As playoff games go, that was one crazy night. The Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames turned back the clock to 80’s night, and pucks were going in from the moon. I don’t know if this is an indication of what we’re going to see in this series but the first impression of this best-of-seven is absolute fire. The Oilers made a heroic comeback but made too many mistakes on the night and are down 1-0 in the series. One of the most maniacal games I’ve ever seen. Are we having fun yet?
Kailer Yamamoto scored last night, Jesse Puljujarvi turned over some pucks, Zack Kassian took some penalties. Playoffs are a tournament of small samples. What should the Oilers do at right wing this summer? Click on link!
THE ATHLETIC!
- Lowetide: What should Oilers do on right wing this summer?
- DNB and Hailey Salvian: Flames vs. Oilers: Key matchups, injury updates and storylines
- Lowetide: Inside Oilers’ stats from wild first-round series win over Kings
- Lowetide: Oilers defence prospects, who’s staying and who’s going?
- DNB: Connor McDavid is turning playoff dreams into reality
- DNB: For Edmonton Oilers, Game 7 stakes vs. Kings are simply enormous
- Lowetide: What’s Oilers prospect Dylan Holloway’s future fit on depth chart?
- Lowetide: How Oilers can finally fix salary cap nightmare
- Lowetide: Reasonable expectations for Oilers could not see chaos ahead
- Lowetide: Early look at Oilers’ options for 2022 NHL Draft
- DNB: How Dave Manson is making the Oilers blue line better
- Lowetide: Oilers regular season report card for 2021-22
- Lowetide: Stock up or down for every prospect in the Oilers system
THE NUMBERS
I’m filling in for Dustin Nielson this morning so am unable to deliver the usual fare. I can send you to the Natural Stat Trick and NHL Summary and the information is there.
As for the overall view of the game, I don’t believe Oilers fans should be terribly upset with the team. Yes, it was a slow start, aided by a couple of Mike Smith GA that put the team in a hole. Yes, the team gave the puck away like it was Christmas morning and yes not taking advantage of a poor night by Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom could be long remembered if Edmonton loses the series.
I liked the pushback by the visitors in the final 30 minutes. Edmonton outscored Calgary 4-2 before the EN goal in those minutes, and a better start might have given a better result. I believe that was a good sign for this team, still young in some areas and outclassed in others. I enjoyed the game very much.
LINEUP CHANGES?
I think the Oilers should play Ryan McLeod more, his speed created some problems for Calgary’s defense. Right wing is an area I’m watching closely these days, and the five-on-five deployment on what we might call the ‘depth chart RW’s’ is interesting. At five-on-five (for all RW’s), Kailer Yamamoto played 10:55 and scored 1-1-2, he had a fantastic game. He can be so disruptive, and in his most recent 13 games, he has scored 4-7-11. Zack Kassian played 10:48, took a penalty that took away some momentum, and is 2-2-4 in his last 11 contests. Jesse Puljujarvi played 10:16, and has scored 2-2-4 in his more recent 11 games. Derek Ryan played 10:13 and is 1-1-2 in his last 11. Of course, that isn’t really the total story on RW. Leon Draisaitl, Josh Archibald and even Zach Hyman spent some time there. I think the Oilers power play let them down, too.
Huge push by Stauffer over the past 24 hours to get Holloway into the line-up. And some other pundits are giving it the time of day.
He usually starts his argument by saying the Oilers need to inject some speed into the line-up.
I have two problems with this. One is, he intends subbing for Archie, who is the obvious choice, but Archie isn’t exactly a slow boat. In terms of sheer speed, how much are you actually gaining, if anything?
The other is, how much was the team’s lack of speed last game the unwillingness to bring the level of energy and effort the game demanded? I mean, it is difficult to believe that everyone got more hurt over the three game layoff. Gms 6 & 7 Oilers from last series would also embarrass the Gm 1 Oilers. They had plenty of speed and battle then. Nuge was initiating contact with LA’s players and using his body to win pucks and space.
I’m not saying Holloway can’t help. And I’m not saying there’s no chance we see him this series. I think Gm 2 would come across as a little too desperate… although, if Jay felt his team really needed a jolt, that would do it. It’s just such a huge ask of the kid to even tread water in a very difficult situation and level of opponent he’s never experienced before. At least give him home fans for his debut.
Oilers need a split this is the most important game in years. Obviously they seen Holloway skate the last few days and they know he can inject relentless forechecking into the line-up. In crunch time winners ice the best possible team.
Perron keeps on a 2 on 1 and gets the Blues some insurance back.
Saad with an ENer. Blues are going to even this series up. Apparently not a waste of 8 days.
The Flames registered 10 hits on our top 6 forwards.
The Oilers registered 1 hit on their top 6 forwards.
Some of this is failing to battle, like Nuge fishing for the puck. Some of this is late to battle.
Perron… who knew?
Blues giving the rest of the world hope that there’s a chance against Colorado.
Considering the most productive 4 seasons of his career, at least points per game, have occurred since his 30 birthday, I would say probably very few. There are many with strong opinions on this board against any kind of term for even 28 year old players.
MacT did get a first round pick for him that could have been Barzal, but sadly it got turned into Reinhart by Chiarelli instead.
Yeah I was both ecstatic that we traded MPS and a second for Perron, and pissed we traded him to PIT for Klink and a first, that I wholly expected to be a late first. Imagine how pumped I was that the pick became a valuable mid rounder and the options available at the draft. I wanted one of the Russians, either Samsonov or Svechnikov.
All that to say, I’ve missed Perron since the day he was traded. He’s a right nasty prick and can score too.
Summarizing!
The Cataractes got all the offence they needed just 66 seconds into the game, and they held on for a 1-0 victory. The Bourg picked up the secondary assist on the lone goal and is now 6+5 in six playoff games.
Shawinigan now advances to the Western Conference final vs. Sherbrooke, who finished 1st in the conference in the regular season. (Shawinigan was #3, while the Gatineau team they just swept was #2.)
Schedule TBA.
I hope the Bourg assimilates all of Quebec and most of the Maritimes by mid-June.
An Atlantic Smorgasbourg
For those about to pun, I salute you.
Brilliant.
