I had a feeling Connor McDavid was going to do something special. The temperature of the game reached “Spinal Tap’s drummer just blew up” levels due to some calls and non-calls from the stripes.
McDavid has this thing just before he goes supernova. His eyes narrow, he sets his jaw, and then all hell breaks loose. His goal last night, coming after several astonishing calls, set the game on a different axis and pierced the Sutter trance the series had been under until then.
It’s 1-1, game tomorrow night. What happens next? Hell if I know.
THE ATHLETIC!
- New DNB: This is how Connor McDavid wins: ‘He’s like a shark circling the waters’
- Lowetide: The Oilers’ emerging NHL Draft selection destination
- DNB: Oilers’ biggest worry after Game 1? Darnell Nurse and Leon Draisaitl’s health
- DNB and Hailey Salvian: Flames beat the Oilers in a wild, high-scoring Game 1
- 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
GOALTENDER
Mike Smith had a poor start (again) but stopped everything after the 2:04 mark of the second period, and that included some big-time stops when the game was in the balance. The comments section from last night has plenty of vitriol for the 40-year old goalie, and I understand it. The goals scored on Smith had him fumbling for a rebound, flat on his stomach, and unable to stop a shot from the blue line. The goals, as a group, required no spectacular effort from Calgary. However, he stopped 37 of 40 (.925) and moved the puck to safety often. I don’t know when, or if, they’ll rest him now.
DEFENSE
Darnell Nurse was on for the first GA (Michael Stone) but did a good job to take Matt Tkachuk out of the play, JP blocked the first point shot but the second one beat Smith. He was also on for the Tyler Toffoli marker, his stick broke (someone mentioned Kailer Yamamoto should have given Nurse his stick) and that goal seemed big at the time. Cody Ceci had some dear lord moments, one coverage and one outlet pass, and as you can see from the numbers this pairing was caved by both the Lindholm and Backlund lines. If Nurse’s injury continues to limit him, we might see Brett Kulak move up the depth chart. That said, I think the coach probably keeps this duo together despite the fancies. The pairing is 10-9 in the playoffs so far.
Duncan Keith went 1-2-3 on the night, and Evan Bouchard scored a fantastic goal as well. Keith’s pass to the captain on his goal was quality. He didn’t race to the point on the Brett Ritchie goal, that should have been Zack Kassian or Josh Archibald to my eye, either way there was no support for Smith who bobbled the initial shot. Bouchard didn’t recognize danger at all on the play, Ritchie can’t arrive net-front unmolested. Bouchard had five shots on net, three more missed the target. This duo is 6-8 in the postseason.
Brett Kulak took four hits, had a giveaway and hung on at times for dear life. His speed is a giant positive, and his passing helps in a series where the Oilers ice the puck often. Tyson Barrie blocked two shots and gave Blake Coleman hell when he ran Mike Smith. This pairing was on the ice for the Draisaitl goal. This pair is 4-1 goals during the playoffs, not quite a “the fourth line is working” but it does indicate some depth in this part of the roster.
FORWARDS
Evander Kane had two shots on goal five-on-five, took a penalty (weak call, good grief) and drew a penalty. He picked up an assist on the power play and did plenty of heavy work. Kane had a fantastic look about five minutes into the second period, he’s an offensive weapon with the puck on his stick. Leon Draisaitl was able to do more to my eye last night, his passing is fabulous and his speed on the breakaway goal was strong. Still, his one-timer is off and he is unable to recover quickly when changes of direction are required. Had one ghastly turnover. He went 1-2-3 on the night, the goal both important and gorgeous.
Connor McDavid had another special night. 1-1-2 on the goals that counted, he was 0-1-1 with two shots, four hits at five-on-five. He had two HDSC on the power play, and scored a goal with two more HDSC’s at even strength. Darryl Sutter made 97 play against the Noah Hanifan-Rasmus Andersson pairing for seven minutes, 1-0 goals and about even in shots. McDavid faced the Tkachuk-Lindholm-Gaudreau line (again 1-0) most often, but Jay Woodcroft got him out against lesser lights more often than he should have. Double-shifting 97 shortly after the first shift has its benefits, and McDavid scored against the Zadorov-Gudbranson pairing on what was a key and gorgeous goal. It was the item I mentioned at the beginning of today’s post, a result of the game reaching a breaking point due to several devastating calls. McDavid is 17-8 goals five-on-five in this year’s playoffs.
Zach Hyman had an impact again, I just love watching him play with the puck. Unless he has Fred Biletnikoff level stickum on his blade, he’s the best one-man possession show going. Stunning how often he can bull his way through multiple players just by sheer determination. He has unusual skills. Hyman scored a massive goal shorthanded (it was the winner) but also blocked shots, had SIX high-danger scoring chances and makes the Oilers are more diverse team across 200 feet. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins picked up an assist with a pass to Hyman on the winner, and made some deft plays all over the ice after a slow start to the series. Finished with just two faceoff wins in 12 attempts, that’s less than good. Jesse Puljujarvi had his best night of the postseason, he’s skating freely now and that’s a very good thing. He might have been involved in the scoring line on the first disallowed goal, big man in the crease making things difficult. He also hit a few people but was credited for just one (very solid) hit. Four shots on goal, a lovely pass to Hyman to send him on a breakaway. He’s coming on now.
Warren Foegele brought some good and bad. Silly penalty halfway through the third when he did the one thing a winger can’t do along the wall (lose position on the pinching blue). He also skated hard to avoid an icing, had two shots, a takeaway and a couple of hits. Ryan McLeod is forcing his way into the “young guns who are making a difference” conversation with Bouchard, Yamamoto and Puljujarvi. He had two shots, a blocked shot, looked comfortable on the power play and his passing is just so good. Impressive. Kailer Yamamoto had a HDSC (all three men on this line had one), a shot on goal and moved the puck to good places. He got squashed a couple of times, but he’s a Timex out there. He drew a four-minute power play on a Michael Stone high stick.
Zack Kassian had a couple of hits and played sparingly (4:17). Derek Ryan had a shot, a blocked shot, some time on the PK and was effective save for the faceoff loss on the Ritchie goal. Josh Archibald played just 4:39, hit a couple of people.
JAY WOODCROFT AND DAVE MANSON
Back in the 1980’s, we would have things called focus groups. Management would spring for some beers and pizza, with staff parking themselves in the boardroom to come up with new ideas for old problems. I never understood it, because it became obvious after a few sessions that the ideas came from a few people. Why not get them together, maybe buy a real dinner for them, and let the dullards go free?
Jay Woodcroft and Dave Manson are the idea people. What’s more, they can sell their ideas to the players and get back on the right road rapidly. This team needed last night, but Oilers teams have been in that position many times and it didn’t arrive. This isn’t the 2017 Oilers team, where McDavid and Draisaitl scored and Cam Talbot saved. This team seems to have an impressive repeatable skill: They bounce back from poor efforts in the game that follows.
Finally, if I wrote 10 pages on Connor McDavid this morning it wouldn’t be enough to describe his impact. In the series against Calgary, Edmonton is 6-4 goals at five-on-five with 97, 2-5 without. The captain has played 36 percent of the Oilers five-on-five minutes via Natural Stat Trick.
If a certain coach was to insert a certain Dylan Holloway into the line-up, wouldn’t tomorrow night’s game be a very gord time to do it?
Coming off a win and still early in the series, so the pressure hasn’t truly ratcheted yet. Home crowd. As everyone knows, 4th line saw no ice last game anyways, so why not take a flyer? He’s had a chance to be around the guys for a couple of games and get some skates in. Take advantage of his recent play and get him in while he still has his game legs. And finally, Woody has already coached him this year.
Add in all the intrigue and secrecy, keep it under wraps and all of sudden he’s taking the pre-game skate. That’ll get the crowd bouncin.
