OverDrive - Lowe on the Oilers' mentality after a defeat, Edmonton's undisciplined performance and the Stanley Cup experience

Episode Date: June 10, 2025

Former Oilers General Manager, Head Coach and Stanley Cup Champion Kevin Lowe joined OverDrive to discuss the Oilers' mindset coming off a defeat against the Panthers, the lack of discipline from Edmonton, finding positives on the roster, Sam Bennett's huge role, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl turning the page and more.

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Get over a thousand dollars off amazing phones with eligible trade-in. Switch to Canada's fastest 5G plus network today. Visit a Bell store or Bell.ca slash Blue Dot Days for details. Bell getting a new phone just got better. I played the playoffs against him. I believe he scored a playoff goal against me. Is that right? He was with the New York Rangers in a six-nothing win by the Rangers. You were with the Islanders? Was that 94? Well, they beat us in four. We actually lost in three.

It was that bad. They beat us up so bad. Was it a four-game sweep? Four-game sweep. It was ugly. That's unfortunate. And I do believe Kevin got me in game two, it was. I started. Well, here he is. Long time NHL. He's won a million Stanley Cups seemingly and he scored on noodles in the playoffs. There's Kevin Lowe. Do you remember that goal Kevin? I don't actually but I remember the series very well Jamie. It must have been the sixth goal. It could have been an important one if I scored it. Everybody was scoring it was it was point night every night it felt like for your team you guys were so good you guys just dominated

pretty much right to the cup. Yeah it was a very veteran team you know the Rangers really they were swinging for the fences bringing in you know a lot of ex-oilers. And we weren't a young team. Jay Wells and myself and Doug Litster played the back end and we're all in our mid 30s. But it just spoke to how good we were up front and of course, and that's with Mike Richter. A long time ago, good memory.

Hopefully it'll be another good memory for one of my teams in the coming week or so. A little better than last night anyways. What did you make of last night Kevin? It was a bit of a, it was just uncharacteristic. We were talking about the timing of it and you of all people have been to so many finals understand that you just can't have a throwaway game when you get to the end of the line here. And that's exactly what last night was. It was a gift and it was a throwaway and all aspects of the game was a mess.

You had no question. Dog's Breakfast, you know, it can happen. It happened to us before. We lost in the Stanley Cup finals 6 to 1 and it was was appeared to be, you know, one side of the way The game last night was but I think there's a couple things, you know Although it was a 6-1 game. The game is always closer than the score shows You know, I really thought I mean the first goal was a disaster complete defensive disaster

everyone's scrambling around nobody taking anyone and complete defensive disaster. Everyone's scrambling around, nobody taking anyone. But that came just after when I thought Ekblad deserved a penalty on McDavid. You can't blame it on the refs, but so be it. They score a goal. Then the lack of discipline really started to show. You can't take penalties. Florida, they're feeling it right you know you can't take penalties. I mean Florida are they're feeling it right now. You can't take penalties anyhow but when a team is feeling on the power play like they are and you know the worst part about taking penalties is that you're not on the offense you're defending so at least in the first parade which you which just gives a team like Florida just all the power in

the world. And Verheggie's goal was a beautiful shot. I mean, they just under the pipe and stuff. So it was going their way. They fought back. Of course, the ageless one, Cory got a goal for us and it was close. And then another seeing eye shot by Sam Reithart, who's been quiet in the series. And that was a beautiful shot. And then the game really broke open when Bennett ran over, put Coles in, and then the kid got

up, showed all kinds of courage, tried to make an offensive play. Probably shouldn't because he's probably knocked colder than a cucumber there But he's still to in fairness to him He tries to make a play because they're down three one normally if they're good Score wasn't that way he would have dumped it in and then Bennett's off to the races and man. What a series he's having No kidding. He's been unreal with Kevin low and you reference that you know You've been in the position that the Oilers were in losing 6-1 In the cup final game. I'm curious, you know how how you

