The Edmonton Oilers don't need many shots to win games or many games to win championships.
The team that crammed four NHL titles into five seasons from 1984 through 1988 swept Boston in the finals two years ago and can repeat that without leaving home again.The Oilers were outshot in the first two games of the Stanley Cup finals, 52-31 and 27-22, but still won both in Boston.
"You look up at the shot clock and you're outshooting them 6-0," Boston defenseman Glen Wesley said after Friday night's 7-2 loss. "And then it's 6-1 and we're down 1-0. It's definitely frustrating."
The Oilers can repeat their 1988 sweep by winning in their own Northlands Coliseum on Sunday and Tuesday nights.
"We're not even thinking that," Edmonton captain Mark Messier said. "Right now, we can't believe we're up 2-0."
The Bruins came into the best-of-7 series with the NHL's best record and defense during the regular season and an eight-game home winning streak in the playoffs. They are just as stunned.
"This was an unbelievable, an unforgettable game for me, because we played so well, and then . . . ," Boston coach Mike Milbury said after the second-game rout.
Then Jari Kurri scored his second of three goals, giving Edmonton a 3-2 lead at 4:21 of the second period, although Boston held a 15-4 shot advantage. The Bruins lost their composure, tried to force the offense and paid the price with turnovers. The Oilers capitalized with three goals in the last five minutes of the period.
Although the bigger ice surface in Edmonton should help the faster, free-wheeling Oilers more than Boston, the Bruins were 23-12-5 on the road, best in the league and better than their own home record.