The possible outcomes of a Mike Smith start are as far apart as sunrise and sunset.
I am certain there’s a great sense of loss and upset among Oilers fans this morning. The Mike Smith play was ill-advised, made at a terrible moment in the contest and puts the team in a hole. However, the Oilers have more than Smith to worry about today, including several poor passes, two injured men playing, the third line, and the Los Angeles Kings.
I think the Oilers looked nervous early, loose in the middle and rattled late. The Oilers are the better team, but the Kings will make them earn it. Game 2 is a monster.
THE ATHLETIC!
- Lowetide: Oilers regular season report card for 2021-22
- Lisa Dillman and Lowetide: Oilers vs. Kings position by position: Who has the edge?
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman and Shayna Goldman: Inside Oilers’ adjustments that saved their season
- Lowetide: Oilers’ exceptional April saves a turbulent regular season
- Lowetide: Oilers junior and European prospects deliver strong seasons
- Lowetide: Why Oilers star Leon Draisaitl’s value peaks in the playoffs
- DNB: How Connor McDavid’s season is so stellar and why it’s not getting enough attention
- Lowetide: 5 reasons Zach Hyman was a quality free-agent signing for Oilers
- DNB: Oilers’ need for a healthy Darnell Nurse becomes apparent in first game of absence
- Lowetide: Inside Oilers top prospects’ first and second half splits in AHL
- DNB: Evander Kane’s banner Oilers performance was fitting. And there could be more
- Lowetide: Should Oilers re-sign Brett Kulak based on early results?
- DNB: How Oilers’ Matvey Petrov mastered English and became a promising NHL prospect
- DNB & Lowetide: Why the Jesse Puljujarvi criticism in Edmonton misses the mark
- Lowetide: Evander Kane’s scoring prowess and what he brings the Oilers
- DNB: Connor McDavid’s Hart case
- Lowetide: Stock up or down for every prospect in the Oilers system
- Lowetide: Early look at Oilers free-agent targets for 2022 offseason
- DNB: Should Oilers budget for Evander Kane beyond this season?
- Lowetide: 7 Condors who could impact Oilers’ fortunes in the playoffs
LET’S CHAT
I’m not going to run the usual numbers this morning, they are here and honestly don’t resemble what the coaching staff was doing down the stretch. There was so much shuffling it’s difficult to squeeze much from the lines and pairings.
I’m going to guess Darnell Nurse and Jesse Puljujarvi weren’t 100 percent, and that had an impact for sure. Nurse looked unsure on the first goal, although there was a bit of poltergeist energy from the bouncing puck, and he didn’t make a difference on the Lemieux goal (it was a jailbreak that began with an errant 97 backpass and Jesse Puljujarvi getting tripped). Nurse did get an assist, but his 20:27 should be shaved a little until he’s back to 100 percent. Puljujarvi had very little impact on the game, and that’s concerning.
Kailer Yamamoto had a great night, that was a splendid performance from the young winger. He was more effective on the McDavid line, and if Puljujarvi is injured, perhaps the winger should be moved up for game 2.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had some strong PP moments, but at five-on-five his line was not strong. In 3:37 against the Danault line, the Edmonton trio was 0-2. Not close to good enough. On the Moore goal, Nuge gave Iafallo a light bump and then marked him behind the net but was unable to stop the pass to the shooter. On the second goal, Derek Ryan is the first forward in, and Nuge is trailing him. Kris Russell’s shot around the boards had no support at all, and added to Tyson Barrie’s lack of awareness on the back door, spelled trouble. Nuge’s line, and Nuge, have to be better.
Mike Smith made an awful play, and I would run him again. His high-wire act might be bad for your health, but he’s also the guy who delivered a 9-0-0 record in April. If he falters, run Mikko Koskinen if down 2-0, but I see no need to panic this early in the series.
WHAT WOULD SCOTTY BOWMAN DO?
Assuming Nurse and Puljujarvi aren’t 100 percent, I would run Kane-McDavid-Yamamoto, Hyman-Draisaitl-Puljujarvi, Foegele-Nuge-Ryan. I also think taking some minutes away from Nurse will help.
The other thing Edmonton needs to figure out in a quick hurry is what to do with the Danault line. The trio was 6-2 shots (1-0 goals) versus Keith-Bouchard; 2-0 shots (1-0 goals) against Nurse-Ceci; 1-1 shots and 1-0 goals in less than a minute against Russell-Barrie (I think that’s right, I’m estimating a little). As mentioned above, Danault owned Nuge’s line 2-0 and that’s really the difference in the game. You can say “keep Nuge away!” but the two lines spent just 3:37 against each other, the primary matchup was the Draisaitl unit. Danault also won that five-on-five battle, 1-0 goals and 4-0 shots in 5:25.
All of this is interesting, but if Smith’s neurons could hold a thought maybe Edmonton wins that game.
Bottom line: Either you believe in Woodcroft and Manson or you don’t, and either way is fine. I’ll throw my chips in with this coach, my guess is he’s trying to work around some injuries and didn’t think the Nuge line would take on that much water. He’s good at adjustments. Smith needs to be better, Nurse needs less ice time and Puljujarvi needs to get back to where he once belonged but I think he isn’t 100 percent. Man this team needs the big man, last night showed just how much.
