The game tried very hard to be a Van Gogh, perhaps The Cafe Terrace on the Place du Forum, but inspector Closeau kept ruining it with clumsy moments. I thought Stuart Skinner had a terrific night, but two pucks off friendly skates and a wooden heart hockey stick made for three savage GA the young goalie did not earn. Doesn’t matter. 16W is all that counts and last night was the first step in the long journey to hockey’s promised land.
THE ATHLETIC!
I’m so proud to write for The Athletic and so blessed to have this community as a resource to promote my articles. Please click on the link and read all about Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and his importance to Edmonton’s run this spring.
THE NUMBERS
- Stuart Skinner’s SP is ridiculous considering how well he played. THREE of the GA were flukes. Take those outliers away and he stopped 29 of 30. I think that reflects his game last night.
- Leon Draisaitl’s late power-play marker was the perfect shot. Super human. Holy hell.
- For years I searched for the end of the phrase “McDavid to …..” in a Gretzky-to-Kurri kind of way. That bird has flown. It’s McDavid-to-Hyman and it’s a powerful thing.
- The Trevor Moore low blow against Vincent Desharnais is the Kings and they’ve been that way forever. A chop to Zach Hyman was also a most unwelcome assault. One of the things that impacts Edmonton’s chances every year is the bite LAK take out of them while losing. Brutal.
- The McLeod line was effective, so effective coach Kris Knoblauch ran them out there more often than any other trio at five-on-five (these numbers are all five-on-five). The ruggedness of the wingers offers special appeal, but they ran a clean slate and that’s the key.
- I thought sure as hell the disallowed goal was going to count. In previous seasons, that goes the other way. Pretty sure.
- Kings can’t take penalties and can’t win straight up. It’s a dilemma.
- Connor McDavid faced (mostly) the Moore-Danault-Arvidsson line and the Gavrikov-Roy pairing. He did see Doughty in the game but hammered him senseless (2-1 goals, 58 percent expected goals). The Danault line did even worse (3-1 goals, 78 percent expected by 97) as Knoblauch continues to run his lines with an eye to optimal deployment, never mind what they other guy is doing.
- I think that may not work later in the spring, but we’ll see. This series has just begun, zero benefit looking beyond it.
Game 2 might see a goalie change for the Kings, I’ll be interested to see if the club goes away from Moore-Danault-Arvidsson against 97. The HD scoring chances favored the Oilers 23-16, and that was 19-8 after two periods. Part of it was penalties, Kings were not disciplined in this area. At five-on-five HD’s were 16-14 Oilers but the Kings delivered 8-3 in the final frame. LAK badly need to button the hell down defensively and stay the hell out of the box.
Daniel Nugent-Bowman at The Athletic is our feature guest today, you can find his latest articles here. We’ll talk about last night’s game, McDavid-to-Hyman, Skinner’s performance and what may come for the second game. You can reach me at Lowetide on twitter, in the comments section or on the Sports 1440 text line at 1.833.401.1440 directly.
The Avs Toi distribution is crazy. They are going to run their top guns into the ground.
FWIW If you stop a random lady in California and ask her to name a Canadian hockey team, “Calgary Canucks” actually constitutes a decent effort.
Worst commercial on rotation.
I think I saw the comment from someone on here…
“wouldn’t you WANT a sportsbook that doesn’t understand the sport so you get better odds?”
Wouldn’t it depend on which side of the bet you intend on being on?
No. If a Sportsbook is working on imperfect information relative to their peers (in this example, a book that knows hockey better) they are giving away odds either way.
That was me.
Nashville wins 4-1 but they are a horrible team.
Just got an ad here for the Waldorf Astoria in the Maldives.
LT’s a baller
Canucks are down 3-0 to the Preds. Where’s HH been these days?
Rockslide. Trapped under the bridge…..
Capfriendly has Broberg from AHL to NHL about two hours ago.
He was just assigned to the AHL today after practice.
Don’t know if CF is right here….
Now the Nucks getting Nucked.
Bad time for PDO to regress, it’s a real shame.
(and IMO, DeSmith ain’t the problem, he’s been left out to dry)
Saros gives up a lemon and their Dys are on the board.
Almost half way though the game and the Canucks have 7 shots.
Preds only have 10 – 3 goals though….
