(1P) Flames and (2P) Oilers
21:30 ET; ESPN, CBC, SN, TVAS
Edmonton leads the series to the best of 7 2-1
The Calgary Flames will look to limit Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid and try to tie the second round of the Western Conference in Game 4 at Rogers Place on Tuesday.
The Oilers lead 2-1 in the series to the best of 7, which has revived the Battle of Alberta in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 1991. McDavid is the only player in NHL history with nine games multipoint in season. the first 10 games of a postseason.
McDavid leads all playoff scorers with 23 points (six goals, 17 assists) in 10 games and has nine points (two goals, seven assists) in the series.
The 25-year-old won the Art Ross Trophy this season as the NHL’s top scorer for the second time in a row and fourth in his career with 44 goals, 79 assists and 123 points, each a maximum of his career. in the League.
[RELATED: Complete Flames vs. Oilers series coverage]
When asked what the priority is for Game 4, limit McDavid or defeat the Oilers, Flames striker Milan Lucic said: “You have to find a way to do both. He’s a great player at the top of his game. “I have to find a way to close the individuals and I have to find a way to beat a team. That’s both.”
McDavid said Tuesday it believes Edmonton’s speed will be key to maintaining success.
“Calgary is a little more aggressive,” he said. “We’re finding the game going up and down the ice a little more against Calgary than against LA (in the first round against the Los Angeles Kings). We’re a good skating group. We think that plays to our advantage, so we have to use it every night “.
The teams that take a 3-1 lead in a series of the best of 7 in the history of the Stanley Cup playoffs have a record of 296-31 (.905).
Here are 3 keys to game 4:
1. Increase the time 5 against 5
The Flames say they have been trying to avoid penalties but have not been able to fulfill that desire during the first three games of this series; 50 penalties have been called, 25 per team.
In Game 3, Edmonton won 4-1, there were 43 minutes of play 5 to 5. In Game 2, there were 41:08 and in Game 1, 46:46.
Flames striker Trevor Lewis said the 5-on-5 time will increase if they manage the record better.
“I think it goes back to turnover,” Lewis said. “You turn the record around, you’re chasing and you’re a lot more tired and you take more penalties when you’re tired. So I think our record management and sticking to our structure will go a long way.”
2. Offensive Oilers leaders must keep up the pressure
Edmonton’s major producers have been instrumental in taking the lead in the series, and more of the same will be needed to maintain the lead over the Flames.
The line of McDavid, Leon Draisaitl (19 points; seven goals, 12 assists) and Evander Kane (13 points; 10 goals, three assists) added 55 points in Edmonton’s first 10 playoff games. The last time three teammates combined to score at least 10 points in 10 postseason games was in 1988, when Wayne Gretzky (22 points; five goals, 17 assists), Jari Kurri (18 points; nine goals, nine assists). ) and Mark Messier (22 points; seven goals, 15 assists) combined for 62 points for the Oilers.
3. Lessons from Round 1
Each team expects something learned in the first round to be useful on Tuesday.
Edmonton had a 2-1 lead in the first round in Los Angeles, but was defeated 4-0 in Game 4.
“Game 4 was probably our worst in the series,” McDavid said. “I think it’s an opportunity for our group tonight to show that we’ve learned our lesson and bring our game to tonight.”
The Flames fell 2-1 to the Dallas Stars in the first round, but won 4-1 in the fourth game.
“We’ve been in this situation before,” Lewis said. “It’s obviously a great game for us. We can tie it 2-2 back home. We have to make sure we’re ready and get off to a better start than last night and go from there “.
Flames coach Darryl Sutter was a little more forceful.
“At some point we have to win a game on the road,” Sutter said. “I think tonight would be a critical match for us.”
Projected alignment of Flames
Johnny Gaudreau – Elias Lindholm – Matthew Tkachuk
Andrew Mangiapane – Mikael Backlund – Blake Coleman
Dillon Dube – Calle Jarnkrok – Tyler Toffoli
Milan Lucic – Trevor Lewis – Brett Ritchie
Noah Hanifin – Rasmus Andersson
Nikita Zadorov – Michael Stone
Oliver Kylington – Erik Gudbranson
Jacob Markstrom
Dan Vladar
Scraped: Adam Ruzicka, Ryan Carpenter, Connor Mackey
Injured: Christopher Tanev (not revealed)
Projected lineup of Oilers
Evander Kane – Connor McDavid – Leon Draisaitl
Zach Hyman – Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Jesse Puljujarvi
Warren Foegele – Ryan McLeod – Kailer Yamamoto
Josh Archibald – Derek Ryan – Zack Kassian
Nurse Darnell – Cody Ceci
Duncan Keith – Evan Bouchard
Brett Kulak – Tyson Barrie
Mike Smith
Mikko Koskinen
Scraped: Philip Broberg, Devin Shore, Derick Brassard, Kris Russell
Injured: Cap
Status report
Tanev skated Tuesday morning, but the defender is expected to miss his fifth straight game. … The nurse did not participate in the Oilers’ morning skating on Tuesday, but is expected to play. … Edmonton is expected to wear the same lineup it used in the 4-1 win in Game 3 on Sunday. … Russell, a defender, will be a healthy scratch for the third game in a row.