After having nothing rhyme during the first three games of the Stanley Cup final, everything fell into place for the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place on Saturday night. Led by a gorgeous line of Adam Henrique, Mattias Janmark and Connor Brown, and by a ‘new originals’ pairing of Darnell Nurse and Philip Broberg, the Edmonton Oilers hammered the Florida Panthers for eight goals.
The result is a 3-1 deficit and a newfound belief that this thing isn’t over.
I have a story coming up at The Athletic about some of the important happenings last night, some of those happenings should have legs and can be deployed in Game 5.
I think it reasonable to remind everyone that it’s just one game and there’s no room for error now.
It’s also fair to acknowledge the Oilers have played that game before, and have been able to duplicate it for long unbeaten stretches. I thought this series would be one long movie (Fanny & Alexander) but the plot more closely resembles the first (and only) Rocky movie at this time.
From last night, only three skaters (Cody Ceci, Philip Broberg and Derek Ryan) left without at least one scoring point. Dylan Holloway had two goals, Mattias Janmark 1-1-2, Adam Henrique scored and Connor Brown had another strong game. The Nurse-Broberg pairing was impressive, hope we see it again. Stuart Skinner was a rock and an island.
Nurse scored and was 3-0 goals, saving him from that awful outscoring record. I’m glad most of all for Nurse, a man who has bled for the Oilers fans over many years. He is a target due to the contract, but also due to pucks going in the home net too often. Broberg might be the right partner, it sure looks like it from the results in the last two games.
No matter what happens from here, I think it’s safe to say the world got to see these Oilers, the real Oilers, in a Stanley Cup final game. It was glorious. No one can blame you for hoping to see it again, in fact three more times. The dream is alive this morning, due to a fantastic and memorable game. That in itself is a reason to feel very good about the Edmonton Oilers.
New for The Athletic: What the Oilers can learn from Game 4 blowout win over Panthers
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5566831/2024/06/16/oilers-game-4-panthers-stanley-cup/
Riders!
Saw the highlights of the improbable ending and had to stop by just to see if this comment was here, lol.
Jo-Anne is probably cackling with glee in LT’s head too… It is Father’s Day, after all.
I thought the same thing. 🙂
What.A. Finish. Down a starting LG and two starting WR, a crazy interception of a bounce in the dying seconds to set up the winning FG. LOVED EVERY MINUTE. If I’m not mistaken Sayles was the culprit on both busted coverage TDs. If so, sit him down for the rematch. Maybe Father Time has caught up to him and that was why he was released?
First game with the team after joining them a couple weeks ago. Give him another game or two before riding him outta town.
Ajou sure looked good though.
The Spitting Chiclets Twitter (or Ryan Whitney) posted a bunch of short videos from a sky box (suite) at the game yesterday. It looked fairly empty. Was that the former Oiler skybox or did he throw down on that suite himself?
The suite looked empty but I presume its because the majority of the people were out front in the seat area watching the game, no?
It’s the Owners suite. It’s huge. 25k for a game is what they quoted us when my buddys were putting together a bachelor party. An elevator takes you up and you have full bar service. We decided against it because the view is really not all that terrific.
Kane is heading on the road trip with the guys and health for game 5 will be assessed there.
This likely means absolutely nothing as I think there is a chance they’d take him on the trip even if they no with certainty he will not play – not only for “the smokescreen” (whatever advantage they think that gives) but also as a guy that wants to be around the team and the team wants around.
The Brown-Henrique-Janmark line was fantastic it’s too bad this line hasn’t been together all series. This new dynamic line gave me flashbacks of Tremblay-Risebrough-Lambert. All 3 were playing like a dog on a bone this line needs another strong game as they seem to find daylight where our other lines don’t.
A couple of friends texted me today to say Happy Fathers Day. I corrected them and informed them it was “Connor Freaking Brown” Day!
It’s really a euphemism for that line, Holloway, Broberg, Stu, etc, and oh yeah, 8-1!
I’m stoked. Looking forward to the next game, again. I’m hoping for a win, but if these boys step up like they’ve done and still lose, I can’t help but be satisfied.
I don’t want the season to end. Please hockey Gods give us 3 more games plus OT.
Nuge with the game 7 overtime winner!
