The Edmonton Oilers may never win another Stanley Cup, but Connor McDavid is a champion every spring. Last night showed the gap between the elite level on this roster and the condemned floor of the current team. Add the lack of depth to a coach who is stubborn on some things and we are here.
THE GA
The first goal LA scored came on the power play, Josh Brown didn’t cover goal mouth and that’s all she wrote. The second GA was on Skinner, he made the first stop but was late for the behind the net bank attempt. He would later make a stunning save on a wraparound try, and if the Oilers won last night we would be talking about it. The third GA I give credit to the Kings, they showed great skill. You’d like Evan Bouchard’s initial pass to be a better one. You’d really like Evan Bouchard to make a better pass on the fourth one. He needs to iron that out of his game. Like now. The fifth goal is on Stuart Skinner, the puck can’t go in from there. I know they were shorthanded but he was not in a good position to stop the shot. Final one is a screen, but considering the heroics of getting the tie, Skinner had to find a way. That’s my opinion on each GA.
THE GF
The first goal involved good work by Evan Bouchard to hold possession and then get it to Connor McDavid. A fab pass by 97 to Leon Draisaitl and that’s all she wrote. Vintage Oilers. Janmark’s goal was the kind of moment every team needs to win a series. An unlikely combination (Janmark, Frederic and Jeff Skinner) got it done. A terrific moment in the game. The third goal was McDavid powering past a defender and then delivering a lovely pass to Corey Perry, who cashed. Jake Walman was key to the next goal, saving the zone and then McDavid to Hyman for another fine goal. The McDavid counter was one of his most electric goals ever. What. A. Player.
THE NUMBERS
The coaching staff chose to dress Josh Brown and then faded him, borrowing from the energy reserves of the five defensmen you see listed here. I’m a Stuart Skinner supporter, but that was a poor game on the big stage and Stan Bowman has no attachment to him. I suspect Skinner’s Edmonton future is uncertain at this time. He needs to deliver, and I’m not sure he keeps the net this spring. That last goal was a killer. You can blame the coach for leaving his top unit out there, you can blame Leon for not having the trailer. I think you also need to ask the goalie to make that save, despite the screen.
A heavy show today on the Lowdown, with your opinions at the forefront. Daniel Nugent-Bowman at The Athletic will be our feature guest, he’ll be on at 12:20 today to talk about Game 1 and what may come. We’ll chat coaching decisions, needed tweaks and more. Plus NBA playoffs, NFL draft and MLB. I’m at Lowetide on twitter, in the comments section here and on the Sports 1440 text line at 1.833.401.1440 directly. We can be heard at sports1440.ca; iHeartRadio, Radioplayer Canada, it’s available post-show on apple and spotify, and we tweet it out on X.
Vasilevskiy, the best goaltender in the world, rocking a 0.625 save percentage. The bum.
Are you intentionally being obtuse?
We all know that 1 game a pattern does not make. Skinners playoff play is a continuation from the regular season
The whole world knows Kane was ready to play game one. Were they gun-shy to introduce both Frederic and Kane. If Frederic is playing on half a leg get him out of there and play a fresh Kane. Is Bowman worried about Bettman coming at him again? I don’t give a shit about politics get a fresh Kane in there to tune in Mikey-Doughty.
Lots of discussion regarding Bouchard and his overall contribution last night. I see Kurt Leavins at the Cult of Hockey gave him a 3, despite his 3 assists. That’s the right call, IMO. Bouchard’s giveaway on the 4th LA goal was particularly brutal.
Look who he’s passing the puck to to get those assists. If he makes 20 good passes in a night’s work and 10 of them land on 29 or 97s stick there’s a decent probability those turn into As. Versus 10 passes to anyone else.
Here’s the question: Can a team find 2 D on different pairings to split all those assists while also providing more consistent defending? Lowers the salary, per player, spreads the risk across two players, and reduces the pressure on having an elite goaltender to cover for the major gafs.
I know the #2 fan group is going to say his passing is so elite that you’re not going to be able to replace that with 2 other players.
My theory is you can you live with 7-8 less goals from Batman and Robin and reduce goals against by 15 with this procurement strategy.
I wondered whether we should have offered Bouchard as part of a package to acquire Rantanen+ from Carolina. Not that we needed more O and less D, but when else are you going to offload an elite but flawed player for comparable value?
Rantanen had no desire to resign in Edmonton, he was only interested in 4 teams and Edmonton wasn’t one of them. Hard pass.
https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/edmonton-oilers-mikko-rantanen-expressed-mutual-interest-in-deal-before-trade-to-dallas-stars-1.2267335#:~:text=Rantanen%20had%20interest%20in%20coming,the%20Hurricanes%20were%20looking%20for.
The Oil couldn’t reach Dallas’ offer, Rantanen was willing to sign.
Summarizing!
Wakely assisted on Barrie’s first three goals and earned 2nd star honours as the Colts prevailed 6-4 to win the series in seven. They will now take on Oshawa in the Eastern Conference final.