Given Tampa Bay’s blue and whites, if you squint or don’t look directly at the screen it almost looks like Toronto advanced.
Some small consolation.
Watching Maroon
Head up, making sure he’s going to the right places, taking his man out of the play, getting into actual scoring positions
Defend the house first
Raiding parties with nowhere to come back to don’t survive long
Man I like the pending RS D UFA Rutta
As I’ve said a dozen times
Add another D over 210 with some jam and golden!
Bro is not jam yet
Keith is a big problem for next year. No way he retires I’m sure he thinks he’s playing great just needs some bounces, it’s coming
His game is lacking without the wheels
— if yesterday doesn’t convince everyone to at least think about the relationship between team play and goalie then I don’t get it.
— The same teams goalies who pitched shut outs based on just really strong team play was a gong show. By far it’s wasn’t the goalies not playing well, rather the team giving up grade chances. To be sure a few stinkers but letting in 8 goals is about team play.
— Next game if the team tightens things up I’ll bet a lot Smith will be a proxy for team play. Except goalie can amplify this. Pretty sure That a 40 year old goalie Is far less sharp and likely physically weakened after 8 games in 2 weeks. Hopefully the night off helps him.
— Feeling pretty confident I’m not going to have to find a hat eating recipe though.
Your right
The confidence is a two way street
Everyone need to focus on doing their jobs successfully and trust the others to do theirs or it’s a short run
10 HDSC for Calgary in the first period. That’s not on the goalie.
Bingo
Of course there is correlation between team play and goalie play. It also 100% goes both ways.
Last night started with the goalie not playing well – the first shot of the game was an awful goal to give up.
The second goal was on the team and mistakes but, boom, then the 3rd goal, mostly on the goalie again.
The goalie not being on his game early contributed big time to how the game was played.
That first goal of the game, an awful goal, seconds in – that changed the entire dynamic and mental state of the team, I’m sure. Both teams, likely.
That 40 year old goalie played his first game in 4 days yesterday – with zero travel since his last game.
Come Friday night, he’ll have played like 10 minutes in almost a week – 6 full days.
I don’t believe “8 games in 2 weeks” is an honest background to an assesment of his energy levels.
And only 28gp on the entire season. There’s no goalie more rested (Raanta also with 28 appearances). He had zero issues with far more games last year.
— that’s like saying one of boxers shouldn’t be tired coming into the 9th round because he’s only had two fights in the last 18 months. Of course 8 games is taxing even more so at 40. But taking off an extra round might help.
Holloway should play.
With Drai/Nuge/Kane/JP nicked up to varying degrees, someone other than McDavid and McLeod need to do zone entries and drive pucks through neutral ice.
Big ask of the young man, but in a third/fourth line role, why not?
Calgary wouldn’t know what hit them. If he can help us win like Caulfield or Dach then he should be a surprise debut.
Key word: “If”.
Given the contributions of the likes of Archie and Kass, he might.
The person best situated to make that determination, Jay Woodcroft.
Last night, Edmonton Ingenues
Tomorrow hopefully the Edmonton Ogres
If the Oilers are coughing up 9 goals against, playing Truckelainen for a game in the 7D role for perhaps a few inspiring wallops in this situation would not be a wrong move imo.
He’s not going to shy away from trying to dump Lucic or any other Flame.
Can’t have Kane and Connor distracted with trying to be the physical answer for the Oilers.
97 29/91. I’d like to put Yams here but Calgary is attempting to take liberties and Kane is willingly punching people in the mouth for it.
93 18/56. It’s a good mix, hopefully they show up on time.
10 71/13. Hopefully they can wet blanket their shifts.
37/44. Rotate them into some shifts with 97, hope they decide to give a damn.
25/5
2/4
27/22
TRUCKELAINEN, Calgary plays a nice slow controlled puck game that beats up their opposition along the boards. Inject a circuit breaker. If it doesn’t work or help you can always go back to KRussell for 5mins of resets or one of the ineffective forwards having a pout.
I think the goal would be to not continue to give up those goals and, given the information we have, Niemelainen is not ready to help with that goal.
He was almost 3 goals against per 60 while playing SUPER SOFT minutes – only 16.6% against elites – over 42% against grits.
Not to mention, he’s barely played since demotion given he just came back from a lengthy injury .
The biggest problem is skating faster and puck management
Not blowing people up. Niems isn’t there yet
Perry does the hardest thing in Hockey. He Scores plus he’s a filthy rat without getting caught.
If ‘leadership’ is a thing he would have been a far better playoff pick up than anyone else
Because he still does his thing. There aren’t many non skaters I want on the team but he’s a player that gets it done with his brain in an effective way when it counts
Probably wouldn’t come but did they even ask?
I just wanted to continue the conversation I was having with OP in yesterday’s thread, so pardon the continuation here – we were discussing the matter of Mike Smith’s consistency, or lack thereof. It was suggested to me that, when healthy, Smith has not been inconsistent.
I would say that his health and availability IS a huge part of that inconsistency. Being available to play is critical to being consistent – i.e. are you dependable? My opinion is that this Oilers team really needed more stability in goal. I still believe it was a mistake to enter the season with the Smith/Koski duo for another year. To me, they represent:
1) an aged goaltender who can go on hot streaks, while beings prone to injury, evidenced by his own recent history; and
2) a somewhat capable backup (Koski) who struggles with workload.
I don’t expect perfection or Vezina-level starts from our goalies, and I understand even the best goalies will have off nights.
My point is that it was an unforced error and an unnecessary gamble to enter the season with the duo we did. I will say that Ken had certainly targeted some good targets in Kuemper and Markstrom, but ultimately could not get it done. And in the end, that is what matters.
Of course, there are defensive issues as well, but under Woodcroft structure has improved greatly (last night notwithstanding).
The fact that he wasn’t able to close the deals with Kuemper or Markstrom tells you something.
Why didn’t the dog bark?
Sakic was not shy to expend considerable capital to acquire Kuemper.
From what I’ve heard, Markstrom was offered an extra year by the Flames.
So the Oilers are left with a 40 year old goaltender and an average veteran on an expiring contract without having an elite goaltending prospect in the pipeline.
