No team makes it to the Stanley Cup Final based on skill alone. No team has ever won the Cup simple because they were the best team on paper. Sure, sometimes the best team did indeed win it all, but along the way they had to catch their breaks, survive a key injury, and show their resolve in addition to their hockey skill.
The injuries that affected the Edmonton Oilers are starting to trickle out and the big one is Leon Draisaitl’s high ankle sprain. Suffered in Game Six of their series against the Los Angeles Kings, Draisaitl pushed his way through the pain and still managed to put up 24 points in the 10 games following the injury.