How many truly popular goaltenders have the Oilers employed over the years? I’ll say three: Andy Moog, Bill Ranford and Curtis Joseph. After that I can name at least one period of fan upset associated with every goalie in NHL team history. Fans were mad at Grant Fuhr, at Devan Dubnyk, at Mike Smith and on it goes. Stuart Skinner is currently on the hot seat, and yesterday’s game is a fine example of why Edmonton’s fan base is often at odds with the team’s goalie.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM OCTOBER
- At home to: WPG, CHI, CAL, PHI (Expected 3-1-0) (Actual 1-3-0)
- On the road to: NAS, DAL (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 1-1-0)
- At home to: CAR, PIT (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: DET, CBJ, NAS (Expected 2-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- Overall expected result: 7-4-0, 14 points in 11 games
- Actual October results: 2-4-0, four points in six games
- Oilers in 2024-25: 2-4-0, four points in six games
The Oilers are off to a slow start, but the two wins last week and yesterday’s game (it was far closer than the final score) tell us this team is straightening things out. Some of the worry surrounds the best players on the team, but I think we know they will turn it around in short order.
THE NUMBERS
I see the GA from yesterday’s game as a tipped puck (the first one) and some ragged decisions and execution by Edmonton’s skaters. However, many don’t feel that way. Stuart Skinner beat the Dallas Stars with a fine playoff performance one year ago, that counts for a lot in my books. I don’t blame him for the result yesterday.
I think it’s fairly obvious Leon Draisaitl needs to go back to center. Edmonton’s first and fourth line did well in expected goals, but the Nuge and Henrique line are not threats five-on-five.
The top line had eight HD scoring chances, the rest of the team just three. Suspect we’ll see a tweak on the forward lines this week. Zach Hyman is coming on now, I imagine he fills the net soon.
I also saw Troy Stecher with some wobble, don’t know if that means Travis Dermott draws in but we’ll see. To my eye, Ty Emberson has played better in the last while.
CONDORS
I’m loving the four centers down on the farm, my goodness that kind of depth is rare for any organization. I was impressed with all of Lane Pederson, Noah Philp, Jayden Grubbe and James Hamblin last night, and a shout out to Noel Hoefenmayer who seemed to be involved in every play. Condors are more fun to watch this season than a year ago.
COVID
I have Covid. I got it this week, hit me like a hammer Saturday morning and I’m feeling a little better today. Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine. Please take care and exercise caution, it’s flu season and it sucks to be ill.
New for The Athletic: Edmonton Oilers’ young AHL players looking good early in 2024-25 season
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5855181/2024/10/20/edmonton-oilers-2024-minors/
Curtis Joesph is my favorite oiler. I have his autrographed big card on my dresser back from 98. I remember my 1st live oiler game. Dad mentioed the night before he has suprise for me. The next morning, dad suprised me with 2 tickets in the lower bowel of skyreach place i believe. We sat in one of the corner mid section to see the place. Edmonton was up against the Anaheim Mighty Ducks and Edmonton won 5-3. Dad bought me down stairs to the bar and the oilers dressing room door and we waited for the players come out and my face light up like the forth of july when i seen #31 but he made me follow him with a pack of people trying to get his autograph as he was leaving the buildings. To be honest it wast the way i pictured that moment in my mind. I thought i would of been a lot more time to talk as little guy. But oh well. And then we seen ryan Smith and dad had a beer with after the game. Man i miss the old coliseum and im sad Edmonton couldnt have 2 NHL arenas in the city. What a waste of building for other events.
Summarizing!
Akey posted his first multipoint game in many moons with a pair of assists.
Wakely potted his 4th goal of the season.
Nicholl had an assist.
O’Reilly was forbidden soup despite 5 SOG.
Prospecting takes a break until Wodin’s Day.
Malone was also asked about the morale of players on the cusp that are sent to the farm so the team could accrue space. His response was great. He said it made for a competitive environment where whoever was the best on the farm would know they are next up should an injury or demotion take place.
