GENE'S BLOG: Royal Reunion

Los Angeles is the entertainment capital of the world. It's known for it's Hollywood stars, the TV and movie industries, and of course, its sunshine, sand and surf.
From a sports standpoint, it's a full house (and I'm not talking Jesse and the Olsen twins, plus hockey fan Dave Coulier or the late Bob Saget). There are 14 major sports teams in the greater LA area -- 10 of which are professional league teams and four that are considered to be top level from the collegiate ranks. There are two NBA, NFL and MLS teams, one MLB and one NHL. The Kings fight for their spot in the sports landscape, but winning two Stanley Cups in 2012 and 2014 helped a lot. Edmonton prevented them from another Cup in 2021.
It wasn't easy. In fact, it was a challenge that made the Edmonton Oilers better for what they went through to eventually get to the Western Conference Final.

There was no Doughty, but it would be a great series even if the former Norris Trophy winning d-man was out of the lineup. However, Edmonton lost their #1 blue-liner in Darnell Nurse. He was suspended a game for what the NHL considered to be a head butt on Phillip Danault. It meant Nurse was pushed to the sidelines in Game 6 with Edmonton on the brink of elimination and the Kings having a 3-2 series lead. It was the first of two elimination games for the Oilers, but before we get to the end, let's shuttle back to the beginning of what turned into a great series.
With the Oilers coming off a 104-point season, they were five points better during the regular season. It was hard to pick a favourite. There certainly wasn't an overwhelming one. The team on the rise was Edmonton, with the likes of Leon and Connor leading the way, but LA was looking for a Hollywood ending to the opening series of the playoffs. While they were missing Doughty, people weren't too Quick to write them off. They still had a Conn Smythe winning keeper in Jonathan, plus Cup winning holdovers in Dustin Brown and Anze Kopitar. The Oilers countered with their Cup winning experience in Duncan Keith -- aging if you stared at his birth certificate, but not his play. He could still hold onto a top role on the blue line and carry that winning pedigree with him on the bus, plane, ice and maybe most importantly, in the room.

The series started in Edmonton, and the Oilers night was spoiled by LA building a lead and holding onto it in a 4-3 win and 1-0 series lead. It didn't take Edmonton long for a response; in fact, a huge response that tied the series at 1-1 as Game 2 was a blowout -- a 6-0 win that included a 30-save Mike Smith shutout.
Off to LA they went, and Edmonton brought their offense another six-goal difference in an 8-2 victory. Evander Kane led the way with a hat trick, and Edmonton led the series 2-1. In Game 4, Jonathan Quick turned back the clock with his own shutout performance. The 31 saves evened up the two teams and made it a best-of-three.
Shock was the prevailing sentiment from Game 5. Despite six points from McDavid and Draisaitl, Adrian Kempe scored 1:12 into OT. The Kings had a 3-2 series lead and were headed home. However, the captain scored the opening goal and Kane the closing goal and put up seven fingers, as a Game 7 would be necessary.

Before we move to the deciding game, there was an off-ice drama developing for local boy Brett Kulak. He was woken up after Game 6 in LA by a phone call. His wife had gone into labour. While the team left later in the day, Kulak flew back to Alberta at 8:00am. His mom picked him up at the airport in Calgary and drove him to Canmore, where his wife was about to give birth.
Caitlyn hung on long enough for Brett to arrive in time to see his first-born daughter Ryleigh. After an in-between-games day off spent with his family, Kulak got another ride from his mom back to the airport and made his return to Edmonton in time for Game 7. He saw the Oilers score just enough goals (2) and surrender none in a 29-save shutout for Smith. Edmonton had prevailed a King size disappointment.

Basically on one leg, Draisaitl willed the Oilers with his play and production. A lower-body injury that left him hindered and hurting. Toss in a motivated and menacing McDavid, and a series loss was not meant to be. The pupil (Jay Woodcroft) defeated the teacher (Todd McLellan).
It was a wonderful series that won't be forgotten by either side as the two teams meet for a first time this season on Wednesday night.