I’ve been waiting and pushing for this the entire playoffs. Brown and Janmark have been playing like monsters for a while now – add a quality 2-way center in Rico – and you have a line that can chip in offensively and be water tight in their own end. Just hope it’s not too late.
Others (not me) have suggested Nurse-Broberg and you know it just might work.
I’m strangely confident they can still win – no right given history – but there’s an odd character to this team. They learn slowly – but once they “get” something – it’s like the lightbulb goes on and away they go. Seems apt that the last team to win as big as the Oilers did last night in the SCF was the only other team to come back from 3-0. If they win G5 then FLA might have a monster on their hands.
This most recent game had some very interesting developments in deployment and execution:
1.The Oilers have really targetted the 50/50 pucks on the halfboards, finally. Too many fwds think that those pucks come out in your favour and sometimes not (and never improve in how they handle that area, or coaching ignores it). The Fla C plays very tight to the play in the o-zone and retains the ability to pressure up that puck and create outnumbered pressure down low. This cheating opens them up to a jailbreak if you can get that puck by the pinching dman and fire a good skater up the middle to grab that loose puck/area pass. It worked on goals 2-4 last night. I also saw it on the Foegle goal in game 3. This is the right way to deal with their system but they’ve only figured out how to execute it of late. To some extent, the games have been so chaotic that the lack of 5on5 flow has prevented the Oilers from really “figuring it out”.
2.The Oilers aren’t just getting the puck “up” on Bob, they’re shooting very early to prevent him the opportunity to set up his positioning. McDavid’s goal was a great example of it. He very rarely shoots in that slot, he usually comes in just a bit more. Bob wasn’t set to deal with the further away shot and the angle he allowed opened him up to a perfect shot getting by. And that’s exactly what happened. Foegle’s game 3 goal was similar. It’s arguable that Nurse’s tally was too.
The good guys definitely got lucky/fortunate to have Stu make some gamesavers. Obv puck luck has been due to go in the other direction. I just hope they didn’t use up all that pixie dust in game 4. I wonder if Maurice has any adjustments to make or if he just tells his band of clowns just play harder.
I’m just not sure if it’s reasonable to have hope. But a 12% chance isn’t nothing. What was the Oilers’ likelihood to win the 2015 draft lottery?
Other noteworthy point: Nuge with Leon frees up Leon to attempt plays appropriate for a winger that would otherwise be very risky for a C.
If McD can saw off Barkov, the Oilers middle 6 look much better than their middle 6. I’d also take McLeod’s 4th line of Stenlund. Is Oiler depth a thing…?
To me, the big benefit to shooting early on Florida is not just to get in on Bobrovsky, but to get the shot before their D has settled into position and get them chasing rebounds to find chaos in their positioning to exploit. If you go for a slower push taking time trying to set up the perfect play, they get into their positions and can kill the cycle easier.Does this sound reasonable?
Brown player of the series for Edmonton I think.
He’s been fantastic. It’s been mentioned here already but he’s absolutely elite on the PK.
Mattias Pisani for me. Brown has been great though.
As Al pointed out in his article in The Athletic, Bro and Nurse looking great in this series as a pairing, at least 5×5.
27 minutes together, on for four goals for and one goal against.
That said, they’re getting caved in the CF percentage and expected goals.
I looked at NST for yesterday’s game and couldn’t believe my eyes – we lost the CF percentage and won expected goals by only about 0.5 goals. Sometimes xG just doesn’t tell the story.
Nonetheless, it’s true that we gave up a lot of quality chances in the first. Until the 3-1 goal I had an uneasy feeling about the game. Honestly, after the 4-1 goal, Florida kind of seemed to really get away from their game.
I expect that in G5, Florida will play the way they did in the first period last night. This will not be easy.
I think there was a lot of score effects at play last game.
I saw Maurice having a chat with Turtle with about 7 minutes or so left in the third. I wonder if he was telling him to settle down and not risk suspension. Tkachuk and Bennett have been head (or knee) hunting all series. The amount of filth that Florida has gotten away with is infuriating.
“Old time hockey”
“Eddie Shore…..”
“Only the strong survive….”
“The playoffs are a war of attrition….”
“Just target their stars too….”
The trite apologies are incredibly numerous. But I remember, in the recent past, that none of that nonsense occured in the Dallas series and it was still bloody exciting. The underlying implicit assumption in all the above is that somehow that dirty play is necessary for things to be interesting.