Though Berry garnered no soup, Muskegon won 5-3 to sweep the series. The ‘Jacks advance to face Dubuque in their own Eastern Conference final.
Akey was also not a resoupient.
Prospecting takes a break till (presumably) Thor’s Day.
A well-rested London squad will battle Kitchener in the Western Conference final after the Rangers pulled off the reverse sweep vs. Windsor with an OT win tonight, becoming only the 6th OHL team to win a series after losing the first three games.
The GWG was crushing. I can’t assign blame to Skinner on it. Danault flubbed the shot and it fluttered over and in. If he catches that square, the way he would 99% of the time, it goes right into Skinner’s belly.
I see Florida and Tampa and Dallas and Colorado got “screwed” on the playoff seeding. 4 Americans teams and 3 in the Deep South. Pretty much guarantees that current playoff seeding will change next year
US TV ratings are down considerably.
Surprising considering the matchups.
Hurts that Boston, Detroit, Chicago and the NY Rangers had bad seasons.
Yeah..all of those are major TV markets.
Are you suggesting they will change the seeding formula?
I would suggest there is zero chance of that happening for next season.
I think KK not naming Skinner as tomorrow’s goalie is a tell. It is the least confident one can make a goalie who is expecting to be the starter.
That could be the public message and Skinner/Pickard (and the team) know who is starting. No need to let the Kings know early, right?
Matt Tkachuk finishing the season on LTIR and playing game one is objectively ridiculous given Friedman’s reporting.
Absolutely. No intelligent person would conclude otherwise. Oilers will now be cleared for Kane to return
Was wondering the exact same thing. A bit of a double standard, would like to hear friedge’s explanation on this.
Friedge opened the can of worms on this so he has to provide some explanation on tkachuk. Florida added a big ticket d man with the cap space freed up from tkachuk being out. This is the most blatant LTIR move since Mark Stone in 2023. Embarrassing look for the league if they talk tough about cracking down and then let this one slide through the cracks.
Bettman wants player participation, especially American, at his international events. He doesn’t want owners backing away from international hockey because of fear of injury.
i.e. injuries from NHL and NHLPA international events are undoubtedly a special case, unofficially of course.
K.K has to go with Pickard for now we need some dependable saves. Everytime I toot Pickard horn he craps the bed but not this time. He’s going to take the bull by the horns. If Pickard can go on a run this will be a life changing monetary wise and probably more important how his peers view him. This is his opportunity he’s dreamed about since grade one. Ranford came in and absolutely stole the script best playoff netminding I’ve ever seen right up there with Hasek-Roy. Here’s to Pickard getting in the zone for the next 2 month’s
Stolarz hits his prime at 31 why we never gave this man a chance is beyond me. Anyhow Calvin at 33 this could be his Roloson moment. It’s time Bowman took Skinner on a camping trip far into the bush.
In the Bush? Didn’t you forget to mention Dick Cheney?
If the defence plays as bad as game one,Pickard will have no chance.There was only one goal Skinner should have had!
It was always going to take the Oilers a couple of games to get their act together after all the players finally got introduced to each other after the regular season.
Game 3 will tell the tale.
Stauff says it wouldn’t surprise him, under the assumption that both get cleared, that both Kane and Klingberg will be in the lineup tomorrow.
I don’t know what either would/could bring but I would VERY much rather have Klingberg over Brown and, for all I know, Evander Kane could make a legit impact – he could create energy, he could throw some massive hits, shit, he could score a couple of goals – of course, he could be terrible and a defensive liability……
“There will be changes to the Oilers’ lineup” – Stauff on his new off-day pod that dropped a bit ago.
To noone’s surprise, Stauff believes Jeff Skinner would come out for Kane.
The question is what do we need to see more of from our defence? If we are weak at goaltending, who will defend the best? What was the cause of our breakdowns? Then choose the suitable dman, which in this case is…
Ekholm
Curse that injury to the Viking.
Ekholm not only defends, he seems to solve Bouchard as well.
Count me in the group that believes they’ve pulled a Mark Stone with Kane. They are being careful with what they are saying, but it was a tell when Kane basically said he feels way better than he did at any point in the prior playoff season (when he did have a modest impact in initial rounds).
I really believe he can make an impact offensively and physically. I do worry that not playing for a year can be a challenge for someone on the D side, but that was never his obvious strength. If he can play a feature role as a winger in the top 6, that changes the whole complexion of the forward group, and makes match-up decisions easier
Kane’s physicality turned Hughes into Ethan Bear.
It is 4pm I finally get my time to vent!
I witnessed the Oilers get their butts kicked last night.
Then I witness McDavid do things like I have seen any player do before. This “we” talk from the other guys, or the media with “Oilers” did this in third. No, it was a one man show.
But even McDavid cannot outscore the opposition and his own team at the same time.
This had me furious.
One coach had every single detail planned. The other coach was absolutely schooled. And the Oilers defensive coach is the worst I have seen in years. There is no excuse to have this non contact, stick waving, low intensity play. None. And you did not address Bouchard in the regular season so here we are with the Bouch culpable on 3 goals against.