THE COMMENTS SECTION
Last night we had an incident post game that resulted in a one-week vacation for two of our posters. I’m not a big fan of doing this kind of thing, but people who enjoy misery should start their own blogs. Now, there’s an opportunity here for everyone to elevate the discussion. So much of the content of the comments section has become very basic, and my hope is we can elevate the discussion in the week to come. I honestly don’t care that you said you were concerned about this matchup three weeks ago, you don’t have to prove anything to me. I do care how Jay Woodcroft is going to overcome the Jesse downbeat, perhaps that’s something we can engage in. I’m going to give the comments section this week, to see if we can elevate beyond pettiness and ego. If we can’t, I will make adjustments to the comments section beginning in June.
LOWDOWN WITH LOWETIDE
At 10 this morning, TSN 1260, we’ll have a heavy dose of heavy early on the Oilers. I don’t think Oilers fans should panic, but I’m sitting on 6+ decades and multiple Stanley memories. How do you feel? We’ll find out, and Tyler Yaremchuk from Daily Faceoff will join us to give us his take on things. CFL draft, Jays and more, text 10-1260 or hit me @Lowetide on twitter. It’s okay, ladies and men. The world is turning as it should.
TSN1260 is broadcasting ESPN this morning. Something going on I don’t know about
Works on the radio, but the online feed is out.
Nice to see Holloway and Skinner having a big impact in the A. Oilers will need some ELC outperformances next season with the cap space being tight again.
Thinking we will see a W tonight for the big boys.
Watched some highlights of tonight’s games and made some observations on what is working in the O zone:
Players in the crease before the initial shot to block goalie movement. Not enough Oilers getting there and other teams are getting away with it.
Shooting high with screens – lots of goals over shoulders since G are all down when screened. Too many shots to the pads last night.
Rebounds right on guys sticks that get hammered home – for some reason very few Oilers got a clean rebound last night. Have to work free of checks
Sniper burrying the grade A chances. Drai made a beauty shot, but I thought shot accuracy was poor overall last night.
Simple things you could say of every game, but we’re lacking last night
Marody leads the PP rush in to the zone, his pass goes off a skate to Schaller coming across the line, he feeds James Hamblin driving the net and tips in the OT winner…..
Kesselring draws the penalty after taking the puck into the Abbotsford zone and is tripped, sliding heavily into the left boards. He clutches his left shoulder while crumpled on the ice.
He gets up to go to the bench swinging his arm around to work it out. Hopefully it’s nothing substantial. This was a pretty rough game for the guy.
He seems okay during the group cello. Big smile on his face, oh to be young again!
The tying goal:
https://twitter.com/Condors/status/1521711780602408960
Also, Condors are down to 10 forwards (since the 1st) as Benson left – I missed that as well, sorry.
Side note: Holloway has been every bit as good as last game – not sure how he doesn’t have 3 goals…..
Missed the Podkholzin goal with my internet going down for a bit but I sure didn’t miss the Condors’ pressing for the tying goal and Holloway lugging the puck on the left half boards, faking a shot and going back to Kaldis with a nice pass, over to Griffith, snap shot and, boom, the 40th shot on net ties the game with 29 seconds to go.
A lazer over the shoulder by Griffith.
Broberg went for a hit into the boards at the offensive blueline. He is very slow to get back and it turns into a 3 on 2 at the Bakersfield blueline, which turns into a 2 on 1.
Holloway should have picked up Podkolzin, but does a stick wave and the puck is deposited into the gaping net as Broberg coasts back.
Thank – substitute McDavid for Holloway and Barrie for Broberg and the sentence could also ring true.
No score going in to the third – Condors outshooting 31-13.
Malkin with the 3OT winner puts the Penguins up 1-0 over the Rangers
IMO I thought neither team was terribly good last night. Intense? Yes. But not terribly disciplined.
Either team could have won the game. LA was a bit more disciplined than the Oilers, and that was enough to win the game.
I wouldn’t read too much into it.
For the 2nd game, I think it’ll be interesting to see how the players react to seeing how the 1st was called. These playoffs appear to be different than earlier ones. They’re still calling penalties. Oilers can use that to their advantage, if they try.
Condors dominate the first but can’t capitalize on a 30 second 5 on 3 and Spencer Martin the best player on the ice with 20 saves.
Scoreless after 1!
Of note, Abbotsford gets the likes of elite prospect Rathborne, elite prospect Podkholzin, elite veteran prospect Petan, Spencer Martin, etc. and the Condors have been the MUCH better team in the first – Canucks lucky to be scoreless with 2:20 to go.
Whoa – 1st period of Game 1 and things get interesting – Kesselring crushed from behind in to the boards (looks like he’s going to be OK and, we’ll see but that should be 4 and a game) and a brew ha ha results. Esposito drops em and Peters, Holloway, Malone all involved.
Looks like it might only be two minutes. After a couple more angles, it wasn’t as dirty as I first though (although Ryan Holt doesn’t agree).
I think Holloway is in the box so won’t be available for the PP.
Marody, Cracknell, Malone, Griffith, Broberg.
Kesselring did return and looks okay.
Holloway was amongst the first to jump in to go after 6’2” 220 lb 30 yr old AHL grinder Vincent Arseneau.
He doffs the gloves but no real blows are thrown, Arseneau grabs the back of Holloway’s collar and throws him to the ice landing on top of him.
I was watching Holloway closely, but no damage done to his wrist/hands. Of note he took a face-off but lost it badly, clearly he has not been practicing this lately, but good to see.