As you say, an enormous unforced error.
Barely a minute into the match, and The Bourg is on The Bourd with a helper.
I have to complain about this each year, every year for the rest of my life, but how come there’s nothing in the media about all these veteran presences not getting the players ready for the games? There’s nothing more than the MSM slobber over than this kinda stuff “this guy knows how to win”. Well, he’s not showing it.
You know who doesn’t have the experience? Bouchard and McLeod, that’s it. Every single other player has been in the playoffs before.
They’ve had several extremely veteran coaches be unable to keep them from panicking.
This isn’t on Woodcroft.
Why is Keith here if it isn’t for his extensive, Cup-winning veteran leadership?
Didn’t McLeod centre a line with Nuge as his LW last year against WPG?
Okay, I guess the 4 games he played there counts yes ha ha ha ha
Its an overblown narrative thats why.
Boston – loads of experience
PITT – LOADS
If the team wins the media states how important it is. When they lose u dont hear about it
I think he’s specifically referring to coming out flat at the beginning of games, and the role leadership plays in that
It’s not on Woody but he’s not really inexperienced. 10 years in a prominent role on a successful NHL team. Manson maybe inexperienced at the NHL level
Playing Skinner over Smith would be a little reminiscent of Slats starting a rookie Moog against the Habs.
HCs don’t have the stones for this sort of thing anymore imo. Too much money involved. Too much pressure. Too many experts on the Intertubes.
You saw a lot more gut feel moves in sports before the microscopic scrutiny of everything started. Skinner’s brain would melt from the pressure if you did this to him now.
The gut feeling that kept Gretz out of the shootout in 98 should be shot.
That was actually a data decision. The numbers indicated Gretzky was poor on breakaways. Crawford was being the smartest man in the room and it backfired.
No guarantee Gretz would have scored. Hasek was lights out that night. But the heart and nostalgia want to believe.
What was the Zamuner on the team decision ….
Woody Coached Skinner I have to believe that Skinner is just not good enough or else Woody would of found a way the last 10 games to insert him. Instead he’s a afterthought on a few blogs.
Skinner wasn’t available to Woodcroft for months (until last game).
Mike Smith has been one of the best goalies in the league over the last 2-3 months – shit, he’s been one of the best goalies in the league over the last two seasons.
He has been starting, and will start tomorrow, because he’s the best goalie on the roster at the current time.
He’s earned, and deserves, these starts.
He better be more than good tomorrow or else this series could be over in a blink of a eye.
Not starting Smith in game two would be an unforced error and would appear panicky to both team and fans alike. There is an easy compromise however: have Skinner dressed as the backup for the remainder of the series. If Smith’s game goes ‘south’ again than what is there to lose? Let’s see what Skinner is made of before Holland starts aggressively courting free agents like Husso in the off-season. While we’re at it, have the Bison King shadow Tkachuk or Johnny Hockey around the ice a la Esa Tikkanen (perhaps I’m partial to Finns?): he has the skill set and size to neutralize those players while at the same time Jesse can gain confidence in doing so. Add Nemo and/or Holloway into the mix and I think you can positively change the complexion of the series.
Probably mentioned below but……why did this game feel exactly like their last regular season game? Run out of the building, crawled back, beat in the 3rd. I don’t like it as it feels like CGY can score whenever they start trying. Oilers looked a bit intimidated in both.
A first class agitator could draw this Flames team into countless penalties. They all think they are tough, even “he fed me my lunch” Anderson. It can’t be Kassian as he gets a penalty for just looking at the refs.
But poke and prod, agitate, turtle.
If I was the coach and had my minor league savy veteran captain available, that might not be a bad idea.
Malone fits the resume. Slow boots tho. Need Archie’s speed, Ryan’s brain, and Kassian’s mug. Basically, that’s Esa Tikkanen
See Tikkanen’s tweet
https://twitter.com/tikitalk10/status/1527237725224583169?t=nEvQdzLxIimzgORYh6sNUA&s=19
Awesome
Malone doesn’t fit the resume because he’s not an NHL player.
Everyone love those 8 games he played, well, he leaked goals a 4.36 GA/60.
The like of Niemelainen and Malone are just NOT the answer to not giving up 3 goals per period against the flames.
To be clear, I don’t think Malone should play a single minute. I mean to say he fits the description but without nhl calibre skills, he can’t do it. I have no nostalgia over his few games played.
Fair enough.
Nope, I cannot agree with you. Those stats are irrelevent.
You want to compare a healthy Malone to a healthy Nuge for example. Sure. But we are looking at a healthy Malone versus an unhealthy Nuge. At what point des the healthy player bring more than the injured player?
There is a tipping point where the performance of one lesser player will be greater than the superior player.
Take out Malone and you could have same discussion on Broberg vs Nurse. Similar assessment just took place with Leon right? He was moved from center as a lesser center would be better, but was still strong on enough for the wing.
Ultimately we can’t tell from here who is really banged up, but the principle still stands.
I simply can’t agree that we are anywhere close to Brad Malone replacing Nugent-Hopkins in the lineup and it helping the team.
In the first round Nuge had 7 points, positive goal differential while dragging around Josh Archibald and was massive on the PK.
I’m going to give the heart and soul vet a bit more rope before replacing him with Brad Malone.
OP, this is a late reply.
But I know you get the principle of what Im talking about.
And its not about replacing Nuge with Malone.
Andersson is a rat. He shook the gloves at Klingberg so Kling called his bluff and skated up to him to engage. Andersson wouldn’t go and when Klingberg turned his head Andersson sucker punched him.
That’s a guy who’s dangerous for hockey but he could probably be goaded into a few.
Gio taught him every dirty trick in the book. Oilers just don’t have the DNA to keep the snakes in line, maybe Archie or Kane.
