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91ƵA lot of confidence91Ƶ: Oilers primed after big Game 4 win

Oilers face another no-tomorrow test Tuesday against the Panthers still trailing series 3-1.
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Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch speaks during a press conference before they took on the Florida Panthers in Thursday91Ƶs game 3 of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs in Edmonton on Wednesday June 12, 2024.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Kris Knoblauch stated boldly he was looking forward to the next 10 days.

The Oilers head coach shared those feelings hours before his team faced elimination down 3-0 to the Florida Panthers in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup final.

Edmonton then went out and thumped the Eastern Conference champions 8-1 to earn a stay of execution.

Knoblauch 91Ƶ confidently, again 91Ƶ is now eyeing the next eight days he expects his team to spend together.

There remains, however, zero margin for error.

The Oilers face another back-against-the-wall, no-tomorrow test Tuesday against the Panthers still trailing the best-of-seven title series 3-1.

On the heels of Edmonton91Ƶs emphatic Saturday home triumph that had fans celebrating late into the night around Rogers Place, Knoblauch91Ƶs group is firmly focused on buying yet more time and, as superstar captain Connor McDavid said after Game 4, 91ƵDrag (the Panthers) back to Alberta.91Ƶ

Knoblauch91Ƶs words 91Ƶ he really had nothing to lose 91Ƶ could have served as bulletin board material for the other side.

But the rookie coach, hired in the fall with Edmonton in a 3-9-1 tailspin, had reason to share his unwavering belief publicly.

Apart from the Xs and Os, his job has never been about confidence 91Ƶ or keeping it high. He91Ƶs instead focused on not allowing frustration to creep into his ultra-talented roster.

That was the mission six weeks into the season, in the playoffs, and over the course of this series, where the Oilers feel they could very easily be up 3-1.

91ƵThey91Ƶve been counted out,91Ƶ Knoblauch told reporters Monday following practice at Amerant Bank Arena. 91ƵOthers have said, 91ƵThey91Ƶre done, they91Ƶre not that good, it91Ƶs over.91Ƶ Whether that was in November or throughout the playoffs.

91ƵIt doesn91Ƶt mean anything to them.91Ƶ

The Oilers91Ƶ attack meant a lot in Game 4, exploding after being largely held in check by Florida.

McDavid led the way with four points, while Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins finally got on the scoresheet as Edmonton took an initial step toward potentially becoming the fifth team in NHL history to win a series after trailing 3-0.

And just the second in a final, some 82 years after the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs.

91ƵIf you look at the top of the mountain right now, it91Ƶs pretty steep,91Ƶ Draisaitl said. 91ƵBut taking one day at a time doesn91Ƶt sound so bad.91Ƶ

The Oilers put a dent in Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who stopped 82-of-86 shots through the first three games before he got the hook after allowing five goals on 16 pucks on target Saturday.

91ƵWe91Ƶre not going to decide how he plays (Game 5), we91Ƶre not going to decide how their team plays,91Ƶ said Edmonton defenceman Darnell Nurse, who ended Bobrovsky91Ƶs night with his first goal of the post-season. 91ƵWe91Ƶre not going to decide what calls are called.

91ƵWe can only control what we can control.91Ƶ

That calm approach is something Knoblauch brought with him when he was thrust into a hockey-crazed Canadian spotlight with a floundering Cup contender seven months ago.

91ƵFound a way out of it,91Ƶ said Nugent-Hopkins, whose team is aiming to force Game 6 in Edmonton on Friday. 91ƵHe has belief in us and we have belief in each other.91Ƶ

The Oilers have demonstrated an ability to push back all season. Knoblauch has been steering that ship.

91ƵA very resilient group,91Ƶ Draisaitl said. 91ƵYou don91Ƶt want to find yourself in these situations too many times, but we91Ƶve always done a really good job of collectively pulling on the same rope together. It91Ƶs not individuals, it91Ƶs all of us together.

91ƵLove playing for each other.91Ƶ

The big German added the belief Knoblauch has is justified.

91ƵIt91Ƶd be a shame if he didn91Ƶt have confidence in us by now,91Ƶ Draisaitl said with a smile. 91ƵFaced a lot of adversity this year, and always found a way to push through.

91ƵThere91Ƶs lots of confidence.91Ƶ

Knoblauch has still made plenty of tough calls throughout the spring.

He sat goaltender Stuart Skinner down 2-1 in the second round against the Vancouver Canucks before returning him to the crease after a two-game reset. Edmonton also trailed the Dallas Stars 2-1 in the Western Conference final.

No panic.

91ƵNever really worried about whatever situation that we91Ƶre in,91Ƶ Skinner said of Knoblauch. 91ƵThat belief that we (were) going to spend the next 10 days together 91Ƶ we91Ƶve got a lot of work to do and a lot of battle to go through in order to make that happen, but it does a lot for everybody.91Ƶ

91ƵHe91Ƶs been like that all the way through,91Ƶ Nugent-Hopkins added.

The Oilers have faced tough challenges. This is simply another box to check in an adversity-filled campaign.

91ƵGuys who have seen hard times and have persevered,91Ƶ Knoblauch said of his players. 91ƵWe91Ƶre just having a lot of fun with it right now.

91ƵHopefully we can continue this on for another eight days.91Ƶ

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