EDMONTON – Well, that wasn’t ideal.
Going down 0-1 in a series, while on the road, isn’t precisely how the Edmonton Oilers drew up their game plan for the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
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Yet, that’s the predicament they find themselves in against the Los Angeles Kings.
On Tuesday, the morning after heartbreakingly losing 6-5, Kris Knoblauch spoke to the media present. During his scrum, he provided an update on John Klingberg and Evander Kane, as well as general information about their injury situation.
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EDMONTON – It takes a team to win.
“Going in the week before,” Knoblauch explained. “We expected almost everybody to be available for the first round. And if not, Game 1.”
John Klingberg
Klingberg last played for the Oilers on March 27th against the Seattle Kraken. Between being a late addition after the regular season was underway and his injuries during the season, he only played in 11 games. He played 17:15 a night and recorded four points.
Knoblauch discussed whether Klingberg will play in Game 2 on Wednesday and what he could have brought to the lineup during their loss on Monday night.
“Klingberg is very close also,” Knoblauch revealed. “That’s another option that we have, to add a guy like that. Last night, we’re chasing the game, he would have been nice to have to add a little more offensive flair.”
“We’re looking at what’s best for our group.”
RAW | Kris Knoblauch 04.22.25
Kris reflects on his team's 6-5 Game 1 defeat from the team's hotel in Los Angeles on Tuesday afternoon.
Evander Kane
Kane hasn’t played a lick of hockey all season. That being said, he told the media in his last scrum that he feels better on the ice right now than he did through the majority of last season.
When asked about Kane’s availability for Game 2, Knoblauch had this to say.
“Evander is very close, he has not been cleared by the doctors yet,” Knoblauch explained. “We are going to see him at some point during this series – or I assume we are – but to say that he’s going to play in Game 2, right now, is a little premature.”
Oilers fans will have to wait until Wednesday during warm-ups to get confirmation one way or the other on who (if anyone) will be in the lineup. One thing is for sure: the Oilers are going to need all hands on deck to beat the Kings.
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