From the scorer to Bruiser, Oilers’ Zach Hyman makes another brand

Zach Hyman was a goal machine a year ago. Edmonton Oilers’ wing player has developed into a hit machine in this year’s NHL playoffs.

Hyman leads all players with 99 goals in the post-season with Panthers striker Sam Bennett next.

Hyman delivered a team of nine checks on Friday when Edmonton hood the Dallas Stars 3-0 in the second game of the Western Conference final.

“He is a kind of bull out there,” said teammate Evander Kane.

The Oilers took a 1-1 split home for game 3 on Sunday afternoon at Rogers Place.

Hyman was the leading goal scorer of the NHL in the playoffs last year at 16 after a regular season, in which he had broken the 50-goal mark for the first time in his career.

The 31-year-old from Toronto was calmer in the production department in the production department with three goals and five templates in 13 games, but loudly against the body of the opposing players.

“Zach has become a leading goal from a leading top scorer in the NHL,” remarked Oiler’s head coach Kris Knoblauch.

“You can have any player who wants to complete checks, but you also have to be aware of how to get there and also has the speed. Zachs is quietly a very quick player. He is quick. He can rise up and down the ice cream.

“When he can arrive there, he doesn’t turn away.

The six-foot-one-201-pound hyman, which turns 33 on June 9, stayed on the right side of the law and checked in the playoffs checks with only six minutes of penalty. Hyman took fifth place in his team during the regular season.

“I don’t go and look for hits or hunt it, but if there is the opportunity to be physical, it is the playoffs. It is not the regular season,” said Hyman.

Knoblauch has used various forward line combinations, but Hyman has recently spent more time for the wing of Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.

Every Oiler next to McDavid aims to give him the additional half a second or half a meter of ice so that the captain works his offensive magic.

McDavid with three goals and 17 templates is connected to teammate Leon Draisaitl and the stars striker Mikko Rantannen for the playoff points with 20.

As for the need, McDavid is on Edmonton’s changed style from last year when the Oilers reached the Stanley Cup final against Florida and lost in a game 7.

“It is probably not so running and weapon. It is probably not so entertaining to pay attention to the people at home, but we win games and that’s all that is really important,” said McDavid.

“Guys do everything to win this team.”

Vasily Podkolzin and Evander Kane drove out their share of bruises with 58 or 53 hits in the playoffs. Kasperi Kapanen also brings a physical hockey brand at 17 in his four playoff games this season.

Kane said, the more oiler, the opponents, the better.

“The other team makes it difficult for the referees more difficult to fill boys,” he said. “If you all have it, it can be done in the other teams, sales and offensive value creation options.”

In the second game of the last year, the stars went 2-1 against the Oilers with 2:

McDavid will experience a playoff drop drop in the afternoon for the first time in a career of 87 playoff games.

The game 3 on Sunday starts at 1 p.m. local time in Edmonton, which after the second game in Dallas ensures a quick turnaround.

“Whatever the team is ready to roll will have the advantage,” said the captain. “We have to be.”