Spencer Martin has been a brick wall all night, very good positionally. He will get a legit shot in the NHL somewhere next year. A good Husso/Forsberg candidate for sure in 2022-23.
Wow, the Avs are up 5-0 after the first against the Preds.
May be the most geographically distant NHL rinks, but very similar scripts in Sunrise and Ice District for games 1.
Deharnais is in along with Broberg.
Chaulk is going 11/7 and the scratch on forward….. Carter Savoie.
That’s unfortunate. I’m shocked they somehow have 7 healthy d men. Calling Brad Lauer for next season please.
Desharnais is likely still not 100%, so this may have influenced the decision. Desharnais was by far the best Dman on the night. He was even going hard to the net in the 3rd period, when the score was still 0-0. Be cool if he gets NHL games, but he won’t get big minutes. His is such a great story.
352,000 US viewers for last nights Oilers vs Kings game on ESPN 2. Gary may have expanded out the wazoo and the tv rights fees have exploded but interest in the states is still pathetic. Forget about the # 4 spot, the NHL is lucky to be #7 nowadays. Time for some new blood at the top i think, let Gary hit 30 years and wish him well.
Not surprising…
…when a professional sport has a rule-book that the governing body encourages to be ignored in the name of “game management” (at the officials’ discretion)…
…when egregious actions by a player are given meaningless monetary penalties vs suspensions by the dept of anti-thuggery…
…when… there’s more but I’m all ranted out.
LET’S GO OILERS, LETS GO!!!
Most of the country is sleeping before puck drop at 10:15 eastern time.
My biggest mistake was loving you too much and letting you know
Now you got me where you want me and you won’t let me go
If my heart was made of glass, well, then you’d surely see
How much heartache and misery, girl, you’ve been causing me
I absolutely love this song – Levon Helm absolutely bosses the vocal on the Band’s version of it.
Extremely apt following last night’s performance. I’m still taking us in 6 though, stick to the plan and we’ll be a-ok.
Nashville has no Saros for the first few games….now, Avalanche get their captain back tonight. Ouch.
That is a tough hill to climb….
This game going exactly as many thought….
Watched the game with friends last night (first NHL game in a long time, maybe since Bear came to town) and really enjoyed it. Loved Yams play, Conner could’ve had a couple really easy, Smith kept us in what I thought was a very shaky start and obviously bad pass was bad, but I really didn’t like his misread on the second goal against. BIG stick-tap to Quick, who was very on his game. Loved/hated his save on Draisaitl in particular, where he elevated his chest awkwardly rather than using “correct” technique (that would be slide-push to the post and Leon feasts on goalies who use that save selection in that circumstance). Smart, smart play. Gotta say, we made LA look like a really good team and I didn’t like it. Oilers looked like less than the sum of their parts for much of the match. Was nice to see the refs attempting to ref even though I scratched my head a lot. I’m guessing some serious dialogue happened behind the scenes between the Oilers and the refs between last series and this series. “I know you’re still mad that we won all them draft lotteries, but everyone saw you interfered in the outcome of a playoff series last year, if you make it that obvious it’s gonna be tough to get people to gamble on the outcome of games. Y’all like money, right? Also, it’s not Conner’s fault that the Oilers drafted him so please stop punishing him for being drafted by the Oilers, kthxbye.”
My quote of the day from yesterday was “Until you prove that you aren’t the Oilers anymore, you’re still the Oilers, and the Oilers haven’t done that.”
Well said.
I had made the same comment about Smith’s misread on the second goal though it fell on deaf ears until your comment.
Condors play game 1 of the best of three against Abbotsford.
While they earned home ice, with all their injuries (in particular on the back end), and Abbotsford getting a crap-ton of Cancuks, they will be in tough.
Canuck goalie, Spender Martin starts (vs. Skinner).
Broberg will be a big add if both Niemealinen and Deharnais are still out (in addition to Kemp and Samorukov).
It will be interesting to see how the yutes respond in a playoff environment. Looking forward to it!
Did you say yute?
Yute betchya! 😀
Deharnais a game-time decision.
Perlini (concussion) is “up and down” – not practicing yet – yikes.
I love coming to this blog every morning to talk about hockey, music, and LT’s awesome anecdotes, some of which are probably true.
I’ve made it a habit not to post in the blog when the game is on. I fire my anger off instead by sending stupid tweets that get ignored by everyone.
I abandoned HFB game threads years ago for that same reason, but usually the comments here weren’t HF level.
Don’t want to step on your toes, LT – wonder if maybe just locking comments for the games is the easiest strategy if this happens again?
or people could exhibit a little bit of self-control… & if not, the offenders can cope with their timeouts.
Oh I have no sympathy for the offenders, just LT having to spend more of his life than he’d wish policing it..
The problem isn’t during the games. It’s typically after losses.
^this
Mike Smith won’t solve this:
Mike Kelly
@MikeKellyNHL
· 7h
Iafallo-Danault-Moore line in Game 1 (even-strength)
TOI: 10:42
Shots: 8-4 LA
Slot Shots: 5-1 LA
Goals: 3-0 LA
0 rush chances against.
@LAKings
Maybe teams should be shadowing Danault?
I Danault about that.
This is the Hawaii 5-0 Bad Joke Police. Book him, Danault.
Being the police, shouldn’t you be at a Danault shop? 😀
A few things
1) I went to bed super pissed off last night. But then I read Mike Stelter’s twitter post, and perspective. Also, lots of great teams lost last night. Oilers lost game 1 at home against the Sharks.