If he’s going to play, I don’t wanna hear no rumours. I want Sutter just as surprised as my ass.
I’m not saying it’s the right thing to do. I’m just saying IF he was going to, wouldn’t tomorrow, sans fanfare or warning, be perhaps the best opportunity?
I don’t think I want him playing his first game when the Oilers are behind in the series, for eg.
And this team has difficulty with games after a decisive win. He might think it’s a good spot to inject some pure enthusiasm.
When you dream, you dream specific!
Lol, some yahoo has been yapping in my ear about details lately…
Last player to hit 20 points in nine games was Mario Lemieux in 1992.
Broken sternum for Girard – out for the season. Yikes.
(per Friedman).
Hrudey tries so hard to be neutral but he keeps saying We when he’s talking about the Flames. I have respect for Lanny McDonald and MacT they show their true colours and don’t mince words. The dweeb Hrudey needs to be replaced on the national broadcasts.
I wish people wouldn’t be so easily offended, and just enjoy others insights for what they are.
Who’s the Ref that called the Goaltender interference on Yamo? I’ve seen at least a half-dozen plays involving Goaltenders that were much worse that didn’t get a sniff at being a penalty.
Yamamoto has caught fire in the playoffs.
Refs are still trying to catch him lol
Kadri chasing a puck was him taking advantage and running Binnington
All incentives point to attempting to injure key players…
No matter what happens this spring the Oilers are going to have some tough choices to make this summer.
Everyone loves the way Kane has played and most posters want to extend him. The question is, even if it can be done, should Holland do it?
I’m estimating it’s going to take 6 million for 5 years to get Kane signed. Based on that this is what the Oilers would have committed.
6 Forwards
McDavid 12.5
Draisaitl 8.5
Kane 6
Hyman 5.5
Nuge 5
Ryan 1
Total 38.5
7 Dmen
Nurse 9
Keith(he ain’t retiring)5.5
Ceci 3
Kulak 2.5
Bouchard 1
Broberg 1
Samarukov 1
Total 23
2 Goalies
Smith 2
Skinner 1
Total 3
Grand total is 64.5 million. Add another 4 million for buyouts, retained salary and bonus overages. That gets you to 68.5 million. That leaves 14 million to sign 8 forwards, assuming you can ditch Barrie and Kassian. I would guess Kassian currently has negative value.
8 more forwards
Foegele 2.75
Yamamoto 2.5
JP 2
McLeod 1.25
4 more at 1 mil 4
Total 12.5
So it can be done. But is it wise to sign 3 thirty year old forwards to long term deals. Because the Oilers would be locked into that roster for 5 years, with very little cap room to sign their younger players when they come out of their ELCs.
You are about a million short on the “dead cap money” – as it stands now, it’ll be slightly over $5MM I believe.
Kane is gone.
He will be one of the few ex Oilers who I’ll never think anything bad about.
Found this in a Woodguy Twitter thread.
Explains a bit about Chris Lee’s love for the Oilers.
https://www.tsn.ca/chris-lee-nhl-referee-officiating-jeff-jackson-1.1659575?tsn-amp
Buck up, little buttercup…
.
.
.
At least he still has his tongue!
His second tongue…
Any rumours on Holloway dressing for game 3. He could be the secret weapon that gives our team a extra boost.
All signs point to ‘don’t change a thing’, no?
You have a forechecking horse chomping at the bit to see some action. Hockey really isn’t that complicated of a game as a winger if you can skate and check. Woody said I believe in the post game his job is to ice the best possible team and no one knows the Bakersfield boys better than Woody.
I am not a betting man, but I am betting this happens.
Girard gets wallpapered looks like a TKO for Barbashev. Blues hoping to beat the Av’s one way or another.
When is the rubber hitting the road if there’s an Oilers VS Blues conference final? The DSF bot might meltdown at that point.
It really says something about your character when you attempt to capitalize on a very serious injury to a young player (he was rushed to hospital) to take a shot at another poster.
I don’t see that connection in his post. There’s nothing at all about the injured player. Weird.
I didn’t read anything but HH’s post. That’s already bad enough.
No sense in trying to understand it.
It always says more about you when you try to take a high position.
Back to the swamp with you.
you are a GOOF
https://twitter.com/ryan_batty/status/1527873506137866240?s=21&t=N9hBGrbFeMBhgGDUzn2naw
Mcdavid owned the game yesterday.
Some Bouchard guy was second.
Do you know which tiny line was Gaudreau?
So Pujo records one shot from home plate and 3 open shots from distance and his “expected goals” (lol) is 0.5?
The expected goals posted doesn’t look like it’s from NST, so I’m even less familiar with it than theirs.
But from NST, he had 4 SOG, 1 of which was a HD chance and all 4 were scoring chances (not all shot locations are considered scoring chances). So I guess the 3 shots from distance weren’t from great distance.
Doesn’t a home plate/HD shot have a 20+% chance of going in? 0.5 expected goals doesn’t seem unreasonable, even if it obviously can’t measure the true danger of those chances perfectly.
Yeah, NST has it at .39 which to my eye looks more reasonable.
I just have great difficulty in believing than an event with so many variables, when limited to one of those variables, location, can say anything meaningful with any small sample, like 1 HDSC.
And I used to do stats at the Oiler games (a long long time ago) and know what constitutes a scoring chance, and while I like it better than HDC, the range of quality in those scoring chances is pretty broad. Hoping your data within one game is representative of the aggregate seems pretty optimistic.
I know what constitutes a scoring chance on game sheet data, I’m trying to say. Not pissed at you for expanding on scoring chances, although on re-read, it could be taken that way, so I thought I had better explain myself better..
No worries, it didn’t come off pissy at all. I’ll definitely agree assigning a 0.5 or 0.39 to a player based on single game data has quite limited value.
I was going to say the number is almost meaningless, but I guess it does clearly (and fairly, I think) differentiate Puljujarvi from (say) Derek Ryan, who had one shot that wasn’t considered a scoring chance. But your point is well taken.
The numbers can tell you so many different things lol.
Look at Pujo last night. 4 Corskis, all of which were shots on net, all of which were scoring chances, one from home plate.
Well, that’s a pretty interesting dataset.
First instinct is to applaud the Corsi to shot and chance conversion rates. Probably should be applauded on second and third glance too. Looking at you, RNH.
But what if we look at it from the reverse angle? As in… How many difficult saves did he force? Well, none to my eye. (Now I don’t mean to pick on JP here, people, it’s just that he has such a cool set of numbers on NST.)
Okay, so why were none of those shots really troublesome?
Well, if I had to group them together, I’d say it’s because the goalie could see them all the way. No traffic, no distractions, no consternations, no pressure… I’d also say that on Pujo’s best look he could have driven to the net, got the puck into the crease, maybe more. (So there are also times when “High Danger” chances come at the cost of higher danger chances)
Now I couldn’t tell any of that from the numbers; I have to watch the game. He could possibly double or triple those shot and chance numbers and still not score and all that would happen is the xGF would go up, lol.
Now, this is all fine when it’s the Oilers and I’ve seen the game in question, but what if I was looking up say Nichushkin tonight? I mean if he had JP’s Corsi/shot/chance numbers, I’d be saying he was a real threat out there tonight. But I could be completely out to lunch (always a safe bet).
No that’s fair. A lot of the small sample issues wash out in larger samples, but it’s also true that these kinds of measures can more generally over- or under-estimate certain players (or teams).
Any line with him on it.
Apologies Elvis, didn’t see you were replying to jp’s comment about Gaudreau above.
19 of McDavid’s 20 points are primary points – my goodness.
We are watching one of the greatest playoff performances in NHL history in real time.
