Game 2, Stanley Cup final: Oilers at Panthers

by Lowetide

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General McDavid

Love the leadership shown by Connor and Leon in the postgame interviews.

Gotta stick with the boys. Hopefully they can beat the odds.

If they don’t, their best shot to win next year is Nurse on LTIR at the trade deadline ala Mark Stone.

Chelios is a Dinosaur

This is just gladiator tennis. Time now to hold serve.

winston

is it possible the very long break is putting the oilers out of sync, like it has in the past? Here’s hoping for better outcome for the next home games.

Chelios is a Dinosaur

Doesn’t seem like Bouchard is catching as much flak for that horrendous giveaway as I was expecting. He giveth more than he taketh but when you’re in the SCF that’s simply not good enough. Not good enough to win by a mile. Timing. Bad. Too many times a simple and effective play wasn’t made due to the Panther forecheck but Bouch had air and time and it was another brain fart. October shit.

But regardless of that play they had no business winning that game. I am going to choose to remain positive and hopeful however not out if some pollyannaish delusion, but because it’s been a successful method all year and I find it completely “to script” that this particular squad would hit their kink and make it absolutely as hard on themselves as need be. I am not saying they will win, I’m saying giving up on them in similar scenarios has been a losing wager all season.

2 at home, one at a time. Things change fast in the playoffs. Edmonton to my eye is a second off the play, all over the ice. No more second guessing, no more deferring. Desperado mode engaged. There’s more story to tell here.

Lewis Grant

I think Bouchard is avoiding flak because 1) the Oilers wouldn’t be here without Bouchard, and 2) the Oilers didn’t deserve to win that game anyways.

Coffey “unlocking” Bouchard means that with the amazing good you also get the occasional bad. The same was very true of Coffey himself. In 1983-84, he scored 40 goals and 126 points, and still lost the Norris to Rod Langway, whom he had outscored by 96 points.

Rafa Nadal

He played 30 minutes in regulation. He picked up Nurse’s minutes and got tired. It happens.

SayItAin'tSo, Gretz, SayItAin'tSo!

Final thing

That was one mighty curious game from the stripes. The differences between the Bennett and Foegele calls was eyebrow raising. And the vitriol here from some was bizarre.

Forsling, all over Hyman as he blows by him. Nada.

Then the two on Bouchard of the soft variety to put it nicely… the makeup call on Turtle which was very weak, the non call on Turtle’s between McDavids legs tap on the hands on a breakaway.

The totally blown puck over glass on a 5v4.

A high hit on Broberg is nothing, but Barkov goes down and a ref huddle after both refs starred right at it and didn’t raise their arms, results 60 seconds later in… roughing?

Fugly night for Hebert and Rooney. Bizarre calls all night long.

Last edited 4 months ago by SayItAin'tSo, Gretz, SayItAin'tSo!
SayItAin'tSo, Gretz, SayItAin'tSo!

On the 3rd goal Kulak really takes himself out of the play going after Bouchard’s missed check. Sure you don’t want Bouchard to miss that guy but there’s no danger right away. Kulak has the pass to Rodrigues covered and Jamark has back pressure, why does Kulak cut over and try to tie up Bouchard’s check? There’s no danger there? He’s got the angle right and everything to start but checked down so aggressively.

Earlier in the 2nd there was a similar play on another kill. Ekholm loses a board battle and Vinny dives right into the corner to try and pickup the check and leaves Bennett all alone in front.

They weren’t being this aggressive against Dallas or Vancouver but it’s been a thing the first two games in this series.

Rocking chair defense gents. Let them come to you. Don’t go chasing. Don’t make
it easy.

jtblack

I had the Oilers odds to win at about 15% …

TSN said teams down 2-0 in the final have a 9% chance ….

SayItAin'tSo, Gretz, SayItAin'tSo!

It’ll be fun to watch Sportsnet ask Bieksa what it’s like to blow 92% odds eh?

gogliano

One of the reasons teams down 0-2 rarely win is because the better team is more likely to be the team up by two.

I don’t think that holds here — I still think we’re the better team. This team has some Pitt/Bos in them.

Game 1 was all downhill. Game 2 Florida played the better game, but we were down two players early, including a d-man.

Still a big hill to climb. But it’s far from over either.

jtblack

you can post after game 5

SoCaloil

2011 Canuck won two straight away,
They were celebrating like they won the cup.
So was the entire city of Vancouver.
I was lucky enough to be there for a conference.
Beautiful place to be in June.

Went to Game 7 and we all know who won that year.

