It's the end of the road for Anze Kopitar. After announcing that this season would be his last in September, being eliminated by the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs made it official.

Two decades with the Los Angeles Kings and in the NHL, a pair of Stanley Cups, and he's grateful for every moment.

That includes the final moments of his NHL career when the clock was winding down in Game 4, and the fans at Crypto.com Arena were chanting his name. And around that time, he slowly started to realize that it was the end.

"It hit me about five, six minutes to go that this could be it," Kopitar said in his final media availability on Sunday. "For the last 20 years, I've never experienced that emotion. 'There's always a next year, there's always a next year,' and now it's done. So, it's hard to comprehend."

In the closing minutes of the contest, Kings fans began chanting, "Kopi, Kopi," and "Thank you, Kopi." 

The love that the Los Angeles faithful have shown to the Kings' captain has not been lost on Kopitar. In fact, their support is something that he'll cherish and remember forever.

'Kopi Never Cheats': Kempe Tears Up As Kopitar's Teammates Reflect On His Kings CareerAnze Kopitar's teammates got emotional after the game when reflecting on his time with the Los Angeles Kings' organization. Here's what Adrian Kempe, Drew Doughty and Trevor Moore said of their longtime and well-respected captain.

"It was hard to keep it together, really," Kopitar told reporters about what it was like to hear the fans chanting his name.

"Being here for 20 years, more than half of my lifetime, it's extremely special. I really appreciate the fans; they've been behind me personally, they've been behind the team for all those years.

Family, Golf And F1 Races: Kings' Kopitar Reveals His Retirement PlansWith just a sliver of the 2025-26 season and Anze Kopitar's NHL career remaining, the Los Angeles Kings captain was asked about his plans for retirement in a recent interview with Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

"I can truly say that they're probably one of the best fan bases in the entire league," Kopitar added.

The 38-year-old signs off with 1,628 regular-season and playoff games, scoring a total of 1,405 points in all those years of being one of the best pros in the sport.

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ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Wild (2-2) hit the ice for a practice before traveling for Game 5 against the Dallas Stars (2-2) in Dallas.

Minnesota evened the series with an overtime winner on Saturday after losing in double overtime in Game 3. It was a thriller to say the least.

The Wild did not practice on Sunday so this was the first practice since last game.

Mats Zuccarello, who has missed the last three games with an upper-body injury, was on the ice to practice power play work.

“I think it’s a good sign," Wild head coach John Hynes said on Zuccarello practicing. "We’ll see how he felt and what his response is from that. But it is definitely a step in the right direction.”

Yakov Trenin was also on the ice for practice. He has missed the last two games with an upper-body injury.

“Trenny is the same," Hynes said. "It’s good that they both skated but they now have to see how they’re feeling. We’ll probably know more in the morning.”

It would be a nice addition for the Wild if they both come back, or if just one of them come back.

Minnnesota's power play has been struggling. Adding Zuccarello back to it would only help.

"He helps, for sure. You know, like I said he’s got a good mind for the game," Hynes said. "He’s a highly skilled player within the structure and you talk about different options, what are some of the things he sees or, you know a lot of times it’s little things. If he’s coming down in a certain situation, he moves his stick one way to look for this option. I think it’s more of the subtleties of it that I think he does, he talks about and sees as a player."

Hynes said that the two will be questionable to play in Game 5. He also said they were in Game 3 and both missed. He also said Zuccarello would be in Game 4 and he did not play either.

“I’d put them at questionable right now.”

But it is a positive that they both skated.

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Recent Wild Stories

NHL Must Address Jamie Benn After String of Dangerous, Uncalled PlaysJamie Benn's dangerous, uncalled playoff antics continue. The NHL faces pressure to address a pattern of reckless plays impacting star players.

- Wild's Mats Zuccarello, Yakov Trenin Out With Upper-Body Injuries.

- Stars' Top Center Remains Out Vs Wild For Next Two Games.

- Jesper Wallstedt Rewards Wild's Confidence In Game 1 Win.

- Wild's Vladimir Tarasenko Has Rediscovered His Scoring Prowess.