After your captain leads the comeback you cant take out Foegele at the blueline? You stop skating. You cant take him out at the net? You stand off hoping you can stop the puck with your stick?
Right now, Bouchard would be a healthy scratch if he played for the Kings. They simply would not put up with him.
What was the strategy coach? Not just to bust the trap, because I didnt see anything there. But if you fell behind, because you should have had a plan to deal with Kings. I seen simply no specific tactics or adaptations for ANY game state.
Regardless of scoring, goals, what was your defensive plan?
The Oilers have a stronger roster, But Kings much stronger game plan, much better understanding of their opponents, much better tactics to win.
Hoping McDavid and Draisaitl will cover all mistakes is not coaching.
I can guarantee no NHL coach would healthy scratch Bouchard. Even after last nights game.
Evan Bouchard should have been benched in season.
No, I think you under estimate Bouchards contribution to losing. NHL coaches cannot put up with this. Oilers coaches do as their offense is generally enough to overcome it. On a 2 goal team, Bouchard is not taking a top 4 playoff spot.
And any defensive coach still allowing these mistakes should find a new spot in the organization.
Emotions and old school minor league coaching are getting the best of Oilers fan regarding Bouch and Stu Skinner. Some players may respond to benching and scratches others do not. Ask Torts.
“the Bouch culpable on 3 goals against”
I think the argument is “only novice hockey watchers blame losses on the teams’ best players” because we would rather lose by 1 than win by 2?
So you would have Oilers ice brown and Dineen as our 5/6? Walman nurse kulak Emberson as top 4?
Cause that’s what it looks like with Bouch out.
And who would you sit as LAs coach, after they let in 5 goals?
Notorious for slow starts. New lines. New players.
That’s why: Drai – McDavid – Hyman – to Start the game!!
You can’t go down 2-0 to the Kings, let alone 4-0
Seize the lead, don’t wait until time is running out to put out the best line in hockey. Absolute stunning performance by McDavid, but just ends up beating himself against the rocks for the loss. For that game this was more than obvious start.
Why are we so quick to absolve Leon for his failed backcheck on the game winner (“he was bagged”) but unwilling to cut Evan Bouchard any slack for two mistakes deep into a second period of a game he played over 28 minutes of?
He played 8:35 at evens in the second period against the Kings best. I saw turnover one as a quick glance over his shoulder seeing Nurse as his closest trailer. Nurse, who was also bagged, didn’t skate fully and the King overtook him. Perhaps if Bouch is fresh he “wheels” around the back of the net? Perhaps if he’s fresh Nurse is able to maintain inside position and make a play on the reverse.
The second mistake is also a play he makes all the time. McDavid is low and slow supporting in the middle but then he kind of “bursts “ towards the wall and Bouchard throws it behind him.
I’m not excusing the plays but I think there just has to be some understanding (like there is with 29) that fatigue played a role.
Related; need a Dineen or Klingberg to give us 9-10 minutes at evens.
Leon was bagged on that backcheck, I think he gave everything.
Bouchard on the other hand stopped skating when he was ahead of Foegele. He could have picked him up at the blueline but he let him walk to front of the net. Then Bouchard stood to the side, he did not engage him. No Foegele, no goal. Skinner stops the blooper. Probably should have stopped it anyway.
This is just untrue. Neither Leon nor Danault took off. Leon took 2-3 seconds and then skated hard and couldn’t catch Danault. Easily could have had he gone right away. Bouchard started ahead of Foegele, reacted slowly and lost position. And unlike Draisaitl even if Bouchard had flown back it might have been even worse because it would have left Danault a clear path to the net. At worst it’s equally bad.
All I’m saying is call it both ways. Either it’s both Bouchard and Leon are lazy and cost the team the game or it’s acknowledging that they were both bagged from being overplayed and their brains shut off.
If Bouchard “takes Foegele” then Danault can walk in on a breakaway uncontested.
Agreed. Bouch had 2 guys to cover.
Interesting news posted on Puckpedia…
Rodrigue was recalled from AHL Bakersfield on Tuesday.
Extra back-up or ???
Condors are out of the playoffs so there is no reason not to callup extra players. I doubt we see a switch this early without an injury.
Ya, but no skaters recalled (D or F), so I thought it curious. Always possible there’s an unreported injury to one of our tenders.
All the other play off teams(I’ve spotted most, I think) have called up a 3rd goalie, EBUG scenario.
I’m sure that Philp, Savoie, Caggiula and Hamblin will also be in due course – they do like to stagger these. The extra goalie is often first in order to give a goalie a skate off and still have two for practice/morning skate.
The biggest problem is the Oilers didn’t start playing until the 3rd period. They need to play a full game no matter who is in the line up. They went 13 minutes without a shot on goal. that has to change!!!!
