Connor McDavid didn91裸聊视频檛 have an answer.

His head coach, meanwhile, took a long, deliberate pause to ponder the same question 91裸聊视频� why haven91裸聊视频檛 the Oilers been able to draw penalties against the Dallas Stars in the NHL91裸聊视频檚 Western Conference final?

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e heard a lot about the past, being a spectator, not a part of the NHL, not as a coach 91裸聊视频� sometimes the standard gets changed a little bit,91裸聊视频� Edmonton bench boss Kris Knoblauch said of playoff officiating. 91裸聊视频�(Referees) would definitely want to make sure it91裸聊视频檚 a penalty, when in the regular season, maybe some things get let go.

91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 obviously unfortunate for us.91裸聊视频�

The Oilers and Stars sit tied 1-1 in the best-of-seven series with a berth in the Stanley Cup final on the line following a 3-1 Dallas victory on Saturday.

Edmonton took Thursday91裸聊视频檚 opener 3-2 in double overtime despite going on the man advantage once 91裸聊视频� a call for too many men on the ice 91裸聊视频� compared to 10 minutes of power-play time for the home side.

The Oilers and Stars got one power play each through the first 58 minutes of Game 2 before a couple of late calls either way with the result all but decided.

It91裸聊视频檚 stark contrast compared to Edmonton91裸聊视频檚 two previous series.

The club scored six times off 18 man-advantage chances in the second round against the Vancouver Canucks after opening the playoffs 9-for-25 versus the Los Angeles Kings.

The Oilers, who had the league91裸聊视频檚 fourth-best power play in the regular season, have dipped to a still-impressive 34.9 per cent success rate thanks to a 1-for-13 run dating back to Game 5 against Vancouver, but have only had those three opportunities in just over seven periods of conference final action.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e got a very good power play and we win a lot of games on the power play,91裸聊视频� Knoblauch continued in his measured answer. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 unfortunate for us that it91裸聊视频檚 tougher to draw penalties in the playoffs than it is the regular season.91裸聊视频�

Edmonton averaged four minutes 26 seconds of power-play time across 82 games in 2023-24, but have earned a total of just 4:42 in this series.

91裸聊视频淭he standard91裸聊视频檚 the same for both teams,91裸聊视频� Knoblauch added of the Stars matchup. 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 not saying it91裸聊视频檚 unfair for us, but we would like the same standard (as the regular season).91裸聊视频�

Oilers defenceman Mattias Ekholm was less diplomatic when queried on the same topic in the visitors locker room at American Airlines Center late Saturday.

91裸聊视频淕reat question,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚 have no idea. I looked at (Edmonton defenceman Darnell Nurse91裸聊视频檚) penalty, and then five minutes later I get cross-checked right in the same spot. It91裸聊视频檚 hard. It91裸聊视频檚 physical. It91裸聊视频檚 playoff hockey.

91裸聊视频淲e need to work harder to draw more penalties.91裸聊视频�

Oilers forward Connor Brown pointed to the Stars91裸聊视频� discipline 91裸聊视频� Dallas has averaged a playoff-low three minutes short-handed per game this spring 91裸聊视频� as part of the equation.

91裸聊视频淭hey check with their feet,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淏ut I think we can do a better job of holding onto the puck and creating some momentum so they91裸聊视频檝e got to chase us around a little bit.

91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 usually when you get your calls.91裸聊视频�

The Stars have also largely done a good job at even strength against McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who sit 1-2 in post-season scoring. McDavid snagged Thursday91裸聊视频檚 double OT winner and Draisaitl had a goal and an assist, but both were held off the scoresheet in Game 2 91裸聊视频� a first for the Oilers in these playoffs.

Despite plenty of attention being paid to his two stars, Knoblauch pointed to the looks Edmonton91裸聊视频檚 dynamic duo are still getting on Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檇 be a little bit alarmed if they weren91裸聊视频檛 getting their scoring chances,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淏ut we91裸聊视频檒l look at that. We had enough opportunities to score more than we did (in Game 2).

91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 going to be some tweaks we can make.91裸聊视频�

McDavid, Draisaitl and Co. will have to find a way through 91裸聊视频� especially if the referees continue to keep the whistles largely silent.

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