave up a rare odd-man rush, with Brown outwaiting the last Kings defender to put it out front of the net. With Trent Frederic and Henrique in front of the net, the former scored his first goal as an Oiler to make it 5-2.
TRENT FREDERIC SCORES HIS FIRST GOAL AS AN OILER!!
— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) May 2, 2025
You knew that the Kings would push despite being down by three, and that push came soon after. With just under two minutes to play in the second period, Nurse made an ill-advised pass to a changing Podkolzin, springing the Kings on an odd-man rush. Once again, the puck went to the trailer, and Jordan Spence beat Pickard for his first career playoff goal to send the Oilers up 5-3 into the third period.
Jordan Spence gets the Kings back within two
— Daily Faceoff (@DailyFaceoff) May 2, 2025
The Kings pulled Kuemper for the final four minutes of the game. In the final minute of the game, they managed to beat Pickard to get within one, but the Oilers held steady and allowed them no time to set up. With an eighth of a second left in the game, Connor Brown put the dagger in the Kings to take the series 4-2.
Takeaways…
Connor McDavid picked up his 10th point in this game, the eighth time he’s reached the double-digit mark in a single series. Only two other players have reached the 10-point mark at least eight times: Mark Messier, who did it eight times, and Wayne Gretzky, who did it 21 times. He’s incredible.
The Darnell Nurse and Evan Bouchard experiment isn’t working. Each of the first two Kings had the two players on the ice, giving up a pass to the weak side, which allowed the Kings to score. On individual pairings, they’re both strong players, but when they’re together, they bring out the worst in one another. That said, this was Nurse’s best game of the series, picking up a goal and an assist, and they both settled down after the first period.
One area of play that the Oilers need to clean up moving forward is giving up odd-man rushes. It’s been a problem all series and was a big problem in this game, giving up a handful of breakaways and three-on-twos. Jake Walman, in particular, has made some questionable pinches this series, even if his play has been good all things considered.
Calvin Pickard saved 22 of 26 shots for an .846 save percentage. What that doesn’t tell you is that he made a couple of big saves in the second period, one on a breakaway and another on a two-on-one. The biggest one came with the Kings’ netminder pulled, robbing a King with his pad to keep it a then 5-3 game.
WHAT A SAVE BY CALVIN PICKARD!
— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) May 2, 2025
Speaking of big saves, John Klingberg made one in the third period as well. What a revelation he has been in the first round, as he’s stepped up for an injured Mattias Ekholm.
Calvin Pickard gets run over. No call on the play.
— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) May 2, 2025
If you watched that clip, you also saw why Klingberg had to make that save, as Pickard was run over. Surprisingly, no call was made on the play, which is a bit odd because Viktor Arvidsson received a goalie interference call in the first period. This is a great example of game management.
Viktor Arvidsson is called for goalie interference
— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) May 2, 2025
Connor Brown has had a great postseason so far, scoring three goals and five points in six games. Like Mattias Janmark (who had an assist in this game), Brown has stepped up his play in the postseason the past two seasons. Great signing.
Up next for the Oilers is the Golden Knights in the second round. Unfortunately, the date and time for Game 1 are yet to be known, but the Golden Knights will get home ice advantage in this series.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Oilersnation, FlamesNation, and Blue Jays Nation. They can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.
It’s that time of year yet again. The Edmonton Oilers have sent the Los Angeles Kings to the golf course.
It doesn’t matter what adjustments Rob Blake and his team have made over the past four seasons. They aren’t good enough to beat Edmonton, never mind win the Stanley Cup.
The Oilers now face the Vegas Golden Knights, who beat them in their last playoff meeting in six games. Before diving into that series, let’s look at the unexpected and unsung contributors from that matchup versus the Kings.
Honourable Mention: Team Depth
All Oilers fans heard before the puck dropped on season four of Edmonton vs LA was how deep the Kings were. Can the Oilers handle the Kings rolling all four lines? How can the Oilers survive without Mattias Ekholm? Darcy Kuemper is a Vezina-calibre goalie. How can they beat him? Well, they survived all of that for two reasons. The first was that Jim Hiller refused to use the depth correctly, which was baffling. And two, Edmonton had better depth all over the ice, and it showed up in a big way, especially in Game 6.
Connor Brown led the way with three points while Trent Frederic, Adam Henrique, Darnell Nurse, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman chipped in with goals. Neither Connor McDavid nor Leon Draisaitl scored a goal in the series’ final two games. They did lead the team in points with 11 and 10, but it took a whole team effort to beat the Kings, and that’s what Edmonton got.
