Oilers’ Connor Murphy excited for his first real taste of NHL Playoffs

Connor Murphy made his NHL debut November 16th, 2013. He’s played 825 regular season NHL games but tonight will be his first playoff game with fans in the building. He played nine playoff games for Chicago in the 2020 bubble in Edmonton, but with no fans in the crowd, Murphy didn’t get the authentic playoff experience. He will tonight and he can’t wait.

I sat down with Murphy on Friday to discuss Game 1 against the Anaheim Ducks. Murphy has loved his 20 games in Edmonton, and he’s heard about how loud the building is in the playoffs so his excitement was evident when we chatted about the opportunity to not only play in the playoffs for a team with a legitimate chance to win the Stanley Cup, but in front of a ravenous, boisterous crowd.

Jason Gregor: This will be your first playoff experience with fans after 825 NHL games. How do you approach it?

Connor Murphy: I’m really excited. I just think of watching and being a part of intense games and knowing the little moments in the game and the reaction it gets from crowds. I think in a regular season game whether you throw a hit or a block shot, sometimes you might hear a few people give a little bit of something, but usually not a lot. Other than goals, you’re not getting as big of roars or as big of an intense feeling from momentum shifts and I think that’s what I’m most excited for is to hear that and feel that energy of a face-off, of a line rush, of a penalty kill or a key blocked shot. To feel that intensity and really ride that adrenaline rush. I can’t wait.

Gregor: From an outside perspective it would seem your game is perfectly suited for the playoffs when the games are more physical. Is it easier to play in the playoffs with your........

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