We almost recieved a gift from the heavens we get the W this series is over quickly. Coach K.K is getting to chummy with the players needs to take a step back. We had them backpedaling big time Arvidsson almost scored on the next short shift yet he goes back to a exhausted McDavid line. Skinner should of been pulled after 2 K.K needs to be the boss who unfortunately has to make tough decisions.
I would suggest most of the Oilers did not start playing in the third either. McDavid did, and brought a few along for the ride, but most just watched.
You knew LA would have your plays down You knew they would shadow McDavid, but did you bang some bodies, make some space? Draw attention away from him? Push Dmen back?
My lord Perry is still good at knowing what to do. Shame, but hes 39! Watch him for crying out loud.
https://x.com/oilersjack/status/1914550262364057796?s=46&t=VKZ79-9hN-xwMNTBjohq7w
Jason Gregor defending him on ON, lumping HD and mid chances together, for some reason. Even a GSAx of -1 would have been enough last night.
The Oilers mediocre goaltending has convinced many Oilers fans our team is poor defensively. In reality, poor goaltending has made our reasonable team D look terrible because every mistake results in a goal.
Funny, but assuming these numbers actually follow the formula, this reads to me as an indictment of the stat rather than an indictment of Skinner.
PPOs 5-2 should be a major talking point. The thug team gets >2x the PPOs when it should be the reverse. The OIlers on -ve side of the balance once again. And yet another game where, with Conor and Leon in, the PP sees <= 3 PPOs in the game.
You do realize one Oiler penalty was puck over the glass and another was challenging it. So it was really 3-2. Certainly not saying the officiating wasn’t shit because it alway is…..
Actually didn’t know that. I turned it off after the Skinner automatic-call-especially-if-it-affects-a-scoring-chance-except-this-time stick slash.
There is context to that one in that the linesman, with the near view, called if off the glass and he was over-ruled by the referee who’s view was from across the ice.
Given how close it was (and likely did tick the glass), there is no reasonable chance the referred was able to be so certain of what he saw in over to over-turn.
No over turn means zero penalties on that play.
What I did not like was the kulak call, and the Hyman call and the Walman call… All soft. Oh, and the other Walman call. The challenge shouldn’t have had to happen. Did I miss any?
The game reminded me of game 1 versus the Flames in 2022.
Lose the battle win the war.
It would be a shame if the Oilers lost to the Kings.
The Kings are not very good.
“You are what your record says you are”.
So you admit you are a jabroni?
Wow. THAT comment is dripping with irony – given your record…
Bouch and Skinner – not enough skin in the game. Get your heads in it and stop playing reg season hockey. Find more intensity from the drop of the puck. Both those boys not sharp enough. Others to blame also, but simply not good enough from the entire group – from coaching to goalie. Also, I still think it was a poor decision to stay in LA for the start of series. Anyway….Just be better.
It was a very poor start to that game, and I feel that the Oilers were dominated in the first 39 minutes. It was shocking change after watching the heavyweight teams of St Louis and Winnipeg banging bodies. I did not see any desperation in the Oilers until too late.
On game 2 of the playoffs all the LTIRs will rise again
Some for game 1 – Matthew Tkachuk….
It’s the first year for management they obviously know the week link is goaltending yet they sat on there hands. I get Bowman is observing and evaluating our system who has Skinner-Pickard-Rodrique-Delia. Holland left him hot garbage but if coach K.K starts beachball Skinner in game 2 and we lose because of another subpar performance he needs to be fired on the spot.
Sorry been up and travelling since 4:00 am, are saying if they leave skinner in and another bad start they are fired ?
I understand the loyalty towards Skinner but this is the playoffs we need wins. Pickard needs to play steady eddy for the next 5 games and we win this series in 6. If he decides to go with Skinner and we lose yes he deserves to lose his job on the spot. Pickard is the better goalie at the moment and everyone but coach K.K and the Skinner cult are blind to this.
How many wins did Skinner have last year again? in the playoffs, for clarity.
In spite of him we fell 2 goals short you can only use the Dallas game for so long. Let’s get Scrivens out of retirement he’s only 38 and he’s from Spruce Grove, remember that game against SanJose.
I just wanted to comment on the “sitting on their hands” comment. IF they are of the belief they need a new goalie, they had two options: trade now, or wait till off season. If trade now gets you a goalie that might be better at a high acquisition cost and or cap hit, but off season allows a better combination of talent cap hit and acquisition cost you wait. It’s called being responsible.
The end of an era.
New York Islanders
@NYIslanders
The New York Islanders organization announced today that Lou Lamoriello’s contract as President and General Manager will not be renewed. Effective immediately, Operating Partner John Collins will lead a search to find the next General Manager.
Elliotte Friedman
On NYI head coach Patrick Roy:
He — and the Hockey Operations staff — will meet with the new GM, when named. We will see how things unfold then.
The end of the most mediocre era in the history of the league.
@EdmontonJack
This is interesting as coach had said that Klingberg was healthy and available for game 1.
Klingberg, as meh as he’s been, is the CLEAR best choice among the 3 options – a least in my opinion.