2) You have to run Smith back the next game. If we used playoff record, his career save percentage is strong, so it’s the same folly as looking at his last 10 playoff games to draw conclusions.
3) Us old guys in late 30s/early 40s guys do make mistakes, and learn from them. Hopefully the next time he swings for the fences is calculated (ala OT winning pass). That being said, LA (and hopefully, future opponents) are going to be all over Smith whenever he ventures behind the net, so decision making needs to be quicker and passes need to be shorter if the end goal is breaking up the cycle.
4) I think McDavid line should be matched against Danault line. They are dangerous, and McDavid’s line should more often than not outscore them. I am not particularly worried about Draisaitl against Kopitar. No doubt RNH line has to be better, and should be able to handle a few minutes against top 2 lines.
5) Give Quick some credit? Chances throughout the entirety of the game favoured Edmonton, no?
When my stream started last night, I felt bedlam and chaos at the arena display before the anthems. The feeling never left me. 3years in the playoffs and 1 years experience 3 times were also a thought by the end of the game. My hope is that things don’t turn out as usual.
That’s a good way to describe last night’s game.
I felt the game had a ‘Winnipeg series’ vibe to it – including the result
How many straight playoff losses with the Oil either leading or tied at the start of the 3rd period?
We keep allowing the last goal. Usually by pushing too hard for our goal.
Any comments re: Woodcroft getting out-coached? We know if there was the exact same game with Tippett as coach, that would be the verbal all over.
T-Mac’s bottom 3 ice distribution also seemed a bit “meh” but his two top centres got their matchups and did their jobs.
I think Woody tried too hard at times to get McDavid away from Danault, skipping him with offensive zone face offs, etc. I don’t see the need (or benefit) of spotting Kass in the top 6 because he’s throwing hits.
Oilers seemed to be out of their structure from puck drop and the Kings had a game plan (dealing with dumps and Smith as well as plays off face offs such as 10 seconds in).
Im confident the coaching staff will “bounce back” and make adjustments but game 1 was an off-night.
I think it is a legit comment, and one I’ve thought about making today.
Part of the problem though is that TMac adjusted his team to the Oilers… did some things that caught the team by surprise. You can’t really judge Manwood on that basis till you see their response. The important thing might be THEY adjusted to US, so I suppose there’s some moral victory there.
But, I do expect a better more patient start next game.
I will be looking to see how the Oilers change their outlets next game. If LAK are going to shy away from the forecheck so much, or keep it high at the blue line, I expect the Oil to play them more like they play Tampa and Vegas. Forwards coming back more, less stretch passes, Smith playing the puck to the corners, etc.
Also look to how the high forward manages behind-the-play interference when tracking back.
Puck mangement was also an issue but that wasn’t really on LA so much as it was on our guys, but will also need to be adjusted.
McDavid got his goal, because Woody got him away from Danault. How he was managing his lines in general was in response to TMac… who pretty much abandoned his 4th line.
Probably because we don’t really have one
TMac abandoned his 4th line because we pretty much don’t have one?
Good, that will cost them over a long series.
If Woody is throwing Connor and Leon out with the two spares Flattie may not want his 4th getting a mismatch
Also the Oilers were behind the entire game so played his best forwards
You bet. If they are putting wingers in corners something else is open. That’s the adjustment.
Part of what made Gretzky so great was he used everyone, and if you tried something like a shadow he’d counter it after a bit
Making some tweaks to personnel might be all the adjustments needed IMO. And I really like Woody in this category as he seems to see players when they’re good and promote them accordingly. Tip was awful at this.
I would be hesitant to make strategy adjustments due to a tight 1-goal loss in the playoffs mostly due to one really bad mistake at a costly time. Making us play a different strategy might just be what McLellan wants – beat them in game 1, make them play a different game the rest of the series.
We are a good team with a good coach and a good system. Keep the intensity level high and focus on what we know works. We are the better team and both teams know it. Abandoning our game might be exactly what the enemy wants.
I put next to zero stock in it but the one-hit wonder (to my knowledge) “per Garfield” citing Jesse dealing with pain in his hips again.
Man I sure hope not, yet
Its something I have been worried about for his career, hoping he’d make it till at least his 30’s before troubles if any
So, I haven’t missed a game all year while using ESPN+ app in Australia. Due to time differences I watch the games generally after they’ve finished. To my surprise yesterday, I come home from work keen as to watch the game and ESPN no longer is showing games… they say they are but clearly they are not. So I missed my first game in years and it happens to be a playoff game.
My question here is where can I stream the bloody game tomorrow if ESPN continues to drop the ball.
This is the only downside I have found to living in Australia.
My understanding is on ESPN+ you can still watch them after the fact, just not live. When this fails I us onhockey.tv
Things are different down under. I’ve watched them live, after, and in the middle. I can still watch all the regular season games but not the playoff ones… maybe they’ll let me watch live. I’m going to try today but it’s hard to do when the game is on at 12 pm on. Tuesday.
nhl66.ir works in Canada- I can’t say for certain it works in other countries (let us know)
I’m assuming all these need to be watched live too hey? Don’t know it I can squeeze three hours into my lunch break 😂 I’ll be trying tomorrow though
Nhl66 has a cached option- I’ve never used it but you can watch the game after its over
I use this feature all the time Oz and it is fantastic. I’ve wacthed games 12 hours after they were done.