Always enjoy reading the thread after a big win! I am not totally up to date but am unclear on the JP situation. A couple of months ago there was data showing how much better the team was when he was on ice; that we would have to dump Yamo to resign him; that he should be driving his own line. Now his ice time is way down; some questioning if we could get a second round pick for him. Some chatter he might be injured or suffering a rumoured team bug. He played well in spells last night. Can we hope for more?
My opinion is that he hasn’t been completely right since the Covid hit him and others in December. His offense has been off since then. However, he has remained a solid two-way winger and his five-on-five outscoring metrics as always shine.
He was ill right at the end of the year, then had some good games but faded early in the postseason. The last two games, to my eye, JP has been more involved and pushing.
I remain convinced he will have a productive career. I don’t think many on this board or elsewhere agree, but that’s the fun of expressing opinions. 🙂
My reading of this board is that most think he’ll have a very useful (=productive?) career, but it’s split about 50/50 on whether he’ll score enough to be a good winger for McDavid. Most, I think, believe he’ll be at least a useful top 9W, and I think the group talking about a 2nd round pick as return is very small.
It’s interesting, you highlighted a LMHF#1 post a while back. The gist was that perhaps expectation for the team should be extremely high (ie – the Oilers should be a legitimate cup contender right now).
I feel like on an individual level that’s what Puljujarvi is facing. Many believe McDavid’s wingers should be scoring 30+ goals, and anything less isn’t good enough.
Personally, I don’t think the salary cap allows a team with McDavid and Draisaitl on separate lines to afford that caliber of player for both wings of both lines. And a player like Puljujarvi who’s scoring at roughly a 20 goal, 45 point pace, plus helping in other ways, can be an extremely valuable piece in the top 6.
This is it precisely! And given the boxcars you can likely get a bargain for the next couple of years. There is zero need to trade him even if you want to sign Kane. Find the money elsewhere.
Bingo!
Alleluia!
Jere Lehtonen has been mentioned in the past as good comp.
His stats don’t shine but man, that was a hockey player.
I 100% agree with you:)
JP is hard to pin down. He plays with the best players on the team often, but he also plays the least out of top six options and is the most sheltered by the coach.
I think this zooms his possession numbers a bit.
JP’s skillset is more like Zack Hyman’s than the elite players on the team. He needs to develop the inhuman extra effort if he wants to be a top six player like Hyman. Not sure if its possible for players to change their nature that much. Hopefully he can get there.
When he learns to stop and start, and take more direct paths to the puck, he’ll be an absolute demon. It’s coming … it’s just not here yet.
Big men usually take longer.
He might actually be an ideal top 6 option if he can help the stars outscore while keeping his own counting stats modest.
That should keep his contracts reasonable.
JP imo is an ideal winger for McDavid regardless if he’s on 97’s line or not.
He brings his metrics no matter what line he’s on, so if he’s not paired with McDavid but still outscoring the opposition when he’s on the ice it’s a win for the Oilers either way.
An ideal winger to have.
If anyone can unlock The Bison King, it’s Woody.
But if the coach is controlling Puljujarvi’s exposure to situations that would sewer his metrics, then perhaps some of his metric success is due to his usage?
NEW for The Athletic: Has Oilers goalie Mike Smith earned the net in 2022-23? And if so, are you ready for it?
https://theathletic.com/3326110/2022/05/21/edmonton-oilers-mike-smith-goalie/
Just imagine this team with 2017 Talbot or 2006 Roloson.
Imagine a team with a Pronger…
“It’s fun to ponder this Oilers team, with Woodcroft as coach, playing in front of a veteran goaltender who brings a consistent level of play.”
That’s what I would like to see.
Steve Smith, Jason Smith, Ryan Smyth, a good Oilers team should have a Smith. For that reason I think Mike stays.
Geoff Smith, Dan Smith, Doug Smith, and of course, everyone’s favourite, Jerred Smithson.
Tambellini was so proud at that moment.
In the series against Calgary, Edmonton is 6-4 goals at five-on-five with 97, 2-5 without
*****************************************************************
The non-McDavid crew need to help – just a little. Nobody is even asking them to outscore anyone. Just don’t get crushed.
He needs just a little help.
I think it’s coming. I think both ManWood and the players themselves are still learning what they have. Glimmers with RNH JP Hyman. McLeod Holloway Ryan? Yamo where you like. If the stars can stay healthy I think there’s pieces that can carry water.
D and G just need to synchronize their A games 4-6 games a series. I do not see a black ace blue breaking through, barring one of Broberg or Neimelainen suddenly thrust into the role of 2006 Matt Greene.* I don’t count on seeing Skinner between the pipes unless/until things get dire. Better to hope we don’t need him than plan a Patrick Roy debut.
D and G fixed somewhat, and good enough depending. Forwards a simmering gumbo. When it breaks right Oil are formidable. Please Gords let it be so.
* contributing while treading water. Hard on the ticker. No pee breaks.
Between the bottom six players on the team which I would call in terms of playoff icetime (McLeod, Puljujarvi, Kassian, Archibald, Ryan, Foegele), McLeod has the lone goal that wasn’t assisted by McDavid.
Oilers need to get something out of these guys in order to advance.
1 goal collectively hasn’t been enough so far. At least they aren’t bleeding.
Agree more help is needed, but I’d add the Hyman from Nuge shorty to the ‘help’ side of the ledger.
(Hopefully) fun poll for the forum about Mike Smith’s puckhandling: How much, if any, save percentage points would you say it’s worth? Upvote the option for how much of a save percentage another goalie would need to exceed Smith’s by in order for you to prefer that goalie to Smith:
Nothing. You’re a goaltender, tend the goal!
Up to .005
Up to .010
Up to .015
Do his puck handling skills result in superior or inferior shots against? Probably superior..? That would decrease his save% but decrease GAA given the drop in shot volume. I think the true benefit lies in superior puck possession & breakouts. It increases our goals scored rather than significantly reducing the opposition’s.
I just care about wins.
Smith wins. 56-27-6 as an Oiler.
Also there is this: .913sv%
#1 all time amongst Oilers goalies.
https://www.quanthockey.com/nhl/teams/edmonton-oilers-goalies-career-nhl-stats.html
Over the course of the last two seasons, Smith is 6th in the NHL in save percentage (I used 3000 minutes as a min – essentially 50 games over two seasons).
Did some weed eating earlier, was turning this over in my head while I did. So hard to quantify – just having Smith in net changes the game theory for the other team. Carry-ins become more desirable, dump-ins less so, which means you can deploy your team accordingly, choke out your blue line and try to get them to dump it in. There is value in being able to define your opponent’s choices, but it’s an intangible value that’s subtle and easily squandered. Put a pin in that for now.
These numbers are my best guess, I don’t have firm stats. Let’s suppose Smith cleanly picks off 30% of dump-ins and delivers the puck to an open player on the tape; he disrupts 20% of dump-ins, so the team still needs to play D but is at an advantage, he misses 40%, and 10% of them result in a HDSC, and let’s say he stops those at 40%. Those completely arbitrary numbers would suggest that for every 100 dump-ins the other team tries, Smith will *cause* six goals. How many dump-ins per game? I’ve never seen that stat before. To be fair, Smith does undeniably create goals sometimes, so that would need to be accounted for too. He also causes defenders to take less hits, which has extra value in the playoffs.
The other argument, though, is the quality of the six goals he will cause. When your goalie burps up a freebie it’s a real kick in the nuts for the team and can test belief in the goalie and the system. I don’t know, but I suspect that the Oilers lose most games when Smith has an oopsie. If the coach is able to persuade the players that the gains of the system are worth the odd bad goal, this effect could be mitigated.
I think, on balance, Smith’s puck-handling actually does a lot more good than harm, but I’d add the caveat that that is partly due to roster construction and the strategic choices of the coach, and that a lot of the good that it does is strategic, so it isn’t generating highlight reels but it is informing all the choices your players make on the ice.
