Oilers looking to match desperate Kings' sense of urgency to clinch series in Game 6

The roles have been reversed. In last season's first-round playoff matchup, the Edmonton Oilers took a 2-1 series lead and the Los Angeles Kings stormed back to take Games 4 and 5. That meant the Oilers had to play desperate hockey in Game 6 in order to survive. They did — and went on to take the series.

The roles have been reversed.

In last season's first-round playoff matchup, the Edmonton Oilers took a 2-1 series lead and the Los Angeles Kings stormed back to take Games 4 and 5. That meant the Oilers had to play desperate hockey in Game 6 in order to survive. They did — and went on to take the series.

This year, the results are backwards five games into the series. It’s the Kings that had the 2-1 series lead, lost two in a row, and now face elimination in Saturday night’s Game 6 at Crypto.com Arena.

So, knowing what it was like last year going into a do-or-die Game 6, the Oilers have something of an idea of the sense of desperation that’s been building in the Kings’ dressing room.

“We were in the opposite position last year,” said Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse. “We fed off a big win in Game 6. So, for us, there’s an importance on getting the right result tomorrow night, and that’s where we keep our minds.

“When elimination is so close, either way really, with two potential games left in this series, the urgency on both sides is going to be high and, for us, we’ve got to bring a level that’s higher than theirs.”

Desperation. Urgency. These are words that are tossed about whenever elimination games come around. And they come from both the team that’s on the brink, and the team that has the advantage.