This is the last season of the Skinner experiment
When is the last season of the Oilers d experiment? What season are we on now? 10?
There is an alternate timeline where we have a healthy Klefbom, Larsson, Nurse on the Parayko contract, and Kesselring playing third pair.
Haha. Timewarp.
There has been a huge roster turnover this season, we aren’t a ton of games in, people are still in learning cramps and our d is a “fun” assembly.
I’m sure things on the ice are quite a bit different then last season & playoffs for a goalie to read.
Skinner is dealing with an experiment himself.
To all the minuses?
you gonna pay him a starters contract? Not worth it
Before you ask I sign Hofer in the offseason to an offer sheet
Yeah, no way he should get an extension that starts with an 8/yr. Even if they win he’s an Osgood comparable at best.
he shouldn’t get an extension that starts with a 5 or 6 either
I agree
No he shouldn’t but if the oilers succeed there will be a case for it. I’d move on.
the fans were down on Fuhr after he called us “jerks” but in the end they loved him. IMO Skinner isn’t anywhere near good enough this season, but there aren’t options.
Take care LT, get well soon.
Still delivers a daily blog rain or shine.
Kudos and greatly appreciated!!
Get well LT!
The goaltending has to be better but the reality is that if our PP and top six was cooking like we know they can we would have won that game.
.
If Philp et al are so good why is Ryan still here?
Philp looks like he’s going to be a solid bottom six 2-way NHL center but that does not mean that he doesn’t have anything to gain from some solid AHL time playing top line and in high leverage situations.
He’s only got one year of pro on his resume so far.
I’m not sure why Derek Ryan wasn’t out there for the defensive zone PK faceoff but he’s had a solid start to the year and there is no need to rush Philp who is benefiting from 20 minutes per night.
Too bad they couldn’t put Philp out to take that draw.
Ryan is near 60% on faceoffs this season and was 4 for 6 last night.
Its seems highly unlikely the coach would have put Philp for that faceoff if he was on the roster.
Wakely is the recipient of a nifty pass and he buries it for his 4th goal of the campaign.
Akey has since added a helper.
I think the puck was tipped. I also think the puck could have, and should have, been saved.
No way to know for sure but I don’t think that same puck gets by Jake O. last night, does it?
The ragged decision on that play seems to be on the coach, not putting out the right shot center (even with Nuge being excellent in the draw to that point, it was on his weak-side). Henrique got tangled with the ref on his way out.
I don’t “blame Skinner” for the result but I do state that the difference in tending on the two sides was the main reason for the loss – perhaps that goes to “finishing ability” of the two teams as well.
Skinner did great in round 3 last season – I’m talking about last night’s game.
The Oilers definitely have a finishing problem. Opposing goalies are making saves, sometimes they are making good saves, like on McDavid in the slot on the PP, but they haven’t been making amazing saves because the Oilers aren’t shooting great.
Maybe I’m alone in this but I felt the Oil did a pretty good job back-fore-checking, as did the Stars the first two periods. The back and forth was almost mesmerizing. And the Oilers had so many close ones, the Stars only a few. Skinner didn’t see a lot of shots until the third? I think, like Roli, like many goalies it seems to better for him to face a lot of shots in the beginning to see how the opposition is rolling.. I think that’s part of it all too in regards to the goal tending anyway.
Mike Smith’s performance as an Oiler is very under-rated in my opinion. Oh my, were there ever some ups and downs and some moments, both ways, but, overall, his numbers suggest performance far greater than reputation, in my opinion.
His overall numbers were very solid. However I never felt confident of our goaltending going into a game, even when he was on a hot streak because of the enormous gaffes. Going into the Chicago play-in game 1 “I just knew” he was going to gift them a goal. Of course I didn’t actually know, but sure enough, he did.
Prime Mike Smith was a damn fine Goaltender. If we had that version I would say we have 2 Cups easily in our back pocket
This blog had the most horrible comments about Smith when he was a goalie for Edmonton. Oilers fans don’t like their goalies until they are former goalies.
Guilty.
