Oilers tasting more special-teams success heading into Game 5 vs. Kings

The Edmonton Oilers will take on the L.A. Kings again on Tuesday, this time back in L.A.

A significant development?

In last year’s National Hockey League playoffs, sterling special-teams play were central to the Edmonton Oilers’ success in advancing to the Stanley Cup final.

After coming up well short in the first two games against the Los Angeles Kings in this year’s postseason, the Oilers’ power play is starting to come around.

Their penalty-killing efforts are, too, and that’s important as the Kings had been lethal until Game 4 of the first-round series between the Pacific Division rivals.

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Edmonton had been shut out with the man advantage in the first two games of the series, going zero-for-four in Los Angeles, before recording five goals on six opportunities at home for Games 3 and 4.

Shorthanded, the Oilers were shelled by the Kings over the first three games, with L.A.’s power play going seven-for-12. In Game 4, Edmonton nullified their rival’s three extra-man opportunities.

There’s plenty of reason to believe special teams will play a major factor in the series.

Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said Tuesday while it’s a “short-term thing to say things are working or not working,” he believes their special-teams’ challenges will work themselves out.

• Oilers wear down Kings’ short bench in Game 4

“With the fact that we’ve scored a couple goals (on the power play), hopefully we can keep that momentum,” Knoblauch told media after his team’s morning skate ahead of Game 5 in L.A.

“We should be feeling good about that. Hopefully, we can dictate the play a little more and draw some more power plays so we can be on the power play. We know how good it can be, especially in the postseason.”

Defenceman Brett Kulak, one of the Oilers’ penalty-killers, said he thinks replicating the success the unit had in Game 4 requires playing hard, “shutting off the mind and following your instincts a little more.”

“It’s a matter of ... making sure you’re playing hard, getting pucks out and doing the simple things.”