By the time we sing a lullaby this evening, I believe we’ll know the outcome of the Oilers-Kings series. Just like a 1-2 count in baseball, the Oilers are in a tough spot currently. If they can level things at 2-2, having found their bearings, Edmonton should win the day. Tonight is a pivotal game for this team and organization.
Coach Kris Knoblauch is unlikely to change up the playing roster from Game 1, but the lack of ice time for players like Ty Emberson (7:52 at five-on-five, nine fewer minutes than John Klingberg and 11 fewer than Evan Bouchard) may bring Troy Stecher into the conversation.
I also like Jeff Skinner, but Evander Kane ate his lunch and stuffed him in the locker. No one brings what Kane does, so it’s going to be an uphill battle for any left-wing not named Kane, Nuge, Vasily Podkolzin or Trent Frederic. Skinner waited a lifetime to get into a playoff game, and it could be just the one as things look now. Barring injury, or a change of heart in the coaching room, Skinner is on the outside looking in. Good problem to have if you’re the Oilers.
Calvin Pickard should start tonight and every game until he loses a game. I don’t expect that’s a controversial take, but thought it was worth expressing.
I expect we’ll see the same lines tonght. Nuge-McDavid-Hyman and Podkolzin-Draisaitl-Arvidsson are the two most common lines Oilers fans have seen this season at even strength (via Dobber) and Kane-Henrique-Brown might be there too if Kane had been healthy all season.
The Oilers are 12-9 goals at even strength in this series, that is 4.7 goals-60 (a handsome number). On the power play, Edmonton has scored two goals in 9:16 but surrendered six PK goals in just under 16 minutes. Fix those special teams and this series gets much easier.
One of the most interesting things about this series surrounds what Stan Bowman will do about the issues facing the roster. I think he’ll want to add some useful youth, and suspect additions in goal and on defense are likely. The forward group is quality, but aging and needs a torque transfusion. I think the idea of trading Evander Kane is still in vogue, but he is capable of flipping the script with a strong playoff run.
I wrote about the roster and the massive fallout boy should the team’s playoff run end abruptly. It is here. I hope you get the time to read it, it reflects my thinking going in to Game 4.
New for The Athletic: More than any in the McDavid era, this Edmonton Oilers playoff spring could have a massive impact on the path forward this summer.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6312122/2025/04/26/oilers-nhl-playoffs-depth-chart-youth/
To Lowetide’s potential chagrin, these young Montréal Canadiens are super fun to watch. Great game so far. I don’t think the referees have had an easy time trying to implement their game plan of a quiet game that well, though, so far. Washington is not happy.
Interesting to see what the goalie plans will be in the offseason. I sincerely hope this is a positive turning point for either or both of Pickard or Skinner.
I believe their collective performances in the playoffs are absolutely going to determine each of their immediate futures, and it is very likely that one or both are gone (as I watch Montreal’s 3rd or 4th string goalie step up effortlessly).
I also believe that Skinner may have a Dubnyk like career trajectory, and yet it would still be justifiable to trade Skinner in the offseason if he can’t get into playoff action again and put together a 2024 round 3/4 caliber performance. Times a wastin’
My son got tickets so going to the game tonight! Hoping we have smiles on our face driving home!!
Awesome! Enjoy the game!
Let’s go Calvin block out the haters and naysayers you deserve this start and the players will respond for you. This is about you Calvin this is your moment not the guy opening the bench gate.
Not sure theres too many naysayers of Pickard.
Being a proponent of Skinner is not the same as a naysayers of Pickard.
Go Pickard, Go Oilers.
No issues with Pickard getting the start tonight – the performances in each of the three games are, essentially, equatable, and the Oilers won last game as both goalies were bad.
At the same time, Pickard has not performed any better than Skinner in recent times:
His last 4 games:
.857
.867 (mop up duty)
.839
.861
These are the series stats from NST. Pickard looks better in all of them. In the past, Skinner has generally excelled on the PK, but lately this hasnt been the case. Stats from this series say Pickard.
