“It stings and it s**ks,” Oilers lament over playoff loss in Round 2 as Knights ELIMINATE team in 4-2 record

Oilers players take responsibility for the team’s elimination in the early Round 2 of the playoffs, as Edmonton seems to be carrying the Cup drought for another year.

“It stings and it s**ks,” Oilers lament over playoff loss in Round 2 as Knights ELIMINATE team in 4-2 record

Oilers lose Round 2 against Knights [Image Credit: USA Today]

It seems the Edmonton Oilers will be carrying on with their Stanley Cup drought for another year. The team got wiped out by the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 6 of Round 2 in the Stanley Cup playoff. Each of the players took responsibility for their actions against the Knights, criticizing their play and ability to capitalize in the game.

Since 1986-87, Connor McDavid had a career-high of 153 points, Leon Draisaitl reached the 50-goal mark, and the team won 50 games, but it all amounted to nothing in the playoff run. The celebrations were short-lived as the team packed their bags readying for the 2023-24 regular season games.

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The team’s goaltender Stuart Skinner held himself responsible for allowing 17 shots in Game 6. This playoff season the netminder got pulled out 3 times in 4 games marking a .883 save percentage and 3.68 goals-against-average in 12 post-season appearances.

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Related: WATCH: Leon Draisaitl labeled as ‘classless’ for refusing handshake with Alex Pietrangelo, NHL Twitter reacts

Oilers players re-evaluate their game following early playoff exit

Oilers lose Round 2 against Knights [Image Credit: Oilersnation]
Oilers lose Round 2 against Knights [Image Credit: Oilersnation]

During the media availability, Skinner said, “I think I needed to be better.” He commented that it’s hard to take when one gets pulled out “countless times” in a game. “This is a chapter where it stings and it sucks and it’s painful.” The netminder was eventually replaced by Jack Campbell who destroyed the opponent’s advances 45 of 47 shots.

Regardless of his performance, the team went with Skinner as their starting goalie. The results of the regular-season hold no meaning if a team can’t get into Stanley Cup playoff contention, ultimately winning the Cup, according to Leon Draisaitl. The Oilers forward marked the team’s failure as “a wasted year” while analyzing his play.

Defenceman Darnell Nurse stated, “We just weren’t consistent enough”. “…they found a way to finish their chances tonight and we couldn’t”. The Oilers captain Connor McDavid evaluated the game after their elimination, stating, “They did a lot of good things.” 

He accepted that the Knights played excellent leaving fewer holes in their lineup and defense, “…we couldn’t claw our way back.” Draisaitl also mentioned that he needs to be better in his game as the NHL’s 2nd highest goal scorer after McDavid.

The Oilers will surely have a long summer to think about their playoff losses and to re-evaluate their game for the next Cup run. Meanwhile, the Cup race is going on with full force as NHL teams defeat and move forward to the final round of the race.

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