I want a goalie who minimizes goals that he should have saved. If he’s going to let in 3 goals a game, let them be on high danger chances that he has little chance on.
Smith and Koskinen routinely make some great saves and routinely let in weak sauce goals. Like last night.
It leaves me wanting more from them because I think, what if they could stop leaking terrible goals? A goalie who let in the same amount but curbed the horrendous goals would seem more reliable or I would feel more satisfied with there game.
I totally see where you’re coming from. If two goalies have the same save percent but one lets in more bad goals and make more great saves, I believe it changes how the team in front of them plays. When you can’t trust your goalie to goal, it’s really hard to defend. Getting beaten on hdscs doesn’t undermine trust the way getting beaten by muffins does.
I’ve spent a TON of time thinking about how different goals affect teams morale differently, and it is a thing that is real sometimes Imo. Have come to the conclusion that asking how many great saves make up for a whiffer is like asking how many angels can dance in the head of a pin.
Got home late last night to watch the game and managed to avoid all texts and social media from spoiling it. What a pleasant surprise! Only downside was that I wasn’t able to sync the 630 CHED audio and had to listen to the espn announcer, John Buccigross. I’m not familiar with his work, but after being used to Rod, Jack and Mooner, can’t say Bucci made the game any more exciting than watching paint dry. Edmontonians must be spoiled. Goil!
I haven’t liked ESPN as much as I did TBS.
Last series I was yelling at the T.V even before the puck dropped in game 1 was for Hyman, Kane and the rest of the boys to use the wraparound strategy against a aggressive Quick. It looks like the boys have found the weakness on the glove hand side of Markstrom. Jacob will over compensate on his glove hand side next game leaving the blocker hand side with a window.
Fill the net, boys!!
Huge relief that Chris Lee failed to alter the outcome of the game. On the first disallowed goal, they even did an analysis after of how poorly positioned he was to see the play. That’s something. You don’t usually see an official called out like that.
Agreed. Ron McLean, who is not one to criticize officials, calmly went into the details as to how Lee misplayed the situation.
If Chris Lee is allowed to officiate another playoff game this year we should be shocked… but this is the NHL.
Super out of character for Ron, who normally has his lips glued firmly to the NHL’s butt.
Loved how Ron McLean clearly and strongly addressed that Lee was not in position.
Being that he’s a ex Ref it’s good on him for pointing this out and giving a fair observation. Maybe Lee can learn from this on how you get in tight to see if the puck is still alive in the crease.
ESPN crew called him out for being out of position on both early whistle disallowed goals.
Very glad things mostly evened out in the end (including the Oiler PP advantage).
Ron even begrudgingly accepted that Kesler interfered with Talbot and the referees got the call wrong. It required Friedman to break it down and stop the video on the hold.
Yesterday, he, himself, broke down why it was wrong. He also centred in on the referees process. That’s astounding. In 35 years of consciousness, I’ve never seen him do that.
Someone of Ron’s stature in the media has to be very careful about being too critical, cause it can really blow up in a bad way sometimes. Bobby Mac recently talked about the “piano on Wayne’s back”article on with Biz and Whit. Gretz turned a seemingly innocent comment into the motivation needed to down the Leafs.
Much easier to sit here in the peanut gallery and comment away.
3 oldest defenders to score in a playoff game are all under Ken Holland management.
Chelios, Lindstrom, Keith.
Kinda hilarious record book action.
Yeah except that’s not accurate as Chara scored a couple of goals in the Bruins run in 2019 at 42 years old. Duncan Keith is only a young 38!
Chara is a horse.
Yeah I was gonna say 38 years old (Keith) seems extremely unlikely to be the 3rd oldest.
How old was Bourque on his cup run? When did Zubov hang them up? Those guys never stopped filling the net now and then.
Leetch?
Housley.
I think NHL shooters are catching on to the reverse VH. I’m seeing more and more players shooting blindly from sharp angles for the holes goalies concede when they use it. I’m seeing more and more players trying to bank pucks in off goalies as they slide to their post. I saw something like 5 different-but-very-similar goals on Markstrom over the past couple of days. When you’re paddle-down in the reverse VH, you make yourself smaller, and right now lots of goalties go paddle-down when the puck is behind the net on the so they can use their stick to discourage centering passes and/or be strong on the jam play. For everything goalies take away, they have to give something up, and I think we’re getting closer to the part of the cycle where some clever goalie comes up with something new to counter what the forwards are doing to counter what the goalies are doing.
Idea for practice equipment – get something triangle-shaped with a net in it that you can mount to your posts and adjust the size of the triangle. Mount it 12″ off the ice. Watch footage of NHL goalies, noting exactly where the forward is when the goalie moves into the reverse VH. Practice hitting that triangle on the rush *from that exact spot* without looking. As you get better, make the triangle smaller and do it at the end of a stickhandling drill. It is the same shape and location as the hole goalies open up when they move into the reverse VH. Practice hitting it from behind the net (move it around so you can see it). Move it up so it covers only the extreme top corner in the nearside and do the same thing. You will give goalies who rely on the reverse VH fits!
Love that practice/equipment idea. Skill development is such a big thing, but also muscle memory to execute without thinking about it. I played goalie growing up and you’re absolutely right on the reverse VH. It does open up holes, and I think only the goalies with great hip flexibility to hinge sideways with a foot jammed up on the post can close them up. And only the goalies with long torsos or ones that can hinge over without letting their lap get too flat can seal up the room at the top of the net that can open up with the body leaning forward (room up near the ears above the shoulders).
It’s really effective at the wrap around jam play, but there are definitely weaknesses to exploit – stick positioning and hand position above the pads are key. You can also open them up a bit between the legs if you come out further to the center ice rather than a typical wrap around jam play. Most goalies jam up so hard on the post (over commit on the movement) that it makes them lift up on the leg that is not against the post. Leaves room between the wickets if they don’t have great stick positioning to cover up. Players with more patience coming around the net can definitely open up a goalie in that stance.
Thanks! If I ever get myself sorted out I’d like to start a youtube channel called “Judas Keeper” where I’d teach people how to score on goalies.
I definitely agree about the hip flexibility thing. Goalies do a ton of… I don’t know, unnatural movement mechanics? Difficult to master things which are useless everywhere else in life? I mean, if you learn to slam dunk a basketball, it will make you better at lots of things. If you improve your post integration, you aren’t really getting much better at anything except goaltending IMO.
Personally I couldn’t get much good use out of the RVH – I came to it too late in my “career” and I’m just shy of 5″11 so I don’t fill up much net on my knees.
Great game last night. Very nice comeback after a poor start. You could sense that they had settled down in the second half of the first. Keith’s goal was huge to get within one before the end of the period.
Some thoughts.
Agreed on the PP. Rebounds created from a shot at a lesser angle than Leon shoots from would pop out front, just have to have someone there that isn’t up against the D so they can shoot
Also they don’t get a lot of cross seam plays, it’s around the ring and from the point. That’s how Ovi gets his goals, it comes through the box and the goalie has to move
It’s interesting listening to Flames bemoan the lack of 5v5 time. Both teams scored 1 PPG so it’s not like the were beat because of PPG. I guess there strength is how they play their 5v5 system….and they know they are playing with fire giving McDrai 6 powerplays.
Yeah. I hear you. Their strength is 5v5 and they feel that’s where they have the advantage.
But it was tied at 3 and they had 6 minutes of power play time. One of which was a 6 on 4… good teams capitalize on those opportunities.
Or maybe good teams shut down teams that have those opportunities;)
This is it exactly. Their 5v5 is to dump it to the corners and set a 2 man forecheck. Keep Smith in his net so he can’t play the puck and start the breakout.
What helped last night also was we spent more time in Calgary’s zone, instead of the entire shift trying to breakout which – by the time they got puck possession, it was so late in the shift they were dump and change.