I def would of given/give him a shot. Brown is too slow physically and processing. I like his toughness but the rest is meh.
Friedman had suggested the Oilers were under suspicion for how they used LTIR and that may have influenced who did/didn’t play in game 1 and possibly beyond
Yet, Matthew Tkachuk is activated and playing in game 1…..
@EdmontonJack
Tough call. Stu does bounce back but this year has been terrible for him. Pickard should start on the merit of this season.
I would think Skinner’s confidence was crushed after that game-winning goal. You’re not doing any favours starting him the next game.
Would Kuemper’s confidence be crushed giving up 5 goals in a period plus 4.7 seconds?
Nope. Only ours is crushed. Just as only our defense made any mistakes.
That pass by Fiala on the first goal for the kings was absolute filth. The Oilers have been showing all the teams how to do it. But they should also know how to defend against it.
Wow. Crazy, ugly, ugly, beautiful game.
Our beleaguered tender just hasn’t been good enough. He has struggled mightily tracking the puck. He made some great saves and the loss isn’t on him completely. The team was running around like headless chickens defensively. In saying that, I think it is also fair to say we win that ugly game with Pickard in net. How many chances are given? I think that game sealed his fate, he is done as a starter and possibly an oiler.
VOODOO says this is the sophomore ‘I just had a baby’ jinx and he will light it up next season.
I think the loss is almost completely on the tender, the last goal was hot garbage especially after the huge comeback. There were all sorts of coverage issues that were not Skinners issue but the game winner he needed to stop
The McDrai line is always concerning for the long run, in that is always seems unsustainable or a cop-out, but as a coach you would be a fool to not use when it often produces goals when the game is on the line. I actually think they could beat the Kings relying solely on McDrai to outscore the opposition, with the other 3 lines mostly treading water. That’s what happened in the last 21 minutes of that game.
If spreading the skill players around is not helping us score non-McDrai goals, then loading up the top 2 lines may be the way to go. RNH needs his mojo back, and Hyman does too. I thought bringing RNH back to C with Arvy and Podz was the key, but he may need to be back with skilled forwards and he needs to produce.
For instance:
RNH-McDavid-Hyman
Kane-Draisaitl-Arvidsson
Janmark-Henrique-Perry
Skinner/Podkolzin-Frederic-Brown
With swaps of Nuge and Draisaitl amongst the top 2 lines when called upon.
One interesting revelation is that Perry played so well with McDavid and Drai. Do you go
Drai-McDavid-Perry
Kane-Nuge-Hyman
Janmark-Henrique-Arvidsson
Skinner/Pod-Frederic-Brown
Or do you try again to get RNH, McDavid and Drai some more ideal wingers to center their own lines, as was intended?
Skinner-McD-Brown
Kane/Frederic-Drai-Hyman
Pod-Nuge-Arvidsson
Janmark-Henrique-Perry
Has there been any news concerning “Black Aces” being called up? Or will they wait until after the game tomorrow?
They often give them a few days post-end of season to get their “affairs in order” and what not.
There is no rush as we know coach isn’t going to put Philp or Savoie (or Hamblin of Caggiula) in the lineup even if an argument can be made for the first two…..
Thanks OP
Neil Pionk just got $7MM until he’s like 37 years old.
Bouchard is going to be in the $10MM range.
Bouchard was not good enough last night and, overall, has not been good enough this season but he will be value for his contract in a rising cap era for his pure prime years.
Causing goals against with bad passes is frustrating and does demoralize the team sometimes but, at the end of the day/season/playoffs, he’s such a net positive and I presume he will be better than this through the next 8 years.
He is a part of this sometimes dysfunctional family, just like Nurse is. You’d much rather have him on your team, he is more part of the solution. You also know the kind of player that needs to be paired with him.
If you send him away you better be getting a bonafide top pair D man back, and even then, the commitment to the team may be lacking.
Josh Brown’s work on the 2-minute 5 on 3 might keep him in the lineup.
I’m not agreeing with the concept but preparing for it.
Also preparing for Jeff Skinner to be the healthy scratch if/when Kane is ready.
Truth be told, not Skinner’s best game – he made some soft plays which are reminiscent of early season play that created the lack of trust.
Janmark scored – sealed the decision likely.
And Janmark does the PK.
Stu Skinner has a .891 sv% in 36 playoff games.
Love the guy but that’s f$&@ing brutal.
Unless he wins a Cup this year, I can’t imagine he is starting in next years playoffs.
Next lowest active starting goalie** is Kuemper! At much more respectable .905
Has Edmonton been the worst defensive team of the playoffs since 22/23? Hard to imagine that is the case. They have shot themselves in the foot sticking with Skinner, lesson they are learning for 3rd year in a row.
**Save percentage: Minimum 0.3125 games played per scheduled game (season), 250 games (career), 5 games (playoff year), 25 games (playoff career), 75 games (franchise career).
Bouchard has to be better but part of the issue is:
1) the Oilers were down early; and
2) because of injuries and stupid coaching decisions, he played too many minutes.