Two things can be true. Goaltending has not been up to snuff in the first 6 games. And Skinner/Pickard are a solid tandem.
NST has the Oilers near the bottom of the league in Low Danger save % and we’ve seen the effect of timely goals (30secs to go in the second on the PK off a faceoff is one).
I’m a fan of Skinner. He appears to be resilient and has it between the ears to bounce back after a stretch of poor play. No need to run these guys out of town.
Notice lots of criticism o Oilers D and team in general. I agree that our offence has been both lacking and disappointing… but give credit to Ottinger …if not for him Oilers could have easily had 2-3 goals scored. I thought our team totally dominated Dallas for 2 periods holding them to 4 shots half way into the game… that is a sign of excellent team play. The first Dallas goal was the killer both frustrating and deflating the team… it also gave Dallas hope and some momentum… on which they went on to capitalize on. The early plY of Ottinger saved the day… sometimes goalies can steal a game. If Oilers play like they did for the first 40 min they will win more than their share of games.. last few games are a good indicator that they are getting their game together.
I think Skinner’s self-confidence is in the ditch, he can and will recover, but how long will it take? Same with the lack of scoring… it will recover, but when? Patience is not particularly an Oilers’ fan trait, we’re a tough crowd to please.
I think Emberson is coming along. My greatest points of frustration are own zone puck retrieval and his seeming inability to get the puck out over his own blue line. We can already point to two resulting goals (and losses) in those areas.
at best 3rd pair
It’s October 2024.
And we are still pleading to have the now – 14 million dollar Centre – actually play Centre on the 2nd line.
Sure looks like they gave Leon wingers to play with, even.
It makes no sense. Every coach resorts to the same tactics.
So the consensus of a number of professionals in this area all agree on a tactical decision, yet we, the amateurs and fans who are inexperienced in the game day management of a hockey team don’t understand? We should ask what it is that we are missing, not what THEY are missing….
Its very common for coaches to play their elite players with their other elite players – I would suggest its rare not to (PIT being the rare example).
Mostly in the past uniting McDrai seemed to be that was the only thing working to get the team going and competitive.
This time it seems to me that KK has put them together to get them going and once they get the feeling and flow together that will continue separated.
Different motivation with the same solution.
Makes all kinds of sense to switch things up when 0-3-0 with 3 GF, 15 GA.
It worked, too. McDavid and Draisaitl combined on both the tying and winning goals vs. Philly & on the winner at Nashville.
It won’t be forever, i suspect it changes again next game. Knoblauch is the fifth straight coach to use this tactic from time to time. The ability to deploy 97-29 together or separately is a feature not a bug of this team & I for one embrace it.
Agree, having some flex with the roster can and has been a positive and to be able to put McD and Drai together at times is a big postive few other teams can boast about. Makes me think of how we may take home the same groceries yet the dishes will be all different.
for short periods of time only
IMO the biggest thing that this rendition of the Oilers is missing is an extra center, for when they see fit to play Leon & Connor together. Last season they had Ryan MacLeod, along with Nuge, Henrique & Ryan. With Holloway’s departure, who may have been able to replace MacLeod at center, they failed to replace MacLeod. Podkolzin isn’t a center and is a suitable replacement for Holloway. Foegele was replaced with Jeff Skinner & Arvidsson, but MacLeod, a center, wasn’t. It’s not a balanced picture with (Leon-McDavid-Hyman) all together as the top unit. They sure miss good old Ryan MacLeod.
Phillip.
I assume you mean Philp. I agree. Give him some time to marinate and I think he is up to the bigs later this season.
This reads like pining for Robbie Schremp or MAP or Lander.
McLeod is a perimeter player who didn’t have what the team needed when it mattered most.
The way to victory is driving forward, not by watching the rearview mirror.
You obviously miss my point completely. MacLeod had a useful skill set for the Oilers that wasn’t replaced.
For when Drai is with McDavid the Oilers have RNH and Henrique to play centre. Not having Holloway to “potentially” play centre is hardly the problem, or even a problem.
Can never have too many centers.