- Yakov Trenin Breaks Minnesota Wild Single-Season Hits Record.

Nikita Zadorov's wallet has become lighter this week. The former Vancouver Canucks and current Boston Bruins defenceman was fined $5,000 for cross-checking Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin over the weekend. On the play, Zadorov was assessed a major penalty and received a game misconduct.

The Bruins are facing elimination heading into Game 5 of their first-round series against the Sabres. Despite splitting the first two games, Boston was outscored 9-2 in front of their home fans in Games 3 and 4. Over the first four games of the series, Zadorov has recorded one assist, 37 penalty minutes and is averaging 18:07 of ice time per game. 

Zadorov has been fined once before in the playoffs. That came in 2024, when he cross-checked Connor McDavid in Game 3 while with the Canucks. The fine in 2024 was also for $5,000. 

The Bruins will look to keep their season alive on Tuesday as they travel to Buffalo for Game 5. Boston already has a victory away from home, as they won 4-2 in Game 2. Game time for Game 5 is scheduled for 4:30 pm PT. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site: 

Former Canucks In 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Kuzmenko And The Kings Fall In The First Round To The Colorado Avalanche

Canucks Could Become Vancouver’s Second Professional Hockey Team To Earn First-Overall Draft Selection In 2026

New Report Links Oilers Bill Scott To Canucks' Open General Manager Job

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The Buffalo Sabres were able to leave not much to doubt in Game 4 of their first round match in Boston on Sunday, taking advantage of a flat Bruins squad in a critical game for them to get back into the series. The Sabres took the legs out from under the Beantowners with four first-period tallies in a 6-1 thrashing at TD Garden to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the series and potentially close out the series with a win on home ice on Tuesday night. 

Peyton Krebs, Josh Doan, Zach Benson, and Bowen Byram scored in an opening stanza that saw the Sabres outshoot the home squad 19-5. Boston only managed 24 shots on Alex Lyon, who posted his second straight victory. The quick start was a departure for the young Buffalo squad, who in the first three games seemed to play their best hockey in the third period when trailing or tied, which may be a sign of them gaining confidence and getting past some initial playoff nerves.

"I know sometimes (just playing the game) that's hard to do, and you only get experience by playing, whether it's one shift, one period, one game, one home game, one road game." Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said.  "There's all kinds of different experience you can get, but the only way you can get it is to live it. If you feel a little anxiety about it, just go to the guys that have been there."

Other Sabres Stories

Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

Conversely, the Bruins appear to be losing their composure after losing a pair on home ice. Goalie Jeremy Swayman said something to his teammates after being pulled in the third period in favor of backup Joonas Korpisalo after allowing six goals on 29 shots, while defenseman Nikita Zadorov was assessed a five-minor major and game misconduct for cross-checking Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin late in the game, and was fined $5,000 by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety. After the game, Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy called out his club after the game for their subpar effort. 

“You can’t sit with (this game), because if you carry it into next game, it’s not going to do you any good,” McAvoy said.  "Man to man in here, if we're not (bleep)ing embarrassed with what just happened, then I don't know what to say." 

Ruff provided an update on forwards Jason Zucker and Tyson Kozak, who missed a significant chunk of the third period, indicating that both probable for Game 5 on Tuesday, but that they are still being evaluated. Center Josh Norris, who missed Games 3 and 4 in Boston, will participate in the morning skate on Tuesday and could be available.

The Rochester Americans forced a deciding Game 3 of their first round series againstt the Toronto Marlies with a shutout win on Friday, but were eliminated by the Marlies 4-2 at Coca-Cola Coliseum on Sunday. Konsta Helenius and Olivier Nadeau cut into an early Toronto lead to narrow the gap to 3-2, but the Amerks could not tie the game in the third period.  With Rochester eliminated, several Amerks will likely be recalled to serve as “black aces”/reserves for the Sabres for the length of their participation in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

The Anaheim Ducks defeated the Edmonton Oilers in overtime by a 4-3 final score in Game 4. With this, the Ducks now have a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Oilers and three chances to knock out the back-to-back Western Conference champions. 

