As the Edmonton Oilers faced elimination in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final, many depth players stepped up in clutch fashion. Over the past few seasons, Edmonton relied on star forwards like Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins for offense. Often, it felt like depth scoring was an element the Oilers missed to get to the next level.
Game 4 proved names like Connor Brown and Mattias Janmark can lead the charge. Thanks to a full team effort from the whole roster on Saturday, the Oilers avoided getting swept. Here are some of the difference-makers from Saturday night’s home-ice victory.
The Oilers’ Third Line After trailing by three games in the Stanley Cup Finals, Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch proceeded to make some line changes. In the fourth game of the series, Edmonton’s third line was centered by Adam Henrique , with Connor Brown and Mattias Janmark on his wings. Janmark and Henrique would go on to score both of the opening goals, with one coming off the penalty kill.
Brown was a force all night, playing possibly his best game as an Oiler. More on him in a bit. In all three periods, the line shutdown Florida’s offense and interrupted their plays, counter-attacking with speed.
The line also drew penalties throughout the game. The Penalty Kill Since the beginning of the Stanley Cup Finals, special teams were difference makers on both squads. The Florida Panthers’ exceptional penalty kill held off the Oilers’ power play in the first three games, one.
