Photo by Mark Williams
That’s a game the Edmonton Oilers should have put to bed early, and absolutely the home team was guilty of letting the result slip away. Leading by two with less than 10 minutes on the clock? Man, you have to close that out or you don’t deserve to win.
I don’t think anyone, certainly no one I know, thought this would be a sweep. I think this result may well steel the Oilers resolve and I expect we’ll see a 60-minute effort in Game 2.
Before Game 1, I wrote about the three game types we’d see: Oilers dominate, Kings play a gritty game and do just enough to win, and Oilers do the same. Last night had elements of all three games, and credit to LAK they weathered several storms to win it. If you’re looking for someone to blame, there are many candidates. That said, I think it’s probably a better idea to chalk it up to a team that was loose like Crazy Horse at the Fillmore at the end of a long winning streak. It came to an end, and a more determined home team is extremely likely to show up for Game 2.
THE ATHLETIC!
- New DNB: Oilers’ playoff excitement, expectations have already given way to Game 1 pain again
- Lowetide: How winning the Stanley Cup would change the Oilers organization
- DNB: Connor McDavid, the NHL’s best player, has ‘freed his mind’: Will an Oilers Stanley Cup follow?
- Lowetide: Why Stuart Skinner should be the Oilers first Calder winner
- New DNB: Stuart Skinner Q and A
- Lowetide: Oilers transcend reasonable expectations in 2022-23, led by Connor McDavid
- Lowetide: Who could be the Oilers’ playoff Fernando Pisani this year?
- DNB: Oilers ready for a playoff rematch with Avalanche
- DNB: Top seed in West and ‘momentum’ for playoffs
- Lowetide: Oilers’ second half spike owes much to Jay Woodcroft’s innovation
- Lowetide: Stock up or down for every Oilers prospect in the system
- Lowetide: Oilers top 20 prospects, winter 2022
TOO MANY PENALTIES
The Oilers have to be way smarter with their sticks. Evan Bouchard’s late penalty was crucial, and Vincent Desharnais’ overtime tripping call was at least interference although considering the game state one would hope the referees let it go. Evander Kane and Zach Hyman are veterans, they need to be more disciplined. It’s one game and the world didn’t end last night. If these men can tighten up, Edmonton will win the series. To my eye, Edmonton won the five-on-five minutes. Klim Kostin would be a candidate to replace Kailer Yamamoto but he can’t be trusted to avoid penalties.
GOALIE AND DEFENSE
Mattias Ekholm and Evan Bouchard spent most of the night versus the Danault line and played well. In 13:37 against the veteran LAK center, Ekholm was 6-3 shots and had an expected goal share (five-on-five) of 76 percent. Kempe scored twice in the third, this pairing was slow to recognize where the danger was coming from but honestly it was a play that developed in a strange way. I’m not sure you score that an error, I would suggest some bad luck was involved. I loved Bouchard’s goal and swagger, didn’t like the penalties, especially the late one and man it was a penalty. Folks, young players make mistakes. He’s very good and you should be patient. This tandem is going to rock it all spring.
Darnell Nurse and Cody Ceci were 2-0 goals at five-on-five, both Draisaitl goals. The duo played mostly against the Kopitar line (2-0 goals, 79 percent expected goals) but were on for the Kempe backhander at the start of the third period (even strength but not five-on-five). Nurse was also on for the final LA PP goals and there’s plenty of bad verbal out there if you’d like to pursue it. I don’t think the winning goal was well defended, but I don’t believe that was Nurse’s man. For me, Nurse and Ceci were rock solid at five-on-five and the PK, as a unit, didn’t hold up mostly because of the large number of penalties. Edmonton spent 8:24 on killing penalties and that’s miles too many, Nurse on the ice for 67 percent of those minutes. Picking out culprits on specific plays ignores the real problem.
Brett Kulak and Vincent Desharnais were excellent together, Kulak had four shots and a late chance that missed and resulted in a jailbreak. Desharnais was effective all night, a little unlucky on the penalty but it was interference.
Stuart Skinner made some big stops, no chance on the winner and needed some help the didn’t come on the tying goal. I think he played well, and expect him to do it again in Game 2. No issues here.
The overwhelming theme defensively is stay out of the box. Man this team lacked discipline last night.
FORWARDS
- Nuge-McDavid-Hyman played 15:57 at five-on-five and dominated. The shot share was 12-5, 71 percent expected goals and the goal share 0-1. These things happen. McDavid did make a backpass with the team cruising and it did result in disaster. I’m never going to bet against this player and I believe he’ll use it as fuel to flatten the opponent in Games 2-6. Nuge and Hyman both picked up assists but the real issue here is the Hockey Gods didn’t reward the line for good works. It’ll come.
- Kane-Draisaitl-Yamamoto played 12:31, going 10-6 shots, 1-0 goals and 67 percent expected goals. Those numbers shine like a diamond, but this line needs more from Yamamoto. Missed on a glorious chance and if that goal goaes in I’m singing his praises. Like the player, but on a night when both of his teammates were fire, he was not good enough. Kane was fierce and effective, he earned two assists but only got the one. I don’t like his penalties, bet he doesn’t either. Leon Draisaitl was the best player on the ice and that includes Adrian Kempe. He wanted a return pass from Nurse that never came, 25’s shot deflected into the ether. Helluva game, 29.
- Kostin-Bjugstad-Janmark played 6:46, 3-1 shots and 77 percent expected goals. Janmark had some nice moments including a dandy assist on Leon’s first goal. Kostin took the first penalty of the game, played just 24 seconds over the rest of the period. Woodcroft put him back in the lineup in the second and third and I thought he played well. Bjugstad was effective and physical, giving the Kings another big man to worry over during five-on-five time.
- Foegele-McLeod-Ryan played 6:19, 6-1 shots, no goals and 66 percent expected goals. Helluva fourth line, folks! For me, Foegele was the most effective of the group, he had a couple of terrific chances and was a bull all night. McLeod used his speed well and Ryan has that veteran savvy you need this time of year. Line scored two disallowed goals, both the correct call, but it tells you they were buzzing.
