Edmonton Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft wasn't pleased with his team's performance in Monday's 5-1 loss in Game 3 to the Vegas Golden Knights.
"Not good enough," Woodcroft said postgame. "Not good enough in any way."
Vegas outshot Edmonton 33-28 in the contest, and the Oilers controlled just 39.6% of the expected goals at five-on-five, according to Natural Stat Trick.
"I didn't think we skated well," Woodcroft added. "I didn't think we were hard enough in certain areas and, to a man, not our finest hour in any way."
The Oilers went 0-for-2 on the power play, marking the first game all postseason they couldn't convert with the man advantage.
"Not a lot to like about tonight," said Connor McDavid, who was held off the scoresheet for just the second time in these playoffs.
The Golden Knights also kept Leon Draisaitl at bay. It was the first time this postseason that an opponent held Draisaitl without a point and only the third time all playoffs that he didn't score.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was again quiet Monday. After posting a career-high 37 goals and 104 points during the regular season, he's been limited to zero goals and six assists in nine postseason contests.
"Maybe get a little grittier," Nugent-Hopkins said on how he can bust out of his slump. "I'm feeling good out there, I'm working hard, but it's not happening offensively. I gotta find a way to contribute."
The Oilers now trail 2-1 in the series, but McDavid said he's confident they can bounce back and even things up Wednesday.
"I would expect our best game in Game 4," the captain said.
Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Laurent Brossoit exited Game 3 of their second-round playoff series against the Edmonton Oilers in the first period due to injury.
Brossoit needed help off the ice after sliding across the crease on an Oilers scoring chance.
laurent brossoit is hurt and leaving the ice, with some help, in pain. he's leaving the game and adin hill is coming in. pic.twitter.com/tQchaM6bvo
The Golden Knights ruled Brossoit out for the rest of the game in the first intermission.
Adin Hill entered the contest in his place. Hill made his second appearance of the playoffs after relieving Brossoit in the third period of Game 2, which the Oilers won 5-1.
Brossoit provided stability in the Golden Knights' crease down the stretch. He went 7-0-3 with a .927 save percentage in 11 games during the regular season, including a span in April when he went 5-0-0 with a .946 clip after taking over as the starter in the wake of injuries to Hill and Logan Thompson.
Brossoit entered Monday's game with a 5-2 record and a .896 save percentage in these playoffs.
Dan and Sat have live reaction to the NHL Draft Lottery as the Canucks find themselves picking 11th overall. Also, hear from Canucks GM Patrik Allvin on his plan with the pick, whether or not they could move it, and more.
This podcast was produced by Josh Elliott-Wolfe.
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.
The Chicago Blackhawks got the opportunity to select Connor Bedard by securing the first overall pick in the NHL draft lottery Monday night.
The Anaheim Ducks will choose second, while the Columbus Blue Jackets will pick third. Here's the full list of teams for the top 16 selections:
The Blackhawks had the third-highest odds of winning the lottery at 11.5%. The Ducks had the best chance at 25.5%, while the Blue Jackets had the second-highest odds at 13.5%.
Chicago has picked first overall just once in franchise history, selecting Patrick Kane in 2007. The club chose Kirby Dach third overall in 2019 before trading him to the Montreal Canadiens last July.
Dan and Sat go through who they think could end up being the top-12 picks in the draft this year as we get set for the draft lottery. Also, hear from Irfaan Gaffar of The Fourth Period on the lottery, the playoffs, and more!
This podcast was produced by Josh Elliott-Wolfe.
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.
Much like the majority of the Toronto Maple Leafs fan base, head coach Sheldon Keefe can't seem to wrap his head around his club facing a 3-0 series deficit against the Florida Panthers after its first series win in 19 years.
"Obviously it's felt a lot more like what we've been through in the past. It's been challenging, it's been difficult to understand, yet it's our reality and it's where we're at," Keefe said Monday.
He continued: "It's been a mixed bag in this series so far. At times we've played extremely well and then haven't converted or haven't gotten rewarded for it. At times we've been in control of the game and have given up a lead."
The Leafs offered their worst game of the series Sunday, a 3-2 overtime loss in which they squandered a pair of leads. After controlling play for both contests in Toronto, the Panthers fought back on home ice to own 52.83% of the expected goals and 56.14% of the scoring chances, according to Natural Stat Trick.