Go Oilers Go

Last edited 4 months ago by SoCaloil
Admiral Ackbar

I lived in Van and loved every min of that game 7, if only to stick it to Canuck’s fans. They’re worse than a thousand Marchands. Gazdic hit the nail on the head when he was on ON.

Rafa Nadal

Pain. Florida’s 5v5 defence is absolutely perfect, I hate it. All of their top players and depth players don’t make any mistakes.

Gi JQE

Disappointed.

But some of the knee jerk reactions from fans are surprizing to me.

Yes. Odds are agaisnt us. But this whole “skinner isnt good enough”???
He stole game 6 agaisnt dallas. Just 2 games ago. He was fine both of these games.

The Florida net has harsh dings in the posts…

My take. Stick to the plan. Maybe we can’t climb back. But maybe we can?

Ive been telling myself to enjoy the ride. Thats my mentality. Win or lose. If we lose. Its still a great ride. Obviously i want to see the win, but I’m not sure the harshness on our boys is warranted.

Maybe its an Oilers fan thing. But do we never give credit to the opposition? There was a ton of plays tonight that i just said… “wow. That is a great play by ____”. Ekblads stick twice on one shift. Is Draisaitl trash? Or did Aaron make a fantastic read and play?

I believe we have a hard time against Maurice systems… wpg years back. And feels similar. Elite tender and solid system. Need KK to find some ways to beat it.

And the boys might have Bobrovski in their head. Trying to shoot too hard for corners so missing and hitting iron..

jtblack

That was a ramble …… Playing a team in the Final, exposes any weaknesses. Edm is being exposed. and that is zero disrespect to Edm. Fla is ready to roll, has experience, great coach and Elite goalie…

25% chance now

SayItAin'tSo, Gretz, SayItAin'tSo!

Keep pitching that towel in lol.

Been doing it since November. No
point changing now.

Gi JQE

Must be rough being so negative

But as long as it works for you!

GB&Q

Let’s make it a homer series.

813.52Ran

That’s good until it isn’t.

jtblack

there was 1 Oiler who was a plus. McDavid.

As always he needs help. Challenge is we are not playing the Ducks in Feb. Someone other than McD needs to hit the scoreboard. Janmark. Holloway. Drai. Somebody

Sierra

Ducks in Feb. come on. How about Stars in June. Or Canucks in May….

Boil-in-the-Oil

It’s hard to understand why Leon is so frustratingly stubborn… with the puck on his stick, under heavy or mounting pressure, easy outs available, and he refuses to pass the puck to get out of trouble, inevitably resulting in lost possession.

Scungilli Slushy

Don’t fuss anyone

Just sit back and enjoy this moment. After all it may not come again

Admiral Ackbar

This. All day long. It’s wonderful seeing my team on hockey’s biggest stage.

Gi JQE

Totally.

813.52Ran

Being a sports fan and critiqueing is part of the enjoyment.

McSorley33

I have no idea what happened to our best forwards tonight…but the *reality* is they were terrible and we are down 0-2 as a result.

Labeling posters as defeatists or doomers misses the objective reality of our situation and why we are here.

edoil1

It seemed the whole team was nervous,out of sorts never got level.

oilblue99

They’re not out there against pylons. And they’re not perfect. I get that it’s frustrating they’re down 2-0, but they aren’t terrible.

Reality is the series is not over. Big hill, but not over.

Funnybird

This is a resilient team that has the Wayne Gretzky of hockey plus the Scottie Pippen of hockey. Far from over!

Brogan Rafferty's Uncle Steve

I am not being doom and gloom but reality is it’s near impossible to come back from 2-0 in the finals, especially with key injuries.

Obviously never bet against McDavid but this is a mountain. Can the Oilers climb two in one season?

McSorley33

It’s reality…..surprising who is objecting to this harsh truth.

It is what it is….

OriginalPouzar

Gully and the boys will come up with some plays to counter-act what the Panthers are doing on the PK

Darryl8843

What would he have learned tonight that he didn’t learn game 1?

rich tm

I think coming home will help as the ice is much better and allows for some of the cross seem passes to get thru (and move faster to it’s intended destination).

oilblue99

Um, Oiler PP was dangerous in game 1. Lots of scoring chances and shots generated. Obviously didn’t score, but if was dangerous. Zero PP awarded in the 3rd in game 1

Florida adjusted for game 2. Oilers will adjust for game 3.

Lewis Grant

The last Oiler PP was dynamite. It was a relief to see, and hopefully a sign of things to come.

Hopefully the PK finally having the dam burst isn’t a sign of things to come.

winston

Does Pickard get next game?