WHAT’S NEXT?
I believe in this coaching staff and bet you a 2-4 the club is far more disciplined in Game 2. The Los Angeles Kings are good, they are capable of winning this series. Edmonton’s players have to respect them enough to understand playing shorthanded for almost nine minutes a night is too much by plenty.
Other than that, I thought they let off the gas by the midway point of the game and that’s a bad idea. Suggests the home team and the winning streak had allowed some bad habits into their game. I suspect that will be cleaned up quickly and taken out with the morning trash.
BOOK SIGNING!
Transit Smokehouse & BBQ on Fort Road is the place, this Saturday noon to 4pm is the time. I’ll be there to sign copies of ON THE CLOCK and I’ll even read some naughty passages if you ask nicely. I will have a limited number (about 25) books for purchase at $28, and we’ll be using E-transfer. I can also sign any purchased books at that time, make sure to bring it with you.
Joining me are the legendary Bob Layton who has written “Welcome to Radio” and “I’ll puke in your pocket and Side Hustles” plus the growing legend Shane Blakely, who wrote “In and Above Edmonton: Then and Now”. The Transit Smokehouse and BBQ is at 12720 Fort Road. Noon to four pm Saturday. I won’t be selling 8-tracks, will save those for my summer garage sale.
LOWETIDE AND JAMIESON
There will be much wailing and gnashing of teeth on the text line today, but not from me. We’ll has it out TSN 1260, 10-2 today and look at some other series getting underway. 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter.
Leon finally playing with a finisher.
I watched a bunch of the TOR-TBL game… does that ever warm the cockles of the heart.
Tavares a -2 in less than 10 minutes of even strength ice time. Only 3 EV goals for Tampa in this game. Ouch
You like Tampa over T.O.?
Gross.
A bigger bunch of douchebags have never skated together.
Fuck those guys.
Seriously.
Fuck them.
Yeah I hate the Leafs but Tampa is everything that is wrong with the NHL.
Fuck those guys.
I just dislike Toronto more. Their fans and media grind my gears.
Seattle is now 3-0-1 vs the Avs this season (10-6 goals).
Let’s get kraken.
Wowzers! It is not so much the upset wins in game 1’s but the magnitude of some of them that gives me pause.
In the West, I consider our Gme 1 loss a wakeup call and that we will still win the series. Whoever comes out of Dal vs Min will likely be pretty beat up. But if Seattle and WInterpeg can pull the upsets after tonight, the next round would be Edmonton-Winnipeg and Seattle vs one of Minnesota or Dallas. I think we would storm through the next two rounds as well if that happened.
In the East, Boston retains control, Toronto got absolutely shebockalled, Carolina retins control and the Rangers spanked Jersy. Their second round could be Boston – Tampa and Carolina-Rangers. DOn’t think Tampa would survive that, and any of the other three could make the Cup FInal.
The next two days will be verrrrrry interesting to see if the upstarts hold serve….
It doesn’t necessarily carry over from 1 game to the next, but Winnipeg and Seattle were the better teams – these weren’t games dominated by a hot goalie.
Like Rangers… some of that is score effects but NJ completely dominated in the 2nd and 3rd – Shesterkin was just too good. Although massive credit goes to the Rangers PK, 3 shots for and ZERO against in 8 minutes. Incredible.
So many people live and die by their teams, and the Oilers and being a fan of the team occupies a substantial percentage of my life, but I can’t imagine having the team’s results dictating my attitude. I see my fandom as a supplement to my quality of life.
I think this fanbase, at least the 25+ year old high EQ fans who have lived through the DoD can easily weather losses and seeming set backs. The highs and lows are just part of the journey. This is a solid team and they have a lot more left to give.
Hopefully all the other fanbases who were dancing on the Oilers graves after yesterday’s results are wallowing in the horror of their own devastating losses. It is a form of insanity when people lose their minds after a game 1 loss. All the power to them, lol.
For some the emotions are high through games and then it goes away after. It doesn’t alter the greater mood. But I would find a semi detached fandom or being a casual observer boring, probably wouldn’t invest the many hours in sports teams I llike
Yes!
Revenge of the grubauer let’s hope it’s a 4 part special!
Leafs, Vegas, Oil, Stars, Devils and Avs lose – so much for home ice advantage.
Outside of NJ, and obviously EDM, couldn’t be happier.
Can’t ever bring myself to cheer for rangers they’re like leafs south to me.
They were Oilers East for me and I still have a lingering fondness for that team.
The statue of liberty jersey is one of the best jerseys ever.
Go Ebs and Larsson!!
and Jultz?
Right! They’re swimming in ex-oilers. That’s 16.7% of their skaters tonight.
ESPN crew ….aside from Mackinnon and Rantanen just not much going on from other Avs lines.
No Landeskog
No Kadri
No Burakovsky
West seems wide open this year.
Yup.
Yeah Avs not quite as incisive as last year but credit to Seattle – they are matching them rush for rush. Much better game than ours. Eff the Kings and their park the bus play
Even stuff like helm and cogs out.
That’s down a lot of last year’s forward corps.
McKinnon going to get run like a dog to get them anywhere.
I had dallas picked to get out if that division…but pavelski possibly already put is a good war of attrition move on top of wild taking 1st game.
I think it’s playing the way you need to to win. Teams have weaknesses and strengths. Exploit the weakness and limit the strength
3-1 Kraken….no idea if they can hang on, but just a great effort here
Hellebuyck looking sharp, as are the jets in general. Boo Vegas. As an Oilers fan I just think you gotta suffer before you’re allowed any fun. I say bring back the old expansion rules and let teams go 8-62-12 in their first year. Then I can root for you!
Dubois having a monster of a game.
Over under on number of consecutive penalties jets called for if lead maintained (barring obvious infraction like high stick)?