The Ducks can thank a former Montreal Canadiens forward for them being in this position, as Ryan Poehling stepped up big time for Anaheim in Game 4. 

At the 2:29 mark in overtime, Poehling scored the game-winning goal for Anaheim. While skating with the puck in the offensive zone, Poehling took a shot from the edge of the circle, and it just got by Oilers goalie Tristan Jarry for the goal.

With this clutch moment, Poehling now has three goals and a plus-2 rating in four playoff games so far this spring with the Ducks. The former Canadiens forward has certainly been having a strong postseason for Anaheim thus far, and he will now be looking to keep it going from here. 

Poehling was selected by the Canadiens with the 25th overall pick of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. From there, he played his first three NHL seasons with the Habs, where he had 13 goals and 22 points in 85 games. 

Another former member of the San Jose Sharks has seen their season come to a close in unceremonious fashion. Cody Ceci and the Los Angeles Kings were eliminated from the playoffs on Sunday, as the Colorado Avalanche swept their first round matchup. 

Ceci, who signed a four-year contract with the Kings over the summer, failed to record a point in the playoffs and was a -2. 

Ceci was a member of the Sharks for just over half of a season, as he was traded to the Bay Area during the summer of 2024. The Sharks acquired him and a third-round pick for defenseman Ty Emberson. In 54 games for the Sharks, Ceci scored four goals and 15 points while being a -9. 

The Sharks then flipped Ceci to the Dallas Stars, alongside Mikael Granlund, ahead of the 2025 Trade Deadline, with San Jose getting draft picks in return. 

Ceci will be a part of the Kings' blueline for the foreseeable future, as a result, the Sharks will see him quite a bit over the next few years as both teams will battle for a spot in the playoffs, much like this season.

Colorado Avalanche News

• L.A. Kings fans chant “Thank you, Kopi” after the Avs sweep the Kings in LA in game four. [ESPN]
• How the Avalanche have taken advantage of college free agency to make up for lost picks. [The Athletic]
• ICYMI: Kings coach Smith showered with glass after Avs fan breaks pane behind bench in Game 2. [TSN]
• Avalanche Defeats Kings 5-1 in Game Four to Complete Sweep, Advance to Round Two. [NHL]
• Avalanche goalie Scott Wedgewood is on an NHL Playoffs run Colorado hasn’t seen since Patrick Roy. [Denver Post]

News Around the League

• Sunday Overreactions: Should the NHL re-examine offside review? [Sportsnet]
• Dallas Stars player narrowly avoids catastrophic injury in Game 4 loss at Minnesota. [Star-Telegram]

• Senators stung by being swept in ‘really tight’ 1st-round series. [NHL]
• Oilers give Tristan Jarry playoff start in Game 4 of series against Ducks. [Western Wheels]
• Cole Caufield pens a look at the early years of his career with the Montreal Canadiens. [Players’ Tribune]

As of Sunday, Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar has officially retired from the NHL following a 4-0 series loss to the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

It was an emotional ending for Kopitar and Kings fans, but no one was more emotional than his teammates after the game.

In the aftermath of Sunday's 5-1 defeat, Drew Doughty, Trevor Moore and Adrian Kempe spoke to the media and were asked to reflect on Kopitar's 20-year career in Los Angeles. 

Kempe, teammate of Kopitar's since being drafted by the Kings in 2014, had trouble sharing his thoughts because of how emotional he was, choking up and having tears in his eyes.

"He's been there my entire career," Kempe told reporters. "(I) want to thank him for everything he's done."

Later, he was asked about how different the team's leadership would be with Kopitar no longer a part of the group, and he could barely get through his answer.

"It's going to be different, obviously, leadership," he admitted. "Other guys, myself, have to step up."

How Kopitar Went From The Slovenian Kid to The Greatest King Ever With the Kings losing 5-1 to the Colorado Avalanche, it marks the end of the season for the Kings, but it also means the NHL is losing one of the greatest players ever to play.

Doughty, another longtime teammate of Kopitar's, also didn't say much in his media availability. But that didn't stop him from looking back on the career he's had.

"He had an unbelievable career," the Kings' defenseman told reporters. "Means so much to this organization, and yeah, it's going to be tough without him."