Darryl8843

Why not? It wouldn’t bother me. He’s a .910 goalie. That will win game 3

winston

Agree. Feels like Skinner is unable to steal us a game in the finals.

Bruce McCurdy

Yeah, if only he had held Florida to -1 goal in the opener, Oilers woulda won.

Kraz

Different Sport but in my recent memory there has been a series with similar stakes that I hope this series resembles. And that is the 2021 nba championship. Phoenix suns the more balanced team take a 2-0 series lead at home. Then the Milwaukee bucks led by arguably the best player in the world storm back and win the series 4-2 cementing Giannis as one of the best ever.

knighttown

I’m still quite confused on the process that went into the Leon penalty. There was contact, Barkov went down and no penalty was caused. We the had the puck for a few moments. And the pin the whistle blew. Is that whistle for an injury? There was again no penalty called in the moment. So then they talk about it and call a roughing.

I’m not saying it’s a bad call technically. But since when have you been able to go talk to your friends 10 seconds after a whistle about a random roughing penalty ? Obviously it happens for high sticks or puck over glass. Can you let the play run for 30 seconds and the go talk about a trip you might have missed?

jtblack

you can let play run for 2 minutes then review an offside

godot10

The linesmen cannot give input to the referees until the next stoppage in play.

Darryl8843

I’ve literally never seen a minor penalty called after the whistle. Major yes. Minor never

Bruce McCurdy

My understanding is that other than technical fouls like too many men or puck over glass, the linesmen only have input on 4- or 5-minute calls, not minor penalties. Would be interested to hear an explanation of that call, but the chances of that happening are pretty much mathematical zero.

SoCaloil

My only reasoning is that his skates left the ice and there was contact to the head.

It was a weak call, but then again, the Bouchard love tap was worse

Admiral Ackbar

Next game I think Kane sits, Hollywood and Foegle with Leon, Henrique, McLeod, Perry.

If Nurse can’t go, he can’t go. who’s next up? Ceci? At least he’s an NHL dman. You’ve got 3 RD and 3 LD there. Stu had a good half game. Not sure how much I fault him on any of them but Bob makes those stops.

They sure didn’t get much a sniff tonight outside of a hacked and slashed breakaway chance. Their Dmen aren’t elite. Their Fwds aren’t elite outside of Barkov. This is a system. Systems can be analyzed and beaten. KK has his work cut out for him.

Is Fla just that much better than the Oilers? I doubt it.

Last edited 4 months ago by Admiral Ackbar
striker

comment image

jtblack

I am old enough to have watched 2006. Edm blew a 3-0 lead in game 1. They played better as the series went on, but many of the players have said that was the critical loss.

I think Game 1 was a critical loss. Had to have that game.

Hope they win game 3 to make it a series. REALITY is it will be very very difficult to beat the Panthers 4 of next 5.

Last edited 4 months ago by jtblack
oilblue99

Game 1 in ‘06 was critical because they lost Roloson. This team can come back.

Won’t be easy, but it’s one game at a time. Oilers of the 90s came back twice from 3-1 series deficits, against superior opponents (Dallas and Colorado). If those Oilers teams were capable, this Oilers team can win the next and go from there.

jtblack

they can always win. I am a fan. but the odds now are prob 15% at best??

SayItAin'tSo, Gretz, SayItAin'tSo!

Your arm must be tired from tossing in those towels all year lol. Like seriously how many times have you given up this season?

Go for a walk, have a shot and then watch some McDavid playoff clips. You’ll feel better.

Paulie

9% according to ESPN+ broadcast in SCF history

McSorley33

Yep….played with a bit of fire in the previous series or two.

Scungilli Slushy

LT said 7

I put my brain there

But my hockey sense says it’s over now. I don’t like the player mix

Breaks my heart

edoil1

Yes,after watching hockey for 50 years,when you see a team dominate and get nothing,game 1, you know they are in trouble later.Momentum is so important and we never have had any after that,hopefully we can somehow regain it.

Kraz

between the two games I thought the Oilers deserved one. Sucks but this is far from over. This is where the great players separate themselves. Going to be hard but is possible. McDavid is going have to take over a game.

jtblack

that’s the problem. I think Edm needs something from their depth. 1 or 2 goals. and when I day depth, I mean Leon’s line when he is not with McD.

They need something from someone other than 97

Kraz

I agree but unfortunately this is how our team is built. Top end players get all the offensive opportunities and rest of the roster is tasked with PKing and not getting scored on.

striker

I understand the idea of reuniting McDavid and Drai but I wonder if doing it so often leads to the “regular lines” not being able to establish a rhythm. I haven’t checked the stats yet but I wonder how the super line did versus the “regular lines”

I also get, the coach is more likely to do it when their trailing or late in the game.

jtblack

Curtains.

hope we win Game 3 to make it interesting.