John Klingberg
Edmonton’s blueline looked doomed to start this series. The critics were fair in their remarks. Starting Game 1 with Josh Brown in the lineup, who played less than five minutes, was something that couldn’t remain. In steps John Klingberg. A player nobody believed in because of how poorly his start with the Oilers had been. Boy, did he shut us all up quickly. Klingberg made an immediate difference with his offensive instincts. Finished the series with only two points but averaged close to 18 minutes a night, which filled the void left by his fellow countryman. His play to keep the puck in the zone and find Evander Kane, who scored, in Game 5 was crucial. Now that he’s healthy, let’s hope that this Klingberg is one we should expect to see every night.
Calvin Pickard
The only number that matters in the playoffs for a goaltender is a win, which Calvin Pickard has brought. The Oilers were down 0-2 with Stuart Skinner between the pipes. It’s unfair to blame him because the team played poorly, but Pickard came in and won four straight. In Game 6 on Thursday, Pickard made two or three phenomenal saves to keep the Kings at bay. His style is different, to say the least, but it’s shown to be effective, and his teammates don’t shy away from saying how much they love playing for him. Who knows if he can continue this form? What is known is that Pickard is giving you 100% every time he’s in the crease.
Evander Kane
There was a question mark over Evander Kane’s head when he returned in Game 2. Fans hadn’t seen him all season, so the expectations were uncertain. Would he come back with the presence we’ve seen in the past, or would he be a shell of himself after missing so much time? Thankfully, Kane came back in full force. He contributed a huge goal in Game 3, a potential turning point candidate in the series, and tied the game up at one in Game 5 on the road. His block at the end of that game in the final minutes didn’t go unnoticed either. Kane’s positive return has allowed the Oilers to pair Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl together, forcing the other team to think about things differently. Now, heading into Vegas, he could be a considerable contributor again.
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The Edmonton Oilers are absolutely rolling, storming ahead with their first four-game winning streak since mid-January, and they’ve done it at the perfect time. After erasing a two-game series deficit against the Los Angeles Kings, they’re heading to the second round for the fourth straight year.
In two of the past three seasons, they’ve reached the conference finals, only faltering once two years ago against the Vegas Golden Knights. Back then, the Oilers were simply outmatched. Even with Leon Draisaitl lighting up the scoreboard and their top stars delivering, Edmonton didn’t have the depth to compete.
But this year? Things look completely different. This Oilers squad has the firepower, depth, and confidence to go toe-to-toe with the Pacific Division champs and take them down.
Here are three crucial areas that will make or break this showdown between the Oilers and Golden Knights:
THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS’ DEFENSIVE UNIT
One of the biggest takeaways from the Oilers-Kings series was how effectively Edmonton wore down LA’s top defensemen. Kings coach Jim Hiller rarely trusted his fourth line or bottom defenders, forcing heavy ice time on his top four, and the Oilers made them pay late in games.
This time, Edmonton faces a much deeper Vegas blue line. Daily Faceoff shows Noah Hanifin and Zach Whitecloud anchoring the Golden Knights’ third pairing, highlighting their impressive defensive depth. With studs like Alex Pietrangelo, Shea Theodore, and Hanifin spread across all three pairings, Vegas can roll lines with ease.
But here’s the catch: Vegas struggled against Minnesota. Pietrangelo and Hanifin were outscored 5-2 at even strength, Theodore and McNabb were outscored 6-5, and even the Whitecloud-Hague pairing finished in the red. Either Vegas finds their defensive rhythm quickly, or they’ll face a nightmare scenario against the Oilers’ relentless offence.
EDMONTON’S RELENTLESS DEPTH
Sure, Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Evan Bouchard will always get their points because they’re playoff machines. But this year, Edmonton’s supporting cast is stepping up big-time, too.
Against the Kings, the depth proved decisive. In the last two games, the Oilers won without McDavid or Draisaitl factoring into a single goal at 5-on-5. The trio of Evander Kane, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Zach Hyman dominated, boasting the best expected-goals percentage of any forward line playing 30-plus minutes in the opening round.
Even further down the lineup, Trent Frederic heated up late against LA, Connor Brown is playing his best hockey as an Oiler, and the fourth-line combination of Mattias Janmark, Vasiliy Podkolzin, and Viktor Arvidsson pitched in crucial goals. Vegas faces a brutal matchup nightmare: How do you slow down a lineup this loaded?
THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE PIPES
Goaltending could decide the series. The Oilers don’t need elite netminding to win, they simply need steady, reliable play.
