It was a difficult night for Oilers fans, as the team surrendered an important playoff game. I don’t feel anger or disappointment, but today I’m in a reflective mood. I don’t know how many more springs the Oilers will contend for Stanley while I’m hanging around eating ice cream. I’m finding myself enjoying all of it, embracing the anxiety and the story lines.
I cheer like hell for Stuart Skinner, as a for instance. He didn’t play well last night, and he wasn’t alone. I don’t feel like saying “well, he sure as hell better perform better next game” because it’s obvious and implies he wasn’t trying last night. The Oilers were all trying, and they didn’t get it done against a team I picked to lost the series in five.
This is Stuart Skinner’s time. I believe he is a fine goaltender. It’s up to the young man to write his own story, beginning in Game 2 on Friday night. Daniel Nugent-Bowman at The Athletic wrote the a brilliant piece after last night’s game, I recommend it to you. I especially loved the Mattias Ekholm quotes, that man has a coaching career ahead of him should he decide it’s an area of interest. DNB and Thomas Drance wrote an exceptional item here, with the line “then J.T. Miller beat Skinner with a genius deflection from in tight” framing the key moment for this viewer.
The Oilers folded, but let’s give some credit to a strong effort by the Vancouver Canucks. They have skill and they worked early, middle and late. The coaching staff found a weakness, a troubled seam in the defense and hammered it senseless until the game was won. If we look at the Vancouver centers versus the Oilers defence (I picked LH side but you know the pairs) we see how Rick Tocchet bested Kris Knoblauch.
- JT Miller versus Ekholm (and mostly McDavid line) 9:36, 1-0 EDM goals, 51 pct X-goals
- Elias Lindholm versus Nurse (97 or 29 most common) 6:30, 0-3 EDM goals 12 pct X-goals
- Elias Pettersson versus Kulak (McLeod or 29 line) 7:01, no goals 32 pct X-gals
I’m not sure there is a fix available, the Oilers have to deal with three talented Vancouver lines because the team has impressive offense marbled through the roster. I think we can talk about changing the pairings, but that’s a last chance Texaco after the team has lost the third game of the series (should it come to that).
I spoke many times in the fall about playing Philip Broberg but it’s too late to suggest he is going to save the Nurse pairing. Troy Stecher is an option, but I don’t see the coaching staff moving away from Cody Ceci so early in the series. There’s no real way to protect the Nurse-Ceci pairing, so the answer will have to come in outscoring and playing 60 tighter minutes. Skinner will need to be better, that’s a fact.
None of this is new to you. You saw the game, the result isn’t shrouded in mystery. Edmonton didn’t focus, the Canucks never let up and I do think the Oilers coaching staff has some work to do on the defense. Skinner will need to be better. I know I said it twice, did it on purpose.
The point I want to make today is that you should enjoy this. I know you’re mad and upset and lashing out, but you didn’t lose the game. Your favourite team lost the game. Stuart Skinner and Darnell Nurse and Cody Ceci are trying, but the Canucks bested them last night. Can your favourite team recover? Does the coaching staff have a fix for three scoring lines? Will Adam Henrique save the day? What about Leon Draisaitl’s injury?
I’m suggesting that you embrace the uncertainty, that you acknowledge the drama and the fact it makes us all feel alive. Oh my GOD, the Oilers could lose to the Canucks in the first series that really matters or is in doubt!! Holy hell, I mean for the first time ever, the Vancouver Canucks and their gloriously over the top fan base could win this series and that my friends is your basic bleeding nightmare. Embrace it.
Embrace the idea that your worst nightmare could be coming true. By doing that, you will fully enjoy the moment when your team finds a way to win the series. That’s sports! Not every season, or every career, is promised Stanley. I’ve been so lucky in my life, cheering for the Bruins, Oilers, Eskimos-Elks, Eagles and 76ers, each of those franchises have reached the pinnacle in my lifetime. I may never see another, and will have been paid in full.
My friends, it is the journey. It is the time we spend together on this blog and at The Athletic and on the radio that I cherish. Winning is best, building relationships that sometimes grow into friendships (online or in person) is what holds real value.
I believe the Edmonton Oilers will win this series. I believe the Edmonton Oilers will win the Stanley Cup. I believe in Stuart Skinner and Darnell Nurse and Cody Ceci, and believe the Glimmer Twins will find a way. I’ve written about McDavid and Draisaitl recently, and believe their destiny is winning a Stanley Cup.
I don’t know it to be true. I never got to see the Montreal Expos win a World Series. You can ask me if I regret a moment of being a fan of that team. You don’t need to, because you already know the answer.
Today on the Lowdown (noon to 2pm on Sports 1440) we’ll crawl from the wreckage of last night’s loss and read your comments on a day when the comments will be epic and biblical. Bagged Milk from Oilers Nation is my guest, and we’ll add at least another to what should be a day dominated by the text line. 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. Question: Would you like to see an updated 2024 Lowetide draft list later this week?
Surely this has been said somewhere, but aside from the culpable players. I place some blame on Kris Knoblauch h for one little thing: Not calling a timeout when it was 4-4. The team was rattled, the Nucks fired up, a timeout could have really helped settle things a bit. Instead he saves it only for it to not be used at all. Coaches hang onto the stupid things only in the NHL. Skinner I think more than anyone would have benefited from that.
Absolutely. Should have called it after goal 2. Could see it was headed the wrong way in the 2nd period
Can’t believe coaches don’t use it every game. It’s a free rest at minimum.
What are they saving it for? To draw up some play in the last 30 sec that never works out?
Okay, I’m going to start a fresh post here. I’m going to ask for some help with this one.
I really want to discuss the Lindholm goal. I am hoping to get some feedback here and especially from anyone with coaching or playing experience.
https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/edm-vs-van/2024/05/08/2023030241/recap
Everyone has written it off as a sort of a fluke goal. Now the puck did appear to take a lucky bounce off Skinner’s stick, which it well did.
At around the 30 second mark of the video, we have Nurse taking a backhanded swipe at Lindholm’s stick.
As a former left-shot d, I found that play perplexing… as a former d, I can’t fathom a forward player coming around the net and taking a backhand swing at his stick.
I was always taught to have my blade against the post as a player was wrapping around from behind the net.
I haven’t played competitive hockey in a long time, so what am I missing here?
I’m not an expert, but IMO Nurse’s role there is to get his stick at or below the goal line and close the post, to cut off the angle to pass in front (and below the line so it can’t bounce into his net). In general, the number of goals that go off Nurse and in is not a coincidence. He is strangely passive and close to the crease on so many plays, ineffective in pressuring or cutting of passes or shots, but too close to allow the goalie to react. He’s got all the tools, but he’s been on the 1 year of experience 5 times path for a long time. With his athleticism, I’d like him to err on the side of aggression and pressure. His ice time is down, he doesn’t need to conserve energy as much.
(I realize that went off Skinner, who seems to go through periods where his technique really fades. But Nurse must lead the league in deflections for an own goal, and it’s not a mystery why IMO)
You articulated it far better than I did, but yeah that’s exactly how I was taught to play that growing up.
