Edmonton Oilers players lay out strategy to defeat Kings in crucial Game 5
The Edmonton Oilers are looking to steal a playoff game on the road against the LA Kings tonight.
After holding home ice in Games 3 and 4, the Oilers are now in a position where they can push the Kings to the brink of elimination with a Game 5 victory. It won’t be easy, as the Kings have not been tucked away in any of the first four games of the series, and a road team has yet to come up victorious.
The Kings, in particular, have been stellar on home ice this season, with just six regulation losses. With that in mind, Edmonton has been hard at work gameplanning how they can string together a third consecutive victory in this series.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins emphasized the team having a good start tonight after having given up the first goal to the Kings in three of the four games so far.
“Big start is important. We know these guys come out with energy in their building, so especially we’re gonna need to match that right away,” Nugent-Hopkins said. “Gotta keep it simple, I think that’ll be our focus tonight.
“You can’t dwell too much on it if they get up one or two, we’ve found ways to come back… It’s easier to play with the lead, but a defensive-minded team like this, they make it difficult.”
"Big start's important. We know these guys come out with energy in their building, so especially we're gonna need to match that right away."
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on the #Oilers focus heading into Game 5 in Los Angeles.@Enterprise | #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/XpoSkhWqZJ
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) April 29, 2025
While Crypto.com Arena has been a tough building for visiting teams to play in this season, the Oilers have a unique advantage that no other team has in that facet. This Oilers team has played 10 total playoff games in L.A.’s arena since the 2022 postseason. They have won six of those games.
Outside of Rogers Place, Edmonton has played in Crypto.com Arena the most times in the playoffs. Nugent-Hopkins says that it is a positive sign for this group to draw on.
“You start to get used to playing in a building like this,” Nugent-Hopkins said. “They’re never cheering for you and never on your side, but at the same time, you get used to the ice, the feel of the building.
“We have lots of experience in here, but every night is a little bit different.”
Brett Kulak echoed a lot of what Nugent-Hopkins had to say about grabbing an early lead and having a good start. It’s a sign that the team is putting a lot of focus on how they play in the early stages, so they don’t always have to mount a late-game comeback.
“I think for us tonight it’s important, we want to come out and go get the first goal and play with the lead,” Kulak said. “We’ve been chasing a lot from behind this series and looking to change that.
“We’re finding ways to win, and it hasn’t been the prettiest ways, but that’s sometimes the way it goes in the playoffs… We wanna emphasize good starts and come out to some leads and put some pressure on them.”
"Any team likes playing with the lead, so for us it's important we wanna come out & play with the lead. We've been chasing a lot from behind this series & we're looking to change that."
Brett Kulak on the #Oilers taking control early.@Enterprise | #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/Hz71Cjwvyf
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) April 29, 2025
Edmonton revealed their Game 5 lines this morning, and it appears Calvin Pickard will get his third straight start of the series.
We’ll see if the Oilers can hold up their end of the bargain and get off to the start they want.