I thought that point was that you don’t need to shoot much when you employ a system that bends PDO to your will?
Remember that game against the Avs where Kane, Henrique and Perry ran a <30%xGF rate alongside a <30% CF rate?
Yea that’s Schiefele and Connor right now. Speedbagged again. Lowry and Appleton meanwhile? Now trending to <25% a piece in the games so far.
Where’s the regression gonna bite first? My bet is on the Avs finding the range.
Sean Walker sucks lol
Whoops – HH like timing there, with Connor – Villardi- Scheifele combining to score a beauty after Jets kill a 4 min Avs PP. That series is going 7
The Jets have the worst top line in the playoffs. By a lot.
They’re slow-ish, I grant you, but worse than Nashville’s? Washington’s?
Avalanche bringing the relentlessness now, 3-2
This game the SCF/SCA for Schiefele is 6-17
Ovechkin was 8-5 this evening.
Schiefele is in PLD territory at this point in his career. Liability on the ice.
Scheiefele scored 40 goals last year and was PPG this season (and 56% goal shares). At $6.125MM on the cap, he isn’t near PLD when comparing, well, anything – in my opinion.
He’s been incapable of holding his own against Elites for the last four seasons. He got a bump last year when Bowness dropped him down the order and he a career PP year. He plays a first shot scorer in Connor and that insulates him a bit on the points scale. He’s been a drag on his linemates for four seasons from a Rel perspective. He ran a career high PDO this year. He’s a great 3C. Any higher and he gets worked.
https://puckiq.com/players/8476460
https://naturalstattrick.com/playerreport.php?fromseason=20232024&thruseason=20232024&stype=2&sit=5v5&stdoi=oi&rate=y&v=p&playerid=8476460
Lowry/Appleton scored on.
Helly with a whoopsie.
Taps the sign
Full marks to the coaching staff for the win last night. Last couple of years the team seemed surprised by the lack of space and had to adjust. This year they expected the issue and adjusted and execute the chip pass to space with perfection.
I like they put Henrique on the top line. He goes to the front of the net like Hyman except for a step further away. Mcdavid like to take the puck to the front of the net so this gives him two targets. Giving Drai Nuge gives Drai a skilled player that also helps him
out on defense. Foggy is a good drive to the net guy for that line.
Yeah, I was thinking the same thing about Henrique. He is a lot like Hyman in that he presents McDavid with a target near the net (though a little further out as you note) for greasy playoff type goals or redirecting shot passes, in particular. McDavid with Henrique and Hyman is interesting.
Broberg loaned back to the Condors.
He was on the ice for practice today in Edmonton.
I presume he plays in the Condors’ opening game tomorrow.
I guess the team is satisfied no left D is at risk of missing tomorrow’s game – here is hoping noone wakes up sick!
This is probably common knowledge and been reported on this forum already, but I just realized that Bakersfield is scheduled to play Ontario (LA’s farm team) in the first round of the AHL playoffs, starting tomorrow night.
Let’s send the whole organization to the golf course all at once!
I was okay with the Henrique and Carrick acquisition when it happened. I’m even happier with it after last night. Not because Henrique scored, but how he jumped in against Arvidsson to protect McDavid even though McDavid initiated contact. Then when Dubois hit McDavid, he jumped over Arvidsson to get a shot on Dubois as well. Then, hearing Bieksa talk about his former teammate and his sneaky physicality, liked it even more.
Carrick is what he is. Right shot, physical C that will stick up for teammates. He fills his role well.
Carrick probably played the best game as an Oiler
Carrick is, in the immortal words of MacT;
“at least a threat to score”
These LA kings would have done some damage in the 2003 playoffs
I sincerely hope Vancouver loses out to Nashville. Leon loves playing nashville, and McD and Hyman are absolutely cosmic right now. Other than that, a Western Final against Winnipeg, and a Cup rematch against Carolina, perhaps?
The only advantage of Nashville would be home ice for the Oilers. Travel will take a toll, also.
Oilers play like last night, it would take one and a half NHL teams (a.k.a. VGK) to match them.
Kostin has been in Edmonton watching the playoffs and was wearing his jersey to the game.
Can’t remember the last time an active player on another team wore their jersey to their former team’s playoff run.
