Oilers Coach Reveals What the Team Needs to do to Win the Stanley Cup

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Liam McCormick
April 29, 2024 (4:16 PM)

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Everything about this year's Oilers squad feels much different. All around, the team is playing a much more mature style of hockey, exemplified by their gritty 1-0 win over Los Angeles in Game 4.

Now, Oilers coach Knoblauch is saying that game is the exact thing the team needs to replicate to have long-term success in the playoffs, and take them to the Stanley Cup.

»There's going to be a lot more of those kind of victories if we are going to have success long term. A lot of credit to the guys, they worked very hard blocking shots, winning battles, getting pucks in deep. Credit to LA, they limited our offence, but I really enjoyed watching the guys play that type of defensive hockey.»
-Coach Knoblauch

The Oilers are maturing before our very eyes, and have now adapted to play both their offensively dominant and an adequate defensive game. This effort is led by the Oilers stars too - Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and even Zach Hyman have been the epitome of leaders by example in all facets of their game this year.

»It's cup or bust, right? I think for this group, with where everyone's at in their career, that's the expectation.»
-Connor McDavid

After last season's elimination at the hands of the reigning champs Vegas Golden Knights, McDavid and Draisaitl described this season as Cup or Bust. They've come out this season playing to live up to that comment, and now in the first round of the playoffs, they look like they're well on their way to winning the first cup in the McDavid era.