Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had a one-on-one chance with Sergei Bobrovsky late in Saturday91裸聊视频檚 first period.
The Oilers forward 91裸聊视频� the team91裸聊视频檚 longest-serving player, one who endured some of the franchise91裸聊视频檚 darkest days 91裸聊视频� was stoned by the Florida Panthers goaltender with a full-stretch pad save.
Nugent-Hopkins then got an opportunity on another power play in the second, but fired high with Bobrovsky at his mercy.
Edmonton bagged plenty of looks in Florida91裸聊视频檚 3-0 victory to open the Stanley Cup final. The club knows it must bear down even harder to tie the series Monday in Game 2.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 encouraging, in some ways, the way that we played,91裸聊视频� Nugent-Hopkins said of the Oilers91裸聊视频� 32-shot performance. 91裸聊视频淵ou want to stack up as many wins as you can as early as you can 91裸聊视频� but it91裸聊视频檚 a best-of-seven and it91裸聊视频檚 a race to four.
91裸聊视频淲e did a lot of good things. We couldn91裸聊视频檛 find a way to beat them.91裸聊视频�
Edmonton trailed 2-0 after 40 minutes despite outshooting the Panthers 25-12 before the home side started to find its footing in the third.
Much like the chances that fell to Nugent-Hopkins, Oilers captain Connor McDavid, forward Adam Henrique and defenceman Evan Bouchard all had terrific opportunities on Bobrovsky.
91裸聊视频淣ot gripping our sticks too tight,91裸聊视频� Edmonton centre Leon Draisaitl said Sunday of the approach moving forward during a media availability at the Panthers91裸聊视频� practice facility. 91裸聊视频淐ontinuing to play loose and continuing to play our game.91裸聊视频�
The fact Florida won despite being second-best for large chunks of Game 1, however, has to be a concern.
91裸聊视频淭hey91裸聊视频檙e just going to be better,91裸聊视频� Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檒l see more from them.91裸聊视频�
Edmonton defenceman Mattias Ekholm said despite the loss, his team answered some questions about its ability to keep up with the Panthers, who bested the Presidents91裸聊视频� Trophy-winning New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference final and are in the title series a second time in 12 months.
91裸聊视频淵ou always come in and you have your doubts,91裸聊视频� Ekholm said. 91裸聊视频淏ut I think our best is good enough. It91裸聊视频檚 a matter of getting there every night. That91裸聊视频檚 the hard part.91裸聊视频�
Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov said there91裸聊视频檚 an urgency to get to their own level quicker Monday.
91裸聊视频淲e know we need to be better,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淓dmonton is an unbelievable team, they have so much skill in their lineup. It91裸聊视频檚 going to be tough.91裸聊视频�
Connor Brown added there91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频渘o panic91裸聊视频� in the Oilers91裸聊视频� camp.
91裸聊视频淲e had a great process,91裸聊视频� said the winger. 91裸聊视频淛ust keep at it and keep pounding at the door and good things will happen.91裸聊视频�
Edmonton, a team that started the season a disastrous 2-9-1, has been here before. The group trailed the Vancouver Canucks 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 in the second round before falling behind the Dallas Stars 2-1 in Western Conference final.
The Oilers responded each time. They91裸聊视频檒l need another pushback Monday 91裸聊视频� or face a deep hole when the series shifts to Alberta91裸聊视频檚 capital for Games 3 and 4.
91裸聊视频淎 great trait of ours throughout the whole season,91裸聊视频� Nugent-Hopkins said of Edmonton91裸聊视频檚 ability to bounce back. 91裸聊视频淲e don91裸聊视频檛 take it for granted thinking that it91裸聊视频檚 going to happen. We know they91裸聊视频檙e going to step up. We91裸聊视频檙e going to have to step our game up.
91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 why you prepare for it throughout the season 91裸聊视频� for moments like this.91裸聊视频�
NOT AS ABLE
Oilers winger Evander Kane is playing through a sports hernia and has just one assist in his last eight playoff games.
91裸聊视频淢aybe not showing up on the scoresheet as much as he has in the past,91裸聊视频� Knoblauch said of the 32-year-old. 91裸聊视频淏ut still contributing to our team. I don91裸聊视频檛 think we91裸聊视频檇 be in the Stanley Cup final if Evander hadn91裸聊视频檛 been playing throughout the playoffs.91裸聊视频�
NURSE, CECI STRUGGLES
The defence pair of Darnell Nurse and Cody Ceci was on the ice for two goals against in Game 1 before Panthers iced it late into the empty net.
Knoblauch said the data shows Edmonton91裸聊视频檚 under-fire duo, which was reunited Saturday, is playing better than traditional stats indicate.
91裸聊视频淚f you look at actual goals scored for and against, it91裸聊视频檚 not favourable,91裸聊视频� Knoblauch said. 91裸聊视频淭he expected goals for and against 91裸聊视频� doesn91裸聊视频檛 paint the same picture at all. Completely different. We91裸聊视频檙e always balancing what91裸聊视频檚 best for those two players. But also what91裸聊视频檚 best for all six of our defencemen.91裸聊视频�
FINNISH BROTHERHOOD
Barkov is one of four Finnish-born players on Florida91裸聊视频檚 roster that includes forwards Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen, and defenceman Niko Mikkola.
91裸聊视频淵ou can talk in your own language,91裸聊视频� Barkov said. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e chasing the same goal, working as hard as possible every single day.
91裸聊视频淒efinitely special.91裸聊视频�
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