Keefe touched on the differences in effort levels between the two rounds.
"Perhaps most importantly in the Tampa series for us was how resilient we were just to stay with it. Even at times when we were on our heels and the opposition was really coming, we didn't make the big mistake ... Our team found different ways to win in that series, and we have found ways to lose here in this one," Keefe said.
"They've had a lot of scoring chances in this series that haven't fallen, haven't gone their way," Keefe said. "They were dominant, in many ways, in Game 2."
Only four teams in NHL history have come back to win a playoff series after losing the first three games, the most recent being the 2014 Los Angeles Kings.
"It's meant to be hard," Keefe said. "Anything worth achieving is hard."
We have just one game on the docket for Monday. Thankfully, it's a high-octane matchup loaded with stars. Let's take a look at the best ways to attack it.
The Oilers were arguably the league's best team down the stretch, going 20-4-1 over their final 25 games while posting remarkably strong numbers across the board.
They controlled better than 55% of the expected goal share at five-on-five, a top-five rate. Couple that with the league's most dangerous power play, and it was an unmatched recipe for success.
We're seeing that same recipe these playoffs, with the Oilers owning an xG share above 53% and averaging nearly two power-play markers per night.
That makes them an extremely difficult side for any team to slow. The Golden Knights looked as sound defensively as any team in the opening round but don't appear to have any sort of solution for the Oilers, especially with Laurent Brossoit starting to regress.
Brossoit has conceded at least four goals in each game thus far, stopping only 50 of 59 shots (.847 save percentage).
He managed only an .895 save percentage in the NHL last season before losing his gig for the better part of a year. He is starting to look like that guy rather than the one who posted a .927 SV% down the stretch of the regular season to earn himself the opportunity to start playoff games.
Led by Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid, the Oilers are loaded with high-end players who can score at an extremely healthy rate. If the opposing goaltender isn't at the top of his game, we will see goals in bunches for the Oilers.
They've netted nine through two games despite Bruce Cassidy having control of the matchups. With Jay Woodcroft now able to shelter some players and get his big guns in more advantageous offensive situations, I don't see things getting any better for the Knights.
Look for Edmonton's offense to lead the charge en route to a win inside 60 minutes.
Bet: Oilers in regulation (-115)
Evan Bouchard over 0.5 assists (-132)
Death, taxes, and Bouchard assists. The highly skilled puck-moving defenseman has registered at least one assist in seven straight playoff games, accumulating 11.
Bouchard has spent nearly 80% of his five-on-five minutes playing behind McDavid. Naturally, that leads to a lot of point-producing opportunities. So too does quarterbacking a historically good power play.
What I love about Bouchard is there are multiple paths to victory on any given night. He doesn't need a bunch of power plays to find success. Playing so much with McDavid, he has a real chance at getting the job done even if Edmonton isn't getting favorable whistles.
He isn't just a passer, either. Bouchard has attempted six shots or more in six of eight playoff games. That opens the door for deflections and rebound opportunities since - being a defenseman often shooting from range - the goaltender is very likely to make the save.
Jack Eichel over 3.5 shots (+105)
Most star offensive players generate shots at a higher clip at home than on the road. Oftentimes, the gap can be significant. Eichel is not one of those guys.
He recorded four shots or more in 53% of road games, a stark contrast from his 37% success rate in Vegas.
His road success has continued early in these playoffs. He has only played two away games thus far but totaled 11 shots on 15 attempts and did the job on both occasions.
The Oilers are vulnerable to opposing centers - they give up a lot of shots to the position - and Eichel has taken advantage, hitting in five of his last seven versus Edmonton, including the first two games of the series.
I expect Vegas will need to score to keep up. That means Eichel should get plenty of ice and be pushing to generate offense.
Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.
Watch your back, Jack, there's a new Hughes brother in town, and he appears set on taking the New Jersey Devils by storm.
That would be 19-year-old defenseman Luke, who drew rave reviews across the organization after an impressive Stanley Cup Playoffs debut in Sunday's Game 3 rout over the Carolina Hurricanes.
"I thought Luke had a great night," head coach Lindy Ruff said, per ESPN's Greg Wyshynski. "From the first shift to the end of the game, for the young man to step in the way he did and play the way he did ... you expect maybe you get a good game. He gave us a great game."