I say 3.5
I’m glad we avoided jets. My number 1 with bullet “upset” was this series.
Jets playing solidly and white glove clean. 8 min to go nothing remotely even close to being called a penalty.
Good on em. Vegas may need to take some acting lessons in summer if they vacation near LA lol.
i received quite a few downvotes for saying I would like to avoid the Jets as well.
Playoffs tend end to be very close affairs.
Hellebuck been stealing games all season long.
Having said that, Vegas is flat as a pancake tonight.
Vegas has only mustered 16 shots on net with 5 mins left in the game .
Vegas PP rightly getting booed for their abysmal effort
That was definitely underwhelming.
Nice game by jets
I like Nino man. Great playoff get.
Summarizing!
Petrov collected an assist but NB dropped a 2-1 decision in OT and now trail the series by that same margin.
Wanner magically went pointless in an 8-4 Warriors win as MJ takes a 2-1 series lead.
Chiasson also went without soup as the Blades lost 3-1 and are in a 3-0 series hole.
Hard to fathom, Leafs embarassing loss … I mean Samsonov said they are the best team in the NHL. Huh, reality sucks.
Anyone else notice yesterday that the Kings seemed to be pushing for offensive zone faceoffs? I can recall some low weak shots from distance at Skinner’s glove to get a draw.
Since the trade deadline, Tanner Jeannot had 1 goal, 3 assists and was -6 before getting injured at the end of the season. In return for Jeannot, Nashville got Cal Foote who also went 1G 3A but was +3.
If Cernak and Hedman are out for any length of time, a guy like Foote would be handy to have right now.
Oh, forgot to mention the 5 picks that Tampa also gave up.
That trade was pretty questionable at the time it was made and it isn’t looking any better now.
I think “questionable” is generous even at the time of the trade. Stunning over-payment.
Having time to watch the right coast
Our guys are going to have to amp things up, a lot
I think the East plays playoff hockey all year. No open ice, not many easy ways to the net, good line changes and dumps for forecheck
I so hope they dial in the details. Tomorrow
Hmm – Oilers did pretty well this year vs eastern playoff teams IIRC.
But your main point is well-taken – Oilers DO need to amp things up!
The centre of the universe must be imploding right now.
If you’re boy wonder and you could go back in time to the trade deadline, do you ask yourself, “what’s the point in making any trades since we have to get through Tampa and Boston?”
I’m not watching this game, but 8 power plays for the Bolts to two for Toronto?
By the end of the game Tampa might not have no D-men left. These Playoffs so far are a direct result of hiding behind the Refs and not being held accountable in a fight.
Reminds me of Buffalo back in the day. IIRC one playoff Buffalo was way ahead of the curve in the clutch and grab mean spirited Pylon days and had a very effective although smaller than usual puck moving D. They were very impressive in the regular season. In the first round, the hulking behemoths on the other side literally played them so hard and in ways no longer accepted in the game, that they had almost no defencemen left healthy by the end and thus lost the series.
I see disturbing similarities
Did you watch the game? It looks like Toronto got a few makeup calls at the end to bring it down to 8 penalties to 4, but the last two were after the game was over.
I’m wondering if Toronto was full value for the penalty differential?
That happened last year in gane 3 or 4 vs kings. Oil leading every stupid thing called against with equal level ignored other way. Then when game clear oiler win. Some garbage calls right near end to even up appearance. It was gross.
“Large usa hockey market potential.effect” one of my personal biggest reservations about kings before playoff start.
Not about to lump last night entirely on some ref bias but same time. If A-F is a penalty for team 1 then it’s hard to ignore that surely one or two of the same letters covered off other way that mysteriously were not called.
Can’t suddenly pretend “game management” magically isn’t a thing.
I mean it was embarrassing mcdavid only drew 8 penalties last year. And clearly that was bs enough that I have little doubt “at least call one or two infractions against mcdavid as we looked like a joke last year” factors.
Some day I hope a hockey related commissioner is put in place that is more of a alrltruistic purest as far as game play concerned…or at least a business guy with “let’s showcase our stars” over “let’s make everything appear closer than it rightfully deserves to fairly be”
These tears from Toronto go a long way to soothing the pain from last night.
Also, Cory Perry and the Bolts 4th line has been near dominant in small minutes.
Perry is built for playoffs. Silky hands remain intact.
Any idea what the match penalty on Bunting was for?
Hit to the head.
And it was legit.
Yeah, I think head was the only point of contact.
Illegal check to the head
Decapitating.
hit to the head, interference, and elbow….he’ll miss 2 games +
Whoever suggested that there would be fewer penalties in the playoffs may be slightly off with that prediction.
6 powerplay goals and counting in the Leafs-Lightning game.
I think the theory is that there are double the infractions and about 10% more penalties. So while at first glance the penalty calls are up, in fact, they still are swallowing the whistles.
I think that you are right about the reality of penalties, however what we have to hear all year is that we will get no powerplays in playoffs and that our expert powerplay will be null and void.
Playoffs start by refs calling things as they should and near the end of the first round and moving forward, the whistles get put away….as per usual.
Serous question, is google broken?
I can’t even find wikipedia by searching ‘wikipedia’ at the moment. How weird.
Google’s working fine on my computer.
Yeah, it’s weird. Not working for me on phone or laptop, so I assume(d) it was more than just me. Both on Safari though.
But using Firefox on laptop it’s fine. And my wife who’s in Canada now is using Safari on her phone and it’s fine too.
Oh well.
The Petrovian Apple Parade has its 13th participant as the Russian sets up the icebreaker in period 2.
P Kane seems to have lost his boots. Not so good standing around telegraphing passes
And standing around token defending
Bolts up 3-cob on the Leaves after Period the First.
You love to see it.
Yeah, wherever we are today it could aways be worse.
Yep, Dallas loses at home, looking like TML and Jersey will do the same. Misery loves company.