That’s interesting. People must have pictures?
Here you go
He also posted
“Home for the playoffs”
https://www.reddit.com/r/EdmontonOilers/s/c8ESoP3myr
Maybe he regrets having his agent play hardball with Kenny? Can’t blame him for wanting a longer contract, but he might have been in a better position to succeed here.
Trade with SJS over the summer? Kostin and Holloway in and Foegle out. Not that I want Fog out at all – like the player a ton – but we are just not going to be able to afford him. We could have both Kostin and Holloway for near the same money as Fog this year. Put McLeod between those two guys and that is a very nice fast, aggressive 3rd line.
I’d love to have Kostin back – if San Jose retained half of his $2MM which is not an option since they’ve used all all three of their retained salary transactions for next season.
Would need to trade to a 3rd party to hold the salary – seems highly unlikely.
This is awesome. He’ll be back.
I can’t get NaturalStatTrick to work and I missed last half of the game, and
I have a question re:Henrique. His TOI was 5 minutes less than McDvid and Hyman. Was this because of PP time or was he replaced on the line for part of the game?
Special teams.
Played a minute less than 97 at 5v5 and 50 secs less than Hymes.
Don’t forget he also misses the first shift after a PK too, when KK deploys The Power Line.
Thanks Munny
Demko being hurt is a big deal. Playoffs are much different than regular season. Although they have confidence in DeSmith no chance they win with him.
“No chance” seems a tad strong. All they have to do is play .500 hockey over the next six games.
Reduced chance, I’d agree with.
And of course, you never know how this will affect player psychology. Could give them something to play for, could suck some belief out of their collective psyche.
We wait.
His numbers down the stretch were very pedestrian. Canucks outscored his mistakes. That’s very difficult to do in the playoffs. And yea maybe a little chance. Lol
The Kings are a pure garbage team and have been for a while. Happy to have their number and the opportunity to send them packing again. At some point you do have to send a message about their filthy play.
My highlight of the game: all the Toffoli jokes after Henrique’s goal.
So IF (don’t want to jinx it) the Oilers get past LA, they will have to play either Demko-less or Demko-damaged Canucks?
Or Leon’s Predators?
Nice.
We haven’t traditionally done well against Vancouver backups.
Regardless, Demko is one of the league’s best.
Either this costs the Canucks the series against Nashville, extends the series and puts more wear on Vancouver, or means a potentially injured Demko against the Oilers next round, it enhances our pathway to the Conference finals …
… not to get ahead of ourselves
We’ve played DeSmith 5 times. 3 starts, twice in relief. He’s 2-1-0 in the 3 starts, both wins coming this season. Has saved 125 of 134 shots from the Oilers for a .933 save percentage.
Yeah I’ll take Mayor Leon’s town if I have the choice
I think we should fear no team at this point. If’ they have matured enough, make the strategic adjustments to beat whomever, and make sure as a player you execute it. Hot goalies can be beat with the right tactics, and Perry knows how to get under their skins and off their games
I hope Perry helps with this. His voice carries weight because he has had a lot of post season success, and he has on other teams been a calming and reassuring influence, and also one to challenge people to be better. And his opinions are from an outside perspective, not part of whatever group think they have developed, which all groups do to some degree
I agree. I think we’re AT LEAST as scary as any team out there. I was fully on board with LT’s notion of swallowing the frog and starting with Vegas. If I could choose between van and Nashville, I’d take Nashville, but it’s not a strong preference. I don’t consider either a frog that needs swallowing, just a couple of tadpoles in the way.
I honestly believe Oilers crack every goaleur by the third game, no matter how formidable.
FTFY.
Le sigh…
I was surprised to see Holloway on the fourth line. He did earn a spot in his few games back, but that is because his speed and forecheck blended nicely with McLeods speed and Perry’s veteran presence.
That is his position to succeed, and he did take a few shifts on that line.
If Kane is going to be played on McLeod line, I would think it might be better to have Brown in for PK and he was more settled on that fourth line spot.
I was hoping Kane was just venti g but he did look less than 100% despite the several good chances and shots. His skating was okay but not fast, his usual body checks were missing, and he was subbed out for Holloway several times.