Despite his gaffes, he was still +1 with 3 assists. Hilarious.
If Kane draws in, who draws out?
Skinner. 100%.
Cosch does not trust him and he had a rough game.
Which Skinner?
(He said, partly in jest…)
Well done
Stuart?
Will be interested to see what adjustments the PP makes in Game 2. The Kings PK was very aggressive, blitzing the puck carrier and rotating very aggressively, and it worked for them. Clearly the PP wasn’t firing on all cylinders, but LA’s PK was good.
That can be exploited/lead to some openings but the Oilers will need to snap the puck around a lot quicker to open up some ice. Making 2-3 hard, tape-to-tape passes in a row to open up some ice and get the PKers back on their heels/reacting and not attacking the puck-carrier down low. I don’t think they’ll be able to post-up on the half wall and generate chances with methodical, slow two- and three-man cycles down low, until they force LA’s PK to back off and play a more passive/collapsed style.
KK went back-and-forth between Perry and Hyman for the 5th man on that unit. I’m not sure which one I’d go with, probably Hyman given he’s faster and can help out a bit more keeping possessions alive by quickly getting to pucks. His boardwork was really good last night.
I can’t get enough of Connors game tying goal. Mikey Anderson has no idea what just happened, just standing there, wondering where Connor disappeared to. Doughty and some other guy no clue what to do in the middle, deathly afraid of leaving a man that only Connor can see open, so they freeze. Then the precision of that shot. Just so so good. If you are feeling blue, then go have another look!
https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/oilers-take-positives-from-game-1-loss-after-late-rally-we-gave-ourselves-a-chance/?__vfz=medium%3Dconversations_top_pages
The comeback from 97 was one of the greatest performances we’ve ever seen. Unreal.
Citing “cult of Hockey” as a good reference point (especially after Bruce’s passing) is laughable. Those guys are NOT good at what they do. Their biases are very apparent.
This is why advanced statistics exist. From the second Bouchard stepped on the ice as a pro, the Oilers are significantly better than the other team. Expected goals against are a thing. Is he better with Ekholm out there with him?? Yeah, but that would likely apply to every player.
There are a lot of educated and experienced eyes here who saw the same thing: EDM lost the game because of Bouchard, not because of the low talent floor of the rest of the team.
Leavins and Staples understand the advanced stats. They know what Bouchard brings, as do I.
As PennersPancakes says below, those mistakes should have been out of his game in jr. It’s not high event – It’s embarrassing.
The loss was a combo of events/players not only because of Evan Bouchard. It is a very narrow view to say 1 player lost that type of game.
Advanced stats are not the end all be all. From a statistical point of view lots of them are trash.
According to expected goals Utah is the 5th best team in league this year!
Bouchard did not lead the Oilers back into that game. He was on the ice when McDavid and Draisaitl put him on their shoulders and made up for his egregious errors. His secondary assists as a reult of that, and his giant giveaways, are not a wash. And even if they were, this is not what you want or need from your top pairing dman…!
If you’re going to downplay secondary assists as important, then why doesn’t every defense man have 3 assist a game with playing with 97 and 29?
Most players can’t get the puck to those 2 efficiently.
THE GOALIE NEEDS TO MAKE SAVES
With 2 good teams battling, at the end of the day regardless of how many goals are scored our goaltender must outplay the other goaltender. I don’t trust Stu to do that. It has taken me a while to get to that but this isn’t his year.
Bouchard had three assists, so he was a part of it.
Who said he wasn’t?
I love that Bouchard had three assists but why does this let him off the hook for his defensive play? Holding him accountable for the give-aways is the difference between winning and losing. Its the difference between 0-1 and 1-0. Scoring 5 in LA should mean winning in LA.
We don’t let Skinner’s 10 bell stops give him a free pass for the softies. We expect him to make those saves too, because they are the difference between winning and losing.
Maybe if the Oilers had won we could pretend a couple singular Bouchard moments wouldn’t bite us in the ass next time also. But they didn’t. And they will. And he’ll be +3 and golfing.
1) Generally agree with LT on the GF/GA. One thing on the final GA – I think if we’re being fair to Stu, it was a weird, flukey goal that’s not an easy save despite the puck moving slower than a bus through a school zone. However, at a certain point you need your goalie to make enough tough saves/saves above expected to win the game, and after holding his own with a strong 3rd period that was an absolute backbreaker.
2) I’ve said before that trying to win with a “good enough goalie to win a a cup” approach to roster construction presents some pretty narrow margins, and if your stopper has an off night or two it can torpedo your season. I understand why the Oilers have taken that low-cost approach given the cap situation the last few years, but I hope they bring in a potential difference-maker as a 1/1A and let Stu be the 1B/backup next year. I worry that its going to be a seller’s market given the weak FA goalie class and the Oilers might be forced to overpay and might settle on another middling 1B type.
