BLOG: Oilers and Kings prepare for another post-season series

EDMONTON, AB - Ready for the rematch?
The Oilers have their first-round target in their sights in the Los Angeles Kings, ready to rehash the battles of playoffs past.
The Kings will provide a stiff opening salvo for the Blue & Orange, wrapping up their regular season with a 47-25-10 record and 104 points in the standings. Los Angeles are Edmonton's diametric opposite, preferring to muddy the track with smartly-placed sticks and a wall across the blueline in contrast to the Oilers high-flying ways.
The Kings lack the same offensive dynamism as the Oilers, but are able to counter-attack as a unit, and it will be something the Oilers have to focus their attention upon if they hope to wrestle control of the upcoming series.
"I think they got a lot of threats offensively and defensively," goaltender Stuart Skinner said. "I think that a lot of their D are always involved in the rush with the four men or five men coming into the zone, so just being aware of when those guys do come out, they'll be passing it to the D. Guys will be crashing the net.
"They're so net heavy, so it's going to be a lot of fun for me. It's going to be a challenge, and I'm excited for that challenge."
The Kings and Oilers have clashed plenty of times over the last year, including Edmonton's seven-game series win to eliminate Los Angeles in the first round of last year's Stanley Cup Playoffs. Add in the longstanding ties between Oilers Head Coach Jay Woodcroft and Kings bench boss Todd McLellan, and the looming first round matchup already has a familiar feel to it.

Despite a pair of victories over their first-round foe to wrap up the regular season, the Oilers know there'll be no carryover as the League narrows to 16 teams.
"Ultimately, the past doesn't really mean anything," captain Connor McDavid said. "We definitely feel good about our game, but I don't think the past predicts the future. When the puck drops on Monday night, it'll be a brand-new series. It's kind of a fresh start for both sides and we'll see what happens."
While the records revert to 0-0, there are still memories and scars of games and series past. All four matchups between the two sides have been fiery affairs, with the regular season series split two wins apiece. With the electricity buzzing in Rogers Place on Monday night, the Oilers captain doesn't expect anything different come Game 1.
"I think anytime you play a team in the playoffs and go seven games, I think all those types of things play a factor," McDavid said. "So definitely, the games were emotional for both sides. I would expect the same."

Mattias Ekholm is a new addition to the burgeoning rivalry, but he isn't new to the rigours and gamesmanship associated with a playoff run. The veteran has a strong understanding of the game within the game and how to push the limits of the action between the whistles.
The Oilers won both games against the Kings with Ekholm in the lineup, and the suffocating defender could be an X-factor for the Blue & Orange come Monday's puck drop.
"I think that's a huge part of this, especially in the playoffs, is you're going up against the same guy the whole series," he said. "It's all about a feeling out there. It's not just about scoring goals; it's about giving up space. It's about being hard on them."
"I think that's a big part of my game where I feel like it's hard to know where the exact line is, but you got to be staying as close as you can all the time without going over it because you know how costly penalties are in the playoffs. But for me, that's been a big part of my game. I feel like that's where I can balance it out sometimes."
Ekholm continued: "Obviously it happens that you cross the line, but I think it's a huge part of it and I think that especially when you're playing the top guys, that they want to hold on to pucks and feel good about themselves," he added. "If you can keep them off the puck as much as you can and stay physical on them, I think that's where their frustration kicks in and then, as a defender, I have won that kind of battle for the night or for the series."