With Kopitar now retired, Doughty becomes the longest-active tenured player for Los Angeles, just completing his 18th campaign with the organization.

Family, Golf And F1 Races: Kings' Kopitar Reveals His Retirement PlansWith just a sliver of the 2025-26 season and Anze Kopitar's NHL career remaining, the Los Angeles Kings captain was asked about his plans for retirement in a recent interview with Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

Left winger Trevor Moore was able to provide more of an assessment regarding what Kopitar meant to the franchise, but also to his teammates and the guys in the dressing room over the years.

"I think the culture that he brought, the no nonsense, be a pro when you come to the rink, play the game the right way," Moore said to the media. "If you cheat, it's unacceptable because Kopi never cheats.

"He's just a guy that everyone looks to. 'What do we wear in meetings?' All that kind of stuff… runs through Kopi."

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The NHL playoffs continue to deliver, and I’ve got a trio of NHL player props for the pair of games on the ice this Monday, April 27.

My NHL picks begin with Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Arturs Silovs in the early game, and wrap up with Utah Mammoth starter Karel Vejmelka in the nightcap.

Best NHL player prop bets today

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Our best NHL player props for Monday, April 27

Take a look at our best bets and expert analysis below.

Prop #1: Arturs Silovs Over 22.5 saves

-110 at BET99

Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Arturs Silovs turned away 28 of 30 shots with 1.68 goals saved above expected to extend the series in Game 4, and he’s no stranger to postseason success.

The 25-year-old Latvian played 10 playoff games for the Vancouver Canucks in 2024, and he was the Calder Cup Playoffs MVP after a championship run with the AHL Abbotsford Canucks last spring.

The Philadelphia Flyers have also recorded 27.7 shots per game across the past three, so Silovs stands to see enough rubber to go Over the number again tonight.

• Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: ESPN, Sportsnet

Prop #2: Nick Schmaltz Under 0.5 points

+120 at BET99

Utah Mammoth center Nick Schmaltz plays go-to minutes. It’s just that those minutes are coming against the best players jumping the boards for the Vegas Golden Knights, and Schmaltz is overmatched.

He’s only been on the ice for 0.83 expected goals and a 31.0 xGF% while combining with wingers Lawson Crouse and Clayton Keller for a 34.9 Corsi For percentage at 5-on-5.

I'm backing Schmaltz to go pointless for the third time in four games in this series.

• Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: ESPN, Sportsnet

Prop #3: Karel Vejmelka Over 24.5 saves

-130 at BET99

It’s been a solid series for Mammoth starter Karel Vejmelka. He’s posted a .916 SV% with 2.75 GSAx, and despite Utah posting just a 42.6 CF% and 44.4 xGF% at 5-on-5 through the first three games, the Mammoth hold the 2-1 series lead.

With the Golden Knights driving the play, behind in the series and averaging 28.0 shots per game, look for the ice to continue tilting in their direction in Game 4.

• Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: ESPN, Sportsnet

These props are available now at BET99, one of our best betting sites.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

It looks like the NHL is going to be adding insult to injury for the Ottawa Senators.

Just a day after they were eliminated in a four-game sweep by the Carolina Hurricanes, the league announced that Senators forward Ridly Greig would be having a hearing related to a sucker punch he threw at Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker.

During a second period scrum, Walker was already engaged with Senators forward Warren Foegele when Greig decided to throw an uppercut on Walker.

There was no penalty called on the play, but there was significant outcry around the league from the media, fans and former players regarding the dirty cheap shot. 

Biz was NOT happy with Greig's sucker punch in the scrum... 😳🥊 pic.twitter.com/TXAiZLESiN

— NHLonTNT (@NHL_On_TNT) April 25, 2026

According to Ottawa Citizen's Bruce Garrioch, the hearing will be over the phone, meaning Greig can be suspended for only a maximum of five games to begin next season.

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Montreal Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle didn’t have the kind of season he wanted to have. He was limited to just 39 games in the regular season as he was once again bothered by injuries. He had to undergo adductor muscle surgery, which caused him to miss 39 games, and he was rested for a few games at the tail end of the season.