– Use this link > https://v2.sportsurge.net/list-hockey <
– It will have a list of games (empty when there’s none)
– Pick your game, then select your link (The best ones are StreamEast & CrackStream)
– Select Home or Away feed (might only be National available for Playoffs).
– Enjoy game (I like to start them an hour late, then skip the commercials & period breaks so I catch up enough to watch the end live).
My suggestion would be to a VPN – I would suggest Express VPN which I was able to sign up for and access within a few minutes. I think its about $12 per month and your issue re: location goes away because, well, you can be anywhere, essentially.
There’s no need for any VPN to watch these streams.
You’re not DL’ing (or more importantly uploading) anything.
hey ozoil, exact same thing happened to me. I’m hoping it was a glitch (has happened for me before). ESPN+ is the only reason I got Fetch! Where abouts do you live?
Seems like it was a technical issue. Game 1 is now available for replay!
Yeah! I got an email back about it today and checked and all games are available, except the Colorado game today… hopefully there is no issue tomorrow.
I’m in Brisbane.
Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. Espn seems to have fixed the glitch… if not I reckon ill go with a VPN and go back to game center which we used to be able to use out here.
That or nhl66
Thanks again everyone. At least I didn’t miss anything too amazing
Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. Espn seems to have fixed the glitch… if not I reckon ill go with a VPN and go back to game center which we used to be able to use out here.
Jesse with a media avail today – I don’t think he’s dealing with illness – seemed 100% himself up there.
I feel it’s difficult to assess from the media availability. It could still be an injury that isn’t quite 100%. If JP is healthy he should have at least been on the 2nd PP. With his wingspan and ability to break up plays he should be practicing his PK. Not having him involved with any specialty team is a mistake that can hurt someone with weak confidence, to begin with.
Oh, for sure, he could be dealing with an injury but I don’t think he’d be up there if he was “sick” and he didn’t seem “off” at all.
Not saying he’s 100%, just that I don’t think he’s ill/sick still.
That you for your condescending response. I look forward to your follow up response with substance – perhaps your thoughts on if the organization would put a player struggling with illness up for the media avail.
Coaching 101
If you want to win, each player must win their 1 on 1 battles.
Sure Danault is good. Just beat him. Beat him to the puck, in the corners. Skate faster, hit harder. Lift his stick, push him off the puck. Intensity.
The Oilers are better. Win your 1 on 1’s
Coach has only one choice here really and that is to throw his support behind Mike Smith. He’ll be back for game 2.
I give credit to Todd MacLellan. He knew that Mike would be a puck handler and you could watch where his players went every time Mike had the puck. There looked to be a Kings strategy in place.
I can’t really fault Woodcroft. I mean he tamed a lot of the risk out of the team down the stretch and in a good way. Game management, defense conscious then take your opportunities. Mike did not receive this message. If he continues to handle the puck, this risk will continue to be present. I would suggest Woodcroft minimize the amount of goalie puck handling based on the Kings forecheck. If they switch to aggressive forecheck or running the Oil d men, switch back to a more active goalie puck movement. Passive forecheck, Goalie doesn’t need to make passes.
It is easier to defend that attack. You get in the way, poke the puck ,check, play to a standstill. It is an easier tactic than creating offense. You wait, wait, wait for mistakes, then capitalize. Many playoff teams have had success with this strategy in the past, Montreal being one.
Oilers were not built for that type of game but they have benefitted from at least some of that “thinking” down the stretch. No goals against, the worse you can do is tie. Then you have Connor and Leon who can break loose at any moment.
Duncan Keith was brought in for playoffs and he was on the right track. He could see what was happening but could not settle everyone by himself.
Here is hoping the bruises heal up, butterfly’s settle, and minds focus back on strategy by tomorrow night.
(And yes there is soccer. Sigh)
No discounting the error in judgement by Smith but…..I watched the broadcast and Louie was quick to point out that on the play, Drai was near the red line waving his stick in the air for a pass. Just sayin……
Anybody who has played any team sport that involves passing, at any level knows you absolutely DO NOT have to make the pass just because someone asks you to.
Missed the point but thanks.
Sorry. I took your point to mean that Louie believed that Smith wouldn’t have tried that pass if Drai wasn’t signaling for the puck.
Think he’s wondering why Drai was up at the redline looking for a pass when there was 3 kings in his defensive zone and the puck was below their redline. Know that’s what I was wondering when Louie mentioned it.
So first, Im giving myself a stick tap for last night.
My teenage son had his first soccer game of the season. At 8pm. Against a team that beat them 23-1. But I sat there, I didn’t bail, cheat or be distracted by some silly old hockey game.
Yup. Made it to the radio for 1/2 of the second period and TV for the third. Yay me.
What was the score last night?
The score with my kid was high.
For those presuming the Mike Smith is a selfish egomaniac who wouldn’t (or didn’t) take responsibility, I encourage you to listen to his post-game media avail.
But it is easier for me to hate him if I paint him as a jerk! 😉
Smith’s play before the biggest blunder of all time didn’t scream start me game 2 coach.
Kane/McD/Jesse
Mcleod/Drai/Yams
Foegele/Nuge/Hyman.. Since Hyman doesn’t pass just let him drive Nuge and Foghat so Drai can carry the puck again on line 2.
Brassard/Ryan/Kass
Nurse/Ceci
Keith/Bouch
Kulak/Barrie
Get away from the line blending and keep it simple, calm it down, go on the attack.