I was thinking also the 55 years without a Cup and Matthews/Marner never getting out of the first round. But others yes, other good teams look like they’ll be dropping game 1. 4-2 Lightning now, so that one’s not in the books yet.
The second period penalties away from the net are an item for me
Completely unnecessary
they let the kings find what didn’t work, adjust to find something that worked.
pit was a prequel to the result
It all started with that stupid Hyman penalty that I missed.
The Oilers were in the middle of “the shift” cycling the puck and putting on a clinic, then Hyman took a stupid offensive zone penalty which ended the pain for the Kings.
Bouch crosschecking a player in the face with 2 minutes on the clock wasn’t wise either.
I’m not sure about the Desharnais penalty, but OilersNation had a breakdown on it.
Yes the penalty on that cycle was a buzz kill for sure. I cant even remember what it was for, but we were looking to end things.
Also, i wish i was able to replay it again, that cross check looked to me like it connected with shoulder pad…. was it actually his face?
The Hyman penalty was apparently for slashing, but I missed it and didn’t rewind.
I saw the replay of the Bouch penalty in real time on TV and it looked like a cross check to his face.
Oh ya, he nicked a guys stick, it fell out of his hand. That was the slash.
Great show today LT. I appreciated how hard you guys laughed at someone trying to donkey tail Nuge near end of program.
Just in case text missed you:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clear_Channel_memorandum
When you briefly mentioned rage against the machine I fired a couple in.
The song playing of theirs in reintro “killing in the name of” is about well documented links to white supremacist membership distrubingly well entrenched amongst police departments in USA.
That link is a crazy rabbit hole of songs US government tried to ban from airwaves after 911…biggest compliment a band literally abou5 fighting against established system truly is the honor of being only band that got entire catalogue banned from airplay.
Apologies if redundant you simply asked a question about them that I thought you might appreciate solid answer.
Effectively protesting to level that they register on national conscious. Pretty respectable.
This is great, there’s some stuff in this I didn’t know. The line “why do they call themselves Rage…. is kind of an inside joke because there ARE people who just love the music and don’t realize what they represent. 🙂
I kinda assumed so but figured what the hell might as well indulge. Good excuse to offer up that crazy banned item. Had no idea until about a year ago.
I did know some movies got scuttled due to “911”. One of those my buddy was working on production crew. Mike Judge had to raise the money to buy it off studio. My friend was raving all about it and he was right:
Idiocracy is a modern classic
I hate to go against the wisdom of John Winston Lennon, but last night might have been a strange day indeed, but there was plenty of warning.
First of all, throwing stuff on the ice is never acceptable. What may seem like an innocent toss of whatever, can turn into an unseen rut, bump, or stopping point for a skate. Most players don’t look where they skate (due to heads up training since the time you pick up a stick), and just a little rut can cause big damage. Stop it!
Secondly, what do you do as a coach for a team that let one slip through their hands? So close, but you knew when that first goal came early into the third, off a forced pass, the game was going to change. Didn’t change the right way, but it changed.
What do I do if I’m coaching this squad? Not a whole lot really, except sell the time frame of 60 minutes, but in a different way. I heard a hockey game phrased a totally different way. Ask most people how many minutes there are in a game and they will say 60, but to the analytical mind, that is way off. There are 12 players, who play 60 minute each, so now you have 720 minutes. Well, half of those aren’t yours, so now you are working with 360 minutes. Your goalie plays the whole game (usually, but there may be delayed penalties and extra attackers) so now you have 300 minutes left. Your top D-man will play 25, so now you’re down to 275, top forward 22 minutes, so now 253 minutes. And so on, and so forth. Basically, what it all boils down to is making the most of the minuscule minutes you’re given, because if you don’t, your minutes are going to be given to someone who will optimize them. Yes, this is way out of my usual realm of coaching minor hockey, but the few competitive situations, I’ve been in, the only control you have during game time, is the minutes and players have responsibility for their minutes.
You have no control over calls, you have no control over what the opposing coach is doing or the opposing players.
Make the minutes/seconds/moments count!
Go Oilers Go!
RE: Fans throwing shit on the ice
There was a game against Dallas in the playoffs circa 1998 when the oilers had just killed off a grueling penalty and received another minor penalty right as it expired. Grier and Marchant, our best penalty killers were doubled over sucking wind….someone, presumably a kid, lobbed a full 32 oz cola on the ice in protest…it created a massive stain on the ice, and took the refs over a minute to clean it up…by the time it was clear and play was able to resume, Grier and Marchant were rested and we killed the next penalty.
Moral of the story…don’t chuck shit on the ice unless it’s going to help the home squad.
Game 3 vs Detroit in 2006. Reffing was so atrocious crowd even booed a penalty they gave chelios. 2 sequences of entire crowd unloading everything they had at refs.
That loss will light a fire under McDavid….they’ll win 16 straight from here on out.
Damn, then they’ll only make it to the 3rd round!
16 divided by 4, carry the 1…. hold on let me get my counting stones….
Hmm, yep, i am getting 4 rounds of 4 wins as my answer …
I guess nowadays math can be whatever a person feels it should be.
1 tweaky looking service industry employee + 1 cardboard box = A pterodactyl & 2 two topping pizzas for 15.99
Boom.
Math
*Beauty of math is there’s almost always a definitive correct answer. Even if you don’t agree with the work.
I mean there is often only 1 answer to the math, but many creative ways with which you can represent a situation. Its in the interpretations that allows for the spicy varieties.
Ha!
I think Foegele should go in Yamomoto’s spot. He was flying out there. Yamomoto has brick hands going.
Funniest moment of the LT radio program today.
An on-air fan tweet mentioned Ginger Lynn. LT didn’t know who she was and did a NSFW search to see!!
LT speculated he was now in trouble and Dave saved the day referring to her as “Charlie Sheen’s girlfriend.” Yeah, that’s what she’s best known for, Dave. lol
Classic radio.
I laughed pretty hard a couple times today.