Flames have a few rats
Shore
I literally just chatted with a guy who played double A and got some pick up games with Jets players back in the day via his coach, huge Oiler fan
Tkachuk the elder. A double A guy stick lifted him and gave him a bump to get the puck. Thachuk turned and two handed him and tried to cross check him in the face, the guy tilted his helmet down in time
My fella looks at Tkachuk who has pulled off a glove off and threatens to end his career brandishing his stick (8 guys on his team had over 300 PMs) and you know who skated off
He was less than chuff about the last game. His solution to the flames, he feels Matt T has Kane off his game, and that Lucic is a puke for hacking McLeod, is to call up an Ace and tell him to take out MT and don’t worry we’ll sort it out for you
Oh how times have changed. My 80’s hockey brain got stoked a bit and I added someone should run Lucic through the boards for going after the meekest guy on the team, like a true champ. Flames style champ
Of course the refs could just call a damn penalty for dangerous play, like a game misconduct for what the bully coward did in garbage time to a kid
Yes. I was angry watching Zadorov game 6 against Dalles when he comes in from the blueline to join the scrum and starts throwing around young skillers. No penalties.
My thoughts also go to payback. But its not the play anymore.
Speed, disruption, coverage and just win.
Although I am generally a pessimist all things Oilers, I am not overly concerned after game one.
This is the 2022 Oilers. They like to do things the hard way. They lost but still lit up Markstrom. Last time Smith shit the bed in the playoffs he put up six brilliant games in a row. We got this.
It is just one game. Onward, upward.
Except for game 5 where Smith was pretty weak. He’s a random goalie and certainly might bounce back. There is just no way to have faith that he will.
The thing about Calgary is they are consistent. Regular, steady, repeatable over and over.
That should be the weakness to exploit. Predictability can be defended. I can see regularly occurring play, pressure, patterns and tendencies from here, so you know the coaching team can see them.
They need healthy players, they need full effort, and they need to stick to the game plan.
In front wingers have to pick up the high slot and give up the point. Flames thrive on that shot.
Defence follow Kulaks lead in boxing out, take that high danger slot away. Calgary has excellent shooters, standing next to them is not covering them.
On powerplay they thrive on creativity but now they need set plays so everybody knows where the puck is going when a player is under pressure and needs a safe outlet. You may have to move two net front players and more shooting. When Flames bring that pressure, somebody opens up.
This Flames team can be taunted and drawn into penalties. Bitch in the first period to refs, get in their heads, seed where you want them to be looking, and in this case I thinks its scrums
Finish checks, but win this series with speed.
Im pretty sure Woodcrofts game plan is better than mine, but I enjoy in providing my two cents.
Great post!
You are absolutely correct but the Flames opponent needs serious execution. Last night it looked like the good guys just had too many injuries to properly and reliably execute. I hope that was just a hangover and they bring it in game 2. While entertaining, yesterday was still a tough watch. Nuge looked slow. Hyman wear-and-tear, Nurse no first step speed, Leon completely flat footed, Jesse a shadow of himself..
Jesse played two more minutes than Archie at 5 on 5 and 3 more minutes overall.
Archie only played 30 seconds on the PK as well.
I would presume Foegele in for Archie tomorrow (unless they go 12F and its probably Foegle in for Russell who only played like 5 minutes).
I know analytics love Jesse but my goodness he needs to do something that affects the out of a game
In order to do that he needs to play more than 9-10 min a night
Jessie had his speed going at least. His play improved, he had one nice sequence where he carried across the line and got a shot towards the net with traffic. He doesn’t hit hard but doesn’t have to so long as he hits and disrupts. I think thats the message to a bruised team. Speed, forecheck, disrupt, more speed.
Did anyone see Kassians penalty. TV showed him stopping up at the goalie, no foul. Then laying on the ice with someone behind the net. No further coverage.
There was zero footage
It is impossible to build any lines without injury knowledge.
To me Oilers not only played timid but played like any physical contact was going to hurt. I have no idea if that is true. Many took every day off to heal. So what is the true state of injuries?
And what is the true performance loss? Its fine to say somebody is a “warrior” as they march on, but if performance falls past replacement level they need to come out.
I would guess that Devon shore could have outperformed at least four players where injuries took their performance below what he could bring.
On defence Nurse was a non factor. I know Woodcroft likes to respect a payers team position, but he must reevaluate based on performance. If that is all Nurse had to give du to injury then he can move down the line up or out, no shame. Kulak is the best we have at defending the net. If Broberg at 100% is better than Nurse at 60% then hes in the line up.
If this is not an injury problem, then different plan. If it is an injury problem Jay needs to swap out some players. If that gets us to Brad Malone, so be it, at least you’ll get 100%. Again, no shame in that.
Nurse loses at least 2 foot races a night lately that result in a Grade-A. I think he can only handle softie mins.
It looks obvious to me as well.
If he was swapped with Kulak they would have a shutdown pair with Kulak – Ceci. Could Nurse survive with Barrie? Would Barrie be better with Broberg? Or Russel?
Kulak Ceci and Barrie are currently the best D
Make Keith Bouch the third pair
Kulak Ceci get the toughest and let Nurse set back some. He’s played a lot with Barrie so should settle in well
Mike Smith and Mikko Koskinen were bad against the flames in an NHL playoff game (after Smith rocking a near .940 in 7 NHL playoff games over the previous two weeks).
Stuart Skinner was bad in 3 straight AHL playoff games against the Heat – out-goaltended in all 3 games and lets in horrible, awful goals in each of the games.
All these calls for Stuart Skinner are not based in reality or by people that are informed of current circumstances.
Yeah, this noise is just venting. I would have liked too see what Skinner has but that needed to happen weeks ago and things have to get much worse before there is any chance of watching Skinner in playoffs.
To me, there is no doubt we are going to need a goalie, but right now they make the best of it and a performance bounce from Smith is very likely.
So Oilers fans then🤷♂️
I’m not convinced Skinner is an NHL goaltender at all, TBH.
Does anyone have a link to the twitter handle or website that shows running gamescore for pace of play? It’s like a moving line that runs through the game and on either side of the base line is each team. Last night would have probably been a straight shot down but i’d like to check something.
There’s something like that on the TSN game page
To the surprise of no one, and as it should be, Smith starts tomorrow – per coach.
With Heikkokasinen raring to go I presume lol
Next Game: If they can’t play Skinner at least have him in as backup, presumably to Smith.
Abiding memory of last nights game will forever be the miracle at 6-6 and best to forget the rest.
I know. I know. But they are committed here, they will go back to Smith with Koski backing up. It would have to be another similar game to make a change.