In round one, the Golden Knights’ Adin Hill was shaky, posting a subpar .880 save percentage and allowing two more goals than expected. Meanwhile, Edmonton’s Calvin Pickard provided a steady “high-floor, low-ceiling” presence, something the Oilers desperately needed after Stuart Skinner struggled early against the Kings.
If Hill remains average and Pickard continues his stable performance, the Oilers have a huge advantage. They don’t need heroics, just consistency.
Bottom line: this Edmonton team isn’t just good, they’re built for a deep run. Vegas better buckle up, because Edmonton is coming in hot, deep, and hungry for more.
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Thursday’s Game 2 against the Vegas Golden Knights marks an important moment for the Edmonton Oilers.
They’ll look to snag a 2-0 series lead from the grasp of their second-round foe, something this core has only done once in their 13 playoff series since 2017.
What makes it intriguing is how they’ll be looking to do so.
For what genuinely feels like a first this season, head coach Kris Knoblauch is running the same lineup for the fifth straight game. Throughout the turmoil that this season has brought in the form of highs and lows for players and a fair share of injuries throughout the year — it never felt like this team had all that much time to play with common linemates that yielded results they were happy with.
That’s changed, as Knoblauch has continued to roll the same group of lines that helped secure wins in Games 4, 5, and 6 against the Los Angeles Kings and in Game 1 against Vegas. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it — right?
The sample size isn’t massive for these lines in the playoffs, but all four lines have outscored the opposition at five-on-five. The top line going 6-3, the second line 2-1, the third line 3-1 and the fourth line 2-0.
It’s not just that they’re controlling the goal share handily with the Oilers outscoring 11-7 at five-on-five, but they’re dominating play on the ice, too.
Looking at the per hour rates, all four lines have areas where they’re excelling in. The top line of Leon Draisaitl, Connor McDavid and Corey Perry is just outright walloping the opposition, seemingly matchup proof as they dominate in every category except for goals against. They’ve had poor on-ice goaltending, and two of the three goals against with them on the ice has come when Darnell Nurse and Evan Bouchard have been on the ice with them in 16:15.
The second line of Evander Kane, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman have emerged as an offensive threat, but one that’s playing extremely high-event hockey, allowing above average rates against for shot attempts and scoring chances. They’ve done solid work in limiting the high-danger chances against through, which is a good sign. They’re due for some offence and that could come as soon as tonight.
The third line of Trent Frederic, Adam Henrique and Connor Brown have also emerged in a big way, playing a very similar brand of hockey, but doing a better job of limiting opposing scoring chances. The fourth line, meanwhile, has been rock solid in their very limited 26 minutes, though they could clean up the quality looks their giving up.
Edmonton’s blue line has been somewhat of a mixed bag — Nurse and Bouchard are getting caved in terms of goal share — getting outscored 7-4 — scoring chances against and on-ice save percentage, but are dominating in nearly all other areas.
Their issue has been giving up goals against in bunches, with there being five of seven games so far when they’ve given up one or zero goals against.
Against Vegas:
0 GA in G1
Against Los Angeles:
2 GA in G6
0 GA in G5
3 GA in G4
o GA in G3
1 GA in G2
1 GA in G1
Jake Walman and John Klingberg have been a revelation, dominating across the board, while the third pairing of Brett Kulak and Ty Emberson have struggled in terms of controlling play, but are getting great goaltending and remain positive in goal share.
As it’s constructed, this is pretty close to the optimal lineup for the Edmonton Oilers, and what’s made this so impressive is that the team has four lines that are absolutely rolling right now. Loading up Draisaitl and McDavid with Perry on the top line helps spread some of the wealth down the lineup, and there’s no denying that Kane and Frederic joining this forward group has dramatically changed how this team plays.
Edmonton looks like a major threat in the Western Conference right now, and going up 2-0 over the Golden Knights would only add to the case.
Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s associate editor, senior columnist, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the DFO DFS Report. He can be followed on Twitter, currently known as X, at @zjlaing, or reached by email at [email protected].
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After almost 11 years since being drafted by the St. Louis Blues in 2014, Edmonton Oilers defenceman Jake Walman is finally getting his shot at playing meaningful minutes in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and he’s making an impact this postseason — even if it’s not necessarily grabbing headlines.
Walman played his first playoff game during the 2020–21 season with the Blues and hadn’t appeared in another postseason game until Game 1 against the Los Angeles Kings in the last series. So far, he’s played eight postseason games and tallied two points (1G, 1A) while averaging 20:36 minutes a game.