I missed the game but watched the extended highlights. There were a lot of oilers chances in the first two periods but they rushed/missed on many of them, imo. Nothing really dangerous at the net and Ottenger made some saves but also benefited from some misses and double clutching .
Their offence is coming, hopefully next game they break out.
Brad Malone was on the Oil Stream post-game last night as an analyst. His second time this season. For me, doing a great job.
He went in to quite a bit of detail about some modern changes to PK structures we are seeing and how that is giving the Oilers PP problems and what he thinks needs to happen.
Im walking the dog now so can’t really go back and dictate exactly but much of it has ti do with a lack of pressure on the flanks and forcing a 3 on 3 up top and a 2 on 1 down low and how hard it is to seem against that structure and that is what the Oilers PP continues to try.
The Oil have not adopted this on their PK and they’ve promote pressure on the flanks and up top.
I feel like we should do a “Dogs of Lowetide” day in the comments section one of these days.
Maybe during the Dog Days of December.
If only I could figure out how to post a photo.
Hmmm… I’m on to something here…
The Ugly Days of October? That’s weak and will be accepting alternative suggestions.
The Gales of November.
The Dog Days of December.
Things seem to turn around in January;
January Jam?
February Fight?
March Mania?
April Ascension?
May Mastery?
June Stanley Cup Champions! No rhyme or alliteration, but it still rolls off the tongue.
It’s hard to see during Ugly October, but if you just squint your eyes just right…
We had to put our Dog down last month. I really miss her. She was a good old girl.
I’m so sorry, cowboy bill. Dogs are family.
Thanks. You get well soon.
Sorry to hear that, bill.
I feel for you and can’t even think about being without my little guy.
I like to think of these things in the following way:
You gave that dog a really good life and you should be very happy and proud of that. You did one of the most honorable things a human can do.
June Jubilation, perhaps?
Hey, that’s good.
I like it.
It was a good segment. Bugsy talked about how this opens up a 2v1 downlow. He sees the team running all their sets but not being able to seam any passes through. They are getting long possessions and going through initial reads and changing formations fluidly but the mistakes are in their handles. The pass down to Hyman to get to the 2-1 has been either poor or telegraphed/well read by the D. At the top of the umbrellas we are seeing lots of bobbles by 97 and 2, sometimes they lose possession but more often than not they keep possession but their rhythm is off and it gives the PK time to cut off their next pass. Same on the entries 93 is having little bobbles on the wall before the bank backhand pass to Bouch… he might have to take it to the cooker a couple of times to give himself some more room. It is costing them games at the moment but a drastic change isn’t needed in my opinion, they are historically good and are evolving and learning all the time. Slotting in Skinner might get them to simplify and start taking shots when they are available instead of looking for the ‘one more’ to get a tap in. Video session and practice will be crucial tomorrow (assuming that is when they practice).
He also mentioned teams are collapsing and packing the net at 5v5 too. Allowing them the perimeter and trusting they can block shots. Over the course of a 7 game series this tactic is often used but the cost is high (block shots hurt and can injure) and eventually soft spots are found.
All the fancies on NST are in the right direction for the Oilers… all the counting stats are not. For now.
Thank you.
You are welcome. It’s not perfect dictation more paraphrasing what Bugsybsaod mixed in with what I’ve seen this season.
Sorry you’re not feeling well, hope you get better soon!
Question for anyone watching the Condors the last two nights (I listened to the audio broadcast).
Any sense for how much Philip and Savoie are playing? I heard their names a few times, and maybe it’s just bias, but it seemed like the announcer was saying Cagguila most, and other vets (Wright, Pederson), along w/Kemp the most. There was also a 2nd period PP where Cagguila was out the entire 2 minutes.
What I’m wondering is this. The point of sending Philip down (and Savoie) was to get them playing big minutes. Do we think this is actually happening?
I wasn’t watching for it, but did make a mental note that the Grubbe line was getting far more playing time than the Hamblin line. So, maybe Chaulk was running the hot hand, but there were prospects on the productive lines.
Savoie and Philp are getting first line minutes.
