One disappointing loss in Dallas does not mean the end of the Edmonton Oilers’ season. They won’t be eliminated in the first round. But the Oilers’ defeat on Wednesday served as a sobering reminder of just how easily things can go wrong if they lose focus.—
Leon Draisaitl had total control of the puck on the Stars’ first goal as he was leaving the zone, but Sam Steel knocked down his pass because it wasn’t to a dangerous area, and the Stars went up 1-0 shortly after. Draisaitl is aware that he needs to play better at that precise moment. Later on in the game, Draisaitl found himself in control once more, this time deep in the Oilers’ zone.
He attempted a cross-ice pass while standing motionless, but the Stars stopped it, and the team quickly took a 4-0 lead. Although Draisaitl can make many incredible passes, those two plays are not possible in the playoffs. Clearly. Though I don’t expect him to complete every pass, he must not be able to intercept passes.
Darnell Nurse made a poor pinch at the 2-0 mark (more of a forecheck because he was in the corner), which allowed the Stars to go on a 4-on-1 and score to make it 3-0. He had no justification for taking that chance. Nurse is a very good defender when he plays the patient, astute role, but he has a tendency to take risks. Under Kris Knoblauch and Paul Coffey, he didn’t try them for the first three months and did well, but in recent months, his game has become overly reliant on high-risk, low-percentage moves.