Pickard
5v5 .913 Sv%, 23 SA, 21 Sv, 2 GA, xGA 2.26, 1.99 GAA
ALL .839 Sv%, 31 SA, 26 Sv, 5 GA, xGA 2.89, 4.2 GAA
Skinner
5v5 .838 Sv%, 37 SA, 31 Sv, 6 GA, xGA 2.98, 4.32 GAA
ALL .810 Sv%, 58 SA, 47 Sv, 11 GA, xGA 6.85, 6.11 GAA
Taking away the fact that NST’s expected metrics are, well, not good (they do not take in to account anything except where a shot came from), as the numbers who, the ballpark here is the same.
That is a very HH level sample size. 1 game, a few minutes when game is out of reach and couple of end of season games that we were resting players.
you have an entire season sample size
One goalie has a quality start in 2/3 games one only in 1/2.
Do you want an ever bigger sample size and go NHL career?
I care about current levels of performance – the goalies have performed on an equatable level recently.
The more I hear people comment about goaltenders on the internet, the more I realize, everyone on the internet is wrong about goaltenders.
Let’s do it Calvin 1 down 3 to go let’s show your peers and the media why you had such a bullish draft pedigree.
I am cautiously smiling today! If we win tonight (and I think we will), especially if we send a message (which I think we will), I see us getting past LA. To top it all off, in an earlier post I shared my fever dream for the road to the SC FInals. It involved beating LA, Minnesota and St Louis to get there. With both Minnesota and St Louis at 2-2 in their series as definite underdogs going in, it may just happen! I am especially emboldened in this vision as St Louis has chased Hellebuyck from the net in two games running… bring on the crazy!!!
What exactly is the rule surrounding fighting in the final minutes of a game that led to Nurse getting suspended those two or three years ago? Or am I misremembering?
https://scoutingtherefs.com/2023/05/39380/oilers-nurse-faces-suspension-after-late-instigator-penalty/
Keep the pressure going Oil!
Funny. Bob Barker won that fight though….the price was not wrong.
This is a true story.
Hellebuyck 5 GA on 18 shots. One of the five an own goal by DeMelo. Chased again. But it is really the Jets play in front of him defensively.
It doesn’t break my heart…
More importantly how did Broberg do today? When is Hollywood due to retun?
Hellebyuck
Dominik Hasek in the regular season
Stuart Skinner in the playoffs
Hellybuyck pulled for the second straight game.
He looks spooked.
If we get passed LA and Vegas, not playing the Jets would be a good thing.
Although also not playing Dallas and Colorado would also be good.
I was thinking more Andre “Red Light” Racicot… my favourite derogatory hockey nickname…
Kershaw-esque
Marc-Andre Fleury, Playoff GSAA, first seven seasons (age 22-28):
-3.8, 14.4 (won Cup), -0.2, -6.9 (!), -2.4, -12.4 (!!), -4.2
Now people believe he’s a HOFer.
Let’s not give up on Stuart Skinner just yet.
Is anybody talking about Kuemper’s .837?
Probably the same people talking about Hellebuyck’s continued postseason struggles. No matter how much you spend on or invest in a goalie or defensive system, no one knows what’ll happen once the playoffs roll around.
If a team plays lousy team defense in front of a goaltender, the goaltender cannot save you.
In the playoffs, who controls the fronts of the nets usually wins. And if one doesn’t control the fronts of the nets, your goaltender is going to “look” bad in terms of save percentage.
Sure, that’s not a statement that I think anyone would argue with. However, I don’t think that counters my point if that was your intention. My point is about how the nature of playoff hockey can undermine even the most stout regular season defenses and goaltenders.
I think your points compliment.
IMO the challenge for EDM is to tighten things up. They can’t score 7 every night. They have given up 6,6,4. Can’t win a Series if that continues. Should be a banger tonight. Let’s go Oilers !!!
Against LA they absolutely can.
“Tighten up” and they’ll lose on lack of production.
Tightening up wouldn’t hurt. But I hear you Oiler should probably win a track meet. On the other hand, haven’t the first three games kinda been a track meet.
I really hope we don’t get Wes McCauley tonight. He really “appears” to have a grudge with the Oilers.
TJ Luxmore and Wes Furlatt are the refs.