I wonder if in Calgary they talking about starting their 3rd string goalie
Darryl Sutter on analytics.
https://www.tsn.ca/calgary-flames-darryl-sutter-hockey-analytics-1.1776365
“At the end of the day, we are animals.”
Loving Sutter of late. He’s become the Bill Murray of coaches.
Not sure everything he says makes sense but it seems to make sense to him!
A great video of him saying he would vote for Gerard Gallant for the Jacks Adams.
https://www.tsn.ca/NHL/video/sutter-would-give-jack-adams-to-gallant-he-got-a-raw-deal-in-flo~2446375
What does your lineup look like for game 2?
Sutter is better at in-game adjustments than McLellan is, so maybe 11-7 isn’t the same advantage that it was against LA? Still its a weapon you can use if you use it properly. Unfortunately, maybe due to the score, it did not seem to be used well last night.
Kris Russell played a total of 5 minutes last night, and didn’t see the ice after the 4-1 score. He wasn’t on for a goal either way, and although the CF wasn’t great, it was 1-4 in 5 minutes. Not too shabby. He wasn’t the reason we lost but he wasn’t going to be the reason we won either. I don’t think that there is a 7th defenseman that will help if Russell isn’t that player.
Josh Archibald played 8:55 last night, the only other skater under 10 minutes. He had 4 hits (tied 2nd on the team) last night, but that was equal to Kane, one more than Yamamoto, only two more than Jesse, and one less than the team leader McDavid (!). He had a 33% CF and 27% SF and was on for 2GA (no GF). I am not sure Archibald was at fault for those goals or not, but he wasn’t contributing to goals for, and was on for 2 GA. I do believe that Archibald added an important layer against LA with his physicality, but I am not sure that holds up as well against Calgary. It feels almost less physical, more mind games from the Flames than pure hitting and intimidation. Archibald also only played 30 seconds on the PK. That’s less than: Nuge, Hyman, McLeod, Ryan, Yamamoto, McDavid (!) and a touch more than Kane. So clearly he is not helping out on the PK, and his 5v5 is as weak as its ever been. Time to take a rest until we need him to insert some energy in.
There are times when you need energy at the expense of skill and structure to jolt the team, and that’s what a player like Archibald is good for. Last night was too much energy, not enough structure, we need to get back to our game and Archibald isn’t the player for that.
Somebody mentioned the following line, and I’d run that as our 2nd line:
Hyman – Nuge – Yamamoto
Hyman is the puck transporter that Nuge needs, and with Nuge’s brain and Yamo’s motor should give a Defensively responsible, offensively capable line that can score in multiple ways. This is a line that should produce some good results and can be put up against anything the Flames have.
Draisaitl – McDavid – Kane
Draisaitl is looking better, had a bit more zip last night, but still shouldn’t be at Center. He has sublime passing and still has a shot that needs respect, so he gives Connor more room on the ice, which should be lethal and result in some points. McDavid needs to commit to the D even more on this line, but if they always have the puck… Kane gives another shooter, big body and a little McDavid protection on the line. Gives even more space and aids the cycle game. Lots to like here and this line should outscore the competition no matter what.
Now that we have the top 6, who’s left?
Foegele – McLeod – Puljujarvi
I am sorely tempted to insert Holloway here, but that might be too much pressure and leave too much rookie for Sutter to exploit. Injury willing, Foggy should add some physicality and some depth scoring possibilities. McLeod had a good game by eye last night, and his speed will cause issues… Hopefully Puljujarvi continues to improve back into form because last night was his best of the playoffs so far, but hes still way back of how he was performing earlier in the year. He needs a goal and to continue pushing the pace/disrupting plays… but if the Oilers win this series, Jesse is going to be a big part of that. Also a McDavid/Mcleod/ Puljujarvi double shifted line should provide some good pressure for 3-4 minutes of a game.
Shore – Ryan – Kassian
Kassian and Ryan had difficult games with pretty low possession stats, but by eye they did alright. Kassian is aggressive and that will be needed. Ryan’s PK is too valuable, and while he would be fun to put with Nuge, I think that this line with a simple objective of chip and chase and throw everything at the net should work. Kassian’s defensive deficiencies should be compensated by Ryan and Shore’s good D games to help out and they might even luck out a goal or two in the series.
Mike Smith:
Smith is a leader on the team and in the room. His story of “Ancient veteran winning a cup” will be a driving force on the team. I’m not sure why he had a bad game, but it happens. He is still our best hope of a starting goalie on the team. I don’t mind Koskinen, and although it might not be fair, he needs to come up with some of those saves last night. I know he hasn’t played. I know he was under fire. I know they were HDSC, but if he is going to steal the starter’s job from somebody who won round 1, he needs to earn it, and while he didn’t lose the game for us last night, he didn’t win it. Smith needs to have a better performance n game 2 though or else all bets are off.
Nurse – Ceci
Keith – Bouchard
Kulak – Barrie
I am not sure how else to work the D-pairings aside from whats been working. If Nurse is still feeling the affects of his injury, he needs a strong partner. Bouchard and Keith are familiar and need to re-adjust as they have done after a poor game. Kulak covers Barrie’s game. I don’t see anyone else coming in or sitting, and it doesn’t make sense to me to re-adjust when I don’t think there are better partner fits. Maybe I’d swap Ceci and Bouchard if Nurse were healthy, but if wishes were fishes the world would be an ocean.
80 for 5 minutes against Calgary is better than Russell for 5 minutes.
And probably better than Shore – though I’m not opposed to Shore.
Marcus Niemelainen played 16.6% of his TOI against elites and still was almost 3 GA/60 and a 35% goal share.
He’s developing, and I like him as 8D next season but he is so not the answer in the 2nd round of the playoffs for the Oilers.
I agree, except I would replace Holloway over Shore. The reason being that Holloway is a clear upgrade. Give him the easier minutes to ease him in and if he is getting positive results he and Foegele could be swapped.
Other than his rookieness there is no reason to not add him into the mix. He’s ready. I don’t see how this is a bad idea.
Lots of great ideas here. I think Kulak needs to play up with Ceci as shutdown pair.
