3 Keys: Oilers at Flames, Game 5 of Western Second Round

(2P) Oilers at (1P) Flames
9:30 p.m. ET; ESPN, CBC, SN, TVAS
Oilers lead best-of-7 series 3-1

The Edmonton Oilers will try to advance to the conference final for the first time in 16 years when they play the Calgary Flames in Game 5 of the Western Conference Second Round at Scotiabank Saddledome on Wednesday.
"I think any team that has their backs against the wall and facing an elimination game, it's hard to beat the team and knock them out," Oilers forward Zach Hyman said. "I think we're expecting their best version. I think that's to be expected and that's what we're prepared for.
"It's really hard to knock a team out, so I think you have to get excited for that opportunity and you just take everything one game at a time."
Edmonton has not advanced past the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2006, when they lost in the Stanley Cup Final to the Carolina Hurricanes in seven games.
The Oilers are 14-1 in series in which they have led 3-1.
Calgary has never rallied from 3-1 in a best-of-7 series in their history, losing all nine series, including six when starting the series at home.
"I think just one game at a time right now," Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau said. "I really enjoy playing with all these guys in the locker room. We have a good group in there. It's been fun all year long. Every guy is really motivated in there. We know where we're at in the series. Take it one game at a time and have fun playing in front of our fans here and a sold-out crowd and go from there."
Teams that lead 3-1 hold an all-time series record of 296-31 (90.5 percent) in a best-of-7 series, including 0-1 in the 2022 first round.
Here are 3 keys for Game 4:

1. Strike early and often

The team that has scored first has gone on to win three of four games in the series and Edmonton has yet to lose in the playoffs when scoring the first goal (6-0).
The Flames haven't led in the series since Game 2, when they blew leads of 2-0 and 3-1 in an eventual 5-3 loss. Calgary fell behind 4-0 in a 4-1 loss in Game 3, and trailed 3-0 in a 5-3 defeat in Game 4.
However, the Flames led Game 1 3-0 after 6:05, and led Game 2 2-0 after 6:02, each at home.
"We haven't had two good starts in this building and starts are key," Edmonton captain Connor McDavid said. "For our group, coming out and managing that 10-minute game and getting ourselves into the game early is important."

2. Containing Connor

Calgary hasn't been able to solve McDavid in the series. He has multipoint games in each of the first four games, and leads the playoffs with 25 points (six goals, 19 assists), three more than teammate Leon Draisaitl.
McDavid has averaged 22:27 of ice time in the series and has 11 points (two goals, nine assists). He has an NHL record 10 multipoint games in his first 11 games this postseason, including a current seven-game multipoint streak. Only Wayne Gretzky had a longer run, an eight-game streak with the Oilers in 1983.
"As a whole, he's set the tone for our whole club," Oilers forward Derek Ryan said. "Every time he goes on the ice he's not just creating offensively, but he's hitting, he's tracking back, he's making great defensive plays. I think we all just look for him as an inspiration for motivation. He's a great player and a great leader."

3. Finding his 'Mark'

Jacob Markstrom is a finalist for the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's best goalie in the regular season, but he's yet to show that form against Edmonton. He went 37-15-9 in 63 games and led the NHL with nine shutouts, finishing third in goals-against average (2.22) and tied for third in save percentage (.922).
But Markstrom has an .850 save percentage in the second round, worst among the 11 goalies to make an appearance, and the highest goals-against average (5.28).
"I expect him to be at his very best," Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk said. "He kept us in [Game 4], made some huge games in the third and later in the second (period) last game and gave us a chance to ultimately win that game. That's all you can ask for from a goalie. We have so much belief in him. He's going to be at his best and hopefully we are as well."

Oilers projected lineup

Evander Kane -- Connor McDavid -- Leon Draisaitl
Zach Hyman -- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins -- Jesse Puljujarvi
Warren Foegele -- Ryan McLeod -- Kailer Yamamoto
Josh Archibald -- Derek Ryan -- Zack Kassian
Darnell Nurse -- Cody Ceci
Duncan Keith -- Evan Bouchard
Brett Kulak -- Tyson Barrie
Mike Smith
Mikko Koskinen
Scratched:Philip Broberg, Devin Shore, Derick Brassard, Kris Russell
Injured:None

Flames projected lineup

Johnny Gaudreau -- Elias Lindholm -- Matthew Tkachuk
Andrew Mangiapane -- Mikael Backlund -- Blake Coleman
Dillon Dube -- Calle Jarnkrok -- Tyler Toffoli
Milan Lucic -- Trevor Lewis
Noah Hanifin -- Rasmus Andersson
Nikita Zadorov -- Chris Tanev
Oliver Kylington -- Erik Gudbranson
Michael Stone
Jacob Markstrom
Dan Vladar
Scratched:Brett Ritchie, Adam Ruzicka, Ryan Carpenter, Connor Mackey
Injured:None
Status report
Kane is expected to play after leaving the team Wednesday for the birth of his son. ... Tanev, who played 19:24 in Game 4 after missing four games because of an undisclosed injury, is expected to play. ... Calgary could dress 11 forwards and seven defensemen.