That said, while his offensive stats aren’t flashy, he leads the team with a +11 plus/minus rating, has been a steady presence on the blue line, and is also an analytics stud, where he ranks among the top defencemen in the NHL in multiple analytical categories.
According to Natural Stat Trick, here’s where the Oilers’ blueliner ranks among NHL D-men who have played a minimum of 40 minutes at 5v5 during the 2025 playoffs:
While he may not be piling up the points, the underlying metrics show that the play tilts in the Oilers’ favour when Walman is out on the ice. Moreover, Head Coach Kris Knoblauch mentioned during the regular season that when a player reaches five or six expected goals, they’re almost guaranteed to score. Before Walman scored his first career playoff goal in Game 2 against the Vegas Golden Knights, he had an expected goals for of 8.43, meaning he was due, and what a goal it was.
With the Oilers down by a goal in the second period, Vasily Podkolzin teed up the puck for the blueliner, Walman stepped into a shot, and with bodies in front of the net, he wired one past Adin Hill, tying the game.
JAKE WALMAN TIES THIS GAME 1-1
: Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/5tvf4YBwXk
— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) May 9, 2025
Additionally, Walman is one of those players whose advanced metrics definitely match the eye test. It took him a game to settle into playoff hockey — he took two penalties in Game 1 last round against L.A., one for being a little too aggressive in front of the net, and another for delay of game after sending the puck over the glass. But since then, he’s settled in, shown poise with the puck, and made several excellent defensive plays, like breaking up a 3-on-2 in Game 1 against the Golden Knights with a great stick check when the Oilers were down by a goal, a play that prevented a Golden Knight from being left all alone in front.
Adding to that, he leads the team with 23 blocked shots and isn’t afraid to sacrifice his body to get in shooting lanes. That said, with Walman, it’s almost like the Oilers have a light 2025 version of the shot-blocking king himself, Kris Russell — except with wheels and a booming shot — a fantastic combination to have. Also, as Baggedmilk summarized, “He’s quietly turning into one of the Oilers’ best defencemen right before our eyes.”
Another thing that stands out to me about the 29-year-old is how well he meshes with the big line when Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are out there — he reads off them perfectly, plays fetch with them seamlessly, and helps keep the pressure alive in the offensive zone.
For example, one under-the-radar play he doesn’t get much credit for came in Game 4 against Los Angeles, when the Oilers were down 3–2 with under a minute left. The puck bounced out to the left side, and had Walman not read the play early and made the decision to pinch, Quinton Byfield might’ve had a step on him and the puck could’ve been cleared out of the zone.
Photo Source: Sportsnet
But thanks to Walman’s anticipation and effortless stride, he got to the puck with ease and made a subtle pass to McDavid, who then set up Evan Bouchard. A couple of quick passes later, Bouchard ripped home the one-timer to tie the game. It was a massive goal and it doesn’t happen without Walman reading the play and making that subtle but crucial pass to McDavid.
McDavid and Draisaitl’s Advanced Metrics Improve When Paired with Walman
What’s more, it’s clear the coaching staff likes pairing him with McDavid and Draisaitl — those are the two forwards he’s played with most at even strength. Walman complements their game well, and the Oilers’ forwards actually see their advanced metrics improve when he’s on the ice with them.
Here are some interesting stats when Walman is on the ice with McDavid and Draisaitl at even strength during the playoffs:
In 60:31 minutes of even strength play with McDavid in the playoffs:
In 62:43 minutes of seven strength play with Draisaitl in the playoffs:
- Without Walman, Draisaitl’s xGF stands at 54.48%. With Walman, that jumps to 69.41%.
- Draisaitl’s SCF% without Walman on the ice is 60.92%, but with Walman, it improves significantly to 70.77%.
- Draisaitl also holds a 20-8 edge in high-danger scoring chances when Walman is on the ice with him at even strength.
All things considered, Walman is quietly making a big impact this postseason. The Oilers acquired him at the trade deadline for a first-round draft pick and Carl Berglund, and at this point, it’s starting to look like a steal, especially with him signed for another season after this one.
Admittedly, I didn’t know much about Walman’s game before the Oilers acquired him. What I did know is that he can pull off an epic griddy dance after scoring big goals, showing he’s got a playful side to him. But so far this postseason, it’s been all business. What’s also impressive, is how quickly he’s adapted — just two months into his time with the team, he’s already in sync with the Oilers’ top players, and that chemistry is likely to grow stronger as the Oilers go deeper into the playoffs.
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