Massive shoutout to Tyler Dellow by Dallas Eakins at the end of Eakins’s interview with Stauff. “Best in the business”
I know a team that could use a young stats minded GM that doesn’t overweight numbers, guided by an experienced POHO
Whilst that may be true I wouldn’t put much faith in Eakins endorsement of anyone other than a hair dresser. Not sure how that guy maintains any status in the hockey world
Hyman played like crap worst game I seen him play all year hogging the puck couldn’t make a simple give and go. I know I pick on Yamamoto but playing against the physical Kings he looks overwhelmed. Kane was trying to do to much and I believe it was because of his linemate Kane went out of his way to hit Yamamoto’s mark. I would insert Hollaway or Lavoie and tell them go to the net with your stick on the ice and either Connor or Leon will find you.
100% re Hyman.
I’m lukewarm on Kane. Apart from his hattrick a few weeks back, he is not consistently finding great spots on the ice.
Yamo is an enigma. I’d try Hollaway all day.
I would go back to 11-7 and sit Yamo.
I’m not throwing in a rookie into the frying pan of a must win game 2 … nor is Woodcroft or Holland.
I made a slightly less slanderous comment on my group chat when buddy asked for visual update as he was stuck night shift with only radio.
Good retrievals but a lot of ineffective possession time aimlessly ending in puck loss.
I thought the bjugstud janmark kostin line had some really great minutes. Called janmark to score in OT. “It’s going to be bottom 6 I swear” was my lead in.
the Oilers were 18 seconds from a Rock Solid performance. I know it sucks they gave up the late goal and it’s a little bitter to lose the way they did; but overall they played exactly how they have been playing since Ekholm arrived.
They dictated play, gave L.A. very few high danger chances and WOULD SHOULDA locked it down.
Move on and take care of business in Game 2.
Not 1
But 2 even strength goals by the Kings prior to that point.
Same cast of characters on the ice against.
Again, we played well to be sure.
But some certain forwards can’t get scored join like that -repeatedly
With 3:30 left in the 3rd kopitar tripped Leon when he had the puck behind the LA net. Ref could have called that and didn’t. That was a dangerous play trip. That was just as worthy to be called as the call made on Vincent in OT. Refs managed this game. We needed to be smarter and not give refs a reason to dictate the game. We will lose every time they do.
Agreed. Oil need to manage refs as much as anything else.
The Boston vs Panthers and Carolina vs Islanders had the same amount of Penalties. The Minnesota game had the home team Dallas recieving extra PP. The Oiler game in which Edmonton deservingly had home ice recieved 6 penalties to 3 by L.A. Is L.A that much superior to the Oilers. The Refs fuked us over with L.A making a unbelievable pass and shot to tie it up. The Refs jobbing of us will motivate the Oil remember this prediction that the Oil will win 4 Straight.
there was a few obstruction/interference missed that could have resulted in a 3 on 2 or 2 on 1 that the refs could have called.
I’m still seeing comments about McDavid looking unstoppable and “setting his jaw” but it’s time to start asking the injury question.
THE story is the continued struggle of Connor McDavid to score 5v5. He’s ranked 82nd in 5v5 scoring over the last month with 9 points (Leon is 4th). He’s down with guys like Tyler Motte and Andrew Mangiapane and well behind players like Sammy Blais. I can’t imagine how far he drops when you add per 60 numbers to that.
It’s not just luck either. His scoring chances for in that same time period trails Jake Walman, sitting at 129th in the league
His line with Kane and Yamamoto was dreadful so they “demoted” them to Leon’s line and gave him the sizzling Nuge and Hyman duo. In both cases, the pairs were far better with 29 than 97. The line was buzzing last night and 97 was a part of that but I also saw Bouchard and Ekholm and their interchanging as being just as important.
I can’t put my finger on it but something just hasn’t been right for him since, perhaps, the Jake McCabe crosscheck from behind. And we know that when he feels he’s struggling he presses more and gets leaky defensively…leading him to Bruce and David giving him a contribution to all three third period goals against.
I’m not sure we truly can remember how dominant he was in the playoffs last year but to my mind he created something every single shift. We’ll need him to reach his own ridiculous standard to have any chance to make a deep run.
This is a scary post. Add this to the stat they flashed last night on the team’s poor playoff OT record in the McDavid/Leon era and some red flags are emerging.
Like Mulder however, I want to believe!
I commented a few days ago listing the EV top 6 scoring numbers the last 10 games. Against playoff teams not dominant. Not even good to me. Leon showed up last night. He still made a lot of risky passes – rolling the dice. I see Connor forcing plays. He tries the same few things over and over lately. He’s not shooting to the top of the net, the old low blocker thing, way lower chance of scoring
Nuge spent a decade doing that, started raising the puck consistently, started scoring consistently. With traffic at the net and from an angle you aren’t going to beat many goalies at this point like that, It’s too easy on them
Connor might be hurt. As you said when he presses too much and doesn’t score bad things usually happen in their end. He needs to use his wingers. Give them the Bouch talk and set them up. Connor is way easier to defend when he doesn’t get a clean rushing lane or isn’t using more than one option – like him developing his shot so they couldn’t just defend the pass
He will adjust, hopefully these playoffs
He isn’t shooting the puck nearly enough. Looking for the perfect play. A couple of additional shots per game and it all turns around – particularly if Hyman/Kane are crashing the crease.
That’s why I wonder about injury. He seems to have forgotten he’s the top goal scorer in the game.
They had a solid game plan regarding mcdavid last night. Overplay him. Gap control cheating inward and keep him outside with not enough room to burn past and still have runway to cut into shoot.
I have little doubt adjustments from woody enroute. If I can see it he can see it and I do think he can adjust tactics better the flattop in a best of 7 games.
Korpi one kenobi out playing principal skinner is honestly close to their only hope.