When he played his sixth game of the season on January 12, he struggled to find his rhythm, which wasn’t surprising as he had some serious catching up to do, but he eventually got there. Since the start of the playoffs, he’s been used on the Habs’ second pairing alongside Lane Hutson, and he’s played the right way, generally.

Ginette Reno Reveals What The Canadiens Wanted To Give Her
Canadiens’ Better Halves Soaked In The Atmosphere
Canadiens Soaring Prospect Staying In KHL For Next Season

In the first four games of the Canadiens’ series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Guhle was on the ice for over 21 minutes; in one game, he played over 26 minutes, and in the first three meetings, he landed 10 hits. Ahead of the series, he had said that he looked forward to “being a prick” against Tampa, and he’s certainly done that, punishing the Bolts’ forwards at every turn, but it was particularly true on Sunday night.

In the Habs’ 3-2 regulation loss, the gritty defenseman landed 11 hits, one more than he made in the first three games combined, and he managed to stay away from the penalty box, which was no small feat. On top of being very efficient on the penalty kill. He was even the architect of the Canadiens’ first goal of the game, spotting Zachary Bolduc gathering speed in acres of space and sending him a picture-perfect pass.

1-0. MTL, Zack Bolduc (1)

Kaiden Guhle feeds Bolduc up ice, drives to the net, chips the puck on net and trickles past Vasilevskiy#GoBolts: 0#GoHabsGo: 1 pic.twitter.com/wKqmG9lMOq

— Joseph (@HockeyJoseph10) April 27, 2026

While he was understandably disappointed with the loss, the blueliner remained philosophical after it, telling the media several times, “that’s playoff hockey for you” and that there were “off calls, probably for both sides”. When asked what the lesson was about this loss, he replied:

I don’t know, just hopefully next time, the puck doesn’t go off a guy’s face in the net.

-

Asked how frustrating it was that Nikita Kucherov was right back in the game after staying down for several minutes and needing the trainer’s assistance after Jake Evans cross-checked him in the back, he replied: “Yeah, it’s frustrating.”

The Canadiens must now forget about that frustration, turn over a new leaf and head to Tampa like it’s a brand new series, just a shorter one that has become a best-two-out-of-three affair.

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Mike and Dan recap some news around the Islanders and their AHL affiliate, question the team’s bizarre partnering with JELL-O and reveal some important announcements.

While fans like us are still mad about the Islanders being home during the NHL playoffs, there was some news coming out of the team’s prospect pool. The Bridgeport Islanders ended their 25-year-run in the city with a short and unsuccessful stay in the playoffs that mirrored how the big club ended their season. Once again, there are things to celebrate, but also things to be sad and disappointed about. Many have fond memories of the longtime minor league outpost that will become more intense as the move to Hamilton inches closer to finality. But there is excitement about a fresh start in a lush new home, and it will be a fascinating experiment to watch the… whatever they’ll be called.

Later, we do something people have been asking about for a while and give the Islanders themselves the Master Leaf Theatre treatment. What seems like an innocuous corporate cameo appearance is, for us, a concerning look at the team’s real priorities. It’s fair to wonder what truly matters here, as this flashy new toy isn’t exactly filling us with the childish sense of fun it’s supposed to and feels more like a peek into a dystopian future.

Sprinkled throughout the show are three big announcements about a sweepstakes, a poll for our Weirdest Islander of the Year and our schedule for the rest of the offseason. So stick with us through the whole thing.

REFERENCES:

• Michael Fornabaio’s in-the-moment blog post about Bridgeport signing off as an AHL city is a must-read.
• We’re glad Alan Feuhring is sticking around.
• Now, what the hell is this team gonna be called? We’re hoping for the Hammers.
• The UBS Arena JELL-OMeter was a weird thing at a weird time. The Islanders are trying very hard to shove some very un-Islanders ideas into people’s faces.

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Most everyone is of the impression that the puck crossed the line in overtime as the Edmonton Oilers now find themselves down 3-1 in their first-round series with the Anaheim Ducks. Logic suggests it was in. But, that's not really the point, is it?

