The Edmonton Oilers have had three kicks at the can but are yet to win a Game 1 in the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
They fell to the Los Angeles Kings 4-3 in the first round, got outgunned by the Calgary Flames 9-6, and fell short against the Colorado Avalanche 8-6 in a Western Conference Final firefight Tuesday night.
Goaltender Mike Smith, who started each of the series-opening contests, summed up the Oilers' struggles succinctly.
"Obviously, we don't like Game 1s of series," he told reporters after the game, per Sportsnet.
Smith, in particular, isn't a fan. He holds an unenviable 0-3 record, a 6.77 goals against average, and an .823 save percentage in five career Game 1s with the Oilers, according to Sportsnet Stats.
He was pulled in two Game 1s this postseason, including against Colorado after surrendering six goals.
| 2022 Game 1 opponent | GA | SA | SV% | TOI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kings | 4 | 35 | .886 | 58:26 |
| Flames (pulled) | 3 | 10 | .700 | 6:05 |
| Avalanche (pulled) | 6 | 25 | .760 | 26:20 |
"When you're on the bench halfway through the game, it's not a good sign," Smith said, per Sportsnet's Gene Principe. "It's one game - you park it and move on. It's a long series."
Despite the Oilers' Game 1 struggles, Smith praised his group's resiliency.
"Obviously, when you're giving up touchdowns in the last two series in Game 1, it's not a good sign, but I think it shows a lot about our team - that when we're down, we're not out of the fight," Smith said. "We'll continue to battle until the end and play for each other. Obviously, that's a good sign, but lots to clean up."
Smith's overall stats from the 2022 postseason are a far cry from his Game 1 numbers. He helped lift the Oilers to the Western Conference Final with a steady .917 save percentage and 3.12 goals against average in 13 appearances.
Puck drops on Game 2 at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday.
