Prior to the start of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final which pitted the elite offensive stars of the Edmonton Oilers vs. the structured awareness of the Florida Panthers, I wrote about how each team was creating offence from the D-zone in their respective first three series. Both teams are adept at scoring off the rush, but for the first three games of the final, that dissapeared for the Edmonton Oilers. Part of that equation was Sergei Bobrovsky, but part of it was an inability to move the puck efficiently in and from their own zone.

The Oilers have flipped the script, and as I'm writing this post, have forced a Game 6 back in Edmonton.

Part of it is having the best player on earth finishing his chances, but he doesn't get those chances to fly in off the rush and unleash a shot or a drop pass without execution in the defensive zone.

Some keys I've noticed:

• Stick on puck: the Oilers are checking with their feet first to put their sticks in good spots
• Close support: goal number six in the video above is my favourite; watch how Connor McDavid touches both goal lines in the span of seven seconds - both instances occur with the puck on his stick!
• Problem solving: the Oilers are winning their defensive blue line with support and creativity - the puck never leaves the zone in exactly the same way