Everyone else gave him a pass on that play and chalked it up to a fluke goal.
I agree with you that he played that poorly.
I have been critical of Nurse for a long time. I think the underlying reason is that he does a lot of things like this, that are counter to basic hockey principles that result in preventable goals against.
McCurdy and Staples count defection goals off D. I don’t have the exact numbers, but Nurse is responsible for more deflection goals and own goals than all of the other EDM D combined, over several seasons. McCurdy also claims he’s responsible for more screens than the other D. He just has a pile of bad habits. I couldn’t tell you what all of those are.
Thanks. Nurse always seems to have his skate blades angled towards the net when opposing players shoot.
The Oilers are going to lose this series.
The April 13th game was the canary in the coal mine: an Oilers team that got spanked bad and got their coach fired didn’t seek revenge.
There are a lot of other things that could be said about the weaknesses and strengths of this team, but the biggest deficiencies are between the ears. The Oilers are arrogant and the Canucks are determined. The Oilers are fragile and the Canucks have nothing to lose.
Tocchet understands how to use the tools at his disposal to beat Edmonton, and he’s going to.
Link?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqNZRKT8MhE
Smell the glove.
I wish the Oilers were 80s arrogant.
When you should have won seven cups from 82-88 and only win four, you’re probably arrogant.
I always have trouble with these sorts of narratives that ascribe a psychological shortcoming as the reason for losing.
I think it’s more a matter of shaky playoff goaltending with Skinner and the ongoing saga of Nurse/Ceci getting targeted in the playoffs.
I guess that the Oilers were fragile, but more literally than figuratively in that Henrique injured his ankle and Draisaitl hurt his back.
Fairly or unfairly, I usually blame the GM. The Oilers have a Nurse/Ceci problem. It’s a bit of a Chinese finger trap in that Nurse is paid about $3 or $4m too much which doesn’t leave enough cap to upgrade his d partner. We also have nearly $4m in dead cap space from the Campbell contract that Holland signed.
The edge the Canucks have is that their GM cleaned up their roster with a lot of astute and affordable player additions.
It’s still early. But I fear you may be right. The tone for the entire Canucks season was set with that 8-1 beatdown. Contrary to expectation, they never really let up all year long. I think Tocchet has had the Canucks amped up all year against the Oilers.
Given how much input we are told Tulsky has in every transaction, he’s likely on the verge of looking for a new organization as his advice continues to lead to playoff failure, year after year after year – Shark like!
Feels like he’s coming here.
Joshua, like Stenlund, like Steel were not found in Holland’s Hockey Guide of Old Men.
They were under 25 cheap NHL’ers in the bottom six of NHL rosters and solid AHL producers.
And Joshua is from Holland’s back yard being born in Dearborn Michigan and playing in the NCAA at Ohio State.
Vancouver has some significant free agents to potentially sign this offseason including Hronek, another player Holland should be aware of (since he drafted and signed him), Zadarov and potentially Lindholm.
Rick Dhaliwal has been saying re-signing Joshua is a very high priority.
Joshua was certainly not under 25 when the Nucks signed him
26 is still better than 36.
I’ve shared here before that I PVR all the games, then I start watching about 90 minutes after puck drop I also have it set to record up to 3 hrs after scheduled stop time, in case of OT.
Last night was a perfect example of my negative past experiences being a fan of this team. I start watching at about 9:40 pm, skipping the anthem, etc, commercials, skipped through longer stoppages and intermission. At about 10:20 pm I hear a text message on my work phone, which is on the kitchen counter.
At lunch time yesterday I made a bet with one of my workers on the series. He’s from Ft Mac, but has decided to cheer for the Orcas.
When got the text, the Oilers were up 4-1 on my PVR. I was pissed off thinking that text was from him and that it meant the Oilers lost. From the time I got the text I was viewing the game in a negative light.
And sure enough they blow the lead and lose.
In the end I ended up fast forwarding through most of the 3rd and was done watching by 10:50 pm.
i went to bed at 11:30 pm and only then do I check my phone. Another worker had sent me a link to a news article related to work. It had nothing whatsoever to do with game.
Arghh, what a terrible way to be.
I promise to be better.
I am changing my avatar to emit more positive energy
Goilers!
I felt like I was watching the Wide World of Sports last night.
And I can’t edit my Gravatar because of whatever permissions I don’t have.
Oilers Horror it shall remain 🤷♂️
It’s managed by this: https://gravatar.com/
I think some of the negative reaction is a bit overblown. The Oilers were leading for 53 minutes and didn’t have Draisaitl for the back half of the second period when the balance of play really shifted, and you could argue they didn’t have a dominant McDavid either. Also Nuge hit a post. Sometimes you’re cursed, that’s life.
Nurse and Ceci are getting killed by, you know, everyone 🙂 and of course their playoff stats are going to look terrible coming off a particularly brutal game. Volatility of small sample sizes and all that. We also have regular season data pointing to that pairing not being a massive liability, and if they are taking on secondary toughs or worse I think they’ll come out just fine.
Skinner had a bit of a tough game, yes, but he also stole a game with the shutout against LA. Let’s not forget all the good he has done.
Larger sample size.
Jonathan Willis
@JonathanWillis
Apropos of nothing: the Edmonton Oilers at 5v5, last three playoffs.
Without Nurse/Ceci: 52 GF% / 54 xGF%
With Nurse/Ceci: 46 GF% / 45 xGF%
Ceci without Nurse: 20 GF% / 42 xGF%
With Ceci on the ice: -8
With Ceci off the ice: +8
A 16-goal swing in just three playoff runs.
It’s a smaller sample size than the regular season. The Ceci number is concerning, but Nurse-Ceci at 46% GF is close-ish to even, particularly considering they generally faced tougher comp the last two playoffs.
Regular season hockey means diddly squat come playoff time.
Ceci was weak the last two playoff years. It was clear to anyone who watched the games. It is clear to anyone who watched his career.
The status quo beside Nurse was an extremely risky strategy. I told you guys this in September, October, November, December, January, February, March, April, and now May.
I had to endure enormous grief from the Ceci-eyed for 8 months.
No question that this was a glaring unforced error.
Heading into the deadline, our biggest needs were a Ceci upgrade followed by a 2RW. Holland traded a 1st for an older 3c instead.
There were a lot of Sean Walker rumours. I, too, wondered why 3C was a higher priority than 2RD.
Sean Walker, the offensive d-man with zero points in the playoffs a negative goal differential on a team that blew out the opposition in the first round.
The last time Ceci and Walker went head to head, Ceci was +4 and Walker -4.
Different type of player with different strengths and his own flaws.
I guess I’m just pointing out that a 46% goal share is off by what to make it even? 1 goal? 2 goals? And that’s after they went -2 in that game. It’s quite selective.
It’s still a small-ish sample and goes against their regular season work. We also don’t know what the median second or third pair is doing. Certainly Ekholm and Bouchard have the advantage of being stapled to 97.
“I guess I’m just pointing out that a 46% goal share is off by what to make it even?” It’s 5 goals, 26 GF, 31 GA. 441 TOI, 32 GP. 5v5
Nurse is frustrating sometimes, but of last night’s goals:
Lindholm goal – fluke. Can’t lay that on either defenseman.