(Korpi solo was better take but worse punchline)
Mental mistake by the captain in the first minute of the 3rd period with a two goal lead triggers the third period slide from victory to defeat. He forgot about the game state. He didn’t respect his opponent, and went for the fancy play, instead of the simple and obvious play, given the game state. And the Oilers got burned.
The success of the regular season was driven by the theme to outgoal Auston, and he mean reverted to pass fancy and first. McDavid HAS to take his shots to maximize the Oilers and himself.
i am assuming you are referring to the 2 on 1? All year McDavid has looked pass and done the quick snap shot five hole. That was the right play to try. Oh well. As LT said, he will be determined in Game 2.
Watching chunks of all 4 games last night, I’m going to give some of the blame on the penalties/reffing to the players. The stickwork was extremely reckless and dangerous across the league last night.
So many plays last night that would have resulted in the high sticker having to answer the bell in a fight in the past. The code is now dead and gone for good and man is player safety paying the price. This is euro hockey now without the bigger ice surface.
The poor refs are like cops handing out traffic tickets at a murder scene. There’s playing chippy and there’s reckless intent to injure and it crossed over into the latter far too often.
The Kings were very clever. It’s like in soccer when the forward gets his body in position to draw the foul. It happened on both Bouchard and Desharnais, and some great acting by the Kings in both plays. Weak call on Desharnais and I think he stepped on the stick but both calls they were intentional plays by the Kings player to draw the attention of the refs.
If you are talking about the broken stick on the ice, he never touched it. If you meant he stepped on Vinny’s stick, what was it doing under his skates? It was a weak call for playoff overtime, but let’s not make up things.
Matt Dumba’s head shot on Joe Pavelski was ridiculous.
Dumba got 2 minutes for roughing.
I thought it was borderline. Shoulder on shoulder hit and too close to puck touch in real time to call it late/interference. Slo mo makes everything look worse. Honestly, it’s a hit a Dman dreams of. Perfect leverage.
It’s strange to me that this is a league now where a bodycheck gets all the blowback while players are carving each other up with high sticks. The latter used to be the exception not the norm.
It appeared to me that the other defender’s stick hit Pavelski as it got leveraged between bodies. The stick hits him hard in the face and may have been what initially caused him to lose consciousness, not the shoulder.
I thought the hit was a steamboat late, but not a head hit.
Agreed.
Another perspective.
https://theathletic.com/4423776/2023/04/18/matt-dumba-joe-pavelski-stars-wild/?source=user_shared_article
Someone on reddit timed it in the real-time clips and the came at 0.5 s after puck release, so I don’t think it was a late hit.
The hit was dangerous to Pavelski because his vision was blocked by the other Wild player and he couldn’t see the hit coming. Probably falls into the category of a legal hit.
Thank Gord LT is calling for the Yamamoto demotion. Roberto Duran was called the “Hands of Stone” and it was a good thing. In Yamo’s case, not so much.
I would call up and play Lavoie in that spot
I wouldn’t insert a rook into a must win game. I like Foegele or Kostin to elevate.
When Yama was drafted I wasn’t happy even is he was the best math pick. I so wanted a normal sized team that couldn’t be pushed out of games. And they pick a teen sized winger
So I watched his WHL highlights. An awful lot of them were Yama standing alone at a gaping cage and swatting no miss set ups in. Work done by his linemates. I thought that very likely isn’t going to happen in the NHL. Other than spurts it hasn’t, and he gets banged up easily
I do like that he can keep passing plays going. Can PK. Not sure he does enough else to help push at 5v5, all the time, though. Especially now
LT – why was the first disallowed goal “the correct call”? He was tripped and sent into the goalie.
In my opinion, “Lock it down” from an Oilers standpoint is to be responsible defensively but not collapse into their own zone and not forecheck. Their brand of protecting a lead throughout the second half of the season was to punish the opponent for opening things up while staying responsible in their own end. Still, Leon and McD out there for the 4on6 was a headscratcher to me. McD cheated just a bit at the point which allowed for an easy space-opening play by a few Kings and then the puck moves across for the 1-timer. Not an error by McD but not the right play there. Tbh, I can’t expect him to make the right play there. I think Nuge works better in that spot or a regular PKer.
They were clearly the better team at 5on5.
PK has holes and is structurally ineffective against a solid PP. It’s great against less talented PP teams though. Can’t exactly go back to the drawing board now…
Skinner had a good, not great, game. I think a great G makes that save in the last minute but it was a tough play (side to side and 7hole great shot). The Kempe backhand was a deflection on a backhand. No fault there. No chance on the winner. No time to set up on Kempe’s 2nd though he might have been dozing there.
They committed a real playoff faux pas last night: sleeping for a period. Can’t do that. Leon played a full game. McD wasn’t playing his usual game. Forcing a bit too much. He’s got to use that shot that got him 64 goals a bit more. Korp is a good G but he’s not elite.
Reffing was a bit of a headscratcher. I thought they were both penalties for the first 55 mins of the game. Bouchard was clearly a high-stick, but after all the shit going on behind the play all game, that was par for the course at the 58 min mark. Inconsistent call. Also, on the OT call, you just can’t decide a game that way. Jugs was getting to that puck first, it was a 2on2 with the Oilers to get first touch (clearly a trip but not resulting in a scoring chance being negated). The past 100 years of playoff referees don’t make that call. But if we’re in a new regime of calling it all no matter the time of game, be consistent, please. Lots of hooking and holding behind the play by the Kings.
Yeah, that’s always been my bitch with the NHL reffing – establish what will be called in a game, and then don’t stick to that structure. Particularly galling when one team gets 5 straight PP in what was overall a pretty clean game.
They correctly called the tug on McDavid in the first to give us the 5-on-3 but otherwise LA could do no wrong.
Excellent post
They must have been looking for the empty net goal on that 6 on 4. That was why Connor & Leon were on the ice. Skinner needs to make those saves, Fuhr would have. But yeah, consistent penalty calls, what a concept. Oilers 6 penalties to the Kings 3, something has to give. The Kings were obviously on their best behavior at all times.