No disrespect to Nuge or Yamo, but to have both of our softer players on one line doesn’t work. Switch JP or Kane in there for a few shifts and see
I’m not sure they are two of our softer players. Nuge in the final two games of the last series was not soft and Yamo is tough as nails.
Yamamoto is soft?
Small does not equal soft.
Do you think Hemsky was soft?
MANY fans did. It was a conversation on here for years, made no sense but it was there.
Man I never understood that verbal on Hemsky… nothing soft about repeatedly going in on Regehr … he just wasn’t built for that kind of punishment.
I remember after game 5, posting about “returning to the baseline” and resisting the urge to make major lineup changes based on a very small sample size of games. Lets not forget the lineup and deployment that provided GREAT success for months.
The Oilers were putrid last night but it was one game – one game after two of their best performances of the season. Yes, the flames are “better than” the Kings but, come on – Brad Malone? Stuart Skinner? Markus Niemelainen?
Brad Malone is NOT the answer, or part of the answer, to any round 2 playoff problem. Can we not agree on that?
The answer is to, as the team has done in the past after tough games, return to the baseline – get back to the structure and the details – get back to their game.
The only hesitation/issue there is the fact that Nurse and Drai are very injured, clearly – and they may not be able to contribute as they generally do.
I’m not sure what to do with Drai but I do think one deployment change is to move Kulak up to play with Ceci and reduce Nurse’s minutes and responsibilities – essentially game 6 against LA but Nurse/Barrie as 3rd pair.
Kulak was on for ZERO goals against and 2 for – unreal in last night’s game.
Foegele comes in, clearly, hopefully for Archie or Kass but, most likely, Russell who only played 5 minutes.
I saw this last night on the PK and thought it could work full time for Drai. Have him take the faceoffs on that line and then he moves to wing after the faceoff.
Loved Kulak.
My dad wasn’t a talker and rarely gave advice. His generation was less talk, more action.
I was working on an essay and freaking out cuz it was for my final and couldn’t put a sentence together. My dad needed my help and when he came to get me I nearly cried tell him how stressed out I was. He didn’t have any sympathy. He said “that’s all made up in your head. Get to work and get it done”. He was right but it took me years to realize it.
This was the Oilers last night.
Totally blew it out of proportion. Made a mountain out of a mole hill. Freaked themselves out.
We didn’t play our game last night. Didn’t have a chance. We got in our own way right off the bat.
Woodcroft will have a “Dad” talk with the team and get them righted.
We’ll see a dedicated effort from stem to stern.
Why did the team quit playing at a frenetic pace when the game was tied up? They completely altered style. Big mistake.
The way to win this series is to get these clowns in a track meet and get a shade of goaltending. The Flames can’t keep up if someone in the Oilers net can make a damn save.
I think it was because the Oilers were playing with half a team. And performance swayed accordingly.
I hope not. Because injuries take time, but effort can be improved in a moment.
I’ve been advocating for months that if Holland wasn’t going to acquire a goaltender, Skinner is the man to play.
It was true then. It was true last round. It is true today.
Responding with such a bold stroke would be inspiring…and put the best goalie they have back in the net.
The goalie that just shit the bed in an AHL playoff series?
Just because you have a theory doesn’t make it true, then or now, just because it came from you.
They needed to play Skinner more down the stretch so they would have a better sense of what they have with him now. At the time they sent him down he had the best save percentage on the team and was coming off a shutout. If he acquitted himself well in games where we were fighting for a playoff spot the coaches might have seen him as an option now.
I have zero faith whatsoever in Koskinen so I would have Skinner as the backup.
Yep – they messed this up and it may now be biting them. First by the LA series going 7 when it could/should have been 4/5, and now already dropping that first game in Calgary.
Was goaltending an issue in the Kings series? If you think so you must have missed the discussion for the past handful of days.
They screwed up with Skinner months and months ago when they didn’t give him the real opportunity in order to find out just where he is at. With that said, the “get Smith up and running”, well, we all laughed at that after a while but it did turn out to be real and important.
As far as in the here and now, Skinner has recently struggled at the AHL level to a much larger degree than Smith at the NHL level – geezus, the man had a .938 in the first series with two shutouts and came bake brilliantly after a bad games.
Skinner is real and substantial but I think the grind of the season caught up with him – up and down and up and down, all that travel and mental resources – plus being played ragged when in the AHL.
I don’t put any real stock in his recent struggles as far as the future but he is so a non-option over the likes of Smith right now.
The only thing I feel confident saying about the 2021-2022 Edmonton Oilers is that they tend to suck before they don’t. This has evidenced itself at scales of season, series, and game.
I hated that game last night. Not as an Oiler fan necessarily but as a hockey fan. That was BAD hockey.
I trust now that Edmonton will come out much better for game 2. I don’t know how Calgary will react. I’ll take those odds.
Long series ahead.
Who were the worst passengers last night?
I’ll nominate Nuge and McLeod but I’m open to suggestions.
Who was the best at not battling for puck and space, providing back pressure, doing the difficult little things to your eye?
Nurse was a shadow of his regular season self. He was anti-physical.
Nuge was fumbling, bumbling and skating in sand.
Bouch was having puck panic attacks.
Drai gave away about 4 pucks. Last one really hurt.
Can hardly remember Kass and Archie playing.
Really, could do this for all players not named McDavid, Yamamoto or Hyman.
Even McDavid was late on back checks a few times…
When the Oilers play their structure and break out well their offense is also better, more structured as well
When they are abandon the basics they get into desperation offense and force too many plays, cheat on plays and battles and get scored on
Here’s hoping
RNH for me…didn’t get within 7 feet of a puck battle.
It’s been 11 years now and he still doesn’t have his man strength. How better would we be if we didn’t sign Nuge and signed Danault instead.
How much better would this team be if they had chosen Seguin instead of Hall, and Landeskog instead of Nuge….
We might not have McDavid and Draisaitl then. For me, this iteration of the Oilers starts at the McDavid draft … I can’t help but wonder how much better the Oilers would have been if not for one bad trade … instead of Reinhart, they could have walked away with Eriksson-Ek and Carlo.