This might be the exact reason Knobby chose to play Holloway. He wanted Kane in but is worried about him. He wants Holloway immediately ready. And doesn’t see fourth line getting that many minutes so stash Holloway there.
He was good on the fourth line with Carrick & Janmark. Kane was good with MacLeod & Perry. They’re interchangeable.
DOPS took a look but not supplementary discipline for Moore.
I’m not surprised there is no suspension but its disappointing that we (or I) kind of “knew” one wasn’t coming as, at least to my (biased) eye, that was a targeted dirty and dangerous hit. I can’t prove intent but it sure looked like there was.
I’ve been saying for a while, Demko is an elite goalie but injuries have become a thing for him. I think he’s missed real time (weeks plus) every season but one? Could be wrong but that is my recollection.
I’ve also been saying for a while, “durability is an asset”. Vegas has a high end collection of players, however, they seems to have multiple injuries year after year to important players – and often the same players.
*knocking on wood*, the likes of McDavid, Drai, Nurse, Bouchard, Hyman, Ceci, etc. just bang out games, full seasons (75+) year after year with the odd exception.
One of the big knocks on Hyman (at the time of his signing) was that he was injury-prone. (He missed 10-20 games each of the previous three years.) Fortunately, that hasn’t been an issue so far.
and I was loud with my concern that he game with a real injury history and I though he would break down within a few years – i was wrong.
Mature of you OP to acknowledge. I really admire your ability to admit being incorrect.
And thanks for all the posts and in particular i value your condors info as i watch zero of their games.
A reasonable concern – guys don’t typically get healthier as they age.
Then again, with the way his scoring has accelerated in the last two years, we’d still be getting good value (at least for now) even if he only played 65 games a year.
I simply can’t stand the Kings intent to injure plays. They aren’t hockey plays…well I guess they are because hockey is stupid, but they shouldn’t be. Moore absolutely should be suspended. I think it was Kempe who two handed Leon in the ankle. Hyman slash on the wrist.
None of these have anything to do with playing hockey. The goal is simply to inflict damage so the Oilers can’t play at their best.
The Oilers literally never do these things and they have tough physical players. Connor and Leon will cross the line sometimes to carve out space but that’s different.
Here is video of Archibald’s hit on Logan Stanley that earned him a one-gamer.
I’d say Moore’s low bridge on Vinnie looked far worse. But no organization can ignore their own precedent like the NHL.
Elliotte Friedman
@FriedgeHNIC
·
4m
Hearing Thatcher Demko injured and questionable for rest of series
me : If true, Vancouver is absolute toast
They brought him back too early with the Oilers pressing for 1st place. I have no doubt this contributed to his return.
???
They already had first place locked when he was cleared to return to play.
—
PT BarnumReja, probablyOften injured player is often injured
Oh dear, poor Dy’s. I wondered about this when he went post-to-post to stop Forsberg and took a while to get up. Groins are vulnerable areas.
But, I won’t write them off yet – DeSmith stoned the Oilers recently in a “meaningful” game IIRC.
Seravelli reporting that Demko is out for Game 2 and is questionable for the rest of round 1
Is it wrong to rub one’s hands with glee at a player injury?
What if one rubs hand with glee while saying, “aww, that’s really too bad…”
Holland should have put him on LTIR!
As soon as I saw we got the kings my first thought was shit, we will win the series but its always at the cost of injury with the Kings. Need to go supernova and finish them in 4 just do decrease the amount of injury.
Was glad to see the refs make some calls early. Hoping that will keep things calmer, at least while the game is close. As soon as there’s more than a 2 goal gap either way I expect LA to start cheap shotting every chance they get.
So true. The Ref was ready. No penalties called and those scrums would explode. Nuge took some straight right ganders to the face early that were not called, after that it was okay.
We *finally* seem to be getting some calls. The refs seemed to want to punish us for about the first 7 years of McDavid’s career. Every damn playoffs we had to beat the other teams and the refs. This was a not-insignificant factor in our lack of playoff success. And it still may be yet.
Can’t disagree.
No officiating is truly objective, but it’s like the NHL doesn’t even try. or dares you care.
The most encouraging sign I take away from the win was the 3rd line Kane and Perry look to be gaining chemistry they had some great looks.