Settled your nerves after that how you pushed beyond it and you settled in for game four because you know This is as big as it gets for Edmonton on Thursday night What kind of advice based on your own experience would you give this team to make sure they're prepared for Thursday? Well, I mean be ready. I mean, when you, that sounds crazy, but be ready means, you know, they got to be more disciplined. They can't be taking penalties. They got to have their A game in all aspects. They got to go in there. It's going to be a hornet's nest. I mean, Florida's smelling blood right now and they get them down 3-1. That's tough to come back, although they almost did it last year. But they've got to have a good first period like they have had in the other series where

they've really come out and they've been the better team. They've been getting the scoring chances. They've been playing in the other team's end and that gives the whole team confidence. Okay, we're in this one. Maybe gets the Panthers a little bit on their heels. Maybe they got to start taking some, you know, the Panthers take penalties. And, you know, that's a bit of a, you know, metamorphosis of a win in the Stanley Cup playoffs on the road. Kevin, I'm sure most of the Oilers fan base wants to strangle sam bennett right now but i don't think anyone can disagree how well he's playing is just a fantastic

talent come playoff time does he remind you of anybody from back in the day just a guy that come playoff time you would elevate and he'd be a pain in the ass and he would always be right in the mix contributing in all areas of the game uh... for sure he's playing playing unbelievable a nice time to be having a great run like he's having but he's been good for a couple years You know ever since he left Alberta. Thank goodness. He's not around here anymore I remember when when the flames drafted him I thought oh we're gonna have to deal with that kid for you know, ten or fifteen years because I admired him

I admired the way he played. And his game is really coming. I mean, the Four Nations goal was a huge goal to give Canada a chance. But a little bit of Rafi Torres. Rafi was not scoring like Sam Bennett is scoring. But I mean, he had some huge hits in the playoffs for us in the 06 run. He put McCallick out.

I mean he could skate, really skate, and the way Bennett does, you know, skate fast and launch into guys. And you know, yeah, I'd love to have him on our team, but he's having a great series. And you know, interestingly enough, really him and marchant are doing all the scoring i mean that you know reinhart was solid to the other night and and uh... you know a lot of the other guys uh... were silent but but i think the you know connor what he said today i mean it's it's it's go time for them in game four he's announced it so

i suspect will be ready to play so kevin you, at the end of the last 10 minutes of the game it kind of got a little bit old school where they were put some frustration. Like Chris Noblock said, boys being boys, I kind of chuckled at that one. What do you make of that? Is it you're always trying to take a piece of your opponent in the finals or you know deep into the playoffs? Is it is it something that can rally the guys a little bit or is it just frustrations you're trying to get it out? Well, the games change. In our day, it was yeah, you get your pound of flesh for sure. And the score, you know, gets out. I mean, you know, yes. score, you know, gets out. I mean, you know, you see ankles, you know, doesn't matter as long as you don't get suspended. But it sends it sends a message for sure. You know, it's

the right time to do it. And I don't know. I mean, I don't think it's going to necessarily carry over into game four, but I think it probably released some frustration for the Oilers and and but they know they can't they can't play that way. I mean, that's they got game for but uh... i think it probably release some frustration for the orders and and but they know they can't they can play that way i mean that's they gotta play a high temple game and and finish the checks the way they have in the previous series and and force florida and to take in penalties you know not not the opposite with kevin low and you mentioned what mcdavid said uh...

you know that maybe they haven't had their best stuff but it's coming and it's got to be there obviously on Thursday, game four. We referenced the Echblad hit where he got them there coming through the middle of the ice and he didn't have his best stuff. Dry Settle didn't have his best stuff. Do you think that's what Florida is doing to them or do you think that that was just like last night they just didn't have their stuff? What would you give us a projection on what you think McDavid and Dry Settle will play

like game four? Well, that was a good hit by Echblad. Connor doesn't get, actually he got hit in game two on the power play by Ekblad, I think, carrying it in the zone. And you almost never see that on the power play. So I mean, Florida's defense is playing great. I mean, Jones has probably played his best hockey. He's been a big addition and, you know, they're tall and rangy. I mean, Schmidt is, guy is, I don't know how old he is, but he's just playing unbelievable. Like, a guy who was sort of basically a 5'6 defenseman has been really noticeable in this series.

And so, that's making it a lot tougher on the other forwards, but they got to find a getaway. They could really grind. Not so much Conor's line. Leon's line can get it in and grind and cycle. Conor's usually a you know a rush type of player but the other the other lines got to get in there and soften them up a bit and and again make them play in there in a bit so it you know it get them defending get

them on their heels so it opens up for for guy like McDavid to be able to make those you know those high-speed rushes and score off the rush Well, it is go time Thursday night game four. It's gonna be a fun one Last night was disappointing but it's it's only two one in the series a lot of hockey left Great catching up with you as always Kevin enjoy the rest of the series and we'll do it again soon Okay, yes. Thanks. There is a little Was one again a lot of Stanley Cups in his his career six Stanley cups between the Oilers and the Rangers Joining us here on the maple Toyota hotline drove drive the built-in Canada fuel-efficient fun to drive

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