Oh oh, the Edmonton Oilers are about to play another Game 1 (2024)

History says the Edmonton Oilers are going to lose tonight.

Nothing against their talent or preparedness or even their ability to bounce back and win the series, but if you believe in The Curse of the First, don’t expect things to fall their way against the Los Angeles Kings.

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At least not tonight.

Edmonton is a stunning 1-8 in Game 1 of a series dating back to 2017, an inexplicable trend that captain Connor McDavid hasn’t had an explanation for for eight years.

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“I wouldn’t call it a curse,” chuckled McDavid, who doesn’t place a lot of stock in the history. “The last time we won Game 1 in a series (against Anaheim) we lost the series.”

And even though Edmonton lost the opening game of every series the last two springs, they still went 3-2, advancing to the Western Conference final two years ago and the second round last year.

So losing Game 1 isn’t the end of the world, but winning it would be nice for a change.

“It’s a long series,” said McDavid. “But you want to get off to a good start and we’d like to do that tonight. It would be nice to put in a good performance in Game 1.”

Asked if the atmosphere in Rogers Place, one of the wildest post-season rinks in hockey, maybe gets the Oilers too hyped for their own good, McDavid dismissed that theory, too.

“We’ve lost Game 1s on the road, too,” he said. “I’m not sure what it is but hopefully it gets fixed tonight.”

One thing the Oilers all agree on is that this year’s team is better equipped to deal with whatever fate and the Kings throw at them.

“There’s not too much anxiety or nervousness, there’s excitement and a sense of calm that you need,” said McDavid. “I feel that our room is in a good spot.”

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Those are the battle scars talking. At this point in their arc, the Oilers have just about seen and done it all. These aren’t kids anymore, they’re experienced veterans who’ve learned about everything they need to know — now it’s just a matter of putting it all together.

“There is just an inner confidence in the group,” said winger Zach Hyman. “With the way things started this season we haven’t had any room to take our foot off the gas. There is just an internal confidence in this group that we’re comfortable facing adversity, we’re comfortable in uncomfortable situations. And the playoffs are uncomfortable. Everybody wants to win.”

Veteran Corey Perry has been around the second season more than anyone on the team and he likes what he’s seeing from this group right now. They’re calm, cool and confident, there vital ingredients in a long run.

“When the season ends there’s just a different feel in the air when the playoffs approach, you can feel it in the dressing room,” he said. “You have to control your emotions. You can’t get your hopes too high or your hopes too low.

“It’s a roller coaster some nights. Momentum can change. I’ve been on both sides where you’re not supposed to get past the first round and you do and you’re supposed to get past the first round and you don’t. You just play hockey and see where it goes.”

E-mail:rtychkowski@postmedia.com

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