Kane looked good in his skating. I had a sports hernia and there were times it really affected my skating in beer league and other times it was fine. If Oilers go far, I wouldnt be surprised to see Kane have some really good games and other times he isnt able to play.
Yup, this team is dirty and they will “leave a mark” – while not necessarily imperative, it would be very beneficial to get out of this series in 4-5 games – come out of it with less “marks” and more time to recover from those marks.
As an aside, for those that haven’t heard or read it, Zack says he’s perfectly fine – not hurt at all – it got him on the funny bone and his arm went numb but zero effects.
I called for a league review of that cheap-ass intent to injure on Vinnie here on zee blog last night. That would send a “player safety” message to the teams. Even just a review over an actual suspension would have some deterrent value. We’ll see if it actually happens. NHL seems to have strange priorities at times.
I don’t want to jinx it, but I think the site is fixed.
I feel like Julie Andrews twirling, arms out, in the mountain meadows of the Austrian Alps.
“The hills are alive with the…”
High five to LT and whatever team of haxxor code wizards cracked this buggity bug bug bug.
I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong but on my computer or iPad, I could only get the April 22 LT post as the most recent. I tried clearing my cache and going on incognito or private mode too. I was going to give up but I tried that trick a poster suggested a while ago and went to the April 22 post in the browser address bar and deleted the last part and changed the date to “23” and voila, I got here. Lately, this trick just results in a 404 error but I was pleasantly surprised it worked this time. I wonder if there are others who are left out and can’t find today’s post.
Sorry, I was referring specifically to the commenting issue. I’ve always navigated from article to article by the sidebar… clicking either “Recent Posts” or “Recent Comments” and haven’t had a problem in recent memory.
I thought there would be more elation from the community over not having posts in “Approval Jail”, but so far there doesn’t seem to be…
I initially got here via LT’s twitter link, but the comments were stuck on 9 (much like Yesterday’s post being stuck at 7, even into the game, which made no sense). Once I logged in, the issues seemed to disappear, so logging in daily might be the answer?
That’s what I found yesterday as well.
I can’t say for sure Stephen. I only view this site by desktop computer which has about 40 tabs open on sites I regularly visit (my computer probably hates me). For eg, NST is always up, ESPN scores, etc. I don’t typically leave or log out of anywhere, unless we’re talking banking or something similar, and only log in when the sites force me to.
I’m on my laptop (that I run & use like a desktop). Maybe it’s a Chrome thing but I’m usually auto-logged out after a day or two. But admittedly because chrome is such a memory suck, I never keep tabs open permanently.
Brave (de-Googled Chrome) will put inactive tabs into standby automatically, among other useful features.
Yeah I had the same issue yesterday and logging in solved it at least temporarily. That said, it ultimately helped illustrate just how much I’ve come to value this blog community (I seldom post, but a habitual reader of it all). To suddenly not have access to it (on game 1 of the playoffs no less) was quite disorienting. So thank you LT et all for this, my favourite little corner of the internet!
This is pretty funny…
https://x.com/DJ_Bean/status/1782598627103305925
Enjoyed that. When Hyman first started getting jostled my first thought was “hey! …” but Hyman quickly got him in a head lock and nullified him. Loved it.
One adjustment I’m expecting from KK is a reaction to an adjustment by Hiller. Hiller had his troops jumping face-offs last night… and several times it worked well. The most obvious one was the lone first period HDSC they produced that caught Vinnie going the wrong way, but there were others.
Other than Arvidsson’s break up the middle on Ekholm that face-off was actually the only time in the game I was worried about our defensive play. Kings pushed hard in the 3rd and generated some things, but I think we did a good job of absorbing most of it.
Puck was bouncy last night and creating chaos for both teams (please please please give us Northland’s ice back), but I thought the Oil did an excellent job of staying home in their zone and making sure the puck got out before flying the coop. Lots of safe plays to push the puck out too rather than holding onto possession and risking something fancy. And even through the neutral zone, Oilers did a good job of having numbers between the puck and their net.
But I’d like to see them adjust to the Kings hopping the face-offs. They stole a few of our face-off wins that they didn’t deserve. Just be more ready for this ploy and prepared to take your man right off the puck drop.
I’m sure there’s data that disagrees with this observation, but I thought Carrick had a great game by the eye test. Mind you, I fell asleep at around the 8 minute mark of the third period on the east coast.