Miller’s goal – phenomenal play. In hindsight you’d like Nurse to bludgeon JT Miller but he was in good defensive position.
Garland goal – that’s on Skinner 100%
So -3 for the D but it’s wrong to say “Cody Ceci is the Achilles heel”
Let’s talk about that Lindholm goal.
https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/edm-vs-van/2024/05/08/2023030241/recap
To qualify things, I played Bantaam AAA as a left d, about a million years ago. (I am not presuming to have the correct answer here.)
Now, I have watched that replay a bunch of times. In my opinion, preventing that pass was Nurse’s job which he failed at.
Am I wrong? Any coaches want to weigh in on that play? I know that the game has changed, but still.
Nurse was late to challenge and sort of did an attempt to backhand the puck after it was too late.
I would have just challenged with the blade of my stick forward towards Lindholm.
He needs to go. Staples and McCurdy count own goals, deflections and screens and their counts show he’s worse at own goals than all of the other d combined. His net front game is not good. There are definitely other positives to the player. But his house game is slop.
I’ll be the last person here to defend the Nurse/Ceci pairing.
Still, some of Ceci’s numbers are from when he had that core muscle issue and consequently played terrible.
The other issue is the unfortunate consequence of tying Bouch/Ekholm to the McDavid line, is that it leaves the Nurse/Ceci pairing even more vulnerable.
“It’s a smaller sample size than the regular season.”
I think you mean “N” is smaller… but it’s not that small. 32 GP, 441 minutes, – 5.
I worry when I see the goalie let in a couple of softies, and a couple of the better dmen play their D game
As others mentioned they broke their routine of watching these Oilers playoff games. I have to admit I didn’t watch the game from the comfort of my home last night. I rode my bike down to Coal Harbour along the seawall sporting my Oilers jersey. It was a georgeous ride with lots of great scenery, jeers and nods of approval. I watched the game with one of my best friends of 30 years, his parents and his little brother. All Canucks fans. We have seen numerous Oilers v Canucks games from our time in high school, university roommates and now as middle age men raising families. I was disappointed in the loss and as I rode my back home to East Vancouver I reflected on how great it was to log another game with him and his family. As always thanks for sharing your thoughts and feelings LT.
Jonathan Willis
@JonathanWillis
One extra salt-in-the-wound note on the Nurse/Ceci meltdown: they drew Vancouver’s third line.
Ekholm-Bouchard got the lethal Miller line in a PvP matchup, Kulak-Desharnais got Pettersson and Nurse-Ceci got lit up by the Lindholm trio (12-1 by scoring chances).
******************************************************************************
Lindholm is really coming around now that he has a defined role.
1G 1A 2P +2 5SOG FO% 77.8
Likely pricing himself out of Vancouver.
Small sample size, but you’re right if he keeps this up.
Lindholm and Zadorov are delivering for sure. I don’t know what the deal is with Pettersson, but he looks medicated or has PTSD or something. He doesn’t even look like the same player.
Joshua Lindholm and Garland have arguably been the Canucks best line in the playoffs.
Whoever has been centering the pairing of Joshua and Garland has been one of the best Canucks lines all season.
I get a Torres, Peca, Pisani vibe from that line.
It’s a good comparable.
All three of them were below 50% in expected goals and actual goals (except Lidholm who was 50% but 40% in expected) in round 1.
You aren’t in trouble in a series until you lose at home. A cliche but it is a cliche for a reason. Oilers didn’t play their best game, and the Canucks played very well, full credit for the win. It was a different style of game than playing the Kings: more pressure all over the ice (especially on the breakout) and the Canucks were springing the zone early looking to spread the D pairs out through the neutral zone. I imagine there will be some adjustments made and they will reestrablish their O zone posession game, which should result in more penalties drawn. Lots of hockey to be played.
Its not actually true though. Oilers can win all their home games this series and lose it, right?
That is true. But they can also win all their home games and win the series or have a shot at Game 7.
The Canucks skaters were not called for a single infraction last night.
Oh, I know, the Oilers didn’t do much to draw penalties as the game went on but there certainly was some interference, hooking and holding out there.
Not to mention the puck thrown out of the defensive zone.
One call and there is a literal 50% chance the game is different.
Nuge doesn’t miss a beautiful set-up from McLeod and the Oilers likely have a 2-3 goal win on a night they were very “off” as a team.
The Oilers have demoralized the fan-bases in game 1 of MANY won series over the last few years and I look forward to that happening again.
That Nuge post was a missed opportunity to close the game out. It happens. That is twice the Canucks have had a post in their own zone and gone the other way to score a big goal this playoffs. Single moments are a big damn deal.
In the playoffs every play counts for something
This is why they need to play better 5v5. PP are icing on the cake if you score, but the cake is winning 5v5 and take the refs out of it (and luck) as much as possible
They scored 2 5 on 5 goals and Nuge was an inch from putting the game out of reach with a 3rd.
they’ve only won 3 or 4 series in the last few years
Game 2 would be a great time for Nuge to make some noise against his hometown team, 5v5. Needs to be more assertive (as many do)
The PK was flawless, Nugent-Hopkins have two assists, and was even on the night, and he actually had a shot on goal, along with a post.
From M McCurdy via Shane Stevenson 5v5 Nuge was 9.34 xGF% and NST says 37.5 SF%
I want a noisier Nuge! The team needs to apply more pressure throughout the game at evens, especially the top 6, and he has the talent to help. Just needs a burr in his saddle, I know he has a few
NST Has Nuge’s xGF% at 7.12
Foegele? What is the nonsense? Foegele wasn’t within an zone and a half at Garland after the long breakout pass.
If any skater, this was on Ceci but, more than anything, that was 97% on Skinner.
What a joke this comment is.
—————
As far as Leon and McDavid together, well, that’s what Woody did each of the last two years when injury hit….
Foegele wasn’t within a zone of Garland because he gave up on the backtrack again, like he did on Doughty in the LA series. He was close the Garland at one point and the high forward. All Foegele had to do was skate back with Garland and it becomes a nothing play.
That was on all 3 forwards puck watching, and not doing anything to pressure the breakout. Nuge skates into the D but isn’t pressuring the puck carrier. Drai is in la la land floating out of the play, F3 Foegele was high as he should be but just occupying no man’s land, not cutting off a pass to the boards or up the middle. Nurse pushed Garland wide which is the play, then Skinner not making a save is the coup de grace
A lot of the defensive issues are the forwards not being good enough with the system, or skating with enough energy (outside of a few) most of their shifts. One or two solid backtracks a game won’t cut it from some of the top 6 guys
I think they need to have Drai on the wing, especially now that he’s ailing. He doesn’t have the legs to skate hard two ways all game it seems
If we are lucky and Henrique can play up to norm, maybe run McLeod with Leon and Henrique at 3C. Or give Leon speedy wingers and charge one of them with with the D zone C responsibilities (coming down low) so Drai doesn’t have to skate so much
there was a Jaxon Pisani taken in the WHL draft today; #39 to Everett.