Will be interesting to see tomorrow’s adjustments with Woody getting the last change.
Flames don’t like penalties? Stop taking penalties. You’ll notice that Markstrom isn’t getting cross checked after whistles. The majority of scrums are in front of Smith. That’s telling.
Don’t stir up shit and then cry foul because of the consequences.
Down 2-0 and 3-1 in enemy territory + overcoming 2 disallowed goals and abysmal officiating = the quintessential ‘character’ win.
#RefuseToLose
If we go down 3-0 last night the series was for all intensive purposes over. Smith pulled up his boot straps and played some playoff hockey. I bet the Bronx cheers he was receiving after the 2nd goal helped him get mad at himself and made him more focused.
Agreed. Probably similar to calling a team an underdog
How about calling someone’s wife a wh.. Slapshot I’ve seen it so many times and it’s still funny. 1.Caddyshack 2.Slapshot. 3.Blazing Saddles 4.Happy Gilmore.5.Major League.
Flames fans are giving Smith the gears endlessly. Their players are taunting, cheap, and dirty. I can’t imagine a better adversary to stoke the rage within. I’m glad the good guys are turning that rage into goals and solid coverage.
Listening to Genesis’ Duke album this morning has me reconsidering the merits of Phil Collins in his favour.
Damn that win last night has put me in a good mood. That’s the only possible explanation.
My favorite post-Gabriel album. (It’s followed very closely by Wind & Wuthering, with A Trick of the Tail not far off.)
In my youth, I lifeguarded at our local swimming pool. We occasionally had to keep our certification by swimming a certain distance (600 m?) under a certain time (14 mins, IIRC). I would amp myself up beforehand by blasting “Man of Our Times” on the car stereo on my way into town. So good…
Shame that people largely remember Collins as a top 40 pop singer. He’s an exceptional prog and funk drummer and a soulful singer to boot. A sparse arrangement like ‘In The Air Tonight’ doesn’t work without a top notch vocal performance.
Collins was also part of a group called Brand X, a fusion (i.e. jazz-rock) band that began in the 70’s and was active even into this century. He played on most of their earlier albums when he wasn’t recording/touring with Genesis.
Those who are interested in his Brand X work should begin with either Moroccan Roll or Product. (The latter is more accessible, though Collins only plays on a few tracks.)
This is a good introduction to their sound (though Brand X is mostly instrumental) :
https://youtu.be/88ZQCLMAuUY
The last four Gabriel albums are the best. Peter leaving was like Gretzky leaving.
But the two that followed, A Trick of the Tail & Wind and Wuthering, were both excellent discs. Then Steve Hackett also left, & if had the effect of Jari Kurri also leaving. The team was still pretty good but greatness was largely in the rear view.
Duke not bad, though. I also didn’t mind the self-titled Genesis album with Home by the Sea on it.
Still, in those “And Then There Were Three” years I listened more to Gabriel & Hackett solo albums than to diminished Genesis.
I like that analogy.
Growing up, I had always associated Genesis with Collins*. It wasn’t until my late teens–having left my small town for the “big” city–that I was able to hear any Gabriel-era material. Fantastic. So, for me, the late 70’s Genesis wasn’t so much “diminished” as simply different. But I can understand how you might feel that way, having experienced it all in real time.
* I make the same association with Roger Moore, who is still my favorite James Bond, though I can certainly understand Sean Connery’s appeal. I guess it’s just a matter of your favorite actor/singer/etc. being who you first saw in that role.
I was texting with a buddy during the game last night. After the 2-0 Ritchie goal and some cursing about missed assignments, I said: “It is amazing to me how great Bouchard and Keith have been, and also amazing how terrible they have been.” Cue up a 1-2-3 night for Keith (my buddy sends: “You were saying…?”) and a huge game tying goal by Bouchard (“You were saying again….?”). Early struggles but last night they redeemed their play and more. The old “double agent” line and “dangerous at both ends of the ice” line from MacT or Pat Quinn came to mind – can’t remember which one said which.
This team just feels so different when they are down and trying to get back into it, or when they are closing out a tight game up by a goal or two. For all of his unorthodox movement in net, which causes some serious butt-clenching, Smith has been solid and made timely saves this post-season, even with a few hiccups along the way.
The team seems to have matured past that fragility that used to mean certain losses in those types of games. Coming back home 1-1 in this series is a great result, even if we were 100% healthy. The pressure is now on Calgary to steal 2 from us in our home barn with shaky performances from Markstrom so far.
I felt so disenchanted with this team after the last 2 years and how they performed in the post-season, I was really hesitant to get too excited this year, but dammit, I’m all in. I went to game 7 in the LA series with my brother-in-law and I can’t describe what a night that was. There was an electric hum in the air, sitting with the tense anticipation of jumping out of your seat on the next rush by McDavid and company. My legs were burning the next day. I can’t wait to see how that building erupts again this series.
Lowetide, I love your site. I don’t comment much, but I read it every day. I love this community you’ve built and your whimsical prose just ties so much of this game we love into the lives we live.
GO OIL!!!!!!!
I also love your site, LT! When you were talking about the Hemsky chatter a few days ago, it reminded me how long I have made this website a priority for my daily reading. It has helped me understand the game, the Oilers, and Oilers fans better.
For the record, Hemsky was anything but soft, and he truly had the worst case of dangilitis I have ever seen (that is, until McDavid)…
+1 on “love this site.” It’s like an online sports bar with great music filled with unusually smart, well-behaved and reasonable hockey fans. I don’t always post but I almost always read.
+1 on the love the site as well! Also, I think the difference with the team is really a reflection of the difference in coaching. Woodcroft has an actual strategic approach to both in game adjustments and also response following a poor game. Although McDavid is the driver, there are many others involved. With Tippett, he just relied on McDavid and Drai, plus Nurse, and when that failed the team was screwed!
There are many players making a difference in the response games. Some notables last night that weren’t so notable on the scoresheet:
Yamo with his never quit attitude, and willingness to sacrifice his body.
PJ with some dogged forechecking and a beauty pass up the middle to spring Hyman.
Hyman with his determination and speed- and shorty!
Barrie, with a couple nice crosschecks to Coleman after he ran Smith, and some other more physical play.
Drai and Nurse, for fighting through serious injuries, clearly not at 100% but impacting the game regardless.
Kulak and Ceci for battling through some headshots, and continuing to fight against a really great cycling team.
Smith- such a battler and staying positive in a less than stellar start by his team and himself. Like McDavid, I think he drags the team into the fight with his attitude. I haven’t seen him stare down his dmen after errors these playoffs either.
Aside from my husband and I almost divorcing last night- he is a typical fairweather Flames fan and I a typical diehard Oiler fan (enough said)… what a great night! I remember not too long ago wondering who of Drai or McDavid would be better to trade when contracts come due. Hard to imagine that even being a thought in my brain now. Neither! Is the answer, but Holland is going to need to do some magic with other cap issues.
Not sure what is best to do with Nurse now, but I think Kulak-Ceci covered admirably when Nurse was out a game, and Barrie is playing much better now, so perhaps a 2nd/3rd pairing of Nurse Barrie would be better than putting Nurse up against top lines.
Noted difference between Woodcroft/Manson and Tippet/Playfair was on display last night, and throughout the playoffs- Bouchard and Keith together have often been disastrous in their own zone this playoffs. Tippett would have split this pairing and been sitting Bouchard, like he sat Bear after mistakes. This coaching tandem keeps putting them back out there, and last night it paid huge dividends, Keith with 3 points, Bouch with the tying goal. What a stark contrast in so many ways with this coaching tandem. I love Woody’s media avails more and more- he is so smart, and also getting a little short with stupid questions, but answers in interesting ways the better questions.
