Los Angeles Kings interim coach Jim Hiller expressed his disappointment after his team was eliminated by the Edmonton Oilers due to their performance on special teams. The Kings lost 4-3 in Game 5, marking the third consecutive season in which the Oilers sent them packing in the opening round. Hiller emphasized the significance of execution on special teams, as the Oilers managed to capitalize on opportunities while the Kings fell short. The Oilers scored nine power-play goals out of 20 opportunities, highlighting the struggles the Kings faced in this area.
The Oilers’ power play was a major factor in their success against the Kings. Not only did they convert on multiple power-play opportunities, but they also managed to score shortly after successful penalty kills by the Kings. Players like Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman made key contributions on the power play, demonstrating the importance of capitalizing on special teams situations. Draisaitl’s scoring abilities were showcased throughout the series, with the Oilers consistently finding ways to score on the power play to secure victories.
Kings center Anze Kopitar acknowledged the team’s shortcomings on the penalty kill, recognizing that they needed to perform better in order to compete with the Oilers. The inability to prevent power-play goals proved to be a significant downfall for the Kings, as the Oilers took advantage of their opportunities. Despite moments of success in certain games, the Kings were unable to maintain a consistent penalty kill throughout the series, ultimately leading to their elimination.
Reflecting on their defeat, coach Jim Hiller highlighted the importance of evaluating the team’s performance on special teams. He acknowledged the need for improvement on both the power play and penalty kill in order to be more competitive in future matchups. Players like Drew Doughty expressed confidence that with a better penalty kill, the series could have yielded different results. Moving forward, the Kings must focus on strengthening their special teams to avoid similar outcomes in upcoming seasons.
Despite the disappointment of being eliminated by the same opponent for three consecutive seasons, the Kings must regroup and prepare for the future. Captain Anze Kopitar expressed his frustration at falling short against the Oilers yet again but emphasized the need to learn from these experiences. As the Oilers advance to face the winner of the Vancouver Canucks’ series against the Nashville Predators, the Kings must use this defeat as motivation to improve and come back stronger in the next season.
The importance of special teams in hockey cannot be understated. The ability to execute on both the power play and penalty kill can greatly impact the outcome of a game or series. Teams that excel in these areas often find success, while those that struggle can face early elimination. The Los Angeles Kings’ defeat at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers serves as a reminder of the critical role that special teams play in the game of hockey.
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