Logic alone is not supposed to be enough to determine such a critical call in a potential series-changing decision. You need proof. The officials didn't have it. 

Trending Stories

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First, with no conclusive video evidence showing the full puck in the white space behind the goal line, there is no footage proving that a part of the puck wasn't touching the goal line.

Second, no referee was in a position to call the goal good while the play was happening. Yet, somehow, after not calling a goal, the officials got together and ruled the puck had crossed. They essentially overruled their indecision. That choice meant the war room had to find enough evidence to overturn the call on the ice. They couldn't. As such, the goal stood. 

It was a situation where, as the rules are supposed to work, they ended up working against the Oilers.

"Worst call I’ve ever seen. In the history of the NHL, this is it," said Spittin' Chiclets Ryan Whitney. After some time to reflect, Whitney posted another video saying, "I’ve had time to cool off. It was probably in. But calling it a goal on the ice will never make sense to me."

Why Did The Officials Call It In?

Fans can argue it was in. They're probably not wrong. Still, there has to be definitive proof, which didn't exist, and no official, if tied to a lie detector, can honestly claim they saw the puck cross. That's where the Oilers should take issue.

"The issue I have with this is I don't understand how you can say that puck is completely crossing the goal line. There's no official behind the net there," said the Hockey Central Panel after the game. 

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman noted on the broadcast that the NHL war room didn't have any additional footage that the network or fans hadn't seen. The goal was called good because there wasn't enough evidence to suggest the officials call on the ice was wrong. That's a rule everyone knows exists. Fair enough. What the Oilers should be upset about is how the officials, who had no way of actually seeing the puck over the goal line, decided that it crossed. 

Friedman posted, "Apropos of nothing: no idea how they could call it a goal on the ice...no official was behind the net."

Jonny Lazerus posted what many are thinking: "It’s easy to guess that it completely crossed the goal line, but there’s definitely no way you can tell for sure based on Jarry’s skate."

There are going to be some crazyyyyy conversations about this tomorrow across hockey media.

It’s easy to guess that it completely crossed the goal line, but there’s definitely no way you can tell for sure based on Jarry’s skate. pic.twitter.com/tNPDXI6DUZ

— Jonny Lazarus (@JLazzy23) April 27, 2026

"You never want to be on that side of it, and it's tough to lose that way. Tough to have the indecision of that, but I guess that's the way it goes. I wish it could've went the other way," said Tristan Jarry after the loss.

Jarry played extremely well, given he was called upon to start the game after weeks of sitting on the sidelines. 

Head coach Kris Knoblauch said, "They call it a goal. You know, it's very close and often, and I've seen it before, where I've seen the past with thought goals have gone in and they haven't been able to prove them, so I thought that's what the call was going to be, but obviously they thought it was and just thought otherwise." He added that he was never given an explanation about how the officials were able to determine on the ice that the puck crossed. 

Oilers Put Themselves in This Position

At the end of the day, the call doesn't make sense. However, there are bigger problems for the Oilers, stemming from the fact their play throughout this series has put them in a tough spot. Now on the brink of elimination, when all is said and done, if the Oilers don't advance, it won't be because of a strange call in overtime of Game 4. 

Edmonton has been outplayed by Anaheim. The Oilers have had multiple leads in this series and have not been able to hold them. Up 2-0 again in Game 4, Edmonton let the Ducks tie it. The Oilers took a 3-2 lead, then the Ducks tied it again. It's been a common theme, as has the team's poor play on defense and refusal to keep the game simple. 

Now, the Oilers have to claw back. They've dug a hole and to get out, they'll need better play from their stars, most of whom are hurt or dealing with something. 

Connor McDavid doesn't look right. Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman are still clearly impacted by lingering issues. Jason Dickinson was back in, but he's not whole. These aren't excuses. What they are is the reality of Edmonton's situation. 

A team that was a heavy favorite coming into this series took the Ducks lightly. The Oilers forgot what style of game led them to a solid record over the last 10 games of the season and they've let a young team playing with house money run their show. As a result, they're backed into a corner and calls like the one is overtime on Sunday night could mean the end of their season. 

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