3) The Oilers did not lose the game because of Josh Brown, the decision to dress him in the lineup for a stanley cup playoff game was galling. I know there weren’t a ton of better options, but when the guy you give a 3 year deal to so you can count on “organizational depth” can’t even hold his own for 5 minutes of ice time, that’s an issue.
4) The oilers have made a lot of unnecessarily risky/poor bets this year and its coming back to bite them at the worst possible time. Kane (LTIR saga), Klingberg, and Frederic have all been failed bets so far. Frederic had a nice play on the Janmark goal, but he looked slow and ineffective on the forecheck for the most part. The oilers are in dire need of big physical wingers who play a north/south game and can punish the opposing team’s D on the forecheck, but Frederic’s ankle is clearly ailing him and he’s just not able to get in on the forecheck quick enough to make defenders hear footsteps and rush plays. The organizational decision-making the last 12 months has not inspired a lot of confidence.
5) Walman was having a great game and unfortunately took a bonehead penalty. Know your opponent, don’t get too caught up in the emotions of the game, and play to win the game not to beat up/manhandle your opponent when those two things diverge. I’m sure he’ll take it as a lesson learned, I’m not worried about him moving forward.
6) In no other sport does a failed challenge result in a penalty, and for good reason. I hate that a failed coaches challenge results in a penalty. Imagine how dumb that would be in any other sport. Challenge a catch in the endzone on a 3rd and 10 play and lose? Too bad, now it’s 4th and 20 and you’re out of field goal range. Challenge an out safe call at first base and lose? Too bad, now we’ll move the runner to 2nd base. Challenge an out-of-bounds call in a crucial possession at the end of a basketball game and lose? Too bad, now your opponent gets free throws instead of just possession.
7) McDavid was truly transcendent last night. I thought after watching him for 10 years, I’d seen everything, but he still somehow can make my jaw drop by doing something I’ve never seen anyone else do before.
8) The officiating last night was about as I expected. Ticky-tack calls early, changing standard throughout the game (Hyman was getting mauled in the slot on the Oilers last powerplay), but I don’t think the calls were biased for or against one team in a material way. Corey Perry got away with a greasy cross-check to set up his goal, Walman easily could’ve been penalized for his big hits, and the Hyman checking to the head call was bad. A referee overruling a linesman on a puck over glass from further away was also galling. You could have called another 10 penalties on either team. However, I don’t think that the Oilers can or should lay last night’s result at the feet of the officials, and I don’t think they will.
9) I was honestly mentally prepared for a blowout loss, and through 2 periods it was about as I expected. A disjointed team that’s rusty and hasn’t played a high-stakes, meaningful game with urgency in over a month. The end result, frankly, was encouraging for me – making it that close of a game after being down 4-0 and having to defend a two minute 5-on-3 was pretty impressive.
10) The Oilers NEED a non-McDrai line to consistently deliver offence and outscore the opposition. Loading up a nuclear line when they need to is great, but the non-McDrai minutes can’t just be “glass n’ out and defend” until the big guns score a goal and win the game.
11) Bouchard, Nurse, and Kulak all played over 25 minutes last night, they need to get Stetcher back since he’s really the only defenseman capable of playing above replacement-level bottom pairing minutes between him, Brown, Klingberg, Dineen. While I won’t excuse Bouchard’s miscues last night, exhausted players tend to make more mistakes, and having him play 28 minutes a night is not a recipe for sustained success.
12)
53-97-28
33-29-92
21-93-18
13-19-90
run 97-29 out there for 4-5 shifts a period unless you’re down bad and need a goal.
27-2
25-96
49-Dineen/Klingberg
Pickard
It’s one game and you’re not behind the 8 ball until you lose at home.
re 5/8, imo both Walman calls were bogus. The same behaviour had just transpired at the other end on the last whistle. Know your enemy?… maybe the refs should know the LA Kings? Denault looked worse than JFK on that play.
And someone is going to need to explain to me how a puck, flying through the air unobstructed, can have its rotation altered if no outside pressure or force is being applied to it, because even if none of the angles were great, that puck clearly changed trajectory if only slightly. But it clearly touched!
It was a poorly officiated game and there were plenty of missed calls on both sides. I think the balance of penalties actually called marginally favored LA, but not to a point where the outcome was secured by poor/imbalanced officiating.
Classic game 1 Oilers.
For as bad as the Oilers were for 40 minutes, they easily win the game with even mediocre goaltending.
I think they have to run with Pickard. Skinner is too rollercoastery.
Anyway, Kings played their best possible game and still almost lost to the Oilers who only played one period.
I think they trot Skinner out for game two. Because he usually has a standout performance after a loss. However, his leash should be short. It was a mistake to leave him in for that third period.
Really too bad we lost that game. We could have broken the kings on day 1
Doughty looked shell shocked after the game.
Why do the Oilers have the propensity for slow starts? They start the season slow, they start games slow and they start series slow. They seem to feel the need to get behind the 8 ball in order to get motivated.
As for Bouchard, I can live with mistakes that are borne out of creativity. Even the pass to the front of the net. He executes that regularly and I’d hate to turn him into a rim it around the boards or an off the glass and out player. But the lack of effort stuff I cannot accept.