Wonder if that’s Fernando’s boy??
According to elite prospects he is. And apparently he has a brother named Teo. https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/701510/jaxon-pisani
George Laraque’s kid was drafted 4th round.
Hnat Domenichelli kid – 2nd round
Bryce Salvador’s kid – 2nd round
Oiler legend Darcy Hodichuck’s son was drafted too, I believe??
Regina Pats took Braden Hordichuk 1st overall in the WHL US Draft
It’s all LT’s fault. Whenever the game day thread has a photo of dead foliage the Oilers lose.
Might as well of “booked it” !
For those saying that it’s one game and doesn’t matter might want to recall game one of the 2006 SCF against Carolina.
Sure, but there are plenty of examples of a team losing game 1 and still winning a series.
Yeah why not take the Calgary series which actually has you know, current Oilers on it, as example here.
It occurs to me on this day after that some of us maybe didn’t do the visualization exercises required to prepare oneself emotionally for the playoffs. I took a day to really try to locate that anxiety in myself and feel it beforehand, knowing it would come.
I am sure the players have a bit more revolve than the fanbase.
“As we calculated above, the “ideal” probability that a team that wins the first game of a series will win the rest of the series is 65.625%.”
courtesy sentex.net
Game 1 loss doesn’t mean anything more than, the path to victory is a little more challenging.
LET’S GO OILERS 🙂
2022
R1 – Lose Game 1 win series
R2 – Lose Game 1 win series
R3 – Lose Game 1 lose series
2023
R1 – Lose Game 1 win series
R2 – Lose Game 1 lose series
2024
R1 – Win Game 1 win series
R2 – Lose Game 1 result TBD
seems like Losing Game 1 is a common theme for this crew. Gives me some more hope. thanks for sharing!
I meant this to remember that this was not any ordinary loss. They went into the third with a 3-1 lead in the SCF and blew it in regulation. In the end of season interviews, MacT identified game 1 as “A game we left on the table.” In other words, one that could have made them champions instead of also-rans.
All the games matter. I still think the Oilers have a good chance to win this series though.
Can a top 6 be created the excludes both Nuge and McLeod? Allowing them to team up with a winger and Nurse and Ceci to form a second 5 man unit. Those two together might have the wherewithal to protect the disaster twins.
They should not overload one group. Put the 2nd pair with McD to shelter them, let P1 pump up Drai if he’s playing. Let Highlander saw off whoever he’s out against, and L4 bang some bodies
They played without pace
from the beginning they wanted to slow the game down. I’m not sure why
thrn they were up 4-1
brown takes a penalty 200 feet away
skinner had his slip
4 on 4 hockey and McDavid wants the puck to skate north without clear possession and it’s in the back of the net
Kane takes shots from anywhere playing selfishly
Perry is too slow against Nucks
you can bitch and moan about ceci but on the face off goal he was on the far left side
and he was the only one to recognize the play and tried to get to his normal
position. Not sure why they setup that way but Someone missed an assignment
mental errors
big mental errors across the team
thry didn’t deserve to win that game and that’s a fact
100% agree and hopefully the team realizes it too and comes out mad as hell on Friday
I hope all breaks right for them this playoffs, they have enough to do it
But the mistakes, weak board play, and getting hemmed in aren’t going to stop until they change some players up. They’ve been around the horn enough times to be past that if they were able to be
I turned off the game when the Canucks started scoring in the 3rd. Oilers keep expecting to win by only putting minimum effort in some games. I don’t think Skinner is that good of a goalie, maybe a decent backup. That’s just my opinion. Oilers have the weakest tending postion of the 8 teas left an that is a fact. I don’t expect the Oilers to win this series, but who knows? Whatever the case, I believe the Avs will sweep the winner of this round. I’ll put money on it. On a funny note, I got one of my Av fan friends really good. I told him Skinner tried to commit suicide this morning and jumped in front of a bus. He was dumbfounded even after I told him it went right through his legs leaving him untouched. (Old Mike Vernon joke)
I would easily say Vancouver Goalie situation is worse then ours is.
Latest reports have Demko possible to return for game 5 or 6 of the series but, of course, that is always subject to change.
you better fire up that BET 365 account, you’re gonna be rich !
That is certainly not a fact and I would note that Georgiev and Silovs are starting playoff games.
And they both have better save % and GAA than Skinner. Of the remaining teams left Stu is the weakest tender. Numbers don’t lie.
Come on, discuss with a bit of integrity.
Did the numbers lie 24 hours ago when Skinner had better numbers than Georgiev?
Skinner had better numbers than both (by alot) in the regular season
A few years ago the Oilers messed up on a contract by forgetting what day they had to offer it by or something – It wasn’t the guy that went to Dallas but I can’t remember for the life of me who it was. I was thinking it was a name like Trochek, but that’s not quite right. Anyway, off topic but maybe some diversion today is good.
Was it Matej Blumel?
Dallas signed him and he’s currently 3rd in AHL playoff scoring with the Texas Stars.
He scored 31 goals and 31 assists in the regular season.
I remember that one. No i was thinking there was another one before that butt maybe i’m making shit up. That’s always possible. Anyway, thanks for responding.
Matt Blumel is indeed the player, that is a fact, however, management “forgetting to offer a contract” is anything but.
Remember, after the signing deadline passed, Blumel became an NHL UFA, free to sign with any other NHL team and chose to sign…… back in Europe.
Yeah i guess you guys are right. Must have been Blumel. And I was remembering it wrong at that. **face palm emoji**
Holland has no time for projects. For the life of me I have no idea why he drafted the ever going bottom 4 in progrsss Broberg.
The loss is on me!
Did not wear an Oilers jersey, hat or McDavid socks while enjoying the game. Also, due to an early morning meeting, I went to bed after the 2nd (Oilers were winning 4-2 after all).
Hoping not to be fired by the family for this (even the cat seems pissed – although that may just be her normal attitude) as I would have to watch by myself on an IPad instead of the 60″.
I will correct the noted errors for the game on Friday. Oilers win 5-2
It wasnt you, it was me. My feet were getting too hot so I took off my lucky blue Converse, I wont make that mistake again.
We all contribute our ‘positive’ vides to the team. We ask that they be committed 100%, therefore we should be too!
It was me. I ate a chocolate in the third period.
Everyone knows you NEVER eat a chocolate in the third.
Watching the 205 pound Warren Foegele ” Finish” his checks last night was Live at the Improv stuff….
CF% 45
SF% 47
GF 2 / *** GA 6 ****
He has only been on the ice for 66 minutes . 9th in TOI for Oiler forwards.
That is truly remarkable
He’s been brutal, I wonder if he’s hurt.
I thought he was ok last night
he was one of the few w pace and used his frame to hit
he did more than a few others
Foegele gave up on the backtrack of Garland on the winning goal. Garland was his man.
Losing Doughty all over again.
Garland was Nurse’s man
Nurse stepped up to mark Joshua. Garland was free because Foegele gave up on the backtrack, and let Garland attack on the right side unpursued. Joshua would have had no options if Foegele had stayed with Garland.
Cody Ceci scored on a muffin shot last night….against a very weak goalie.
