Edmonton, Canada – At 5 feet 9 inches and 175 pounds, Blake Lizotte is the smallest player on each side of Kings-Oilelers series of playoffs.
Unlike Oilers' superstars Connor McDavid And Leon DraisaitlWho are old recovery choices in the first round and winners of the Hart trophy, Lizotte had to fight to keep her place in the NHL. Non -drafted from the school, he first played in the amateur USHL before going to university, then became not repeated again before signing an entry -level contract with the Kings.
But if McDavid, undoubtedly the best NHL player, characterizes the skills and grace with which high -flying oilers play, then Lizotte represents the blue collar approach and lunch that defines kings.
“This is our identity,” said Lizotte, who centers the fourth line of the Kings. “Look at their two guys there, more than 100 points. We don't even have a 90-point guy. I think it's part of our team identity, to play a little more grinder.”
While it happens if the Kings are a loss of elimination entering match 5 of their series for the best of the western first round conference on Wednesday in Edmonton? If you are a crusher, the chances do not matter. The very presence of Lizotte in the NHL proves that grain and tenacity can overcome glamor and talent.
And if the Kings must return from a deficit in 3-1, the undersized Lizotte will have to play a disproportionate role.
“The playoffs are generally a version. So you have to make sure you play this style “,” Temporary coach of Kings Jim Hiller said. “We just have to play it better.”
The Kings have only scored once in two home games and are about to lose a first -round series against the Oilers for the third consecutive season. In 2022, they lost in seven games. In 2023, they lost in six games. Another defeat on Wednesday, and they will be absent in five.
Kings do not progress, they retreat – and blame for their regression can be shared.
Trevor Moore, the top scorer of the Kings in the regular season, only marked once in the playoffs. Anze Kopitar has a goal and two assists, but all his points came in the same match. And the Pierre Luc-Dubois center, the big signature of the off-season team, was credited with a single shot in the last three games.
The Kings Blake Lizotte striker, on the right, patina in front of the defender of the Oilers of Edmonton Brett Kulak in match 4 on Sunday.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Quinton ByfieldOne of the few kings to have played expectations, collected the first three games. The Kings outclassed Edmonton by five goals when it was on the ice, the best note more / less on the team.
Lizotte, on the other hand, brings a different type of energy as a kings ignition cap and emotional leader, especially on the penalty. Working the PK is often an thankless and ungrateful task, but which was the key to the success of the Kings in the regular season. His difficulties played a leading role in his three defeats in the playoffs.
The Kings had the second best unit of penalty killers in the NHL during the regular season, but they rank last in the playoffs, abandoning eight goals in digital disadvantage 15 times.
The Power Play also had trouble, going 0 for 11 in the series.
Force, kings and oilers each have 10 goals. But Edmonton has blitzé Special teams not so special of the Kings, scoring at least one electric game goal for each match.
“They have so many different options,” said Lizotte about Oilers, who saw five different players bring a goal or help on the power game, led by McDavid, who has a goal and seven assists. “On the same set, they have three different options, where other teams could have one or two. And obviously, they do it at a much higher speed than perhaps your medium power game.
“So above all, you cannot take penalties.”
The Kings tried this in match 4, going to the box only once. But the maintenance penalty of Andreas stuck in the second period was the opportunity that the oilers needed to spoil the most complete performance of the Kings of the series, Evan Bouchard scoring the only goal of the match.
“This is the kind of game you have to reproduce each game,” said the center Phillip Danault said. “This is the only way to win against Edmonton at the moment. We have to play exactly the same way.”
To have a chance to bring the series back to Los Angeles for Match 6, the Kings also need another great effort from the goalkeeper David RittichWho got out of the bench to start match 4 and calmed an offense of the oilers which has an average of more than five goals. But they will also need Lizotte and the rest of the penalty killers unit to stand also against a power game from Edmonton which is the average of almost four chances per match.
“It's just too much. You give these players so much, they will score,” said Lizotte. “We had the opportunity to kill penalties, important moments, and we did not do it.
“We need to. The timely penalties are what was the heel of our Achilles. ”