Despite his flaws, it’s why players like Kane are a help in the 2nd and 3rd seasons
If he was healthy there would be some banged up D and Tkachuk would be cowering again. Bennett may be in a hospital. T and P play like classic bullies. Bennett is all tough going after Hyman or Connor. Given the score I thought someone tougher should have tried to get Bennett’s attention and changed the situation. Although taking a number and pulling a Messier works
If they get another big lead I don’t think they should take any crap. Be smart and don’t get a third man in or do a suspendable, but someone should take an interference and wipe them out. Or for Bennett sneak a butt end in
Tkachuk has been pretty quiet this series it’s Bennett causing all the chaos. Bennett used to always get a lot of dumb penalties with Calgary enough to wear out his welcome with a few coaches. For one reason or another this prick can do no wrong with Florida. When Nurse had him lined up he was lucky he managed to squirm out of. I would target Bennett get under his skin and egg him on because he’ll do something stupid that will effect the outcome of the game.
Oilers posters are still slagging Florida players. I imagine Florida fans are calling Foegele and Nurse just as filthy for their kneeing penalties.
Personally I can’t stand Tkachuk cause he’s a yapper, but I like Bennet. He plays hard, and he’s a lot more skilled than we give him credit for. I also don’t think Bennet would be too worried about Kane or Carrick, or does no one remember his fight with Nurse a few years ago.
Tkachuk is a ham&egger but he has size and excellent hands. He would be tapping in 50 goals plus Hyman style if we had drafted him. Bennett on the other hand tries to hurt people in the same realm as Matt Cooke and Raffi Torres. Its too bad Kane isn’t up to fixing this prick the way he neutered Kadri.
Bouchard, Broberg, Nurse, Wanner, and Skinner.
Ekholm and Kulak for two more years.
The backend is basically already set up for the Oilers to contend for a long time if McDavid and Draisaitl re-sign
I am slightly concerned about Ekholm’s age. He should be a fine player for his contract, but I’m not sure we can go into each of the next few seasons counting on him to be the foundational piece that he’s been so far.
He’s a perfect stop-gap until Broberg is ready to supplant him on the top pairing.
Definitely needs one more season of seasoning
Agreed, but he will be faded over time.
Curlock brought up the issue of the Kulak Ceci pairing on the road next game.
How do you protect that pairing? Is Desharnais injured or not?
There is no indication that Deharnais is not an available player – well, not that I’ve seen/heard.
I would like to see Carrick back in if Kane is still out but who do you replace him with?
The only forward that could come out (in my opinion) is Perry.
The concern with Kane is the defensive zone and halfboards – he’s poor in those areas even when healthy and, if he’s limited, one lost battle or missed assignment can be everything.
I think the Kane injury is dragging his whole line down and has been for awhile now. Kane has been a warrior all season. I don’t envy K.K and his decision on the roster moves especially a do or die game
Poor is an understatement. That’s where Fla feasts. I’ve been really watching Janmark and Holloway on the halfboards. Janmark is very sneaky and unpredictable in that area. A few games ago I saw Holloway commit 2 errors and on the 3rd attempt he just hammered the dman and cleared the zone. It was a thing of beauty. You just have to be ok with the rough and tumble to be effective there.
Foegle is also very poor in this area. I think the Oilers can only have so many of those wildcards in the lineup.
Good on the halfboards: Janmark, Brown, Nuge
Ok on the halfboards: Hyman, Holloway, Ryan, Perry
Terrible on the halfboards: Foegle, Kane, McLeod (when he plays the wing)
Nobby saying will make a game day decision on Kane. I don’t think he will put him in, but I like how he’s not cutting himself off from any options at this point. Kane has proven the ability to manage his injury over the course of the season and deserves the respect and opportunity from the coach to see if he can do it again. What a warrior he has been this season.
If Kane was healthy this series would not be 3-1 as Bennett needed to be dealt with earlier: I give Nurse all the credit in the world as he had Bennett in Scott Stevens site lines but Bennett spied him at the last second.
If Kane was healthy it would be 3 playoffs ago.
What a game! If nothing else, the Oilers gave the city a great lift.