He won’t pass unless a pass is available. That’s not a bad quality, it is rare that the play dies on his stick in the O-zone. The shift he drew the penalty I felt like I was watching a little Georges Laraque mixed with some stickhandling skill!
Hyman has several amazing qualities, watching him head down the puck around the zone while Drai watches isn’t necessarily one of them.
I’d say he drew the penalty due to Leon being tackled along the boards and no call being made.
I’m not too concerned.
Smith will be better. My whole stance on mistakes is that they happen — vets, rookies, everyone in between. Bury it.
JP was maybe hurt, but his shot shares on and off were again good (over 70 percent with JP on). He needs to play more, IMO, even if he’s not quite 100 percent, as it looks as though he is still effective.
I also think Kulak should play more. Effective player, moves the puck well, and surely deserving of more than 13 minutes.
On home ice, Nuge and Drai absolutely must win their minutes. I’m chalking it up to nerves, as both men have been very good.
JP was 41.18 CF% in just under 8 minutes of play and 0-2 on goals. While that is a terribly small sample, it does confirm what my eye saw on the ice.
Now I can’t tell if he was tripped or blew a wheel making the turn on the third goal, but he got two whole shifts over the rest of the period, one of them with Ryan and Foegele. So maybe he wasn’t tripped, because that looks like a benching. I think Jay wants more from him and he’s right to ask for it.
If he had been hurt or sick, like Bruce and LT hope, he would’ve started off down the line-up… not sent there after a goal against.
My mistake, you are right on the numbers for JP, not sure what I was looking at.
And this is why I don’t put all my eggs in the analytics basket. Pool party was slow last night, the legs weren’t working and he wasn’t physical. He seemed disinterested but I don’t see how that could be the case. He must be hurt and if he is, he needs to be moved down. Could also explain the decreased ice time. It’s easy to say he needs to play more but the analytics don’t tell us all that is potentially going on.
He most definitely is not 100%. As in the past, whether it’s he or Mikko, they can never make any mistakes. I am convinced he was tripped. The pass from behind the net which was off, didn’t help either.
Confidence under pressure.
It has been an Oiler bugbear for years.
Manwood is supposed to give them a structure and a style they can rely on when things get tough. They did not rely on it for sixty minutes last night, including the netminder.
Game 2 will tell us the story of the series in one game. Has Woodcroft got them over that annual obstacle? Can they get that structure back? Or is the panic and hesitation and try-too-hard hiding under a thin veneer of discipline?
Because the pressure is certainly on now, and the longer the Oilers play without a lead in the series—in goals or games—it will build. They will never be anything in the playoffs till they learn to deal with that pressure and play smart and effective hockey, regardless.
This is so true
One game is bad but not the end of the world
However we should be past making excuses for them, if they have (they say they do) Grand Ambitions
I don’t care what the obstacle is. You have to overcome it if you want to win. Ron Hextall won the Smythe in a Cup final loss to the Good Guys. They still beat him
If Quick is hot you play the style to beat a hot goaler. They know what that is, we do
They should roundly outplay the Kings from here on out, if they are for real. They are a better, deeper team and have superstars. Good teams should beat weak teams. LA isn’t horrible, but they aren’t that good either
Calgary is good
What we all forget is there were 3 other goalies that lost game one last night. Tampa fans are wondering what went wrong. Vasilevsky, and Fluery (whom a lot of posters wanted) going down. Not that I’m comparing Smith to these guys but game 2 will be different I imagine for all…..
In the 2019 playoffs Colorado played Smith’s puck handling just like LAK did last night- no F1 chasing the puck- wingers seal the wall at the half wall, and make the Smith pass through the middle or dish to a defenseman.
Oilers defense handle the puck much better than those Flames dman. Woody is going to adjust so we have all 6 player in the defensive zone, and probably over load one wing to create and odd man advantage.
Woody will dress the same team.
To be fair to Smith, he was the Flames’ best player that series.
I agree Smith was the best player – Peter’s never adjusted the break out
Great comment! Cause I was just writing the same. With little pressure there is no need for these goalie passes. Back off on goalie handling the puck, remove that risk until Kings start putting on forecheck pressure and that goalie pass becomes an asset.
If they go to the wall quick breaks up the gut. Neutral ice is open. But it takes a strategy and timing
Was impressed with:
Bouchard – He elevated his game! This was an encouraging outing. It’s always interesting to see how young offensive dmen handle the pressure of the playoffs. He can play in the playoffs! Woot!
McLeod – Same reason as above, rookie playing his first NHL playoffs. Man he looks like McDavid entering the zone sometimes.
Yamamoto – another young player elevating his game when it matters most. He is going to eat JP’s lunch.
Kulak and Keith – also rose to the challenge. Both men were good pick-ups.
Agree on all counts. If a Yamo or Pool needs to be sacrificed in an effort to keep Kane as I suspect will happen…..It won’t just be Pool’s lunch.
McLeod played against Winnipeg didn’t he?
I left yesterday’s blog up on my screen when I shuffled over to the televised portion of the evening.
Watched the very exciting, nail-biting, and ultimately disappointing, first real playoff game in what, five years? (That Bubble-Shit wasn’t hockey; It was just a money thing.)
Then I caught up on The National for, ya know, perspective.
Then around 2 AM I returned to this screen to find that blog still there.
Against my better judgement, I waded in… to a cesspool.
