Dallas respected us too much. The Stars lack the kind of fire that despises opposition. Players like Benn had to try to manufacture ill will where there was none. Even between games you were shocked at things guys like Robertson would say about how much they respected the Oilers. It was their problem. I'd seen this kind of thing before a long time ago where clubs didn't expect to beat the Oilers and didn't. This year that was the Kings and Stars. They played throughout without much real contesting. Sometimes seems like waiting for the handshake line.
Credit Oilers, of course, but both these clubs seemed to lie down pretty easy, neither really solved our PP, and both had trouble finding any scoring depth.
Nucks and Panthers played us harder, more physical. Its hard to put a finger on it. Dallas on paper are pretty much what Florida is, but with the Panthers Tkachuk, Bennett, Barkov etc have some ill will against the OIlers and something to prove. The other thing is situational and the unresolved hunger from the Panthers not getting it done, and not getting the SC last season has fed over into this one.
I always maintained last playoffs was the Oilers better chance of getting the cup. Seemed like a wide open year and I think we had a slightly better club.