The linesmen are Jesse Marquis and David Brisebois.
https://scoutingtherefs.com/2025/04/48442/todays-nhl-referees-and-linespersons-4-27-25/
Is that good?
You can check their records by clicking the link.
Both seem even handed.
Not sure his name, but the ref who wears “6” is consistently brutal
Francis Charron
Tonight’s Ref’s records consistently result in a 62-63% home team winning record over the past 2 years and also slightly lean in favour of the home team side when it comes to PP opportunities.
I will be paying attention to see if this holds true for this game.
Home teams win 57% of the time and ref help is considered part of that.
These two seem to exceed the normal bias.
That’s great to hear.
From:
To:
Both contradictory statements posted eleven minutes apart. So, which is it? Even handed, or in excess of a “normal bias?” Whatever that means…
Didn’t he used to work at CFRN?
Wes Montgomery.
It’s a joke chill out Pickard got this we’re not going to be down 1-0 3 minutes in.
I myself think Pickard has done one hell of a job of fighting his way back into the N.H.L as a minimum wage back-up. This man has the opportunity of a lifetime if he wins tonight his confidence will just keep growing . Edmonton loves a rags to riches story and hopefully Pickard is our Roloson.
Calling league minimum ‘minimum wage’ is pretty hilarious
No kidding! A lot of folks can work 10 yrs and not make 1 years worth of NHL min wage.
He’s about 30% over minimum NHL salaries. So if he was working at Alberta minimum wage he would have to work about 182 hours per day to make that money, 7 days a week, non-stop.
That is a minimum wage job I wouldn’t balk at taking!
I am one that tries to watch, or at least listen, to every game during the regular season. Some are just meh and do not seem to matter that much. Well, we are now at the IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT GAME OF THE YEAR point. Win this one and they have a good chance to advance. Lose this one and the odds are not good.
Oilers button it down and win 4-2!
An argument can be made to take out Frederic – while he seems to be getting stronger by the game, he’s still behind and among the worst forwards in terms of “puck going the right direction”.
I keep Frederic in the lineup…… the upside if he continues to get stronger is real.
If they were to take Frederic out, which I don’t believe happens, simply because he has been noticeably better in each game played. IMO it’s Noah Philp, not Jeff Skinner, that would replace Frederic. A fourth line of (Janmark-Philp-Perry) makes sense. However, it’s worth having a longer look at Trent Frederic presently.
I like the look of Janmark-Philp-Perry.
I think Skinner has upside of scoring 5-10 goals this playoff (if we make it to Round 4).
I also suspect management knows Skinner is gone next year and wants to evaluate Frederic.
The thing is Skinner won’t play in the top six barring injury, and he lacks the physicality required to thrive in the bottom six in the playoffs. Not to mention he doesn’t Penalty Kill.
Jeff Skinner was credited with 5 hits in game 1 (Connor Brown has 3 hits in the series).
Sure.
My presumption is that the coaching staff is icing the lineup that they think has the best chance to win the game on that given night and next year’s roster has zero weight (and management is not providing any direction to play any particular player).
That is my presumption – could be wrong but I would be very surprised.
Pickard is hands-down the better of our two goalies and should take the Oilers as far as they’ll go.
He’s also the goalie they should retain this offseason. I hope the best for Stu Skinner, but his time as a starter in Edmonton is up.
If last season’s playoffs have any precedence Pickard came in for two games, won one and lost the other. After that Skinner took them all the way to game seven of the SCF. I believe It’s Pickard’s game hope he wins.
Pickard is as steady as last season, however Skinner is the one whose game has fallen off a cliff and is incapable of winning a series let alone four of them.
I don’t think the McDavid Oilers can endure Stu’s ups and downs during our championship window.
In the end I blame Jack Campbell for forcing Skinner into the #1 position, a role he had managed with aplomb up until this season. We are duly lucky to have Pickard, who has basically taken Campbell’s job at 20% the salary.
I think it was the same at the start of last season’s playoff run. Pickard came in and won one of two, then Skinner took the reins and didn’t look back. I’m not saying it will happen the same way this season but we’re about to find out.