On one hand, I’m hoping this turns the tide and we complete a comeback for the ages. On the other hand, the cautious part of me remembers when we beat Carolina handily in game 6 but…
Either way, let’s enjoy the moment. So many fans don’t get to experience anything remotely like this
It’s too bad we recieved all our puck luck in 1 game instead of spread out in 4 with this series being knotted up rightfully at 2-2. Florida missed 3-4 wide open nets the boys need to tighten up and finally scoring a P.P goal could start a series changing downpour for the next week in Florida.
Florida’s PK has been good against us and continues to be that way. Our PP has been reduced to McDavid and Bouchard. How often does Draisaitl do anything useful with the puck, or Hyman even see it?
Leon’s hand is obviously still injured. He can’t shoot.
I did feel there was still too much fancy passing on the PP, just need to keep shooting high repeatedly on Bob
The series is 3-1. Florida is up 2-1 in the power wins category. Each team has scored 12 goals.
5v5 Goals – 9-8 EDM.
PP Goals – 1-1. Opportunities 16-13 EDM.
4v4 Goals 1-1.
SH Goals 1-0 EDM.
EN Goals – 2-0 FLA.
EDM Goal scorers: Holloway (2), McLeod (2), Janmark, Foegele, Ekholm, Broberg, Nurse, Henrique, McDavid, RNH
FLA Goal scorers: Rodrigues (3),Tarasenko (2), Luostarinen (EN), Verhaege, Mikkola, Ekblad (EN), Reinhart, Bennett, Barkov
10 different goal scorers, 7 forwards and 3 DMen, for the Oilers. 9 goal scorers for Panthers (7 forwards and 2 DMen), 7 if you take away EN goals.
Money Puck giving Oilers a 12 per cent chance to win it all.
Prior to last nights game, I thought the odds were better than the 5 percent quoted.
Some teams could not come back from 3-0 deficit cause they were being outplayed. A better comparable would be how many teams came back when they statistically should be up 2-1
That’s basically just 50% odds times 3, meaning not much separating these two teams but a few lucky/unlucky bounces
12% is awfully close to 13.5%…
That seems crazy high.
LOL I just got wished a Happy Father’s Day. I forgot all about that.
So, HAPPY FATHERS DAY!!! To all you fathers out there.
Yes Happy Father’s Day Dads!
I’ve got a pile of wood to chop up in the back yard. This will make it more enjoyable.
Carry some water while you’re at it.
Make Dallas Eakins proud.
Having a gunner break the zone early helped with Panthers forecheck as typically both D gave chase.
Ceci is definitely the weak link on defense. I would fade him.
It seemed pretty clear to me ceci got hurt. The Olay where he got puck at their hash marks got caught flat footed looking down at it and took hit. Like no dampen body rigid..skated to corner boards to try and keep in zone then skated directly off ice. Like yiu could feel it hurt him. Then pairings were swapped to reduce his minutes while playing bare minimum with severely bruised ribs.
Not going to be suprised if he’s out next game. That was nasty looking and impressed he finished game.
What an awful flight home this must be for the Panthers.
It’s going to be even more gruesome for them the next time they fly from YEG to Dade county.
I would have time for some runway shenanigans.
The traffic controller has to be an Oiler fan, just make their plane wait on the tarmac a couple hours.
Is that too much to ask?
Breakout – looked to me that if possession was clear, wingers stayed way up high to beat the forecheck, also
pulled their dmen up so they couldn’t pinch.
If no possession wingers came back deep but breakout was through the middle, which can be scary, risky, but also effective.
I second that the refs did a decent job.
poor – game management in third period to even up number of penalties.
good – game management in third to keep power plays going each way and reducing the amount of goon time for kittens
poor – missed dangerous hit from behind on Foegele
good – Kittens have developed a reputation for thuggery and gamesamanship, refs were very well aware and we’re not buying it.
good – review and call on Nurse tripping which looked correct to my eye
good – they looked like they were interested in safety of players.
Another good: they ignored the acting job from Bennett crawling off the ice.
I wish someone would have suggested Broberg on the second pair earlier. So far so good. Can’t believe no one thought of it earlier in the season.
You must have blocked Godot’s posts. Better late than never. Broberg is definitely ready now, even on his off side. An incredibly valuable member of the blueline.
Lots suggested it but they aren’t in the organization.