My girlfriend, on learning Oilers will play Flames: “Ugh, Calgary fans have such little brother syndrome.”
Me: Covertly measuring her finger size.
Haha- love it! Yes all the bandwagoners came out of the woodwork in Calgary during game 1, texting and taunting me during the game. Hop on, hop off, I say!
Nice post – thank you.
Just a couple of things:
1) In 3 years, when Drai’s contract is up, the cap should be re-linked to 50% of HRR and go up markedly. By the time McDavid’s contract is up, it could be near $100MM.
2) Not to “defend” Tippett (Playfair) but that duo gave Buch LOTS of rope and stuck with him on top pair through struggles. His role has been scaled back, generally, under Woody (Manson).
I saw a new play-off stat;
Lee -3 disallowed goals/60 minutes
#ishouldn’tknowyourname
I really love this. So true.
How the heck was Nuge that bad on face offs last night. 17% is unheard of for a rookie let alone a 10 year vet C
Injuries
Weirdest thing is he’s over 50% this playoffs (not kidding, he’s 2nd on the team to Ryan at 50.6%).
I guess it’s some combo of an off night and not having Ryan to help with (Nuge’s) weak side draws.
The Flames got Ryan thrown out of the circle a couple of times, so that Nuge was forced to take draws on his weak side.
Winning face offs has been a big part of Sutter’s overall strategy since the series puck drop. They’ve been doing a lot of stuff in the circle.Working to get guys waved out, their heavy box-out strategy, scrambling draws they lose…
The Oilers were 53% in game 1, FWIW, but got fed last night (33%) with Nuge being the worst of the lot (guess he had really good results vs LA).
Seems that face-offs had little to no bearing on the result of the 2 games.
Certainly hasn’t. But Sutter teams must possess the puck. they’ll keep at it.
Yeah just added that bit because I was surprised to see the flow of play run opposite to the FOs in the two games.
During the season the Oilers won 47% of the draws vs. Calgary, though the Oilers were just a shade better overall than Calgary during the season (51.3% vs 51.1%).
Agree Sutter’s been working at it, but hopefully game 2 was more an anomaly than anything (or at least that the Oilers can adjust).
Damn. That’s kind of unreal that the H2H runs counter to the large League sample. I mean its small and can always happen (and should we expect some regression to the meat?), but this is one area I would’ve thought held fairly true. One, there’s a fair number of face-offs in a game and they’re unavoidable unlike a Corsi event. Two, it seems like the better face-off guy almost always wins when he wants to. Ie repeatable, less variance.
I wonder if it’s less repeatable than you think? I’m not sure. At the team level it seems there was a huge swing between games 1 and 2, and lots of individual players obviously had swings too.
Do you mean the Oilers 51.3% season vs 47% (46.9) vs Calgary? First, since CGY and EDM were almost identical 51% (both a bit above average), I’d *expect* them 50/50.
Then, the gap between 47% and 50% isn’t really that big (even though that’s a decent spread in FO%). Game 2 had 63 FOs. Call it 62 for simplicity. 50/50 would be 31 wins per team. 47% is 29 wins-33.
Ugly. Real ugly.
CF% -42%
SF%-47%
He is breaking even GF% but…..tick, tick, tick
47% shots is a ticking time bomb?
Or are those the numbers of someone who forces the other line to take a lot of outside shots? Or is he playing a line that deploys that strategy regardless?
GF is such a tiny sample right now, but in terms of describing recent success, it is the most important one. Recent process maybe not so much, but we don’t know just from the numbers. I thought that line was pretty sharp last night.
Took my wife and kids to the game last night. Just like the old man’s first playoff game (97 comeback thriller against Dallas), the kids got to enjoy a come-from-behind victory, and while it wasn’t as miraculous, was probably more enjoyable.
A few comments:
We watched warmup and I focused on Draisaitl. He looked tentative, to say the least. I agree he got better as the game went on. Maybe they need to find a way to warm him up earlier? I am not a trainer or sports doc, but just a thought. His PP one timer shot was still a bit “fluffy,” obviously due to the injury. He got a good one after a pass in his wheelhouse in the 3rd, but that PP1 still needs some work and to think of other options besides that cross ice one timer to Draisaitl. For now, maybe Drai needs to be setting up someone else. All that being said, 6 pts in past 2 games on 1.5 ankles is simply incredible.
Jesse had a strong game defensively and that one shift in the offensive zone in particular when he hit like a Mack truck. If he’s feeling better he should have more TOI. Great line juggling by coaches to simultaneously improve lines 2/3.
Hyman and McDavid – everything LT said.
Flames fans in my section were very mad about the officiating, except when it benefitted them… I would say it favored them. I still don’t know what counts as goaltender interference anymore but it was incredibly satisfying to get up and yell at everyone around me – that was definitely a good goal while their collective jaws dropped in awe of McDavid.
The fans in my area were generally pleasant, gracious in defeat despite some playful back and forth, and kind to the kids. A school aged kid old saw me in line in the washroom with my Hyman jersey and starter an Oilers suck chant :). But man, Flames fans have a serious inferiority complex when it comes to the Oilers. Rather than cheering on their team, they spent half the time jeering the Oilers, which backfired. At one point we started a let’s go oilers chant that was met, not by “Go Flames Go,” but by “oilers suck.” Hopefully we can stay positive with the cheers in Edmonton. Also, loved that they were jeering Smith and he assisted on the dagger.
Thanks for that. I enjoyed reading the ‘behind enemy lines’ perspective.
Great post, thanks for sharing. I’ve really enjoyed the vibe of the Edmonton v Calgary aspect of this series. So far everyone involved is behaving better than I had expected, from players to coaches to fans. Turtle was even saying something good about Ben, I couldn’t really make it out, that boy needs to leave his shell sometimes. Also, the festering D-bag hasn’t dropped on our goalie once. #givetheturtlehisdue #ohgodwhatdidIjustsay?
Thanks
I forgot to add one thing: walking into the arena spotted a young child with a McDavid jersey with parents in Flames jerseys. Yet another testament to this awesome player is that he is spawning a broad network of Oilers fans across the continent, even behind enemy lines. I gather this was the case in the 80s with Gretz, and we have seen it with Crosby as well, it was just jarring to see a child who clearly was destined to be a Flames fan change allegiances
Happy I no longer have to bang the drum for Hyman to play with Nuge.
How about that big swan dive by Johnny Hockey last night? More like Johnny Soccer.
Johnny ‘Hockey’ is to Gordie ‘Mr. Hockey’ Howe as Chris Gaines is to Garth Brooks.
Johnny Floppy
Dammit I was so happy with Johnny Soccer but yours is better.
Love that the refs called the dive on that play. I wish that dives would be called as the sole penalty on those types of plays though!
Bouchard did give him a pretty healthy crosscheck.
I must admit I thought that looked a tough call against JG.
As The Ruttles were to The Beatles.
Sutter seemed to prefer the Backlund vs McDavid matchup freeing up Gaudreau’s line for an easier go.
Suspect Woodcroft will go strength vs strength with the nuclear line now that he has last change.
That should be a significant problem for Calgary. Good times.
I wasn’t sure if the best strategy for defending Connor is to NOT use your selke candidate center….
Not sure how Sutter is going to hide Zadorov from McDavid at home….
Absolutely baffling Kozari got this game. Lee on the first disallowed was amateur hour.
Well, at least evened that up for the Oilers’ benefit.
I also can’t really argue with the goalie interference.
As Connor said it is what it is, but he is allowed to go where he did with the puck and he noticeably tried to avoid contact, he was moving away from him and lifted his back skate and his stick was clear
We have seen far more blatant against us not called. It was a weak call IMO. In a playoff game especially
That all may be true but he also went in to the crease, made real contact with the goalie in the crease and impeded him from going where he needed to to make the save.