Darryl8843

Skinner .889. Not why we lost but we will never win with those numbers.

delooper

You’re a broken record. No matter what happens in the game, it’s always Skinner’s fault.

Darryl8843

You’re right. .800’s will never ever win a cup.

dangilitis

It is true that if Skinner is >.890 these playoffs the Oilers have lost just once. That isn’t hard to ask for. That being said, that wouldn’t have cut it for game 1 or 2

SayItAin'tSo, Gretz, SayItAin'tSo!

Im sure this place will be nice and balanced lol.

Im sure the same posters who got off doom posting in the last three series won’t do that again tonight and tomorrow.

Two thoyghts

1) more shots on them first period PPs. Too much passing not enough shots.

2) not sure where the super aggressive help option is coming from with the defense. Why the did Kulak abandon the front of the net to chase that Cat into the corner on the 3rd? Weird play from a very calm Dman.

Admiral Ackbar

They’re definitely rattled. The shift to Etown will be a needed reset. Definitely trying to pass the puck into the net here and then getting frustrated when they get a stick in the way.

They had a lot of trouble with the general chaos with which Fla plays with. They looked completely sandbagged by a dman jumping into the rush, all the penalties not getting called, and the lack of space. That, to me, is a coaching affaire. KK needs to get on the video and adjust. It’s not over.

SayItAin'tSo, Gretz, SayItAin'tSo!

Meh one game. Shake it off.

The idiotic call on Foegele kicked off a crap storm. Injury to Nurse didn’t help and Vinny isn’t good enough to pick up that kind of slack. Shake it off

The hockey gods punished Coach K for benching Ceci. Prove me wrong 😉

striker

Knob needs to put in some work. I think he will.

McSorley33

…..

Last edited 4 months ago by McSorley33
Bruce McCurdy

…& then when he got to that guy he hesitated & didn’t disrupt the pass. It’s like he realized hed screwed up & froze.

i

PinkSocks

We forget how good this team is when they have a bad game. Game 3 will be a different team. Against the Dys game 6 and 7 saw a desperate team slap around the Canucks which won all 4 in the regular season. The sky isn’t falling.

danny

Kane gotta sit 💯.
We that forecheck working and he’s incapable due to injury.

Lewis Grant

You gotta think Samwise would give his all.

Why not put him in?

Admiral Ackbar

It feels weird to say it, but Foegle exiting actually really affected McLeod’s line. They needed that forecheck speed. The middle 6 just looked lost out there.

Lewis Grant

Refs were terrible.

But that’s not why we lost the game.

Boil-in-the-Oil

But it may be why we didn’t win. I would bet Connor’s wrists and thighs are hurting tonight, after all the hacks & whacks he took. The missed over the glass call would’ve put us on a 5 vs 3 PP… on and on…

OriginalPouzar

Definitely an uphill battle now but the Oilers can certainly win two games at home.

The Oilers lost two in a row against Dallas. The Oilers won 4 out 5 against Dallas (and LA).

Paulie

Going to take an incredible effort with some key men down to pull this off. 2 stinkers out of the last 3 leads me to think fatigue is catching up to the team.

delooper

Bouchard is usually good with pressure, but Florida is providing just enough to trigger him. Suspect he’ll figure it out and G3 will be a Bouchard classic.

Funnybird

Oilers are dealing with the same fatigue as Florida. Nothing about either game suggests that this series isn’t winnable.

godot10

No. Bouichard is not good under pressure.

OriginalPouzar

I don’t think there is cumulative fatigue tonight, it was the second game after a week break but down a forward and a d-man and most of another forward (Kane) – well there were fumes at the end of this game I think.

delooper

It was a weird game. Florida is the first team that’s caused Edmonton to lose composure, in a long, long time.

Scungilli Slushy

Maybe home ice helps

A shame because they should be able to win this

Connor and Leon have played like shit. That can’t change that much given the help they have. Only a mindset change but they prefer Hero mode

Also Pick next game. Stu is off again

Such a shame, so many wasted years

We will see

Lewis Grant

I thought Connor was one of the only ones who could gain the zone.

Leon, on the other hand…yeah. You wouldn’t know that this is a power forward voted by his peers as best passer in the league.

I guess you never know about injuries this time of year. They might both be playing injured.

If they didn’t go to Picks against Dallas they’re not going to him now. I don’t think Skinner let in any bad goals. You’d like a big save on some of those…but then, Skinner did make some pretty big saves.