And when it occurred, I thought that low hit on Vinny might warrant a look-see from Dept. of Player Safety. Absolute dirt-bag play!
https://twitter.com/i/status/1782622256226795731
Archibald got a game for a similar hit against Stanley in the bubble Jets series. I think nothing will come of it.
The Archibald clip was brought up immediately by the after hours propaganda gang. Not a word was spoken on the Vinny cheap shot in-between periods not even if Vinny was alright. It seems to me they have put a gag order on Beiska with the promises of longevity.
I think that gag is years running. At the very least since Rogers took over. You can see the chill sometimes.
I’ve been hard on Carrick for a few weeks now (think he should be behind Holloway all day and Ryan as well) but, yes, at least by eye, I thought he was impactful last night with his motor and tenacity.
Kempe already complained about the refs so you know they’re in their head.
They no longer have a (The Stranglers) Dustin Brown, texture like scum…
The score of that game flattered the Kings.
The Oilers held a multi-goal lead throughout and the game was never really in doubt – even if the Kings scored a couple goals in the 2nd and a couple of fluke goals late to make the game look closer.
The Oilers dominated at 5 on 5, the Oilers dominated on both special teams, the oilers were, by far, the more disciplined team, etc., etc.
Nurse/Ceci get tagged with that -2 on the two late weird goals that were inconsequential. They were just fine, in fact quite solid through the guts of the game, as a 2nd pairing.
The Fab Five were pretty loose on the two goals against in the second to give the Kings hope.
Statement game.
Lots to like, in addition to LT’s post, I thought the 4th line played well.
I can’t recall Perry ever losing a puck battle behind the opposition net, that guy is stealthy.
Loved the Henrique goal, it was pretty much over after that but Hyman potted 2 more himself just to make sure.
Keep the foot hard down on the gas and this series is over,
Quickquick!So, is that the most dominating game by McDavid now, or is it still last year’s game 6?
“A giant walks among us” © LT
Perry is incredible along the wall……
I hope everyone is taking the opportunity to learn some skills. The details win, it’s long been the Oilers’ biggest weakness
Perry is a gamer.
So when McDavid held the Captain Skates before training camp and everyone showed up to be ready for game 1 maybe he meant game 1 of the playoffs.
It sounds like a joke but I think that is what happened. I think they tried to pace themselves at the start of the year and it blew up in their faces. They know how brutal playoffs are.
Two years ago they had their ‘Islander’s moment’ but last year the ran into a 96M dollar Vegas team and a hot Adin Hill.
I actually suspect that’s correct and partially at least explains the poor start. They came out of the gate emotionally let down with the realization there were 82 games to get through first.
Woody just ran lousy training camps two years in a row.
One key stat to note is that Oilers have a 100% win rate when the Polish president is in attendence.
Dobrzy bardzo!
At the end of the period Kempe (skilled rat) chirps Bouchard and makes a face at him. Bouchard just skates past without looking and Kempe realizes he’s just standing there with a stupid look on his face.
Well done. Do not engage these rodents. Stand up for yourself and your teammates, but don’t get caught up in the b.s. It’s far more infuriating for the Kings when that happens.
Ok thought I imagined that. Good on Bouchard for ignoring the idiot.
Vegas now 8-2 in their last 10 games against the Stars. Getting the Knights in the first round was the worst possible scenario for the the Stars… facing the one team they struggle to beat. But that might make it the best possible scenario for the entire rest of the Western Conference.
Dallas is the one team that scares me as an Oilers fan. So yeah.
William Karlsson ( 3rd in team scoring) and Anthony Mantha have been pushed down to the 3rd line here.
It sure seems plausible Vegas has a more deep and talented team than last year.
Vegas scares me a bit but Dallas scares me more.
The Vegas players must hate DeBoer.
Does Knoblauch know when to send out Kane, Carrick and Perry to go punish? I’m assuming that would be the dirty deeds crew anyway.
The Kings may back off so as to not give up powerplays. If they don’t, make them pay both prices. The Oilers have 3 capable extra forwards. Might need to use one or two.
I believe the Oiler powerplay is over 60% success rate against the Kings over the last two playoffs.