I was saying last playoffs that a healthy player is more helpful than a very injured one, also that a more talented young player is more helpful than a player with more experience not getting the job done. Glad to see those decisions being made this playoffs
Kane injury messed with K.K deployment. Kane has been carried by his linemates all series. I would consider Carrick next game as Bennett will be heat seeking if the Refs turn a blind eye.
Kane isn’t playing, I’m pretty sure they’ll run the same lineup
Perry can take Bennett on
Perry is in the lineup due to his reputation more than anything IMO. Carrick should be playing he offers more to the lineup whether at center or wing.
I also wonder if we will see Kane back in after some R&R. I mean after all it’s the SCF, if he’s able he’ll play.
I can’t tell if that last sentence is sarcasm or not 😂
I think a few posters missed the implied /s at the end.
If you have read the comments even once during the regular season, you would have noticed a pattern…
Yea I’m surprised how many people missed this.
I wish team wouldn’t have tanked so baddly at start of season so they had luxury of not playing for keeps to get back into contention -> with little room for risk or growth of younger players mistakes..
BUT I’m really glad I’m watching Stanley cup finals hockey, with my team in it.
Pick a lane.
I said it last night, but game five is a spicy meatball. Win game five and doubt officially enters the Panthers dressing room.
It will be the biggest challenge of the playoffs so far.
What an amazing night for fans of good old “Our Team!” and a well deserved one for LT who never fails to keep the faith.
My only quibble is the Rocky franchise catching strays! Of course the first movie is the best, but Rocky II and III are massively entertaining too. And Balboa is a very underrated character study as well.
Where are the Oil on the Rocky timeline? Well they finally got the monkey off their back and beat Apollo Creed last night. Now they face their toughest battle of all, Clubber Lang. Beat Mr T in FLA and their reward is Ivan Drago back home in Game 6.
One of the most underappreciated aspects of the Rocky franchise imo is the relationship between Rocky and Mickey. Here’s a great scene that sets the stage for Rocky’s brawl with Clubber. https://youtu.be/lu7PoQu-IWc?si=JU5wZg3ThnXXAb1_
Just realized that there’s something especially poignant in thinking about Rocky and Mickey today of all days. Mickey is essentially the father Rocky never had and these movies demonstrate that, as in life, father figures and mentors can come to us from unexpected sources, biological or otherwise.
Happy Fathers Days to everyone who is making a difference in the lives of young ones. They need our patience and guidance now more than ever.
If they can pull another one off, does Zito charter a plane again to bring the families? The distraction that comes with it, a large disappointed group for the players to have to deal with? Win it Oilers and put even more pressure on, that’s a no win dilemma for them
Yes he does.
Yup, 100%, and the Oilers would have done the same thing in any game where they have a chance to win Stanley on the road, I’m confident in that.
If they make it to 7 they only do it once
I understand that but I think they would have done it for game 5 as well if it had series winning potential.
Which if the Oilers win 5 and 6 would I think have been a hassle and a distraction. Bringing the circus twice to losses across the continent
I noticed a lot of plays yesterday where Panthers player X came flying in on the forecheck to hammer Oilers player A. Except instead of trying to play the puck like at all, Oilers player A saw that he had support and threw a big reverse hit. Or Oilers player A suddenly stopped and let Panther player X hurl himself into the end boards. Oilers player B would scoop up the afterthought puck and pass it out of the zone with time to make a good, controlled pass.
The Oilers D were doing it all night long. Completely neutered the Panthers forecheck. The only time it didn’t work was when Ceci stood up (I think it was) Lundell at the right half boards and they scored. Other than that, it was clockwork.
I noticed this as well. Bouchard had a beautiful reverse on Ekblad (no idea what Ekblad was doing that deep in the zone as he was alone)
Shout out to Skinner, he was rock solid last night.
If he can carry that forward, we still have a chance
Absolutely. A couple huge stops in the 1st period.
I have to say, the officials did a fabulous job. Sure there were some iffy calls but in two big moments they stepped up.
1. When Bennett laid there and then went down the tunnel it must have been very tempting to keep it as a 5. That was the fourth time a Panther went down the tunnel this series and not once have they missed a shift. The refs went and checked on him at the bench which is wild to me but in the end they didn’t get duped. The NHL must reinforce punishment of action not outcome before this gets out of control.