I saw the Desharnais as the LA player going low and taking his skates out from under him, causing him to go down. That was a penalty right there but perhaps not an overtime penalty.
Desharnais being upset throws his stick out and into shitbirds skates. He wobbles, you can watch his skates, he is about to regain balance when he bends his knees and goes down. Coincidental infractions, should not be called in OT.
Kempe was taking hits from Kane like a rented mule. Coming out of the corner behind the play he initiates contact with Kane. Causes a reaction and Kane draws back with his elbow and stick, theatrics ensue.
Im not saying the penalties were not penalties. Only the Kings had a plan that involved theatrics and discipline.
Oilers should feel like the big old Northern Pike with hook, line, and sinker all swallowed up.
Yeah early one when doughty tried to oversell contact but didn’t get call as it was brutally obvious -> I was hopeful that might raise caution the kings were looking to embelish to absurd degree…
I think 11-7 allows more matchups and positive chaos (even at home) and they should go back to it. Broberg even at 6 minutes is fine.
Who sits?
Yamamoto
I think there are more than a few people here that would agree with you but are afraid to say so.
We have a better record with 11-7 than with 12-6. I think Woodcroft outsmarted himself last night.
Also, Yamo is not playing well enough to be taking up minutes on the 2nd line or the 4th line in an 11-7 configuration. He should sit.
Selfish undisciplined plays cost the Oil the lead and the game. Ironic that we thought that would be the Kings’ challenge going in.
Desharnais getting the blame but plenty to go around for the D corps. To me it was lost when Bouch cross checks a guy in the face with 2mins left!!! You give the trailing team a full power play and the option for a two man advantage if they pull the G. That’s a dumb play all the live long day. Your best chance to win is right there. Let them drag it into OT and it’s a coin flip.
And add me to the verbal on Nurse I guess. I was always taught a defenceman’s job is gap control and taking away a forward’s stick not standing in the crease and pretending to be a second goalie. $9.5M deer in the headlights.
Team wasted a great game by Leon. His anticipation on both goals was tremendous.
Team will be better and I fully expect a bounce back performance in Game 2.
If you are down on Nurse you must really be hating on McDavid at 12.5.
If Nurse is $9.5 then McDavid must be $12.8 by my math.
$9,25. My bad. He’s a bargain.
I agree with you that multiple players were accountable on that OT goal. I’m not sure why Nurse should escape that accountability as well? Imo standing on the goaline is not his coverage assignment there.
I think the blame Bouchard gets is a bit much. Glancing blow off the shoulder, after the shit that slid by uncalled in the second.
The refs once again showed why they will.be replaced by AI in the near future IMO.
That being said this team has to play more disciplined.
On the GWG, it was Ceci who was out-of-position but you target Nurse and his $9.99M contract as the problem. Interesting take.
Nurse looked caught in the middle there but I agree Ceci was out of sync on the PK last night.
Ceci found himself outside of both passing lanes, & RNH watched the game-winning shot from about 3 feet away, but yeah, Nurse’s fault.
FWIW Nurse did not have a great final 30 minutes, best described as “also in frame”. But neither did McDavid, Nuge, Hyman and others.
I am a calmer Oilers fan than I was even a few month ago. I think visualizing the result you want and understanding how many ways it can still absorb the current scenario is a healthy exercise. We may look back at game one, series one, as the early lesson this team needed. And maybe even then, a period that got away from them, early, can hold a lot of lessons.
Must be more disciplined and do not let off the gas. 2-0 against LA felt very ominous once they started reacting.
I still think they can win the series and if they don’t I still think you “run it back”. This remains the team.
Frustrating to see so much mean spirited chaos from all sides on the internet last night.
Thats a shame. I don’t see that mean spirited culture at work as I avoid those spaces.
The Oilers are a better team. Yet LA manages to win 50% of the games against the Oil. I think the difference is Tmac and his system. It is primarily how an inferior team can beat a better team. It has been an Oiler killer.
In my opinion, Tmac knew that once again, they could not beat the Oil man on man, and last couple of games he also knew they could not outmuscle them either.
Oilers were hyped up, they were going to hit hard, mix it up, they were going to “crush” LA. The Kings don’t bite, they antagonize on purpose, then they flop all over the ice to draw penalties. It was obvious, and it worked. Nobody mentions (on TV crew) that LA powerplay was 4th best in the league.
At the moment, I see the Oilers the better team, with LA the smarter team.
I kept thinking to myself, “all that hard work boys, hits and shots and second effort, is all about to be lost because you have stopped playing smart” Very disappointing, that should have been one on the bank.
It’s not a question of “lock it down”.
They should have scored 5. And rather easily. Finish the damn chances and stop that angled back-pass garbage. LA can’t keep up in a scoring game. They can always claw back in low scoring games because of the game management crew.
56 needs to go down the lineup. 71 needs to come up. Leave the 3rd line intact for now.
Hyman was oddly bad. Like he was overwhelmed.
97’s worst game in quite some time. I don’t know what that was.
They need to get this over with and advance in 5. The 7 games hurt them badly last year. That just got a ton more difficult.
Hyman had the one play, I think in the first, where he half spun and kinda pushed the puck to one of the other forwards, and it was so uncharacteristic I assume he is hurting.
Few other whacks at the puck off of Bouchard passes but nothing convincing.
He kept not winning corner battles. And wasn’t showing up in the goalie’s face aside from the Bouchard goal.
Very strange.
I accused Nuge of not being physical on the 3-2 goal, but I just watched it again and it’s Hyman who essentially sets a pick on Ekholm, who was tracking Kempe, and it’s why Bouchard had to slide across to the left but too late. Bullshit baffles brains.
The TV crew was like “I don’t think that was a set play by LA”, no, it was just a smart play off a dumb screen by Hyman. Needed to be more talking out there.
They bungled that one and also won the faceoff that led to the OT goal – but immediately lost the puck.