Diablo

Skinner kept them in the game for 2 periods. The team in front of him played awful tonight.

OriginalPouzar

They were both awful tonight.

Connor had his legs going but he decisions and puck play were both well short of established levels.

Leon was peak December Leon.

SKOilerFan

The entertainment value in this series is sure lacking. Same was true for the Canucks series

colieo_87

06’down 3-1. We almost did it too! Hope.

Darryl8843

Not sure who was more garbage tonight. The refs or Oilers?
Cup or Bust? Wow what a disappointing game. Thursday will be do or die.

StixMalone

Well maybe try and win 2 at home??? That’s all we can ask…….

JJS

Need more dogs in the fight

McSorley33

Truth bomb alert…..

McSorley33

Barkov

CF% 68
SF% 73

GF 1 / GA 0

Derek

Also day to day with hurt feelings because Leon is a big meanie.

Derek

It’s crazy how teams like Vancouver just keep attacking in waves over and over again and the Oilers just kindve give up if things aren’t going their way.

Damn shame really.

Reja

I hope K.K sounds of on these refs. We get a 5-3 PP at 1-1 we probably win this game.

Admiral Ackbar

If it’s a game of inches… and the tiniest margins, referee errors sure do matter.

McSorley33

How many more PP’s would you want?

Darryl8843

The ones deserved for sure

oilblue99

Puck over from D-zone is automatic penalty. Call it then, like they did the other times Florida flipped it out. But they talked themselves out of a 5-3.

Little consolation it’ll be reviewable next year.

Durag

The rules are quite clear that you can’t review for a penalty until a player has been lying on the ice for at least 20 seconds

giddy

Up there with the worst games we’ve watched all year. Barf.

Diablo

Yup. Gross game. Pathetic effort.

fishman

Very disappointing game. Oilers talked the talk, well you know the rest. Perry not an option any more and Kane looks about 50%. Nurse obviously hurt. If he can’t go next game Ceci back in and Bro to left side? Have to win next two at home and tonight’s performance a downer.

Diablo

They might as well play Gagner. He can’t be any less effective than Kane at this point, who’s done nothing worth writing home about for weeks now.

OriginalPouzar

Thankfully, as we know, how one game is played has zero impact on how the next game is played – we just witnessed that (and have multiple times in the playoffs, almost every game0.

dangilitis

They went down 2-0 to Carolina and we thought we had no chance. Maybe that will be true. Shitty luck in the third when they actually played better and some saves that had to be made

Diablo

You remember we lost that Cup, right?

dangilitis

Game 7 was anyone’s match. Go down 3-0 and it’s over. 2-1 and we have a chance

LMHF#1

But that was because they didn’t win the next 2 at home. They win the series without the brutal game 4 loss.

813.52Ran

Ya. Shitty luck that Bouchard had two brainfarts.

dangilitis

Many reasons why we lost. Skinner wasn’t good enough in the 3rd. Nurse down early. Losing the special teams for the first time in forever. And top 2 lines getting outscored by Evan Rodrigues, to name a few.

Funny Bissonness

I’m pretty sure we need to score more than one goal every two games. I still believe.

Funnybird

yep, need to score goals, just ask Stephane Rodrigues

gogliano

That 5 minute major coupled with the Nurse injury was a big part of the storyline. They’re clearly gassed

Chelios is a Dinosaur

Deserve to lose that one.

Come home and rewrite the narrative on this series. Not over till you lose at home.

striker

I agree. They didn’t deserve that one but if they can recapture their game 1 play at home, they can win. What’s the cliche about holding serve at home again.

The non-call on the puck over glass that would have led to a 5 on 3 was a key point in the game.

Admiral Ackbar

Who’s downvoting this one?

Chelios is a Dinosaur

Probably one of the posters that downvoted me when I said the season wasn’t toast at 2-9-1. Those days were mainly downvotes. What did I learn? Not much point giving up on this team.

OriginalPouzar

I didn’t downvote but its also not true given, you know, the Oilers could win all their home games and lose the series………

striker

He’s not saying its a “true given”. He’s referring to the next two home games. Since he follows that up with “re-writing the narrative”, which would presumably occur, if the series ends up being tied up at 2-2…

Last edited 4 months ago by striker
Chelios is a Dinosaur

Yeah just don’t lose at home and you’ll find yourself in game 7.

danny

Predictable

Crazy Pedestrian

They really needed Ekblad to stay injured

Admiral Ackbar

So many of their guys walked down the track to the dressing room only to not miss a shift. Is that just for the theatre? Bizarre…. Perhaps the Oilers should just stay on the ice and truly sell it.