I have to say “Don’t read the comments!” to myself a half a dozen times a day. Be it political sites or the myriad of all the rest of the hockey sites. It’s just not worth watching the decay of civil society in real-time. Read what the writer has to say, but just don’t waste my time sifting through the Everyman’s Ill-informed Grievance-Puke.
But not here. Not this place.
LT writes, to me, like a father gently passing on what he hopes to be useful wisdom. And the rest of you pick up the theme and (for the most part) batter it around for the sake of actual discussion. (Nobody’s proving ANYTHING here.)
This is my safe space. My Bubble, keeping the cray away from mine eyes!
But last night was gross… Icky, like slime infused with a mild concentration of Hydrochloric Acid.
I didn’t read the names after I recognized One, of whose character I had apparently severely misjudged.
I didn’t stay for long, but I did read too much.
More than just a few people should feel a tad shameful this morning, but I don’t expect that to be the case. That’s not the Way of the World anymore… and that…. that is a shame.
LT deserves a helluva lot more respect. Most of you do too.
This joint is an oasis, ya know. Rare.
Please don’t make it into all the others.
Think, before you speak. Here is a good place to practice that skill… just in case you bump into an actual human being somewhere.
– Nice post. I “hear” LTs voice as you do! I’d vote for your post if I was into that kind of thing! I just kind of scroll through posts now looking for a few posters I like. Once a long time ago LT told me he scrolls to read mine : made my week! But that was a long time ago.
Still do.
– ah golly shucks! One year when I take my kids up to Yellowknife to show them where I grow up we will stop in Edmonton. It’s my fondest hope that I can take you out for a beer. You and this blog have been a wonderful addition to my life. Cheers.
I’ll buy. 🙂
I didn’t read any of the nasty posts last night, but I truly don’t understand why people get upset about crappy things said on the internet. It’s the internet. Deal with it. It’s just so easy to scroll on by. Not trying to cast shade on anyone, but I struggle to wrap my head around it. Trolls don’t exist unless you respond. And if you do respond, don’t be shocked or upset if they say something crappy.
Then I won’t respond to you.
Oh, wait… How do I know which post not to respond to if I don’t read it?
I skip over *most* of the internet every day. A discipline for my own mental health.
My point, was that this particular site is a very rare thing. And the proprietor of this particular site has respectfully requested that we all share a modicum of decorum in common, and in general, for the benefit of all.
If you didn’t see the shit-show that was the comment section last night After Dark, then why shit-post here & now, on me, with regards to something you know not about?
Your final sentence sums up my point quite succinctly; You don’t agree with my position, about something you were unaware of, but with a complete lack of respect – you just gotta make yourself heard.
So I guess, according to you, by my responding to you, you now exist as a Troll…
Huh… Good to know.
Meh
I come here for the sports. The escape. I no longer listen to any Edmonton sports talk radio shows – any of them – because they’ve all been infected with political sniping, information and misinformation. I have all the time in the world for Jason Strudwick and Rob Brown. That’s it. They both acknowledge what they know and don’t know and leave it at that.
Hockey intermissions on TV are now my snack/bathroom/take-the-dogs-into-the-yard time.
I just watch the games now, and move on. I may miss some great sports commentary, but I can nicely park sports in the “entertainment” garage where it belongs without getting preached to, insulted or feeling like I’m wading into a cesspool. My 2¢. YMMV.
It is true but unfortunately the case with any site that allows personal opinions. You can’t moderate everybody and you certainly can’t censor everybody so you do your best and take the good with the bad hoping that the good here will over rule the latter. The only way to avoid it is to start charging for a membership and locking the site out to the gen pop. Tis the way of the world now. Everyone has always had an opinion, they just couldn’t express it anonymously.
Back in the olden days when I had to defend my big mouth, it quite often did not end well for me.
I am of the 7th son of an Irish-Catholic family.
We all emerged into this world with a permanent chip perched prominently on our shoulders.
By the time I knew I knew everything, I knew how to prove it.
I had to learn my peace through awful memories poured over righteous regrets.
Life is a very long thing.
“Thinking Before You Speak/Act”, should be a Master’s-level course in Pre-School!
Well, that was well said.
I agree that the team was very nervous last night. Lots of missed defensive assignments. Guys just puck watching and reacting. Anticipation is the name of the game and for the love of God, if an LAK player starts driving to the net, go with him! There were numerous instances of LA finding seams all over the ozone unmarked. That looks like nerves to me.
We were very lucky to have Smith in net. The first 5 minutes were ridiculous. Continuous point blank chances. It could have easily been 5-0 10 minutes into the first.
A great performance by Smith. It would be crazy to not put him in net for the entire series. I just hope he doesn’t get injured because then we are in a lot of trouble.
There seems to be a rush to create a Smith narrative, but the evidence is weak. The pass up the middle was poor, but he dove back to make the save on the wide open net and had been fully set for a long time before the shot came from the point.
Koskinen gets the benefit of the doubt on every deflected shot, even if not sure of a deflection. There is nothing Smith could do on that goal on a shot from the point that was going wide but hits the LA player in the arm and deflects point blank in the net. Lucky bounce for them. I’d like to see them get that done again.
Even if Smith makes a stick handling error that contributes to a goal, we have to accept that as part of the game like we do for other players who stickhandle. Defenders make passing and stickhandling errors, forwards make tons. Lots of them end up as spectacular scoring chances for the opposition. If we have a netminder who stickhandles, he is also going to make errors sometimes. We can’t love Smith’s stickhandling with all the stability it brings to the backend and then shit all over him when he mishandles it, which is observably rare.