So, Skinner has managed with aplomb until this season (your words) and you’re ready to flush him?
Tough crowd.
Pickard is no steadier than Skinner.
His last 4 games:
.857
.867 (mop up duty)
.839
.861
Goalies go back and forth. Skinner would be fine as a 1B.
I too want Picks tonight. But I do not want to run Skinner out of town.
Bowman has already said he’s replacing the goaltenders. Pickard is pushing back Skinner folded the tent.
Source?
He has not said that…
I feel bad for skinner. His team did not give him much help this playoffs.
This is made up.
Will see how made up this is this coming Summer.
No, we won’t.
Unless you have seen something not publicly available, the statement is false – that statement says he said he’s replacing the goaltender – to my knowledge, no such statement has been made and that would remain the case even if does that.
Do you have a link? Otherwise, I’ll have to delete your post.
I don’t get why our PK collapses so far back we need to go all out pressure make these bitches pay for having 5 forwards. The Coaching staff needs to be more aggressive and I think they will tonight. I smell a back-breaking shortie.
They’re slow. Missing McLeod and nuge is markedly slower this year… Ekholm and Vinny missed. They had gelled. Too many new pieces on D
Speed doesn’t matter when you’re sitting so low and using that ridiculous T-shaped PK.
It is allegedly meant to stop the pass across. It doesn’t.
It’s so obvious that this childlike formstion is shitting the bed yet they keep doubling down on it. K.K needs to step in and start pressuring instead of collapsing the box and having a shooting gallery for Kempe and Fiala.
Genuinely asking, as I find the mechanics of different tactics fascinating.
What do you prefer, a collapsed box? Or maybe a diamond formation?
How come?
The Oilers play a triangle and 1 up high and then collapse into an overload when the puck is low. This is the way at least 50% of the teams penalty kill
And it is a horrendous trend that needs to die.
I like either the large box pk or something like a modified diamond, but really the important part is a scout of what the other team does as a powerplay. I would have at least 3 basic variations the team would have to know on the PK.
The Kings for instance run a lot of things from behind the net or directly via the point, so you gear to that.
Overall? Puck pressure is the emphasis. It works better than anything else and the effectiveness rises the higher you ascend in hockey. If you only give the other team long, wide passes as a for instance, your goalie can prepare specifically for that and be ahead of the play.
Per Stauff:
The @EdmontonOilers morning skate:
RNH-McDavid-Hyman
Podkolzin-Draisaitl-Arvidsson
Kane-Henrique-Brown
Frederic-Janmark-Perry
Nurse-Bouchard
Walman-Klingberg
Kulak-Emberson
Pickard
Best possible lineup.
I thought maybe stetcher would come in.
Klingberg has looked great. I wouldn’t say it’s a given Stecher could replace Klingberg.
Hey look, Two Mutts were wrong and/or lied again to drive engagement:
https://x.com/TSNRyanRishaug/status/1916529533307728337
Pickard starting. Nothing to see here.
Are the Condors call ups considered Black Aces? That seems to be the debate right now, surrounding the proper usage of the term. If they do have to dress for a game and put up surprising performances in the playoffs with their youth, exuberance, and lack of scouting by opponents, would that not make them the Black Aces?
Just a reminder that your comments must be respectful. That includes fellow posters, but also players. You can’t just call people horrible names on the blog. Please and thanks.
Should go without saying but given the fact you have to say it…… ugh!
Can’t imagine not liking any of the guys. I’ve probably been Stu’s biggest critic on here but find him incredibly likeable and couldn’t be happier if he won the vezina next year and signed an 8 year contract and we don’t talk about goalering for a decade
I don’t think Skinner is that kind of goalie. He’s a $2.6M starter, even if he keeps the solo No. 1 job (unlikely) and plays well the next contract is going to be $5M or so AAV.
If the Oilers are ditching the idea of an inexpensive starter then it’s time to shoot the moon. Skinner+Bouchard for Swayman and something?
This Jonsson goalie they just signed might be the future, but Bowman can’t count on it.
