BLOG: Familiar territory

DENVER, CO - Stop us if you've heard this one before...
The Oilers find themselves in familiar territory after Game 1 of the Western Conference final as they've now trailed 1-0 in all three of their playoff series thus far following an opening matchup that saw them allow more goals against than they would have liked.
In Round 1 it was a 4-3 defeat to the Los Angeles Kings. In the Battle of Alberta it was a chaotic, record-setting 9-6 loss. And in nearly identical fashion on Tuesday night in Denver, the Colorado Avalanche outlasted them 8-6 to draw first blood in their Stanley Cup semifinal series.
The downside is obvious as they have to dig themselves out of another early hole. On the flip side, they've already rebounded in fine fashion in back-to-back rounds, prevailing in seven games over the Kings and winning four straight against the Calgary Flames to take the Battle of Alberta in five.
"Game 1s haven't been our thing, there's no question about that," said veteran forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, whose power-play marker drew the Oilers within one at the 12:36 mark of the third period before the player selected right after him at second overall in the 2011 NHL Draft, Gabriel Landeskog, iced the Avalanche win with an empty-netter.
"We didn't play our best last night and we didn't play our best in that first Calgary game. We know that we have better. We're confident in ourselves and in each other. Being a road team to start a series, you want to be able to take a split going back home and we have an opportunity to do that tomorrow."

The Oilers will look to replicate their Game 2 results from the first two rounds on Thursday as they aim for the split on the road with Game 3 back in Edmonton on Saturday.
"It definitely helps," defenceman Cody Ceci said of their previous bounce-backs after Game 1 defeats. "[Colorado] showed us last night how good of a team they can be, so we're going to have to bring our 'A' game tomorrow. We came here with a focus on getting one of the two games, so tomorrow is going to be very important for our team."
With a spot in the Stanley Cup Final up for grabs this series, a 2-0 deficit is something the Oilers will do everything in their power to avoid, but they're committed to staying calm in the process.

"For sure there's urgency," Nugent-Hopkins said. "We know that you can't let it get away from you, but at the same time there's not the panic. It's more urgency and finding a way to bring our best."
After giving up four Game 1 goals to the Kings in Round 1, Edmonton responded with a 6-0 shutout in Game 2. After surrending nine to the Flames to start Round 2, they rebounded with a 5-3 victory. A significant decrease in their goals against will be paramount for the Oilers on Thursday in Denver.
"We've certainly got to be a whole lot better than we were yesterday," said Head Coach Jay Woodcroft. "Our focus on our checking and defensive skills can improve greatly."