Savoie is on PP1 (the only youngster).
Philp is on the PK but, at least once last night, it was PK3. I did see Philp take at least one defensive zone PK draw.
These two are playing alot.
Was it a mistake not to have Ryan out there for the PK face off? Nuge was dominant all night but the one draw he lost hurt hard.
Nuge was surprisingly good on the draw last night. He was 13/15. Ryan was 4/6.
LOL maybe the puck wasn’t dropped fairly.
I know he was, I mentioned it in my post.
Ryan’s main role on the team is faceoffs and the PK and, well, he wasn’t out there for that PK faceoff on his strong side and Nuge lost it on his weak side.
Was it a mistake?
Bad luck.
or bad decision and bad execution.
Oilers dominate for two periods but a lack of finish (all game started) plus losing the tending battle (connected to the lack of finish) and that was game.
Frustrating but the Oilers played very well though 40 and the current defensive group and structure held very well giving up little though 40.
The tipped PK goal against (tipped but no save – Jake O probably saves that) changed the game, the Oilers pressed and mistakes crept in.
Oilers showed they are indeed a very good team (see first 40) and can dominate and play structured against top teams.
The goals will come.
The Oilers must have you on their payroll by now. 😉
I don’t know what that means but presume its a derogatory type statement.
Is there a substantive response to the post to propagate discussion?
It may have been a double tip, going off the blade of Henrique’s stick as well as the shaft of Nurse’s stick. However, Skinner’s reaction was too slow. I think you’re right; Jake O makes that save.
It went off the toe of Henrique’s stick & right inside the post. The amount of shit Skinner is taking for it is over the top.
Well, I saw it off the shaft of Nurse and you saw it off the blade of Henrique. So, I’ll say it was a double tip. You’re a goalie from way back and you probably make that save too.
End zone view best. Vid on NHL.com, 0:23. Hi res helpful.
https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/dal-vs-edm/2024/10/19/2024020077
Consider if this superspreader Oilers veteran media/blog much should be reported?
Hope LT and Bruce (and the third) all feel better soon.
Thanks, OP. Feeling crappy but not dangerously ill, & surly about missing a concert tonight.
I apologize for David’s (seemingly) lack of empathy or minimizing….
and, edit: that was “superspreader lunch”…..
The defense is measurably worse this year than it was last year. One doesn’t have to be an analytics genius to know the meaning of what one is seeing and experiencing.
Skinner is a fine goaltender when his defense is playing a structured game. We lost three bona fide NHL defensemen in the off-season and got several marginal ones back. How did that make the team better? How did that make things easier for our goaltender?
I am enjoying watching Broberg display his talents in St. Louis–a team that is giving him a real opportunity. Good for him. We really need a player like him on the Oilers. He is cool as a cucumber and knows how to pass or transport the puck out of the defensive zone. He is also showing some offensive upside. Does he still have more points than McDavid?
Broberg was a developed high-end draft pick. He was worth every penny of what he got (though smart management would have signed him in a timely fashion for less), and the Oilers’ management should have pulled their heads out of the cave of willful blindness and recognized what they had in Broberg. It is a crying shame. His loss for “nothing” was an egregious unforced error by management, not to mention an indicator of sheer managerial idiocy and incompetence.
Finally, the penalty kill is now atrocious after we undervalued our best penalty-killers, choosing not to sign one and trading the other. How I miss the huge hugs and giant-like reach of Desharnais on the back-end and MacLeod’s dynamic puck transporting all over the ice. MacLeod stepped on the gas and managed to get the puck out of the defensive zone when all else failed.
I am not sure how they will fix the defense in time for the playoffs. One key injury and the season will be lost. It will also be interesting to see if all the old men up front can survive the rigors of the regular season and stand tall during the playoffs.
Desharnais? The guy who’s -1 and played 3 games this year?
He played a very useful role on the Oilers and is much better than what they have now. His uniqueness and his prowess at penalty-killing made him extra valuable even though he was a third-pairing defenseman.