I do wonder if the Kings thought, with their exceptional PK and Oilers great-but-not-incredible PP, that they could get away with a little more chippiness. I absolutely love that the Oil ran a bit of a different PP structure this game, I think it threw the Kings off a bit. Bieksa had an interesting explanation as well as how previous teams have solved Kings tight diamond formation. Love that sort of analysis.
Bieksa impressed me now and then. All his observation offhand or matter of fact, kinda like he’s still on the ice.
That’s the beauty of the Oilers bottom six. They very well could but Kane, Carrick & Perry together and also Holloway, MacLeod & Janmark as well. For a lark.
The Oil made it clear, the primary gameplan is to press tempo and pace to get the first goal. Once that happens, they can settle and dictate from there. Playing behind against LA means a significantly tougher night.
We’d all prefer they push the pace every second but that just isn’t reasonable to expect in the flow of a game. That said, it was exciting to see the pace in the first, Talbot made several huge stops to keep it ‘only’ 2-0 after one. Could’ve been 7.
The inevitable pushback was answered at every turn.
Again!
Yeah I felt bad for Talbot, wasn’t really to blame on any of the goals and yet he let in 6.
Oilers had a couple of different breakout looks to beat the 1-3-1, looked good.
Somebody mentioned it last night but the Oil perfectly scouted that 3 man lock on the boards. Chip off the glass is actually the skill play there. If you can do it right with the Forward gaining momentum through your zone you can back off the d and get odd man rushes. Kane’s line did it 3 or 4 times. Once they start cashing it’s curtains.
Never feel bad for an opposition goalie – are you mad sir?
I thought he was slow to cover blocker side on the second (Henrique’s) goal, but otherwise, can’t be faulted. Would love to see big save Dave though.
McDavid’s five apples was the first five-assist playoff game since April 23, 1998 when Geoff Courtnall did it… against the Kings.
“We have to do a better job against McDavid’s line, that’s the clear takeaway,” Kings interim coach Jim Hiller said. “And that was 5-on-5, not just the power play, that was 5-on-5 too. Who are the three guys (forwards) that can do the job there, that’s the question for us tonight that we have to figure out.”
Watching the game live up in Section 218, what a game to have Oilers attacking zone twice.
It was pure domination other than the fluky skate goals – if it happens one more time though, I’ll begin to think it is intentional by the Kings.
Really felt in the 2nd period the Oilers might regret not stepping on the LA neck in the first with one more goal (Nuge bad miss, Hyman post), and then I really think the disallowed glove goal ended the game for LA. If that counted, it’s 4-2 going into the 3rd with LA having the momentum. Nothing worse than the dreaded 4 goal lead.
I thought Bouchard and Ekholm were outstanding, goals against notwithstanding. Bouchard had a few excellent plays at the blueline offensively to keep the puck in, and I thought his DZ decision-making was on point.
And yeah, Skinner looked dialed in. Unflappable. Night and day from Game 1 last year.
And oh yeah, that Draisaitl shot was going to go through the Rogers roof. What a rocket.
Uhh, it Was 4-2 going into the 3rd.
Sorry, meant 4-3 going into the 3rd 😀 Too many pops last night.
Are you still drinking ?
I think you’re onto something with the Kings just sending the puck across the crease, hoping for a bounce… that’s what we do in our beer league when we face a superior team (rarely works out).
Apropos of not the game last night (though I’m really pleased that you were able to attend!), that new Pearl Jam record… I have some thoughts and would love to hear yours beyond what you posted over at the ‘gum. Don’t want to derail the thread but I haven’t logged in for months so this seemed as good a time/place as any.
Not only did they win but LA also got the better bounces. Definitely a good sign.
On the goal review I’m pretty sure it was no goal no matter what. Even if it hit his stick, that part of the stick was over the crossbar.
That was my reaction as well. High stick or off the hand was going to negate it. It was one of the very few times I was confident they were going to call it off.
The Oilers have to keep playing as they played that 1st game. The Kings buttoned down defensively; it just didn’t matter. Then, it’s their DNA when they get behind to get chippy and penalties happen. Especially against Edmonton. Oilers just need to stay disciplined.
Yup it’s a dilemma for LA.
Did the goal not count because we got Cory? I mean what would they tell him?
Lol, it’s because the league reviewed it. No challenge means no way to screw us over.