Good to see PJ coming on and I love that new line. Relative to all previous viewings of his defensive play, Tyson Barrie has surprised and impressed me these playoffs, showing a level of poise and purpose not before demonstrated. Meanwhile thank Gord (Ken, Archie, Whoever) for the Kulak pickup. It’s been…material.
I noticed Barrie’s physicality against LA in a way I never had before. He’s no Gator, but he’s added some sandpaper to his game since coming to town IMO.
Barrie’s no punching bag face washes don’t feel good. Barrie’s learned the tricks of the trade on defending himself without getting penalized.
Barrie has come to play. He was better in last year’s playoffs as well but is also taking the next step, undoubtedly because McDavid is setting the standard
I wonder if Keith telling Bouch that he has to stand his ground had an effect?
It’s not about fighting or being vicious or blowing people up. If you aren’t that you aren’t. It’s about not letting others push you out of the game or get on top of you mentally. Have no fear and do what you have to to achieve your goal
You also get some respect from the opponent – they’ll always do what they think they need to, but it won’t be the first resort to try to punk you if they know you have some backbone
Tanev is a warrior I wonder what the injury is? I think the Flames miss him more than their actual fan base think. He calms things down for them on the backend. Flames were lucky not to have any injuries this year but the Hockey Gods always get their pound of flesh.
I won’t disagree with him being a warrior or anything like that but he has a long long long history of missing games with injury – its been his biggest issue. Him being out with injury is not really a big surprise, is it?
Him being healthy for this long has been the biggest surprise
He played every game for the last 3 seasons. Before this injury, his last was in spring 2019.
But then look at his previous 9 seasons. Or you expecting players to be less injury prone as they age?
Sure, and he still has a long history of missing games with injury and I was responding to a post having to do with him missing games with injury.
I don’t think he turned in to a “warrior” over the last few seasons after being a “baby” for several prior seasons, right?
Yeah man. When my best defender (who is sometimes a C) is sick or injured, I know I’m going to face more shots of higher quality. I can’t imagine the same principle not applying in the NHL.
Tanev is a very good defender. Every partner is way better with him. But he’s not the biggest guy and that is a tough position to play undersized if you aren’t Quinn or Makar and are all about offense
No point in playing Kassian if he’s not going to engage in what should be exactly his type of game. Give the next one a shot. Worst case he plays a couple of shifts and gets to watch a dandy playoff game.
And I’m still finding a way to play 80. Too many moments again last night where a Flame would be trying to find their helmet in the second deck.
Niemelainen is not ready for this level of hockey.
He can play five minutes of seek and destroy. He’s not some rookie from the AJHL or something.
Seek and destroy and get scored on
No, he’s not, but he’s the guy that helped leak almost 3GA/60 while playing only 16% TOI vs. elites.
it’s not like he is not hitting. He had 2 credited hits in 4 minutes of ice time last night. For the playoffs, his is hitting at a rate of 23 per 60, which is 2nd on the team to Archibald and 9th overall in the NHL including players who only played 1, 2 or 3 games. Part of the reason for only the 4 minutes is that there was 19 minutes of non-5 on 5 play in the game, plus the Oilers trailed for almost the entire first 35 minutes of the game. Kassian will have a bigger presence at some point in this series.
Sorry but Kassian has had 2 games in the opponents barn to get involved and he just doesn’t want to. The few moments he was on the ice last night, the whistle blows, Flames are teaming up on Oilers while Kassian skates away.
I scratch Kassian immediately and insert someone looking to make things happen. Most likely Shore, and if Kassian wants back in he better hope Foggy or Arch falters.
Great game by the lads, entertaining game to watch. Holy hell Conner McDavid. I mean, yeah obviously, why am I even bothering saying something so obvious, but holy hell, he’s next level. He’s a PS4 game running on an Atari. If the Oilers make a run you gotta think he gets the Conn Smythe.
Leon showed separation speed again and it made me very happy. Injuries are impacting him and Nurse to my eye, I still think both of them are doing lots of good things. The things Nurse isn’t doing anymore really jump out sometimes – watching him not be able to reliably chase down forwards with a couple steps on him is strange and I don’t like it. Hurt or not, Nurse is a beast and I don’t think the Oilers have six better D.
I really liked Smith’s bounceback. Some goals are scored on teams and some goals are scored on players. The first goal was scored on Smith and Bouchard, and I’ve come to understand that sometimes your goalie rolls a 1 and sometimes your young D makes very poor decisions. It happens, worry about overcoming it. I definitely thought, “oh no, we’re getting Bad Mike Smith tonight!” but LT described his game perfectly.
Loved Hyman, he makes me think of Yamamoto in terms of “doing good things that disrupt the other team, create chances from nothing at all and sheer hard work and ballsiness, and not being afraid of anything.”
McLeod seems to have arrived. I’m hoping he becomes to us what Cogliano became for the Ducks. I’m realizing that sometimes it’s good if the expectations on a prospect are kept low for instance, if McLeod turns out to be a real good 3rd line player, he’ll probably accept that role in Edmonton. If JP turns out the same, he might reasonably want a second chance in another organization to try to become the guy he was drafted to be, and I couldn’t fault him for that.
Zebras were a little goofy at times (he understates tactfully) but at least they were trying to do their jobs. More please. I admit to saying some mean, mean things about them, their judgement, their choice in optometrists, and their ancestry, but I have seen so much worse. I also have to give them some credit for settling the game down a time or two when it seemed the physicality might get out of hand. I have no clue how they justified some of the penalties they called, the TV doesn’t always give me the replays and angles I want. I called SO MANY penalties in real time that the refs didn’t but nothing
I think this Oilers team deserves to be treated like an elite NHL team right now. The sun is shining and it’s a long weekend, figured I’d try to share my good mood. Lotta music nerds here (he says respectfully), here’s a little number from a smallish time Canadian artist named Big Rude Jake: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0cSAmNQy0c The genre is “swing/punk.” Walk tall, Oilers fans!
Watching Duncan Keith remember in real time that he is in fact still Duncan Keith was something to see. Suddenly wanted the puck. Knew where everyone was. Jumping up and getting back. Will be very helpful if he can manage that for the rest of the playoffs.
He had a few stretches where he looked that way during the regular season as well.
Agree, that savvy is valuable in the thick of playoffs. And there’s Bouch soaking it all in, wonderful.
I’d like to mention Barrie’s game last night. There are always a few thing he does each game that make me cringe a bit, but I really like the little neck massage he gave Coleman after the Smitty hack. He is really invested in this team. I also think he does a consistently great job of keeping the puck in the zone during the power play, and walking the line to open lanes before dishing off. There’s no Bouch Bomb in his arsenal, but he is a really effective PP d-man.
Plus he seems like a really positive, likable teammate.
Barrie’s ability to keep the puck in at the line and reliably get it back to one of the forwards is absolutely the reason he’s still on PP1.
He just knows when and where it’s coming up to the line, damn near every single time.
Playoff Barrie > early season Barrie.
by a mile
Barrie was also solid in the playoffs last year – he has a history of solid defending and stepping up that part of his game in the playoffs.
The last 2 playoff seasons the Oilers have gone 10GF-5GA (67%) with Barrie on the ice and 20-25 (44%) with him off.
It was similar in Colorado 2018 and 2019, 20GF-17GA (54%) with him on and 22-34 (39%) with him off.
For his full playoff career (the above left out 2014 with the Avs and 2020 with the Leafs) his teams have been:
Barrie on: 34GF-26GA (57%)
Barrie off: 52GF-81GA (39%)
If the Oilers were shooting on Mike Smith, they’d be scoring 12 a night playing as they are.
Skinner. Seriously. There’s an astronomically low possibility he starts worse…and if they get past the damn start, they’re sailing.
You think they go to a guy they didn’t bring up when the season was heading the wrong direction in January?
