Great game by the whole team, LA didn't deserve to be even close. 3 lucky goals either on deflections off Oilers skates or inopportune broken sticks. I'll give them the first 2 though, should have been 6-2 (since they wouldn't have pulled the goalie if they didn't luck into getting within 2). McDavid was flying (obviously), Hyman looked great, Drai looked great as well, Kane had an excellent game (especially given his injury), but was snakebitten. Everyone was firing on all cylinders, and if they play like that in the next few games, this will be a quick series. However, I think LA has more to give.
I wonder if they'll make some adjustments, because honestly, they didn't look like they were in that game at all. Talbot wasn't terrible, but also was not good either, I wonder if they'll go to Occasional Save Dave next game, who had a big game against the Oilers earlier this season. The other adjustment might be a systems one... the Kings 1-3-1 does not work against the Oilers high powered offense, who knows how to break it down. It can slow down the bottom 2 lines, but the speed and skill of the 1st and 2nd line are too much for it to handle. The definition of insanity is trying the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result, yet the Kings continually try to run it back with this system year after year.
If I were Jim Hiller, I would deploy a more aggressive system, I know the 1-3-1 is their identity, but it clearly isn't working against the Oilers top dogs, so adjustments must be made. In the past, the Oilers have had trouble managing heavy forechecking systems like the Stars. Maybe a 2-2-1 formation would be more effective. The Kings don't have the firepower of a team like Dallas, but they do have some skilled forwards like Kempe, Fiala and Moore, who might get some more looks if they're allowed to push the pace a bit more.
Overall, a McDavid masterclass and the Oilers finally won a game 1!!!
Let's go Oilers!!!