In 6 playoff games this year.
CF% 38.9
SF% 40.9
GF 3 / GA 8
Nobody considered the LA Kings or Vancouver Canucks to be legitimate Cup contenders.
For you KK fans Ceci is 2nd in TOI ( evens) for D.
Work it Kris…..work it.
Do you think they should have tried to get more than just 18 shots on goal? Their goalie’s save % was worse than Skinner’s.
It would have been nice….but I think Ceci / Nurse were hemmed in for long stretches.
OP guaranteed us all year that Ceci would be fine, That Ceci was injured in the playoffs last year. That Nurse was injured the year before. Against my prognostication that the Ceci status quo would be the likely cause of doom, if doom arrived. And that it was a big mistake not to try Broberg there during the regular season.
Yes, I am no optimist and I underestimated the depraved levels of play Ceci has fallen to…..I am very guilty as well.
@NHL_Sid
With Nurse-Ceci on-ice at 5-on-5 in the playoffs, the Oilers have been out-scored 3 to 7 (30% goal share), while they improve to 11 GF and 8 GA (57% goal share) without them. The pair holds an abysmal 39 percent scoring chance differential.
This is (predictably) a big issue.
Huge….
That was a 95 mph shot. Not a muffin.
Ceci dialed 1- 800 before he shot….it was from long distance
In fairness how many stinkers did Skinner let in when Ceci was on the ice?
A lot.
Not absolving Skinner at all. Skinner cost us the game.
Cody Ceci is always defending. Always in his own end.
Goes back a few years now for Ceci.
I am reasonably confident Skinner can bounce back. Near zero confidence
in the Ceci / Nurse pairing.
As a fan I’d rather be in the position of Oilers fans. Gave a game away that as well in hand, where as the Canucks got very lucky to win against a team playing poorly for the majority of the game
Definitely reminds me a lot of G2 against LA. Credit to the opponents, but the Oilers looked near determined for most of the game to lose it.
Agreed. It would have been wonderful, but it never seemed realistic to me that they’d take both in Vancouver. When we had the 3-goal lead I was already thinking how likely it would be for Van to rebound and take game 2. Now the table is set for us to do just that, then head home with a little wind in our sails.
There are calls to put in BOTH Broberg and Stecher in place of Nurse/Ceci (although most calls are just to replace Ceci with Stecher).
There are calls to start Cal Pickard (and some for Jack Campbell).
I’ve read that Holland should be fired on the spot.
I’ve ready that the head coach is over his head.
——————–
My goodness, its one game. Have we all not learned what one single playoffs game ever means?
Absolutely nothing.
Remember game 1 against the flames in 2022? Heck.
Bruins got blown out last night after winning the first game – one game means nothing.
Look at Dallas – they have a 3-0 lead and blew it and lost – and they were the higher seeded team at home. Do you think they didn’t have massive issues in that games that are just as big as the issues the Oilers had in their game? Of course they did.
Last night sucked.
Its over.
It means nothing with respect to Friday’s game!
seems like some hyperbole … Start Jack Campbell? not sure where you are reading that. Fire Ken Holland? really?
1 game does mean a lot in a 7 game series. Here’s to hoping they get the W in game 2.
Absolutely. If the Oilers had won 4-1 last night OP and others would be hollering how important Game 1 is….and of course the stats also support how important winning game 1 is.
The wording wasn’t great.
Of course, the game itself matters, alot. What I was getting at is a loss in any single game in the playoffs, be it an even battle in OT, getting blown out, blowing a big lead, whatever, it means absolutely zero as far as the next game goes.
The loss matters, its a seven game series.
It has zero effect on how game 2 will be played (well, except potential injuries consequences).
My man stop looking in the same places and you’ll stop seeing the same things. I do the same thing you do. My wife doesn’t and she has no idea who Cody Ceci is and doesn’t worry about it at all.
A couple of the issues last night have been present in nearly all 6 playoff games.
Indeed, some of the issues, go back for a few playoffs now.
It goes without saying we are definitely not out of it….but the coach may have to look for different options here.
I do expect Campbell will be in net before this series is over. Just a hunch.
I don’t agree with sitting back ever, but it’s possible that was the tactic because of how banged up they are. Which would be a very bad thing
What’s this about the Oilers being banged up? They had 6 days off and I recall only 2 players missed any practices.
Connor hasn’t been like normal for a while. They may be playing through things that have been lingering
I don’t get how Nurse is the problem when 2 of the goals against were Skinner deflecting the puck into his own net. Are the defence supposed to not allow any shots on goal?
No. That’s literally their job to stop opponents from getting shots on goal.
He said any . . . . and the deflection by Skinner on a pass/shot? from behind the net is on Skinner . . . unless you’re pathetically desperate to blame Nurse. While we’re at it lets also blame Israel cause pointing fingers . . . . . .
Huh??
Nurse/Ceci playing like they had money on Vancouver.
When Skinner starts suffering from the bees, just pull him.
Vancouver was far more determined to disrupt Edmonton when they had the puck. Mcleod refusing to engage in physical contact is a free pass and motivator for the opposition. Speed is useless just running around waving your stick, patience beats it. Engage physically, force puck pressure or you’re going to get pieced up when they know to just let you skate on by.
It looks like Drai has some broken ribs or a chest wall muscle strain. Hopefully the latter. Either way, that requires two weeks off. It won’t get better by playing. 60% Drai is not better than 100% Holloway or Macleod. To have a chance against COL/DAL, we will need Drai at 100%.
It was lunacy to see him out there last night trying to play away from the boards so he wouldn’t get hit. Sometimes the doctors have to tell the player no. It’s in the best interests of the team to do so.
The Canucks started targeting him in the third period including when Zadorov cross checked him in the back.
100%. Healthy players play better than very hurt ones. It gives guys a chance to step up. I think that has a very important effect later if they can get by this round. The opposite is also true, if they lose playing hurt guys in key roles
TO won games without Capt Underpants. Hockey goes on
Is this verified or just speculation ?
Either way time for the rest of the team to step up. Even though we didn’t play well last night that game was somehow open for the taking and hope it doesn’t cost us down the road/ Getting 14 shots against a 3rd string goalie and scoring 4 should have been turning on light bulbs on the the bench to “throw everything at the net” but instead managed to blow a lead while trying to sit back trying to protect it.
hope they didn’t look a gift-horse on the mouth
Not a doctor, I don’t know about cramping. A strain maybe, but I hope it’s not muscle spasms because of his back. That can be difficult to resolve in my personal experience. And is easily set off by contact
Could not the cramps have been the internal “bathroom” variety? A stomach bug or something?
Hmmm. They were looking at his back. Perhaps he has an unusually located …
I agree Leon probably shouldn’t have seen the ice. But where do you get broken ribs or a chest wall strain from?
Getting checked or cross checked. Ribs get damaged pretty easily
At the very least, the opposing goalie won’t be in the Oilers’ heads.
The Abbotsford Canucks got booted from the AHL playoffs by the Ontario Reign last night.
That brings up the possibility of Vancouver calling up some Black Aces and there is one intriguing possibility.