2. Calling Bennett and Tkachuk both to put them down 5 on 3 was massive because it smashed two preconceptions. Firstly, game management. Don’t give a PP to a team way ahead. And secondly, players get some free ones if a first penalty is called. That would have been so easy to give 2 to 97 or 37 but they showed legit courage. That will absolutely stop those two from doing that again.
Well, the Panthers are still in the lead three games to one. The league would love it to go to seven. Then we will see how fabulous the officiating will be in the decider.
Barkov did miss the rest of the game.
He’s a great little actress.
He has been a shadow of himself since the Draisaitl hit.
Like in the LA series, the refs shut down the BS as it started to escalate. Have to say my faith in the reffing has been restored.
Thank you Edmonton!!! First time back in over 25 years and you did not disappoint. What a gem that game was to be at.
Perfect
Oilers scored so many goals from quick shots / redirects / tips off the rush.
That’s something we hadn’t seen much to date.
Maurice is likely too stubborn to change but if he does, it will mean lightening up on the forecheck to cover better in the NZ which puts us back in LAK territory.
There is a path to glory…
That’s how KK wants them to play. Get up the ice quick so the Panthers don’t have time to collapse
They also used their speed advantage. Have to keep them on their heels with it. Do it again boys!
The quality of the ice had a significant impact on the game and the Oilers ability to move the puck quickly. Oilers changed tactics and stretched the ice better, hit men coming out quickly and got their transition game going. Some of that will be harder to do in Ft. Lauderdale Tuesday (bad ice/puck bouncing), but not impossible and that will be key. Florida will be coming after them.
Just. Win. One. Game.
LT, I’ll remind you that it was Game 4… as such, the Drago “I must break you” quote from Rocky IV seems somewhat fitting with Bobrovsky getting broken last night…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lkhbD9vkfc
A win in Florida seems at least possible now, although much more difficult than this one to be sure. I would actually rather it be a close one because if it it’s not that team will be trying to injure Oilers as much as possible.
Yes I would like a win in control but not another spanking
I would 100% be okay with 3 more spankings.
Skin that cat.
There’s Cat Stevens, and now there’s Cat Skinner the Oilers goaltender in the SCF’s.
Go ahead… skin it.
Skin that smoke wagon and see what happens.
Against a team without sociopaths for sure. It’s just the concern about them attempting to injure, which they do. Down by a goal or two they have to play cleaner
nothing would please me more!
Last night saw Florida trying to goon things up but given the adrenaline flowing through the Oilers lineup I doubt if they seriously noticed anything.
McDavid getting gloved in the face repeatedly by Bennett; followed by McDavid literally laughing in Bennet’s dumbassed face tells the story.
The Oilers best players refusing to be punked is awesome. Bouch is even getting a mean streak
I’m sure Keith and Perry have had some good words about it. Probably Coffey as well, the 80s and 90s were quite nasty
Coffey’s PIM totals from back in the day are eye-popping
I am sure McD laughing at Bennets attempts to rough it must have been enraging to him. It was awesome. I am pretty sure that there are no more blowouts, but i would welcome the oulers chasing bob again.
Things typically clean up later in series. Less to worry about on dirty play when the takes are so much higher.
Just when I thought I was out…they pull me back in!
Are you from Vancouver? 😀
I used to live in Vancouver. Does that help?
Heh heh only kidding
No.
You still have that rotten fish smell on you.
It doesn’t go away.
Just like them Calgary cowpokes always smell like someone pissed on a campfire.
I think an underrated part of how this is playing out is Florida having to drag their family members across the continent. There was a lot of Panthers family members in the crowd last night with lots of little kids and I can tell you they weren’t comfortable in that environment. The last thing they want to do is come back here for game 6. All the pressure is on Florida for game 5
I think you’re right, but I hope the Oilers don’t lose too much desperation
Game seven is in Florida. Panther Family members coming to Edmonton was bulletin board material.
With respect, I don’t agree at all.
I would suggest that players (and coaches, and management) on both teams want their families there when they win the Stanley Cup and Rob Brown did say that he believes the Oilers would have done the exact same thing if the situation was reversed.
Bennetts clubbed baby seal crawl was the most pathetic thing I’ve ever seen during a cup final.
Outrageous non call on the face plant into the glass on the second Oil goal setting up the Turtle Pointer moment.
The Boys are in uncharted territory now with that record breaking win down 3-0.
