Oilers ready for Sharks challenge as they return to playoffs

There has been a long list of just-happy-to-be-there stories in Stanley Cup playoff history, but the team Peter Chiarelli constructed over the past two seasons isnt one of them.

The Edmonton Oilers already secured home ice for the first round of the postseason but have an opportunity to do so throughout the Pacific Division playoffs when they host the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday. “But we’ve played them enough during the season that we know how they play”.

Elsewhere, Shea Theodore scored 53 seconds into overtime to give the Anaheim Ducks the Pacific Division title with a 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Kings.

The Oilers will open the playoffs against the San Jose Sharks.

Eberle said the Oilers won’t be wide-eyed when the puck drops. A typical miscue came early in Edmonton’s final game of the year when Benning misplayed a Vancouver stretch pass, allowing for a breakaway attempt that hit the goal post.

Which brings them to their next point.

The Canucks, who will miss the playoffs for second straight spring and the third time in four years, are an NHL-worst 7-22-3 since January 25, a run that has seen them tumble to 29th in the overall standings.

As for Eric Gryba, he’s played his usual brand of steady and ferocious two-way hockey all season.

“We have a lot of confidence”, said Connor McDavid. “Every day, I will work to make our team the best it can be and others will decide what we are going to do”. “Up and down the lineup it’s such an honor to play with this group”.

Yan-Pavel Laplante is expected to make his National Hockey League debut with the Canucks, wearing 74 in Edmonton. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins also manufactured a pair of goals in the same spree. They have been around some. Make no mistake, they do have guys who have been their before.

“Obviously our past wasn’t where it needed to be for a number of years”, said McLellan, who is in his second season with the team.

Nikolay Goldobin and Nikita Tryamkin scored for the Canucks.

“We had very limited inventory (hundreds of tickets per game) that was released at 10 a.m.”, the email read. “That part doesn’t change”. But, Edmonton allows 1.93 more scoring chances (24.91 SCA60) than San Jose (22.98 SCA60).

But it’s something they plan on embracing. “The crowd will be buzzing, it’s going to be loud”.

“I suspect Crosby might win the Ted Lindsay as the Most Outstanding Player, but it’s conceivable that McDavid could be voted the Most Outstanding Player and could also be judged most valuable to his team. It’s going to be a fun night”. The Sharks ended the regular season by dropping nine of their final 13 games, fading out of first place in the division, suffering key injuries, and really making you wonder if last year’s Cup finalist are in the right place entering the first round.

“I’m not sure”, said McDavid. I think you’ve got to look at Bobrovsky. “It’s a good year when you see some of the progress of some of the young players”.