The younger Hughes picked up two assists across 14 minutes Sunday after sitting in the press box for New Jersey's first nine playoff games. The Devils were in complete control of the contest with the youngster on the ice, owning 58.4% of expected goals, 68.18% of shot attempts, and 63.64% of scoring chances at five-on-five, according to Natural Stat Trick.
Hughes has been among the Devils' top prospects since being drafted fourth overall in 2021. He joined the club for two regular-season games in April after his sophomore season at Michigan and was more than ready for the playoff spotlight after entering the lineup for the injured Ryan Graves.
"I don't really get nervous playing. I got a lot more nervous watching from up top," Hughes said. "I thought the fans were great. Loved the 'Luuuuuu' chants. But no nerves today."
Veteran defenseman Brendan Smith sees a bright future for the newcomer on New Jersey's blue line.
"He skates like his brother. It's elite already," Smith said. "Obviously, the more he plays, the better he's going to be with decisions. But he can skate himself out of trouble, and there (are) only a few players that can do that in this league."
While Luke attracted much of the post-game spotlight, brother Jack's four-point performance was the spark for the Devils' much-needed victory.
How to watch: Sportsnet, SN NOW, ESPN, ESPN+, TVA Sports.
A pivotal day for the future of multiple NHL franchises has arrived. The 2023 draft lottery has been highly anticipated thanks to a host of exceptional talent available at the top of the board, headlined by phenom Connor Bedard.
The 16 teams that failed to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs are in the draft lottery and can move up no more than 10 spots. Two draws will occur to determine the order for the top 16 picks of the first round.
Clubs can't win the lottery more than twice in a five-year span. Lottery winners prior to 2022 don't count toward this total, meaning every team is eligible to win a lottery.
Only the bottom 11 teams in the league standings have a chance at landing the first overall pick. Ottawa, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Nashville, and Calgary won't pick first overall if they win one of the lotteries.
The draft will be held June 28-29 in Nashville. The Predators last hosted the draft in 2003, when the Pittsburgh Penguins selected Marc-Andre Fleury first overall.
Odds to win lottery
Team
Lottery Odds
Anaheim Ducks*
18.5%
Columbus Blue Jackets
13.5%
Chicago Blackhawks
11.5%
San Jose Sharks
9.5%
Montreal Canadiens**
8.5%
Arizona Coyotes
7.5%
Philadelphia Flyers
6.5%
Washington Capitals
6.0%
Detroit Red Wings
5.0%
St. Louis Blues
3.5%
Vancouver Canucks
3.0%
Arizona Coyotes (via OTT)***
2.5%
Buffalo Sabres
2.0%
Pittsburgh Penguins
1.5%
Nashville Predators
0.5%
Calgary Flames
0.5%
* - The Anaheim Ducks have a 25.5% of landing the first overall pick as five teams can't pass them with a lottery win.
** - Should the Montreal Canadiens win one of the two lotteries, the club won't be eligible to win another draft lottery until the 2027 draft. The Canadiens selected Juraj Slafkovsky first overall in 2022.
*** - The Ottawa Senators will keep their first-round selection should they move up in the lottery and would instead transfer their 2024 first-round pick to the Arizona Coyotes, as a result of the Jakob Chychrun trade.
Projected top pick
Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Connor Bedard is the most hyped prospect in hockey since Connor McDavid.
The stats speak for themselves with 71 goals and 143 points in 57 WHL regular season games as a first-year draft eligible, a Canadian world junior-record 23 points in seven games en route to a gold medal in January, and 20 points in a single WHL playoff series.
Whichever team wins the draft lottery is landing a legitimate franchise-altering player in Bedard.
Bedard hasn't wowed quite the same way McDavid did in junior. While he's still a well-above-average skater, he's not the "best in the world" caliber burner that McDavid was. Bedard annihilates opponents with deception, skill, and a lethal shot. His drag-and-release wrister has decimated goaltenders across the WHL and international stage. Bedard processes the game at an incredibly high level - which combined with his array of puckhandling, playmaking, and shooting - makes for the best 17-year-old hockey player we've seen since McDavid.
The lone knock on Bedard is his smaller frame. He's listed at just under 5-foot-10 and 183 pounds, leaving some to wonder whether he will be a better fit on the right wing in the NHL. He's played center with the WHL's Regina Pats but shifted to the wing with Canada at the world junior. Despite his lack of size, Bedard doesn't shy away from the rough stuff, playing with intense competitiveness and a surprisingly physical edge.