Woodie liked him. But even Woodie didn’t play him in the playoffs. The Canucks are discovering he may have been overrated.
Up front I miss Kurri with the ability to score in tight or from distance while still being defensively conscious. On the backend it has to be Pronger this man was able to control a game like few other D-men.
There is an “intervening cause” for the current problems with the team. One does not need to go back 30-40 Years.
McLeod-Foegele-Vinny- were all benched at one time or another last Playoff. This core for one reason or another takes 10 games to get their motor humming.
I would note that the defence last night (and the team as a whole) was playing a very structured games last night and dominating through 40 minutes – they were playing a legit SC contender in their rink and gave up almost nothing until Stecher took a poor penalty, Nuge lost a PK faceoff, Henrique got tangled with the linesman and Skinner, well, didn’t make the save.
Things were indeed looser in the 3rd but the group showed something important yesterday afternoon, at least for me.
It was a deflection.
Yes, it was, I have mentioned that in today’s blog.
It was deflected, Skinner didn’t make a save. I think we can all agree that goalies make saves on deflected pucks often.
No way to know for sure but I don’t think that same puck gets by Jake O. last night, does it?
Once they hired Bowman I thought he would upgrade on goaltending as he’s always surrounded himself with not only Crawford but a long list of competent back-ups. I thought I heard a few rumours in the summer about Bowman sniffing around. If Skinner doesn’t turn it around soon I think Bowman will pull the trigger.
Another bad, unnecessary trade would surly put the team on course for a Stanley Cup.
Has Bowman made a bad trade it’s a little early to say. We are so used to losing trades in Oilerville yet Bowman who’s hiring I didn’t like still has me hopeful that the man will get us some W on the trade front. What kind of Goalie say Stu and Savoie fetch us?
I am sorry you have Covid, LT. It is brutal. I am also amazed at how many people go out while they are sick/neglect to get free and effective vaccines. Makes a huge difference.
It is annoying when my family recently went through covid again and the boosters hadn’t been rolled out for whatever reason. We also have a government that unfortunately does not want to push vaccines to the public and we all know why.
As someone with immuno compromised family members, it is very frustrating.
And you are getting thumbed down by the lunatics right now.
My body. My choice.
Interesting level of disregard for a well-established math and stats field (public health) on a mathy/statsy hockey blog.
Can we all not agree to wish LT well, but avoid veering into politics (as per the longest standing of wishes by our gracious host)?
Out of all the comments on this post, this is the most divisive and threatens to derail the day.
Let’s keep it about the good ol’ hockey game. Or BBQ, whiskey, women, song, or demon liquor. Like reasonable folks.
Given that our host still hasn’t posted today, I hope he just feels like crap and not something worse. Get well LT.
Personal gaolie favourites: post Fuhr era:
1. Cutis Joseph
2. Tommy Salo
3. Dwayne Roloson
Honorable mention: i have a Ranford Jersey, and celebrate his cup, but if i am being honest, I don’t actually remember him too well. I was only 8.
And Stu. Taught his brothers and sister, so I am really rooting for him for that reason!
I remember when Billy was the only reason to watch an Oilers game some nights. He’s my tops after 2006 Rolli.
I would take Tommy Salo as our starting Goalkeeper. He could make the hard saves that impacted the final score.
Skinner has not been great but when the team in front of you is averaging less than two goals a game the goalies margin of error is pretty tight.
Take care LT. We had Covid in our house last month and it hit each of us hard. Weeks later and we still,have the “Covid Cough.”
Not loving these Oilers yet. I’d like to see the coach set lines, with McDrai on separate lines and run with them for more than 3 games. The guys need to find some rhythm.
Still need a legitimate 2RD.
I think they use the first 10 games of the season as an extended pre-season.
Every single coach we’ve had in the last decade can’t resist the 97&29 loadup and then it always gets dropped eventually or the coach gets fired.
Team finally gets Draisaitl Actual NHL Wingers and then doesn’t play him with them.