For years and years, this team has not been able to play to their ability until their backs are against a wall. I don’t think that’s going to change.
Connor will be Connor, Leon will be Leon. I’m excited that both are healthy right now which should give the Oilers the advantage. The question is how will Bouchard and Skinner play? If they play like they did last night then the Oilers won’t go far.
Who is downvoting this obviousness?
I hope Draisaitl’s bench barking in the 2nd is the moment that carries through this series.
This team wins the presidents trophy with league average goaltending, let’s see what Pickard has to give next time out.
I’d imagine Skinner will be starting next game. KK seems to think Skinner always bounce back the next game. One of many KK’s questionable decisions.
I like what Lansky says to LT – if the Oilers had Hellebuyck the other teams would be playing for 2nd place
It was too late for my son to stay up and watch the entire game but he did get to watch the start.
I told him before the game that as long as Skinner didn’t let in a goal on one of the first 2 shots, we would win even if we went down early.
I hope you watch the last 21 minutes with him today 🙂
If they steal last night game that would of crushed L.A soul and they win the series in 4-5. Now because Skinner was checking out some babe in the crowd it’s going to take 6-7 of gut wrenching energy to dispatch L.A. Enough of Skinner he hasn’t been present all year. Pickard needs to settle things down and make a couple of saves without being on his knees flopping like a fish out of water.
Maybe I’m seeing things but when the Oilers were on a PP in the third, it seemed to me they were trying to force the puck inside more instead of just setting up Drai in his favourite spot. Anyone else notice that?
I can’t answer your question, but in looking at the NaturalStatTrick heatmap it shows all Oilers goals coming from shots “inside.” To my eye, it looked like at minute 39 the team decided to get into the hard area. Get bullish. Create net front chaos. With considerable success. Against a goalie who’s been pretty unbeatable- perhaps because teams haven’t pushed themselves into the hard area?
If Kane is ready for game 2, no chance Janmark comes out and we can probably lock Jeff Skinner in as the healthy.
What about going 13/5? Can’t imagine they do that.
No. I can’t imagine. But what an interesting thought.
Do you mean healthy scratch?
No, it will likely be 12/5. Knoblach will dress Brown or Dineen to sit on the bench the entire game
If Stecher can’t play, Dineen should.
Stecher doesn’t look to be available for at least the first four games.
Point fingers at Bouch, Stu, KK, whoever you like, but those first two periods were the first time I’d ever seen an Oilers squad treat the playoffs like preseason. After a lifetime of high octane Oilers hockey moments, win and lose, that was beyond depressing.
Gotta hope game one was their wake-up, with regular programming to resume shortly. I am.
That was a team loss of which Skinner was a part of it but not the entirety. 10 shots through 2 periods including a 15 minute stretch with zilch is unacceptable. 4 shots in the second period is shockingly bad.
Turns out the worry about this group not playing together for the last few weeks of the season was well founded.
Their tactics were bad. They kept trying to establish possession in the LA zone and generate off the cycle and that plays directly into LA’s defensive structure and strengths. They have to try to generate off the rush. Take pucks to the net, get pucks on Kuemper and win the puck battles in order to break down LA’s structure and then they can establish their possession/cycle game.
Watching them continuously gain the zone, stop up and hold possession only for the LA defender to either swallow them up or pick off the attempted pass was infuriating.
If I’m pointing my finger at anybody for that loss it is Knoblauch.
LA had five men back protecting the net whenever Edmonton had possession in the
O-zone. LA was just playing that well. It wasn’t Knoblauch. Then Connor & Leon had seen enough going into the third period and took the team on their backs. I was hoping to see Pickard in the third, but that didn’t happen, and Skinner had a couple more goals go past him. Interestingly both goaltenders had .800 SV%, so I don’t think it was goaltending…. but as usual LA’s goals were opportunistic and some were even lucky.
It goes to show with McDavid & Draisaitl this team can never be counted out.
It’s most certainly about goaltending. If you lose to a team where the other team’s goalie gives up 5 and has an.800 save%, it means your goalie was shit. Yes, the team could have played better, but you should still win that game.
Skinner has been below average all damn season. How much more evidence do people need?
Huh? you realize the goals they all scored late in the period were off cycles/extended O-zone possession? Focusing on generating rush chances mean end-to-end pond hockey and giving up rush chances back the other way. The team is at the best when they are an o-zone possession monster, and refuse to give the puck back. They were getting outshot the first two periods because they were losing the possession battle.
They need to get to the interior on those o-zone chances and not settle for perimeter chances.
That’s just not true. Goals 2 and 6 were off the rush and goal 3 was off a face off play.
Adam Oates says it kills offense. You get time of possession and shot metrics but it can be so spread out he says many players struggle to produce. I agree with him, we see it when they aren’t able to do their thing they have trouble getting quality chances
Perry and a few others get it. If the score hadn’t gotten so lopsided LA probably would not have let the foot off the gas