Game 5 will be interesting with what happened to the Panthers last year, they will amp it up to 11.
I hope the officials have felt played and start handing out some embellishment calls
The show he made going down the tunnel. That was just sad. Looking back to see if they actually gave 5 minutes. The whole act was laughable. I think the officials have finally caught on. They probably saw the reverse angle of the Foegle hit that showed that there was no knee on knee contact. If that’s coached, Maurice is pathetic.
What an awesome night. Perhaps the best ever in my 30 years of fandom.
lined up at 1:15 for Shania – was stunned at the size of the line when I got there, continued to grow by literal city blocks. Had the best spot in line, three guys in front of me with Shania shirts on, a speaker blasting her best songs, and a couple of cold ones.
Fast forward to Shania, playing to 10,000 of us crazy Edmontonians in downtown Edmonton, a scene right out of everyone’s dreams when this downtown arena project started.
Then the game… wow. Oilers simply wouldn’t be denied. Too special of a day in Edmonton, as LT said, they needed to show the world what this team and what this city is all about. Statement made.
Post game, standing on a concrete pillar in front of the Gretzky statue, with Super Fan Magoo on the concrete pillar next to us, cheering for an hour, high fiving a never ending wave of Oilers fans. Cars honking up and down 104th and then Jasper for what felt like two hours after the game.
That is why you endure all the hard times, because those good times can give you some of the best days of your life. Incredible job, Edmonton. Incredible.
Id like to eat a heaping serving of crow. Broberg, having Ceci play above broberg for the past 106 games of whatever should be a fire-able offense.
Let Knoblauch know he’s done then. But I doubt that will be a popular decision.
Knoblauch had not accumulated enough power to override the NHL Guide and Record Book Man. It is really hard for a rookie coach coming from outside to say I want the guy who he literally has never seen play live before.
Holland is very good at getting a team to the Hillary step, but relies too much on chance to get the team to the absolute top.
You’re inventing narratives for your own convenience, good sir.
Roster is the coach. Everywhere. Holland left Broberg up in Edmonton plenty long for KK to try him out and every single game KK refused to test drive him. It reached the point where the public was complaining and the GM was forced to move him to Bako so the kid could see some game time. That likely happened after a conversation where KK advised why he wasn’t playing him.
Nor is there anything in committee man Holland’s C.V. that suggests he is a micro-manager. It’s simply invention on your part.
And now we have the org saying Broberg’s a different player since he came back, which, it seems, proves Knoblauch correct and you wrong. Now there’s no alternative universe available to settle that dispute definitively, but the coaches, the GM, the players stand in opposition to your season-long narrative.
There are no guarantees in life and sports, but I give full props to the coaches for making decisions and going with their instincts and observations. They are fighting as hard as the team
Also for giving players full opportunities, but making the call when they don’t think a player can perform well enough or are too injured. Huge change from last go round
That was such an important game. Even if they lose in 5 or 6 that game will alter the entire narrative of this run in the history books.
A sweep on home ice in the scf would have stung immensely.
Agreed. As LT said they showed what they are finally
I hope Brown and Jamark aren’t pricing themselves above $1MM max contracts….
Those are the two UFA forwards to bring back (Henrique seems like an unaffodable luxury unless he’s willing to take a discount to market at $3MM or less, and for a short term).
Hoping Kane gets traded or spends the year on LTIR to clear up some room for Henrique…that guy is a gamer
Spending the year on LTIR doesn’t seem like a reasonable way forward. I guess he could be traded but he’s got a full NMC right now and it wouldn’t be an easy trade even without trade protection.
Good points. The next GM has to not do the killer ‘good playoffs’ overpay. It rarely works out, have to pay based on reg season norms and usage
And needs to leverage being on a team like this. Henrique doesn’t need money if career earnings of almost 50M US can get him by, and being a Canadian hopefully values another shot at a Cup more than a few million more
You could easily argue chasing money and retiring in obscurity may cost him more than going out on a great team and future ability to earn money, a bump to his legacy rep
I don’t see any player increasing their value with a good playoffs only to give it away to play in Edmonton. Above several commentators are figuring out how to dump Kane and Ceci.
You might win here, but the fandom’s passion and weather means the GM has to pay a premium.