I couldn’t watch yesterday but I read some concern about McDavid’s game. I do wonder about the seasons of long minutes, last season being literally the longest it could possibly be, plus getting married and all the effort that entails, and maybe he’s holding back a bit?
I doubt he’s holding back. He’s either tired or having trouble getting himself ramped up for early season games….or it’s just bad luck
It honestly makes you wonder if the players push for the load up.
At this point, this surely has to be the case.
I read and hear about how the coaches simply “can’t resist” the urge to put them together but I would suggest that its quite rare for a coach not to play his two best offensive players together, right? I know they are both centers, and Crosby/Malkin is the model but I just don’t think its as “inexplicable” as many Oilers fans, bloggers, media seem to.
I like it better apart, for the most part, but playing elite players with other elite players does have some rational behind it, right?
Yes it does, but then the Oilers are missing a #2 centre. RNH and Henrique are not it. Neither are McLeod or Holloway.
Henrique had 31 5 on5 points last season, well within top 6 in the NHL, tied with Pavel Buchnevich, Svechnikov and Sharangovich and more than Krieder, etc.
I said this last week and have been consistent. I think Skinner is a good goalie but no elite. He reminds me of Dan Cloutier for the Canucks years ago. Posts good stats but just doesn’t make the biggest saves at the biggest times.
The Western Conference finals against Oettinger is not the biggest saves at the biggest times?
Skinner pretty much played Bobrovsky even in the Stanley Cup finals. In game 7, the Panthers best players were better than the Oilers best players.
If Skinner was the better goalie in games 1,2,3 and 7 the Oilers would have won the Stanley Cup. That’s a fact.
Im not criticizing Skinner just saying he’s not Elite.
That’s about where I land. Stu is legit and bona fide and all but kinda wish he was our 1B. Which I think had been the plan when they signed Soup. /sighs
If only the $2.6 million goalie had outplayed the $10 million dollar goalie in 7 out of 7 games, eh.
It has nothing to do with $ And no he didn’t have to be the best in all 7. Just 4. And he wasn’t.
Bob was obviously slightly better than Stu in game seven. Goaltenders need to be the best players in game seven of the SCF.
The Oilers lost the finals because McDavid, Draisaitl, and the Oilers best players were outplayed by Florida’s best players at critical moments.
Or maybe they lost because Bob stole game 1 completely and Skinner never stole a game the Oilers didn’t deserve to win.
Or maybe the Oilers lost because Kane couldn’t play.
Or maybe the Oilers lost because Nurse was a shadow of his normal self.
Or maybe the Oilers lost because Bouchard hit the post late.
For the SCF, Skinner had a better GSA, SV% and GSAA than Bobrovski.
Prospectius!
The OHL’ers who got yesterday off will toil anew in matinees.
Who sits tied for the Knights’ lead in points? It’s an Oilers prospect, but not Sam O’Reilly. ‘Tis William Nicholl who has 8 points (4+4) in 8 GP, tied with two others. Meanwhile, New Samwise has 2+3 in 6 GP.
Meanwhile, Akey’s had a slow start to his recovery, putting up a goal in five games. Wakely was likewise skunked last game but has 3+2 in three GP.
London (O’Reilly, Nicholl) @ noon
Barrie (Wakely, Akey) @ noon
Both times are the same time and are also Maidstone* ** time.
*Finally!
**Maidstone heard you weren’t feeling well, LT, and hopes you’ll be better soon. They wonder why you don’t call or write anymore though. Aunt Gertie’s bunion is doing much better now. The twins are all grown up (they grow so fast!) and are selling encyclopediae door-to-door. And old Mr. Reynolds’ peg leg was getting a bit too long so they sawed some of it off. Do write soon!
Haha. That took me back to reading the Maidstone Mirror as a kid. They always had something in the weekly that was NOT news like that. “Arthur and Gladys Maves went to North Battleford on Tuesday, they report icy roads and the Husky out on the highway has a new cook. He’s very good.”
Get well good sir!
Hang in there LT. I think I had covid (didn’t test) about a month ago and felt like crap for a week. It’s still around. Maybe the Oilers all have covid…..