The Edmonton Oilers managed to close out their first round series against the Los Angeles Kings in five games, setting up a second round showdown with either the Vancouver Canucks or Nashville Predators.
Edmonton handled Los Angeles, showing in this series that they could win games in multiple ways, both with their usual offensive outbursts and a 1-0 shutout win in Game 4.
It's the third straight year in which the Oilers and Kings met up in the first round, and the third year in a row the Oilers have dispensed with the Kings.
There's a lot to be discussed this offseason about where the Kings go from here, as their mix of last era's aging core and their new wave's impressive young group have them at an impasse, but the Oilers are a game or two away from knowing their second round matchup.
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NHL Playoff Update: Oilers to Face Winner of Canucks, Predators
The Vancouver Canucks currently hold a 3-2 lead in their best of 7 series with the Nashville Predators, as the Preds went to Vancouver for Game 5 and kept their season alive with a win after the Canucks totally stole one in the Music City in Game 4.
Both matchups are enticing, but the possibility of Vancouver closing it out in Friday night's Game 6 and setting up a Western Canada showdown between the two historic rivals is obviously an exciting one.
Nashville, too, would be an interesting matchup, if not as much due to geographical reasons, but the Predators blend of defense, goaltending, and timely scoring would present a more advanced version of the challenge the Oilers just faced from Los Angeles.
The Canucks have not had as easy of a time with Nashville as they might have expected, with the Predators outplaying them on a couple of occasions and forcing a lower-event pace on the Pacific Division champions.
Nashville will be rockin tonight as the Predators look to force a Game 7, and the Oilers would probably be just fine with both of their potential opponents coming into their series as battered as possible.
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