BLOG: Tuesday's travel day skate

EDMONTON, AB - The Edmonton Oilers hit the ice on Tuesday at Rogers Place before departing to Calgary to begin their second-round Battle of Alberta series on Wednesday against the Flames
Several key players were absent from the skate with Leon Draisaitl, Evander Kane, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins all not on the ice during the Oilers practice.
Head Coach Jay Woodcroft continued the playoff tango engaged with by so many teams and danced around the media's questions about who would be in the lineup for the first game of the series.
"The other day I paid attention to the way Darryl Sutter had talked about the people who weren't skating before Game 7 and he put it really eloquently. He said everyone who didn't skate was available," Woodcroft said about who will be ready for Game 1 in Calgary.
Following the morning practice, the full Oilers squad departed for Calgary this afternoon ahead of Wednesday's Game 1 at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

At this point in the season, the Oilers are 89 contests deep into meaningful games, plus a countless number of practices. The preparation for the second-round series begins as much off the ice as it does on it. The absences at Tuesday's skate opened up the opportunity for others to show their readiness for the next round.
"I thought we had a really good practice today, some of the people who may not be in the everyday lineup brought a little boost and a little energy," Woodcroft said. "We got exactly what we needed and we're well prepared for game number one."
The work off the ice maybe gets a little understated over the course of a season and a playoff, since the work is usually only witnessed by those within the locker room walls. One moment in this season where that off-ice work became vitally important to the Oilers success down the stretch was after that 9-5 defeat to Calgary back on March 26.
"I think you take something from every game," Woodcroft said. "That was an important point in our year. We really dialed it in with how we needed to play to have success after that game. You take those lessons with you and try and make yourself a better team because of it."

The Oilers conceded nine even-strengh goals to the Flames in that contest. If there was ever an opportunity for the coaches to use a game's film as a wake-up call to what happens when you stray from your system, or ignore the finer details, it was that Saturday night in Calgary.
The results, while they stung in the moment, played into the Oilers favour in the long run. Following that game, Edmonton finished their regular season with a sparkling 13-2-1 record in the final 16 contests.
"What I think that game did was allow the coaching staff to use it as a learning moment for our group. It was our ability to focus our group as to the type of game we needed to play to have some success, and here we are," Woodcroft said.
"We're a different team than early in the year. Later on in the season, they caught us a couple times and they helped us grow as a team and face adversity," Zach Hyman said about that contest.
Growing and facing adversity has been a theme as the Oilers came down the stretch drive, and it was evident in the way Edmonton was able to avoid flinching when the Kings had them on the brink in the first round. That ability to be steadfast in the face of hardship comes from the work the team, and the coaching staff has done on and off the ice in instituting an understanding and belief in Coach Woodcroft's system.
"He's one of the most well-prepared coaches and people that you'll meet. A first-year in the league as a head coach, but he's been in the league a long time," Hyman said. "I think Woody is a great teacher and educator and he's able to adapt and change on the fly. His preparation is second to none and I'm sure it will be in Calgary."

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