Oilers-Blackhawks Stanley Cup Qualifier series debated by NHL.com

The Edmonton Oilers and Chicago Blackhawks will play each other in a best-of-5 Stanley Cup Qualifier series when the NHL season resumes. Though there is no date for the games to start, two NHL.com writers have already started the debate over which team has the edge in the series.

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Dan Rosen, senior writer

The Oilers became a much more dangerous team and a legitimate threat when they moved Leon Draisaitl away from center Connor McDavid to play center on his own line Dec. 31. It's Edmonton's version of what the Pittsburgh Penguins have lived on for years, with centers Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin on separate lines but on the same power play. There is simply no way the Blackhawks are going to be able to handle the matchup problems the Oilers present with McDavid and Draisaitl apart at even strength and together on the power play.

Edmonton went 17-8-5 with 107 goals (3.57 per game), tied for the most in the League with the Philadelphia Flyers, from Dec. 31-March 11. Draisaitl had 49 points (21 goals, 28 assists) in those 30 games. Forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who played on Draisaitl's line, had 41 points (15 goals, 26 assists) in that span and McDavid had 34 points (12 goals, 22 assists) in 23 games; the Oilers were 3-2-1 without McDavid from Feb. 11-21, when he was out because of a quad injury.

The Blackhawks, who allowed 3.06 goals per game and allowed a League-high 35.1 shots against per game this season, will not be able to handle them.

Adam Kimelman, deputy managing editor

Timing really is everything, isn't it? Yes, The Blackhawks gave up a ton of shots and they weren't the sharpest defensive team in the NHL. But every team looks to make incremental gains throughout a season, and that's what Chicago was doing when the season was paused on March 12. In their final 25 games, the Blackhawks allowed 2.80 goals per game and trimmed their shots-against per game to 34.2. Around that time goalie Corey Crawford began playing more like a two-time Stanley Cup champion, posting a 2.35 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage in 17 games during that stretch.

No, it won't be easy to stop that juggernaut Edmonton attack. But Chicago isn't exactly bringing a slingshot to a gun fight. The Blackhawks had seven players score at least 10 goals, one fewer than the Oilers' eight, and six players with at least 30 points, one fewer than Edmonton's seven. And I wouldn't mind seeing what center Jonathan Toews and forward Patrick Kane can do as far as putting pressure on McDavid and Draisaitl; as good as they are at scoring, the Oilers' top two offensive players will have to defend some, too.

Rosen

I agree with Adam, timing is everything. But in this case it's time for Edmonton to make a stand and prove it belongs in the discussion with the big boys in the Western Conference, including the St. Louis Blues, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights. The Oilers know they have to dispatch the Blackhawks quickly to start earning that respect, and that's what I expect because of their ability to swarm Chicago's defense and take advantage that way.

Adam brings up some good points on the Blackhawks showing signs of improvement before the season was paused, but we're talking about a drop of less than one shot-against on goal per game in their final 25 games. Even 34.2 shots on goal per game would have been 29th in the League during that span; it's still too many and puts too much pressure on Crawford. He's going to have McDavid and Draisaitl coming at him at least every other shift, and they'll be together on the power play. I really wonder if Chicago will have the puck enough to be able to get its strong offense going. I don't think it will and I don't think it'll matter because Edmonton should be able to to execute effectively against the Blackhawks' defense.

Kimelman

On paper this looks like a mismatch. Chicago was the 12th and final team to make the qualifiers. These aren't the 2010 Blackhawks, or even the 2015 Blackhawks. But here's what Kane, Toews, defenseman Duncan Keith and Crawford have -- big-game experience. Those four players have combined for 468 games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and have their name carved into the Cup a combined 11 times.

Draisaitl and McDavid each has played 13 playoff games, all in 2017.

If one bounce goes the wrong way for the Oilers, how will they handle it? Because we know how the Blackhawks handle adversity and they've got the hardware to prove it. In a five-game series, it doesn't take much to steal momentum. Will McDavid and Draisaitl be able to snatch it back? It definitely will be interesting to watch.