It’s changed. Players are choosing Edmonton, first bcs Connor, second because they win now
Weather maybe, but many US cities as many people here have said are not nice places to live, or cheaper even anymore. That could be why we have so many Canadians on the team as well
As for money, I think it depends where you are career wise and what your goals are. Vinny should go for a bigger contract because he’s late to the party and has no bank
Henrique is wealthy, older with not a lot of years left in the league, and may value another shot at the Cup more than another million or two. Not everyone is all about more money
None of this is wrong but I would note:
1) I don’t really see free agents coming to Edmonton on a discount – the Oilers are likely no longer right at the top of the “least desirable places to play” but I don’t think they are at the top of the opposite list either.
2) I agree, a guy like Henrique MAY take a bit less to stay with the Oilers but that its a different story when asking a player to take like $1.5MM-$2MM less per season and that’s what it might take to fit Henrique in vis-a-vis what the market may set for him.
Win the cup and all three will want to come back. That is what they’re here for.
Speculative, perhaps but speculative for sure.
If either are offered $1MM by the Oilers but $1.75MM by another org, and there is a no-zero chance of that type of scenario, we don’t know that isn’t something worth moving for to either of these players.
Speculative to be repeat cup winners. Let’s do it again.
Reading the comments with La Bamba going off in my head.
If nothing else, the boys gave us one heck of a night, a couple days of hope and good feelings and something positive going in to the summers.
Even though the Oilers were the vastly better team in game 1, and arguable the better team in game 3, getting swept would have been tough to take heading in to the summer.
No matter what happens on Tuesday and/or Friday and/or Sunday, I know the Oilers are somewhat “unlucky” to not be at least tied in the series right now and I can even argue they COULD be up 3-1.
Could and should doesn’t matter and we are where and, while the Oilers are not likely to win the cup, I think they are every bit as good as the Florida Panthers, in different ways, of course.
Love this team.
Proud of this team!
I thought they were better before the game but not performing as well as they can, for whatever reasons
Or some players weren’t doing enough. As you said the odds are against them, but they can win 3 as we know, and I’m pretty sure winning the next game will seriously rattle the Panthers. Especially Tkachuk who will have seen it before
I was there too. Pure elation is the only way I can describe it. From before game vibes to the first beautiful goal to the walk down the street after. Tkachuk family was sitting in the row behind me. I said to them before the game, in passing, that I hope they enjoyed their stay in Edmonton because they were going to go home disappointed. Prophetic, I’d say. I didn’t see them after second period intermission. Holloways parents were also right behind me and we celebrated mightily at the end. I think our Oilers have more in store but the next game is going to be toughest of all.
One game at a time.
As McDavid said… this team refuses to make it easy. Been proving that quite literally all season long.
That’s Connor Freaking Brown LT!
🙂
That was a super heads up play on his assist, keeping his feet moving and thinking. Exactly what was needed
We fans differ not from the team we all cheer for, we all want, crave and hope for it all. The Stanley Cup.
What a ride this season has been.
up, down, win and lose.
I am content, even if it ends with the Oilers falling short of their ultimate goal.
Watching the fans in and outside of the arena, it’s what it’s all about.
I can’t and will not look at it as a failure if they don’t win.
So here’s to Harold! (They won a game buddy!) The memories of friends no longer here to revel in the wins(JJ) and to those still holding onto the hope of seeing it all transpire again… thank you all so much for these memories.
GO OILERS GO!
I was there. It was insane. What an experience.
You’re buying tickets for 6 right? You have to go now you must be the charm! Prefonmich too
It was great to see Pisani enjoying it all too. I was at game six of 2006 finals and what a show that was! Pisani and Hemsky and Smyth were next level.
Whitney and Lubo there too. I was sat just below Messier and PK. PK was ecstatic when Nurse scored. They were chatting with fans all the time.
The entire Spittin Chicklets crew was there – and they seemed to be having themselves a night….. I’m sure they have many nights, mind you.
I was also at that game 6 in 2006 and, yes, I will be at this game 6 as well!
I hope those darn cats get dragged back to Edmonton.
The cat came back
Loved Connor saying “drag them back to Edmonton”.
Seeing Pisani there only added to such a memorable night.
What a glorious game. Watched it with old friends from our UofA days who also live in Ottawa now.
so many high fives on the night.
Janmark is a beauty. Holloway is pretty ok too.
We believe.
“We believe.”
Yup