In the first game of the Stanley Cup finals June 5, the Edmonton Oilers tried to play to their heritage and run and gun with the Carolina Hurricanes.
The strategy worked for two periods before unraveling.
In the last two games, the Oilers tried to slow it down and play that standard playoff, defense-first style of hockey. It worked Saturday but not Monday.
After scoring four goals in the opener, the Oilers have just three in the last three games.
So the Oilers have tried it both ways and find themselves going back to Raleigh trailing three games to one, with the Hurricanes a home victory away from their first Stanley Cup.
Perhaps, for one of the few times in this NHL postseason, the better team–not just the hot one or hot goalie–is coming out ahead.