Whether he remains at center or becomes a Nikita Kucherov-esque dominant winger, a team is getting an immediate game-breaking talent in Connor Bedard.
The consolation prize
Jaime Crawford / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Don't be too disappointed if your team wins a lottery but doesn't get the first overall pick. Adam Fantilli is far from your typical consolation prize.
Just as Bedard has drawn parallels to McDavid, Fantilli's profile is similar to that of McDavid's running mate in 2015, Jack Eichel.
The University of Michigan star dominated the NCAA as a freshman. With 30 goals and 65 points in only 36 games, Fantilli captured the Hobey Baker Award as the top men's player in college hockey. He joins Eichel and Hall of Famer Paul Kariya as the lone first-year players to win the honor.
Fantilli scored more goals than Eichel did in 2015 and exceeded his scoring rate on a per-game basis. In more than half of the past six drafts, Fantilli would have been a serious challenger for the top pick.
Unlike Bedard, Fantilli's size makes him a safe bet at center long-term. His 6-foot-2 frame is ideal for a future top-line pivot, as is his blistering speed. Fantilli's a well-rounded offensive threat with immense puckhandling and skill. His pace and competitiveness can make him a forechecking nightmare and bodes well for future two-way prowess.
Don't let a more average world junior performance get you down on his talents. Bedard is the exception, not the rule. Fantilli is a superb second-ranked prospect in the class.
Wild-card of the top 10
SOPA Images / LightRocket / Getty
Matvei Michkov is one of the biggest wild cards in recent memory at the top of the NHL draft.
On talent alone, Michkov would seriously contend - or possibly even be the favorite - for second overall. After all, it was Michkov, not Bedard, that led the 2022 U18s with 12 goals and 16 points.
But there are many other factors involved that make Michkov's eventual landing spot on draft day so murky. For starters, Michkov hasn't showcased his talents on the international stage since the canceled 2022 world junior. He had three goals in two games against Sweden and Switzerland at the event but hasn't played against top junior-aged opponents since as a result of Russia's IIHF ban following the invasion of Ukraine.
Then there's his KHL contract. He's signed through 2025-26 with SKA St. Petersburg, meaning Michkov won't be able to play in the NHL until the 2026-27 season. It's one thing to wait multiple years for a potential star like the Minnesota Wild did with Kirill Kaprizov when the team uses a fifth-round draft pick on the player, it's a very different thing to wait with a top-five pick.
Michkov is right at the top of the class in terms of offensive talents. He's scored an incredible amount of goals at every level and he posted the best scoring rate of any draft-eligible player in KHL history, besting Vladimir Tarasenko's previous record.
Everything about Michkov suggests a future elite goal-scoring winger that should be an easy bet to go top three. Thanks to off-the-ice factors, Michkov could instead very realistically be available later than anticipated.
Other top-five contenders
Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Leo Carlsson: The Swedish sensation checks a lot of boxes for NHL clubs. Carlsson has a 6-foot-3 frame, played well at the world junior, produced at an impressive rate in the SHL against men, and improved his play in the SHL playoffs. Only the Sedin twins, Elias Lindholm, and Nicklas Backstrom scored more points in the top Swedish league than Carlsson as first-year draft eligibles. He's a lock to go in the top five.
Will Smith: The American slapped the competition at the recently completed U18s with nine goals and 20 points in seven games. His production exactly matched that of Jack Hughes' in 2019, and Nikita Kucherov is the only player to have scored more points in the history of the event. Smith is surging late in the draft cycle, having earned a second-overall vote in Bob McKenzie's latest scout survey.
Zach Benson: A top-five ranked player for much of the season, Benson's moved more to the bubble of the top five with Smith's excellent second half. The Winnipeg Ice star led one of the premier teams in the CHL in scoring during the regular season but has been usurped by older teammates in the playoffs. Factor in his smaller frame and average skating, and Benson could fall anywhere from fourth overall through the end of the top 10.
Dalibor Dvorsky: A season after Juraj Slafkovsky and Simon Nemec made Slovakian hockey history going first and second overall, the nation has another top-five candidate in Dvorsky. Similar to Slafkovsky, the pivot has played his best hockey on the international stage. With excellent showings at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, 2023 world junior, and 2023 U18s, Dvorsky could find himself creeping into the top five given his safer projection and premium position down the middle.