Late last week they signed 2022 first round pick Jonathan Lekkerimaki to an ELC.
I wonder if they might try him on Elias Petterson’s wing in an effort to get him going given that Ilya Mikhayev is shooting bagels on the second line.
Podkholzin also a possibility for fourth line duty.
I definitely think the Canucks should do that. Yes please.
I don’t mind the loss. I thought it was coming in game 5 against LA. The oilers went with conservative play in the third with a two goal lead. LA got one, but could have had 5 in the third. Just bad luck for them and great save from Skinner to get the win.
I know everyone is mad at Ceci and Nurse and Skinner and RNH (how can anyone be mad at RNH?), but this strategy for two games in a row with the lead is a coaching error. The team must play the game that got them the lead. The wrong message is being sent in the dressing room/on the bench. The stark change in the way the Oilers played in the third period in game 5 was an obvious coaching strategy at intermission. It’s a cowardly way to play hockey and easy for the opposition to press.
Consider a boxing match. One boxer has won 6 out of 9 rounds on the score card and just has to get through round 10 to win. The boxer goes into round 10 with the idea that he just has to survive the round and the belt is his. He doesn’t have to win the round. So he tries dipping and dodging but quickly finds himself on the ropes. His opposition immediately notices that his opponent has lost his edge so he goes for it. Suddenly attacking is super easy. He doesn’t have to think about his footwork, his balance, or protecting himself from a counter punch because nothing is coming. He doesn’t have to keep his arms close to his body to defend. He can open up and throw powerful haymakers that put him off balance because nothing is coming back. He can go for the knockout and win the match.
It’s ok to make small adjustments with a lead like asking the defenders to not pinch unless it’s an obvious green light play or telling the forwards to not dangle 1v1 in the neutral zone (they shouldn’t be doing this anyway) and to be sure of their passes in the neutral zone. If they feel there is a risk of a turnover on a pass, then dump it in and forecheck to retrieve. But they must continue to try to score. That’s what keeps your opponent honest. It’s what keeps them from taking unnatural pond hockey liberties that allows them to get so many chances.
Play hard from puck drop to the final horn – the same game that got you the lead. That’s clearly not the message the players are getting which I suspect is because of bad strategy or possibly bad delivery.
Nurse and Ceci are not bad defenders. Skinner is not a bad goalie. They are just getting the wrong message and playing passively for critical parts of the game. They were not the only ones. They are just the unlucky ones. There were so many VAN opportunities last night. The score could have been much worse. Skinner made some nice saves.
The Oilers should have lost game 5 and deserved to lose last night. It’s a lesson young coaches have had to learn since the beginning of time. But this is a good moment for that lesson. Early in a series where there is wiggle room for the better team to still win the series.
Turtling for half the game will not work even once against Dallas/Colorado like it did against LA, so if they want to try to go deep, this is the time for the coaching staff to learn this lesson and make the adjustment.
Great points. When you have thoroughbreds, you don’t hook them up to the plow. Doesn’t work, never has
The Oilers’ natural advantage is attacking. It is very gruelling to play a team that keeps coming at you. That should be the goal, while managing the puck well as you said
Teams have styles that endure for some reason. Sometimes it changes, but often not. It does depend on the players you end up with. The Oilers ended up with another generational force of nature. So you do what they did the last time that happened. Which is attack in waves, all of the time
I’m sure the message was to play passively and do not tie up your man at the side of the net.
I believed the Oilers would come out in the third period and play the game in Vancouvers half of the rink, maybe go get some insurance goals to solidify their lead. But that didn’t happen. that’s all that needs to be said. Cut the crap.
So, Nurse and Ceci have been given the wrong message for the last 3 playoff runs?
Just before the start of the playoffs – someone had the temerity to ask where Skinner stood in relation to the titan goalies we would likely face to get to the Cup finals in the west.
Dog Pile ensured of PR talking points about Skinner.
A small very vocal minority have been talking about the Nurse / Ceci paring for a *long time.*
I fought against this myself for a very very long time. Nurse getting roasted by 3rd party NHL analysts has really knocked the PR notes out of me. ( still a Nurse fan)
Decision making. Decision making. Decision making.
Nurse has all the physical tools a man would need to play high level D.
Nurse needs a partner to support him. If he tries to do too much he’s bad. He’s best playing a very meat and potatoes game, using his physical tools to take the puck away and the player out
It’s not unusual per se for most players, but they aren’t usually at the top of the pay scale, making getting that partner much more difficult
but where’s the toolbox? I think that was his draft report, no? He’ll make the NHL easily due to his physical skills, and his theoretical ceiling is #1 d-man, but man it sure seems like the same issues plague him and don’t improve.
It was. I said shortly thereafter….regarding a comp with his draft peer. Josh Morrissey.
Josh Morrisey elite hockey IQ with a fraction of the physical tools of Nurse.
Darnell Nurse elite athlete with size with a fraction of the hockey IQ as Morrisey.
I think Nurse is what he is at this point.
Managements decision not to upgrade Ceci could loom ( as many pointed out ) large here…
Holland blowing the first round pick on Henrique was a strategic error. Henrique is fine, but not much better than younger players we have on the roster. He doesn’t move the needle. That draft capital needed to be used to get a defender.
The deadline deal will be questioned very hard if we fail here.
2RHD was a need
Hey LT,
Your writing never ceases to amaze me. As an Expos fan, I know that pain, especially after 1994 and Blue Monday.
Your words today brought me to an epiphany. I often refer to the Miracle on Manchester and use that as a reference point, and it brings me to depths of sadness and anger, and now I know why. I watched that game in Lac La Biche at my grandparents place. We were there for Easter, making the 12 hour drive from the Fort to be with my grandma who had lost her husband, my dear Mooshum, a mere 3 months earlier. I remember waking up and my mother always tried to extend my childhood a little longer and got me an easter basket and it was awesome. She knew I was disappointed from the game the night before and tried her best to cheer me up. I was miserable and not in the mood for anything except to get home. That’s when it all changed.
A knock on the door from a relative bringing horrible news. My great Uncle Joe had passed in the night due to a heart attack. I remember feeling numb like one does when receiving such news. Whatever disappointment I felt at that moment was filled with sadness for my dad who I saw cry for the first time in my life (I was 13 at the time). It was a moment I’ll never forget even 42 years later.
Just that memory this morning made me realize that I tie these agonizing losses to that day/time. It sounds weird, but I had that epiphany as I rode my bike to work this morning. It hit me so hard that I had to stop and sit on the ground to ground myself. The realization that I really should enjoy these games hit me bigtime. I have followed this team since the days of the Edmonton Gardens and will till I take my last breath. As frustrating as this team is sometimes, they have given me so much over the years, and I need to remind myself of this from time to time. I’ve been fortunate in my life to see Gretzky and McDavid and Stan Weir wear those colours.
Now, here’s hoping for a better result Friday.
Thanks LT, and thanks to all who post here (even the cranky cheeky ones).
Wow, this could be a Lowetide piece (and I think you know how big of a compliment that is).
I said at the start of the playoffs – “Edmonton could lose in the 1st round or they could win the Cup.”