What about just the general chaos created by the play?
This assumes that everyone loves Smith’s stickhandling. I think it adds potency to the breakout, but I am sure LT’s grandma would not approve. 🙂
It wasn’t a stick handling error. It was a player deciding to make an extremely risky play at an inappropriate time, when a safe situationally appropriate play was available.
It was a mental mistake. Like the blind backhand pass into the slot.
You have to bench him. How does he have any credibility criticizing other players if he doesn’t? It becomes ‘do what you want, and apologize if the inevitable happens’ if he doesn’t. The double-standard will wear on the whole team during adverse times. I’m not much of one to engage in psychobabble from the outside, but this has to be done.
Plus, it will light a Siberian wildfire under Smith to sit on the bench all game.
Not to mention how the fans will turn on him if he messes up again. Best to start him next on the road.
You ‘have’ to bench Smith for one error? Really? Strong disagreement on this one.
Never mind that he’s been one of the best goalies in the league for few months, do you also ‘have’ to bench (I guess scratch) Leon or Connor if they make a bad pass?
That Lemieux goal wasn’t a good look either….
Nurse tipped it that one in.
Do you think he should be benched as well?
*Poor wording.
Do you also think Smith should be benched like Oilin4 does?
Saw the entire team with a bit of the yips last night!
Up the Middle to no-one pass from Smiddy aside everything is overcome-able. I wasn’t a fan at all of Rusty’s off the glass play on the 2nd goal. He had full control, no pressure and fired it around from his side of the net. Its not a play he makes that often, usually he’ll skate it a bit further cause it frees up the angle, but he did it, guys weren’t in position and it was chaos incorporated. Nice pass by Moore. I’ll put two odd plays by two vets in the “yips” category.
I didn’t like that they sorta sagged after the penalties in the 3rd. They really took it too LA in the 2nd and wilted a bit afterwards. Too many trips to the box not enough killer instinct (kudos to Bruce on the CoH podcast for the note on dreadful 3rd period playoff play by our team).
Saw a bunch of stick clenching last night. Drai was looking at his twig a few times, McLeod, Nuge, Hyman and Kane all adjusted the sights a bit. Loved the effort need to get that execution up a bit. On McLeod – he’s definitely one of those guys that is better in the NHL than in the AHL. The structure of the NHL really allows his speed to shine through, he was flying last night. Big Brain didn’t always keep up with the feet and hands though as I saw a few curious moves on rushes and when he was in the O-zone. This isn’t criticism, I loved his play, he’s still growing.
JP with a game to forget. Unfortunate that he appears to still be sick. That said, consistency issues are a feature of his game right now. Should keep that next contract in check.
A busted streak of regulation wins at home for the team and Smith last night. A seven game losing streak in the playoffs.
Time to get back to business.
Go Oilers!
Suspect this comment won’t get through but I’ll give it a go.
Thought McLeod looked really solid. Don’t hate the possibility of him in the Top 6.
Was also encouraged by Keith’s leadership including his between periods interview. He was recognizing the ‘scrambly’ play in real-time and calling for the boys to get back to their system. I hope Duncan’s composure sets a good example.
Great energy but too many missed assignments. I’m looking forward to seeing how the lads respond to the challenge. Lesson 1 goes to McClellan. How will the pupil respond?
Why would’t that comment “get through”?
Agreed. Keith was good along with Bouchard.
Please post more.
I think that they are still learning that ‘trying harder’ isn’t exactly the prescription
Keeping tempo and playing smarter is what they need to enact. Play fast, and don’t do that thing you know you are not supposed to
Woody is trying to get that embedded – when things are tight trust and fall back on the system. Which means don’t start thinking too much, which takes tempo away, just play the puck to where the system says to and trust everyone else to do their jobs – full Bellychick
If you have options try to make better plays. Responsible creativity is the hallmark of a team at the top of their game.
If you don’t, make system plays and keep the puck in a safe place
And as for the game itself. Unlike last 2 years I felt confident that they could and would come back as long as a major brain cramp didn’t happen. Well, brain cramp occurred. i feel that they will adjust and push the pace next game. It’ll be a resounding beating on those Kings by the Oil. Expect McDavid in overdrive.
This is like the Minnesota game. Weirdly this group needs a bad game to re focus and listen to the coaching staff. i feel confident they will respond.
I want McD to not do overdrive. I want him to play smarter. At times he tries to out effort everything and will the puck into the net. He’s so good and creates so many chances a bit more deception would take it up another notch again
I suppose if he had had better linemates and finishers he might be there now. But it ain’t bad, so much better than in forever
Who else could do that at his level of excellence? I think he can and will, at some point. Hopefully now
For 15 years, the comments section on this blog was the primary reason for reading. Many people made careers for themselves.
Progress is sometimes painfully slow. After the decade of darkness, this team has made the playoffs 3 years in a row.Quite an accomplishment.
Terrible losses to Chicago and Winnipeg happened. Now a loss last night to a team they should beat but is better than I thougtht.
Sincerely, I am nervous as “hell” about Wednesday night. My sense is Kenny is patient, no matter what happens, i do not expect big changes, but I surely hope we get a win.
I thought the officiating favoured us last night. Which felt weird.
Fully agree. Shame they couldn’t take advantage and squeak out a win.
It did.