The Rig Roundtable: Playoff Picture

The standings being what they are, the Oilers are in a playoff position. In March. It’s not a drill, even if it feels like a dream of sorts.

There’s been a lot of debate around Oiler twitter as to who the Oil might play, and what the easiest path to the Cup is. Before we get to that point, however, there’s a few things to think about. Friday’s game against the Penguins was one of the best they’ve played all season, even though they didn’t win the game; a playoff series would promise to feature games like that.

With that in mind, this week’s question is:

If the season ended this weekend, the Oilers would make the playoffs. What’s their biggest obstacle to winning a playoff series?

Jonathan McLeod

Playoffs?!

My biggest fear is that the Oilers’ opponent figures out a way to slow down McDavid, and the other forward lines struggle to score. With that in mind, it’s been good to see the second line (Lucic-RNH-Eberle) performing better lately. I’d also like to McLellan experiment with a third line of Pouliot, Desharnais, and Puljujarvi. The other big fear is the penalty kill. I’d like to see Lander get another shot. Even if he doesn’t score, he can win faceoffs and kill penalties.

Avry Lewis-McDougall

To me the biggest obstacle for the Oilers in winning a playoff series has to be consistency in scoring outside of guys not named Connor McDavid, Patrick Maroon or Leon Draisaitl. In the postseason the teams who have the deep runs get solid contributions offensively from all four lines.

Take a look at teams like the Washington Capitals and the San Jose Sharks, names like Alex Ovechkin, Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski on these rosters. Both of these teams have been saved in the post season by the likes of Joel Ward. A dude who I love and in his career is not someone that people see as a top line guy but showed himself to be a playoff performer from outside of the top six forwards.

It doesn’t matter who the Oilers play in the first round, be it Anaheim, Calgary, or the Vegas Golden Knights after George McPhee finds some rule that allows them to enter the playoffs this spring, they need that offensive help from everyone in a best of seven series.

Sullivan Larson

Secondary scoring.

We all know that the Oilers are a completely different team when Connor McDavid is on the ice compared to when he’s watching from the bench. He drives play and scoring, and there’s a drastic drop in play when he leaves the ice.

Come playoff time, the opposing team will be focusing their best resources on stifling McDavid, with even more intensity than during the regular season. The Oilers secondary scorers will have to step up against the bottom of the depth chart and provide some goal support for Cam Talbot and the McDavid line.

While the second line of Lucic, Nuge and Eberle has increased their production as of late, more will be required from them and other members of the supporting cast if they hope to advance past the first round. McLellan may be wise to split up Draisaitl and McDavid at evens at some point in an effort to spread out the offence.

Bret Litke

Consistency. The Oilers have had issues with consistency all year. Their consistency issues don’t just go from period to period but even game to game, as was evidenced with the difference in quality of play from the Islander game to the Penguin one.
This will be the biggest issue in a playoff series,especially against a team like the Sharks or Wild for example, who are incredibly consistent in their play.
Teams can survive inconsistent play and still make the playoffs in an 82 game season, but in only a 7 game series a stretch of 2 or 3 really poor games can mean elimination.
If the Oilers can find a way to bring their best efforts with a strong, consistent approach, they should find some success in the playoffs.