I sure didn’t think that’d be an area they’re suddenly not having success in. Though because of the nature of faceoffs as a stop in play and time to think…it leads me to believe they were in their own heads and feeling nerves instead of executing and using that extra energy.
Looked like they were chasing a greased up football instead of a puck a few times. And another key thing to watch for – players moving their legs quickly but almost standing in place instead of accelerating. That’s one of the things that happens when you’re trying to do too much instead of just playing your game. Your feet move fast but you don’t dig in.
I watched the Bruins before the Oilers. They don’t lose puck battles, are always below the puck, and collapse on their net, they make it really hard to get near it with a clean chance
I wish the Oilers played that system. It also leads to them breaking out more together, their dumps have someone getting in quick enough to forecheck well
I felt the Oilers were leaving middle ice in their end open a lot, old habit, and super risky. Could also do without all the low percentage passes and back passes that immediately come back on them
Hopefully the coaches get them managing the puck better and attacking still. When they are playing tidy, not taking dumb penalties and wanting to score they are a handful, essentially not sabotaging themselves
I notice two things (among others) when the Oilers are really going well:
1 – Speed in all zones. This is especially apparent in the defensive zone. Other teams have no thinking time when the Oilers are on.
2 – The wingers do a good job of defending the top of the zone. I HATE when the Oilers back the wingers in off the defencemen. This leads to chasing. That leads to GA. Sitting them in no-man’s land doesn’t work. This is not saying to avoid collapsing inward when that is called for – but they get into a habit of playing a weird, flat-footed defence that leaves the opposition D with multiple seconds. That should never happen.
The play I still can’t understand from last night – McDavid should have had the puck on the boards and been GONE right before the tying goal. He’s made that play all year. Little chip, speed burst, game over. He was suddenly late and didn’t win the ensuing battle. Even though he had been in position. I was baffled. I was half way out of my chair to walk to the kitchen knowing an ENG was coming. It was like he second-guessed himself. Hopefully Leon reminds him who the hell he is and we don’t see that sort of performance again.
Good point about the wingers. Either on the D or all the way back so there are lots of bodies in the way as I was saying the Bruins and others do, and do to us. In between takes them out of the play
“Per the league, in 274 playoff series in NHL history in which the home team dropped Game 1, only 117 times has it come back to win the series. Or 43% of the time.”
Are these kinds of stats meaningful?
Last year the Oilers were 2-1 after losing the first game of the series. That’s a small sample size but the NHL stat has multiple regimes within it. Garbage in, garbage out.
Now do the Oilers, in recent series. For instance they were 66% last year when losing game 1 and I fail to see what this Oilers core has to do with I don’t know the Hartford Whalers in 1986 or something.
It’s simply a % number based on history. If it makes you angry or upset, probably says more about you than the number.
Winning game one is important.
Winning game two is critical.
https://www.nhl.com/news/the-importance-of-game-2/c-418677
win Game 2 and we are back in the Driver’s seat 🙂
In any event…home ice advantage is lost.
Moneypuck now has the Oilers at less than 50% to win the series.
https://moneypuck.com/predictions.htm
Winning game two will put them back in the black.
Was at the game. Thought the crowd was pretty crap for much of the game although LA snoozefest doesn’t help. Crowd immediately taken out of it when LA scores to make it 2-1.
Lot of passengers today. Draisaitl and Foegele by far and away the most noticeable forwards. I get that Kane isn’t in midseason shape but I’m not sure he’s actively helping the team at this point. It’s funny you thought the McDavid line was dominating, LT, because I thought they were poor in the OZ, other than the first. McDavid with a horrendous backpass, some bad OZ decisions by all the forwards in the back half of the game. Nuge back to the ineffective forward of a couple of seasons ago. Hyman, I am 100% convinced, is playing hurt. Even if not scoring, he is strong on his stick near the crease and there was none of that last night.
Feel bad for Bouchard. Best player on the ice for the first 2 periods. Can’t decide if his Sakic off the bar or his spinorama was more impressive. Defensively I thought he was great, the goal against I blame Ekholm for once although if Nuge was more physical off the faceoff that play doesn’t develop for LA.
People have been asking Bouchard to play more physical and then he gets a couple of questionable calls against him. Live we obviously don’t get as many replays but the high stick looked pretty weak and looked like the stick didn’t hit him. The problem with the game, as fricking always with LA, is that the refs establish what is a penalty and then refuse to call the same plays against LA. Yeah we were undisciplined but 6 straight PP for Kings? GTFO here.
I thought they stopped being aggressive and you can’t lose a home game being up 2-0 and 3-1.
I like Woodcroft as a coach but I’ve never been a huge fan of his D deployment and there were several times tonight when he could have rolled Ekholm and Bouchard for an OZ faceoff and he goes to Kulak/Desharnais or Nurse-Ceci. I would play Kulak-Desharnais very limited minutes, I actually think Desharnais was a bit exposed last night, although Kulak played well.
Woodcroft also put McDavid out there for a faceoff at 3-2 in the OZ when it would have been obvious to put Draisaitl or Bjugstad. McDavid loses the faceoff and LA comes down and scores.
Honestly not sure what to think about this game, I’ve been burned by this team so many times I had OT loss in my head all day long. I don’t think the Kings played all that well and I thought the Oilers were pretty poor after the first.
So much more talent on the Oilers but not many players giving us Grade A chances tonight.
They’ll be better next game. 14-1-1 is now 14-2-1.
I agree the fans need to smarten up, a few rotten apples after the LA winner throwing stuff on the ice in anger. That’s some entitled bs antics.
14-0-1 is now 14-0-2, amirite?
Woodcroft doesn’t deploy the defense. That’s Manson’s job.
I agree with LT: Yam Fry has to go down to 3rd line. Move up Janmark, Kostin or Foegle.
I thought the 3rd line was fantastic last night I hope Woody doesn’t break them up. If Yamo finds a way to score in the slot with the Goalie out of position it’s game over it would of given us a 3-0 lead.