Skinner starting is not happening unless Smith and Koskinen can’t go
More interested in what they ought to do rather than what they will do.
There is little in favor of “oughting” to start Skinner over Smith.
Smith’s play in the NHL over the last 2 plus months was greater than Skinner’s play in the AHL.
Smith’s play in the NHL playoffs, including in this second round against the flames was greater than Skinner’s play in round 2 against the Heat.
With respect, vitriol against Mike Smith last night for the 3rd goal against, proves (to me) a narrative here.
Considering Skinner is coming off of three horrible starts in the AHL playoffs….. that might be an aggressive use of the phrase “astronomically low possibility”
I know it blows up in our face sometimes, but Smith’s puckhandling really adds something against a big, physical team like Calgary in particular. If he is saving our D several hits per game and making it harder for the Flames to get set up in our zone, that’s worth something. How do you quantify how much it’s worth? Beats the hell out of me.
Smith has a great game after the Ritchie goal, Skinner isn’t an option if the Oilers are serious about this series.
These posts are too funny.
During the summer the the most popular person in Saskatchewan is the Rider’s 3rd string QB. In Oilerville it’s the 3rd string goalie. Always. It never changes.
It must be so disappointing to you and Reja to watch Smith win.
Cassandra, too. There’s a rumor going around that he really hates Smith.
The Oilers could lose this series in 7 and a strong argument likely made for McDavid to win the Conn Smyth…..
I saw this after I made my post – LOL:
Shane Sander 🏒
@SanderEDM
Not including 18 goalies — McDavid has the same (or more points) in just 9 games as 12 Conn Smythe winners:
Goring (1981)
Orr (1970)
Crosby (2016)
Kane (2013)
Lidstrom (2002)
Lemieux (1995)
Gainey (1979)
Beliveau (1965)
Niedermayer (2007)
Stevens (2000)
Savard (1969)
Keon (1967)
Folks, I may be five days late here, but I can’t help but post my discovery: The Battle of Alberta is back!
The online one, I mean.
http://battleofalberta.blogspot.com/
This brings back the good memories of mc79hockey, Covered in Oil, Colby Cosh’s blog, Black Dog Hates Skunks, and the glory days of blogging – of which this particular blog has often seemed the lone survivor. Nice to have Matt Fenwick and Sacamano back.
For me, the call was marginal, however, Kane did cross-check the guy, right in the numbers, after the Oilers had a series of penalties – I couldn’t get too upset by that call.
Great game and great come back
I would like to see a couple things cleaned up for the next one
Leon’s outlet passes are a split second late and really dangerous
Needs to stop Or it’s gonna cause early playoff dismissal
we’re getting hemmed in with up the board zone exits
zone exits are very effective with good puck support and left winger high
thats the game plan
Foegelle has been largely ineffective
Ive been disappointed with his play
Nuge needs to score. He had some good chances but is shooting right on
he has a shot but we’re not seeing it
Flames are missing Tanev he would be hard matched on Connor.
and….?
McDavid is having a great play off but some of it has to be attributed to fact that LAK and Flames are playing without the guy that would be on the ice defending 97.
To each their own but you are really trying to discount McDavid’s current play, arent’ ya?
Oilers scored at almost 6 G/60 with McDavid on the ice versus Tanev this season.
There are two tweaks that I hope to see for next game:
1) Holloway in for Archie. I have always been guarded and responded to those that speak in absolutes “Holloway would do X” or “Holloway would be better than Y” given these are things we just don’t know. At the same time, Archie (and Kass for now) has been a net-negative in this series and is no longer playing. There is no reason not to give it a try and see what happens, at least I can’t see one.
I could definitely see coach pulling Archie but would he dump Dylan over Shore (and Brassard)?’
2) The talked about Nurse-Kulak swap. I think Nurse’s battle level picked up big time in the 3rd but, whatever his injury is is taking away his ability to by physical and his skating – his two best attributes. At least spell him a bit – Kulkak has proven he can handle the tougher minutes and role, at least for short stints.
Archie has been noticeable at times esp keeping the puck going in the right direction.
Foegelle and Kass not so much.
Heck Kass iced the puck so blatantly, it was a headscratcher.
I don’t see Archie coming out of the lineup
I would like to see Brad Malone in. He is like a swiss army knife
Brad Malone was on the ice for over 4GA per 60 in his stint.
He is not an NHL player.
McDavid is a giant among men.. er boys. I got a text from a friend last night who’s not an Oiler fan. He said Oilers will win when the score was tied 3-3 and someone other then Connor needs to step up. I was so impressed with Hyman last night, he was a beast. Blocking shots, hitting and puck management/retrieval was a pleasure to watch! After he was stopped on the first breakaway I was wondering if he would go high glove if he had another chance. He did. It brought me out of my seat. McLeod is looking better and better and is deserving of the minutes he’s getting. Brilliant move assembling the 3rd line, Woodcroft is a genius. Oilers will be very foolish not to sign him and Manson to contracts this summer. For the 1st time in years I have hope that this team can compete with the best.
So ON is reporting that Koski is off to Europe next season. Maybe it’s time to promote Skinner to the backup position if Koski’s head and heart aren’t up to the task of battling for an NHL job?
I posted about this last night. On 16 Jan Jeff Carter was reported to be signing in the Swiss league, 10 days later he signed a 2 year extension with the Pens.
Nothing to see here.
Sometimes this is a negotiation tactic.
I would be shocked if Koskinen has an NHL job next year
You dismiss this but it’s gonna happen
Mikko may very well head back to Europe but I am fully confident that he would be offered NHL contracts by various teams. His heading back would be by choice.
Sorry? Not sure what I am dismissing, the OP’s comment or yours?
Just saying that way early Swiss league signing announcements have been proven to be wildly inaccurate. It also seems incredibly premature and poor form to announce the signings of players in Koski’s situation.
Perhaps it’s true, but it’s nothing, IMO, to be discussing until the Oilers have stopped playing, as it has no bearing on the present.
I appreciate your input, as it is unique and credible.
I’m here, have thought he go back over for a while
Someone might offer but I don’t see why Koski wouldn’t rather be a starter in a good pro league, possibly a star again, and enjoy hockey in his final years as a pro and still get paid well
Instead of being a backup with a lot of uncertainty as an older goalie with uncertain play
It’s baffling how much news has leaked about us in this series. Now i get why Lou doesnt tell anyone anything.
News? Slow news day start a rumour! It will become news in short order.😉
Given the serious injuries to Drai and Nurse taking away home ice advantage and making the Flames look very non Sutter like is a pretty good outcome so far.
normally I’d be against putting in a raw rookie into a playoff game but hey if you are playing guys for 4 mins you might as well give Holloway a go. His speed and will to fight for the puck will at least give Flames fits for those 4 min
The arguments against Holloway – as guys just sit on the bench watching – are getting absurd now.
There is no downside to dressing Holloway over Archie.
I have said for ages now that a vet that can’t meet assignments and gets beat at the heart of the game has less value than a high end prospect like Holloway, because at least the prospect has upside
But if Archie isn’t getting scored on Woody will leave him. If he fails to a certain level Holloway May not get the first kick at it to keep decorum among the lesser players
I also worry about rehabilitation far far more than playing Dylan. To be up with the team rehabbing the wrist is way more important for his career. And his wrist isn’t back yet
Archie is now being scored against. We may be able to discount the 2GA on Wed, as everyone was terrible, but he got scored on in his 4 minutes last night as well.
I am no longer concerned about rehabbing the wrist and where it is healthy wise. After he came back from his 3-4 weeks off with the thigh (we think) issue, he was a different player – all of a sudden shooting from everywhere, with a purpose. This was MUCH different than his first couple of months where he was looking to pass off all the time.
His wrist seems to be in fine shape from his play and its likely a non-factor on the decision to play him on or not.