I think last night is the exact reason why. Put up your hand if you were thinking “SWEEP” when it was 4-1 Oilers?
Then they look like the keystone cops and the few weaknesses they have shine like a diamond – questionable 2nd pair, Skinner consistency –
This is just who the Oilers are. LT’s words gave me some reflection and calm; still frustrated though. History is not on the side of teams the collapse and give a game away. Nashville collapsed in Game 4 and it cost them the series against Van.
Anyway, no idea what to expect in Game 2. But hoping and praying for a W !!
Yep. People are trying to dismiss last night -but playoffs are too close casually walk away from a blown 4-1 lead.
We missed a win in the playoffs vs a truly terrible goaltending performance by the Canucks.
( god awful)
If Demko returns – we will be looking back on game1 for a while.
Opportunities missed matter.
RNH shooting wide on a futile goalie not even looking at the puck or the play.
( Sivlov gazing into the right corner oblivious to the play in front of him)
If the goaltending was up to snuff the score might have been much closer and the Oilers would not have been in a position to sit back and feebly protect a lead.
…
Oilers fell to an issue that has plagued them all year. The rope-a-dope. When they’re gifted an easy first period and then the opposition comes out with more will and intensity after the first intermission, the Oilers struggle to match that level.
Vancouver wanted last night\s game more and were rewarded for their determination. Add-in home ice and that Tocchet got the refereeing he wanted and it all adds up to an Oiler loss.
Twenty three minutes without a shot on net. Against a goalie that was struggling. If the puck is in your end that much then eventually your own goalie is going to let in some goofy goals. No one should be off the hook for the result, including the captain who made some questionable plays himself. Picking on single players on a night like that is pointless. Twenty three minutes is shift after shift of passive defense. That’s every player on the roster making mental and emotional mistakes. That’s the coach not rousing his troops.
And maybe they were a little dead-legged from the break and were looking for the easy win. They tend to do that too.
But one game doesn’t matter that much. All they need is a split in Van. Want it more, win the battles, take care of the details and stay out of that damn passive shell.
23 minutes without a shot.
That game ( save for the embarrassing goaltending on both sides) did remind me a lot of our regular season games with Vancouver.
McDavid zero shots in Game 1 of the 2nd round. Unacceptable.
Nurse-Ceci have been caved in for 3 years in the playoffs. Particularly Ceci. 3 years. Unacceptable.
Skinner’s best games came when the Oilers were trying to beat the Kings 1-0. I don’t believe in him as a goalie against the rush. Oilers up 4-1 at the end of the second, bad goal. Like just horrendous. The Garland goal. Horrendous.
I’m convinced these “fluke” goals by the Kings and Dys are actually intentional. I can’t think of another NHL goalie who gives up so many goals off a skate or stick 2 feet from the net.
Janmark on the first line? Hoo boy I hope Henrique is better by Friday.
The Oilers beat the Kings in 5 games and I believe Bouch was the only + d-man. We are getting beat 5v5. Oilers PP absolutely destroyed the Kings and our PK was fire.
Last night, 1 PP, Kozari of course inevitably terrible, no call on the hand pass.
The Athletic had the Oilers at 75% to win the series, and much of that was about our so-called depth. Would be nice if they contributed at some point.
Game 1 only, I realize that, but this reminds me a bit of when the Sharks at long last finally made the Stanley Cup Finals, only to face a Pens team that was so obviously faster than them it was almost embarrassing. Too many slow boots.
Old and slow is the antithesis of Oiler hockey. It hurts the DNA. I dislike watching other teams playing our game better than us
I have this Joe Pavelski tip burned into my memory. Point shot, Pavelski in the mid slot at the edge of the left face-off circle. Puck was going probably about 8 ft wide of the goal, until Pavelski tipped it perfectly back towards the net and top corner. His teammates were asked about it after the game and they kind of shrugged it off as no big deal. Like of course you can have a shot pass 5 feet off the ice and 8 ft wide of the goal, it’s Pavelski, it’s what he does.
That Miller tip is right up there with the best I’ve ever seen. Incredible play by Miller and by Boeser to make that shot pass knowing Miller could pull it off. I keep hearing LT or DNB saying “sometimes you just gotta tip your hat to the other guy.” That tip deserves a tip.
It might have gone out of play a well. It’s nice when it works.
Hopefully they don’t run out of chances. The cupboards are getting bare when it comes to tradable assets available for use to improve the team , so I believe it only gets harder from here. It seems like a tall order if they get through the Canucks. Last year was a missed opportunity.
Ekholm’s post-game comments are grounded and give me hope for the team.
The Oilers were the much better team for most of the game. They played their game and went into the 2nd intermission with a 2-goal lead. Probabalistically they win that game over 90% of the time. Bad timing, bad luck, bad goaltending. No reason to deviate from the structure and the plan that was working.
The Canucks are the inferior team and still have to beat the Oilers three more times. When it’s 2-2 after 4 games, the Pacific Coliseum is going to be awfully tense for game 5.
I certainly would like to beat that inferior team at least once this year…
I’m hoping its more like 4 times…..
I don’t agree with you that the Oilers were the “much better team for most of the gamel. I thought the lead flattered the Oilers as Silvos let in some weak goals.
The Nucks finished higher than the Oilers in the standings and have beat the Oilers all 5 times this season and people are still calling them the inferior team. I hope the Oilers are taking the Canucks more seriously than Oiler fans are.
The Oilers gave up 25 shots and Skinner let in 5 of them. They didn’t lose because Nurse or Ceci. They didn’t lose cause Draisaitl was hurt or McDavid on this rare occasion was invisible. They didn’t lose cause Knoblauch was out coached. They lost because they had a 4-1 lead and Skinner gave up 3 stoppable shots in 5 minutes. I believe he will rebound as he did in the LA series but if he doesn’t and he plays like he did in last years playoffs this will be a short series and we won’t like the end. I know this will not be popular because Skinner is but that’s just how I see it.
I think Stu is good enough, but has some technical issues. That cause the bad GA when they are happening
I also think than when players are talking too much in media and especially about themselves it’s not a good thing. Do it on the ice, save the philosophizing for the summer. It seems to go hand in hand with performance issues
I dunno man, that was an absolute dogshit game by every player except Hyman, Ekholm, and pre-injury Draisaitl. Bad passes by everyone, nobody seeming to use their teammates. Even McDavid lost the puck a couple of times just stick handling. Hopefully it was just rust from the long break. Skinner would love to have some of those back, but he also made some good saves.
Evan Bouchard is in the good group – for me.
Nurse was an absolute disaster last night. I haven’t watched the interviews as I didn’t want to subject myself to more of that, but if he didn’t take responsibility and say he’d do better, that’s seriously weak from a leader on the team.
Skinner has bad nights. It shouldn’t have mattered. 93 had the puck on his stick, a wide open corner and the goalie not looking to make it 5-2. He can’t miss that.
McDavid was nearly invisible for large portions of the game. He needs to lock in.
Kozari tried desperately to get the Canucks back into it and he succeeded. The Oilers should have had at least 4 powerplays, especially when Suter played baseball momentarily.