If Mikko makes a couple of saves when it was 6-6 we win that game. The hockey Gods were handing us this game and possibly the series on a silver platter yet we couldn’t get that 7th Goal save off of dickhead Rasmus stick. If Flames lose last night they would have been crucified today and tomorrow.
Back to blaming the goalie again are you. You re like a yo-yo. Goalies play well and you are raw raw raw. As soon as you think they didn’t you are here to crucify.
Name a team that’s left in the playoffs who we don’t swap Goaltenders with. I’m going to fill you in on a little secret about Hockey Goaltending matters.
Mentioned it last week. One can can arrive at a high probability prediction for the outcome of an Oil game based on the first 5 minutes (only took 1 minute last night!).
For folks out east it really is a blessing. 2 LA games they made it quite clear and I got a good nights rest.
Lucic is why better teams have some hammer on the back end
The Oilers need a couple of Cernaks. Decent, 230, mean
Lucic did not contribute much of anything to that game other than cheap shotting Connor and slashing Kulak (?) at the end of the game.
Pass.
I think SS’s point was that goons like Lucic require a hammer on D who can punish them on the boards. Your Cernak, Larsson and Gudas types.
Otherwise about Milan, he was mostly invisible. His slashes at the end of the game were directed at McLeod’s calves.
Sutter had his fourth line on the ice against the McDavid line and more than held its own….
I found a weird thing last game and it rang true again last night.
When the Blue Jays play on the same day as us and win, we win. When they lose, we lose. We’ve won all the game days that they haven’t play on.
That’s just weird…
Tethered to the Jays, somehow?
Only applied since the playoffs started.
Weird…
and if a butterfly flutters it’s in China on game day….
Then we get scored on twice in less than two minutes. Stupid butterflies…
I told my wife that every time she gives me an ‘oral presentation,’ the Oilers win.
She’s not buying it.
Who would want to get their teeth cleaned every game anyways? Masochist’s, maybe…
Oooooh…I get it. I thought your wife was maybe a dentist…
You need to be more convincing! It’s for the team!
to test a theory you need to gather data…
This is funny as hell!
It’s a dyad in the Force
As is always the case, but especially in the playoffs, we are about to learn more about this team; How do they come out of the gate in game 2; What is the compete level?
Ken Holland has learned a bushel and peck in these last couple of weeks.
I fear Holland has learned little
He assembled a team of nice guys that while liking playoffs, don’t like to play playoff hockey or can’t
Ive never been a Yama booster but he can be on my team. Balls out when it counts, and that’s what it takes until the NHL refs properly. So as in never
Its simple. Everyone is a good or better skater. Everyone can do basic NHL hockeying like make and take a pass. Forwards can shoot the puck. Get players that are combative and like to play with pace. Get players that like physical play and are aggressive. Have enough size to take the ‘punked you’ option out of play
They have the elite thing covered. Zito actively looks for this. Because that’s who can do well in playoffs against any team or style. Tampa is also built like this. It’s not a coincidence
Just posted an article above about how Sutter views analytics and, for him, the bottom line, is compete level.
Wasn’t the team just close to universally praised for playing “playoff hockey” for two complete games?
My goodness. I wonder if the fanbases of all NHL teams make sweeping statements based on one-game samples and seem to completely forget anything that happened before.
Chicken Little fans!
Missed opportunity last night. 6 goals should be a win.
Once again, our rookie coach got rooked. He panics after the third goal. All eyes are on him and he feels the pressure to do something as rookies usually do. There is no way Smith lets in four of the goals Koskinen let in.
All the situation required was a little patience, but rookies never have any. A veteran coach sits on his hands when the world is screaming at him to do something, anything.
That’s two games the coach has cost us in these playoffs for those counting at home. We squeaked by an inferior LA team despite the miscues, but we can ill afford coaching mistakes against a superior Calgary team.
I think Woodcroft would have been a shoe-in for the head job in September at the end of the season, but he’s managing to work his way out of the position in these playoffs. I’m no longer sure that Holland will give him the head job in the fall. He might find himself in the assistant role again so he can get a little more seasoning.
I am very tired of kid coaches cutting their teeth on this team and fanbase.
That game was not all on the goalies, but they sure didn’t help a team that was a total mess. Grossly ill-prepared for the level of focus and intensity required save for McDavid and a few others. Got to have the team ready to play, Jay.
I was at the game…Smith was shit in warm up..batting at the puck with his glove hand, fighting the puck in warm up…a feeling dread came over me…the 1st 1 minute confirmed my intuition…if coach leaves him in we lose 15-6. Lordy the coach had to do something…remember when Sutter coached the Flames the 1st time…his nick name was Captain hook….just sayin
I shouldn’t ask, but I often wonder if you’re related to or personal friends with Mike. You vehemently defend him no matter what. 🙂
The first goal needed to be saved. absolutely brutal.
The second goal against, I remember the commentator saying something about Smith being deep in his net, slow to react.
I would have pulled Smith after the second goal. He was completely out to lunch.
Unfortunately, Koskinen was cold and isn’t very good himself.
I don’t fault Woodcroft for pulling Smith if for no other reason that Smith is the best chance we have, and we were unlikely to claw back from a 3 goal deficit against the Flames. At least he’s rested if that helps.
Ha, no I don’t know Mike. But did I defend his performance in this post?
One of the strangest things on this blog is how people can post something then someone replies as if the post said something totally different. It’s like they read the words (or maybe don’t) and then make up their own words. Then they reply to those made up words.
Would we have been better off with more consistent goalies than Mike or Mikko this season? Yes, probably. But there was no true upgrade available, even if Holland was to give up the farm which he was not going to do. I also think the goalies take too much blame for terrible defensive play from the team in front of them, especially the forwards – a problem that dates back to Dubnyk.
So we are in round two, game one of the SC playoffs, and we have a goalie that carried the team on this back including a 2-0 shutout performance in game 7 a few days previously to win the series. He has a very bad start to the game, but was not getting help from the team either. He’s a proud veteran with a lot of experience.
The answer is to pull him and put in the guy with way less experience that has been horribly inconsistent all season and hasn’t played for three weeks? That’s just really bad coaching. The veteran Mike Smith would have found his footing and we might be looking at a 6-4 or 6-5 win today. At least we would have been in the game for more than 9 seconds.