There’s also zero chance they lose that game if it was at home. Giving up on the division title mattered last night.
Leon will be alright. He was clearly in discomfort but was barely even gritting his teeth. Weird stuff happens.
What I am thinking about most is this – the one trait that all champions have in common is the ability to see when things are going wrong, and instead of just continuing down the path, they pause, refocus, adjust, and get back to winning. The Oilers could have and did not do that last night. They went quietly. No more of that.
Even though the team can score, they really do lack some finishers. Guys that shoot well and like scoring. Like a Bouch for the top 6, or two
Having watched hockey for so long, missing chances that you can score on too often, seems to somehow jinx a game. Maybe it’s reflecting that the players are just not on that game
for fun, anyone do Nurse for Marner? Who says no? Toronto kid. Tough, fast dman. Cost certainty for years. Oilers load up for one more run.
And i get the talent disparity. But seems like a desperate time in Leaf land, and a chance to unload that contract while adding a talented complementary guy who would look amazing beside Draisatl. And also being OK with him walking after the year to free up cap for Draisatl and McDavid extensions.
Leafs could consider it to add snarl and hometown guy on D and free up some cap for them. We add one year of a Talent and let him walk. Cap space is the key. And our left D becomes
Ekholm
Kulak
Broberg
Not for me. He doesn’t score in the playoffs and they don’t need another playmaker
Circle gets square right there.
Did anyone notice Kane last night? Thats your lindholm esque money.
Oilers do it IF they would like to get Nurse’s contract off the books and, as much as Nurse can frustrate the fan-base as is overpaid vis-a-vis the cap, I’m not sure management takes that view (or the leadership group of the team).
Marner would be fine but not at the contract he’s going to demand that kicks in one-season from now. Do it to clear cap space and flip Marner but don’t do it to keep Marner long term.
From the Leaf’s perspective – I truly have no idea what type of positive or negative value Nurse has around the league at his cap hit and term – no idea.
Many GM’s like the big mean guy with some skill. Especially if they can skate. Treliving does I’m pretty sure. But not for Marner. Ideally if you are trading core you are trying to get younger anyway. As in normal younger not Holland younger
The Oilers need to be a possession-heavy team to succeed in these playoffs. When you have the puck, and skaters know where the puck is going to be, everyone’s job is easier. It hides the Nurse/Ceci weakness. It makes Skinner better. The bottom 6 become difference makers.
Possession comes down to the right mentality. Choosing to try a long shot wrap around shortly after zone entry are the types of plays that are making Edmonton spend so much time defending.
If said player held the puck, cycled to the near boards, allowed the 5 man unit to know where the puck is, anticipate where its going, to allow the defense to press opposite end zone exits because he knows f3 is dropping back to cover…
There’s just so much that makes this team better when they have a possession mindset. They did exactly that in January.
The Oilers are freelancing today by comparison because they have a forward group that can score, but it’s diminishing what the weaker links on the back end can do.
I agree. I want to see more guys pushing harder at evens and applying pressure across as much of the game as they can manage
That’s how you break teams down. And keep them out of games as much as possible
Having awful stats behind a lead is a risky proposition. I like our players, but I still am not comfortable with the mix
The only positive I can take is that we have more to give. That game wasn’t close to our “A” game. We were up 4-1 and left off the gas and tried to the turtle shell way too early. All of the sudden we were dumping and only chasing with one forechecker. That third was really bad. Worked against la’s pop gun but van has more(although two goals were so bad and shouldn’t get scored).
I fully expect Skinns to rebound and be more focused next game. Same with the players. Felt like we were thinking we were so much better that we didn’t have to be desperate until we were behind and couldn’t get it back.
Next game will be the telling game. Can we focus on playing to our top level or do we continue to shoot ourselves in the foot?
We have more tools than most. We can play any style of game better than most. The only issue is between the ears.
The only team that can beat us is us. The game was ours to win but we snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.
Learn for the last game. Be better.
That’s funny. I used the exact same phrase “last pop gun offence” when saying the same thing last night to friends, who kept bringing up “well the did that to LA.
Yeah, different monster. I was baffled when they turtled instead of trying to push so early in game. I wanted that goalie run out of net. They should have as well. Stop the presses on those silov shirts.
Only thing I can think is things kimd of tsilspinned with Leon disappearing. Juggling lineup in game takes eye of prize for coaching.
Get the split boys! Keep the spectors who whisper “choke yet?” Out of your mind and get the split.
Hope. Will. Never. Die.
Yup, especially this season. Don’t care what the math says this team finished second in the division after a gaining four points in their first 12 games. They’ve been defying the odds all year!
They can’t win them all. Getting a split would be acceptable for sure
I would have preferred that they had built more depth at C. Yes they got Henrique and Carrick
But Henrique is old, slow, and now hurt, Carrick isn’t very good. They don’t see Nuge as a C it seems, and he isn’t great there anymore. Ideally McLeod should be 4C on a deep team in the playoffs
Hopefully Drai isn’t too bad, and Connor isn’t either. It’s imperative Connor starts doing Connor things throughout the game. Part of the battle is bringing enough pressure consistently to the opponent to wear them down mentally. If you let up momentum swings wrong, and teams think they have a chance
It seems impossible to not be happy with the center depth of a team that has:
McDavid
Drai
Nuge
Henrique
McLeod
Ryan
Carrick
Yes, I know not all of them play center on many nights but they have elite center depth. I know Nuge isn’t a “driver” but I have little doubt he can play a solid 3C with some good linemates.
Holloway/Nuge/Foegele could be a 3rd line and I have little doubt Nuge could be a great 3C in that position.
I agree OP but it seems from how the coaches deploy that it’s paper depth. I like Ryan but he’s slower and small, Carrick is problematic and slow, Henrique is smart but slow. All are older so the full game legs aren’t what they used to be
Nuge is small and not fast, and they don’t leave him at C much, probably because they need him at wing because they don’t have enough quality depth there either top 6, so there is something to that. Still I don’t think they like him at C, it’s been years at LW
So really now with Drai hurting and they still played him and he wasn’t good in the 3rd, they have 3 C they use. Not enough depth with an injury. Not enough depth to play McLeod up, at least yet
To me a summer add (or Holloway) is another top 9 C. Which of course is difficult without removing a 5M player, but it’s important
I agree your line might work, but we’ll see how creative and brave KK is. Nuge would be seeing Pettersson or Lindholm
In writing this I see Canucks have 3 top 6 centres. That’s how I see depth
My prediction was this series was going to seven games and I’m still confident that’s going to be what happens. Vancouver absolutely embarrassed the Oilers throughout the last 30 minutes of the game, and you can bet the Oilers are going to be pushing hard for a much different outcome next game.
Much as I hate to say it, I really have to credit the Canucks, and especially Tocchet. I don’t know what kind of stanzas on papyrus he’s reciting while waving a watch in the dressing room, but he has that team mesmerized to play an unwaveringly patient and dedicated game. And that’s with arguably their best player failing to make much of an impact.
One thing I forgot last night, that this post reminded me of, is that we’re going up against the Dys. No reason to ever take the Yankees of hockey lightly.