While you didn’t specifically defend his performance, you did a great job at issue framing.
Your premise is that we lost because we had a rookie coach who panicked and pulled MIke Smith. Woodcroft cost us a game.
That’s a slick way to defend the obvious alternative that we lost the game because Mike played very poorly and should have stopped at least 2 of the 3 goals that he let in.
Wow, you are going to double down on putting your own words in MY mouth. Shameless!
If you think about this in a rational way it becomes obvious that Woody did the right thing pulling Smith. Assuming after he has struggled to start the game and not playing well you leave him in you are betting the series on the first game. The way Woody did it gives him two goalies with game time from game one. Your way if Smith loses you now have a beaten tired Smith and an untested Koskinen as your choices for game two. As it stands now if Smith struggles you now have a backup with some game time to fall back on.
Kid coaches? Since 2009- we have had Quinn,Renney,Krueger,Eakins,Mclellan,Hithcock,and Tippett..hardly kids.
If you count the half season of Todd Nelson, that is 4 “rookie” coaches since 2009 (Krueger was far from a youngin’ at that point, but it was his first NHL head coach job).
Krueger and Nelson were actually two of our more accomplished coaches during that time, and Woodcroft has done a good job.
I don’t put that loss at Woodcroft’s feet, and I can’t imagine that after squeezing a series win out of LA that he would be not renewed after one loss to Calgary.
First and third goals were all on Smith. Second was tipped slightly in close so he gets a pass on that one.
Smith was wretched and deserved the pull. This two putrid goals put us way to deep in a hole to climb out.
Mikko wasn’t terrible but he has to stop the 7th. He rarely stops the goal he “needs to, to keep us in it”. Fuhr would let in 4 but stop the ones he “needed to” when his team needed it most.
8th goal was also stoppable.
Weirdly, Mikko is great on shootouts but crap on in game breakaways. I totally thought he would save that one…
Smith has to start. He’s our only chance. But and the team bounced back with stellar performances after abysmal efforts under Woodcroft. I expect a much better game on Friday.
Yes, Mikko is incredible on breakaways usually. The Tkachuk goal was uncharacteristic. I’m not sure there is anyone better in the league at breakaways which makes him a star in the shootouts. He struggles with tracking and traffic in front, though the problems seemed bigger than that last night. Maybe rust.
The opportunities were too good. The goalies can’t take much of the blame. The oilers have to find a way play much more defensive hockey. To limit those chances and hope that their goalies can bail them out on occasion, not every time down the ice.
You know what I mean. Guys with zero NHL experience. Hitch and Tipp were good choices. McLellan was ok. The rest….sheesh.
Conspicuously absent from your list is Todd Nelson, perhaps because it weakens your argument?
Say what you mean. Don’t know what more you want from Woody. Took over the team and has turned the season around and won a playoff round. A horrible night by the players and Woody’s working his way out of his position…
This is your theory, not a fact.
Sometimes you hook the goalie because the whole team needs a wake up call. Given the Oilers came back to make a game of it, I think Woodcroft made the right call.
Especially when they’re playing like shit in front of their netminder, which they were. that is precisely when you make a wake-up pull.
And despite the comeback, they never really did answer the wake-up bell.
Agreed, but this wasn’t the time or place for it, especially considering the backup. He read the situation badly with his available personnel. Maybe that blame lands at Holland’s feet. We needed something better than Koski to back up Smith for this playoff run. It feels like a Conklin situation, 2006.
Except that Mactavish also had Jussi Markonen, who was a very competent backup, eating popcorn that night, while he dressed Ty Conklin, the beer league goalie.
I think a veteran coach keeps Smith in at that point. There is a good chance he rebounds from the third goal which was poor.
One guy had a .865. The other had a .700. And the coach made a bad decision???
The problem is less the goals that Mikko let in, than the ones Mike didn’t save in the first place. It would be fair to assume he should have stopped 2/3, which all but preempts Mikko from going in at all.
And I’ll add Mikko had a better save percentage than Markstrom for a good portion of the night.
I think the need to alter the breakouts as Sutter clearly keyed in on that with great success. The static winger waiting at boards just before oilers blue was behind at all points as the forecheck aggressively was closing on that spot before pass from defense even attempted – resulting in chaos and grade A chances repeatedly.
Keith was a train wreck last night….skating has always been his game…he does not skate like he did 3 years ago…it gets worse next year…lordy
The Oilers were poor in almost every facet of the game. As bad as Smith was almost the entire team was poor for 60 minutes. Only Markstrom poor play put lipstick on this pig.
The Oilers have won every important game following a loss since Woodcroft took over. Tomorrow is going to test that streak. Play the way there capable and they will win. If they don’t this will be a short series.
After a game like that I fully expect a 1-0 or 2-1 kind of affair on Friday.
My guess as well….2-1 game upcoming.
If you are down, and want hope for this team, go to the 10:10 mark of the second and watch Yamo school Zadorov (and two others) in a relentless puck battle. What a player.
Also, I really like the 18-93-56 line when I saw it last night.
That should be the starting line with Ceci and Kulak on D.
Edm got away with giving away games against L.A.; but as the competition ramps up – they won’t get away with it.
I WONDER what this team can do when it gets an above average goalie?? KH has to make that happen this summer
thought we said that 2 years ago ha ha ha
Last two seasons combined (min 3000 minutes – 50 games over two season), Mike Smith is 6th in the NHL in save percentage.
So what are the Flames thinking about their tending? You might expect that from Smith/Kosk.
I think they are thinking, Markstrom rarely/never does THAT twice in a row.
Same as we’re thinking about Smith……. right?
Right???
Uncle Jesse looked physically way better than he did mid-series with the Kings. Seemed strong and fast again, just lacking a bit of confidence I think. Maybe he’s about to turn a corner and get back to peak bison.
Oilers need to make a change in structure as the Flames were able to sail in with possession and speed nearly every sortie while the good ship Oil was floundering on the rocks of the blue line. No amount of skill inside the zone can make up for that much imbalance in the number of kicks at the cat.
I agree. He needs to play more and they didn’t look that bad with him on the ice.