“and something” better be A LOT since Swayman was terrible this year and his contract appears to be toxic at this moment. I’m not sold at all that Swayman is the next big thing and not just the most recent bright shiny fleeting savior in net.
There’s talk Korpisalo wants out of Boston. He’s not happy with his ice time.
Hypothetically, if they were to manage that kind of trade for Swayman, who do they get to replace Bouch? As for the “and something” coming from BOS, I’d be seriously gunning for Mason Lorhei.
Great question. I don’t have the answer. I’d keep Skinner and Bouchard.
Eemil Vinni look promising also as a goalie prospect.
Yeah, but sometimes people repeatedly act like nerf herders.
I understand the frustration with Skinner but cannot, for the life of me, understand any hate directed his way. First, he saved the team from the Campbell fiasco. He is one of the genuinely nicest human beings on the team. One of the good guys. He works hard. He never throws a fit when a teammate is at fault for a goal. He always takes responsibility for terrible play. I just don’t get the hate. I think right now Picks is the better choice because for whatever reason the team plays better in front of him. I have my theories but not really sure why it is. Skinner has the higher ceiling and if this team makes it to the next round it will be Skinners net again at some point. Win and you’re in should be coaches approach until someone proves him otherwise misguided.
If we sign a big dollar goalie, then we better sign a big deal defence first dman, or that goalie will flounder.
Let hope the officials call a fair game.
Lol
The best an Oilers fan can hope for.
It’s something like 12-7 PPOs. Make that even and Oilers probably up 2-1. God forbid contemplating it flipped around altogether.
And yet, fans of other teams have been complaining about the Oilers the opposite way and think we’ve rigged it. Despite the numerous 5-on-3 situations the Kings have had.
Speaking of, MIN got totally jobbed by the refs last night vs VGK. VGK center grabs a MIN DMan off the face off, bull rushes him to the ice, holds him there and the puck goes off the MIN Dman and in the net. DMan never touched the puck…one of the most egregious holding/interference plays possible, and the refs see nothing…..
Watch it here: https://www.nhl.com/video/vgk-min-hertl-scores-goal-against-filip-gustavsson-6371982569112
VGK did lots of crap and got called for one measly penalty in regulation, while MIN got dinged for four.
Least penalized team in the league this year, but not because they don’t commit fouls, they just don’t get called for some reason.
The league is a vampire.
It was Ryan Hartman. Doesn’t make it right but that’s why.
Refs put themselves in such a bad spot when they decide to “let them in play”. They just look so foolish.
And L.A was squawking like it was the end of the world when Leon lightly tied up Kopitar after the face-off on the Bouchard goal.
Controlled aggression is the key. Forecheck and backcheck hard, stay out of the sin bin. And go to the net with the puck!!!
Can’t wait!
The Oilers have been the better 5 on 5 team all series long (generally).
Its special teams that have put the Kings where they are – including PK goaltending.
All Kings’ goals last game were special teams goals. Two PP goals and a 4 on 4 goal.
The Kings scored 4 and Trevor Moore scored a 5v5 goal.
Right – I must have subconsciously flushed that awful awful fourth goal from my memory.
Another must win tonight imo. They need to focus on having to win 1 game in LA, and not have to win 2 there.
Hopefully they don’t need to win game seven in LA. Although it’s doable.
Nope, not controversial for me – I agree he should start tonight.
I remain convinced that his game 3 performance was not dissimilar to Skinner in games 1 and 2. The difference was the Oilers generally played better, in all facets of the game (far from perfect but better) and bailed him out when he let in, by far, the worst goal of the series at an absolutely horrible time.
I hope Pickard is starting game 5.
Do you actually believe the go ahead goal with 23 minutes remaining in game 3 is the same as the winner by Danault with 42 seconds left in game 1. That goal absolutely gutted the team after the miracle on Manchester part 2 which they’re still talking about 43 years later. You won’t here anyone talk about game 1 next year nevermind 40 years from now because Skinner flopped the game.
Yes, I do – I think the 4th goal on Friday was MUCH worse.
I opine that Skinner should have found a way to make that save in game 1 but, of course, there were various circumstances around that goal and it was nearly as weak a goal on the goalie as the one that Pickard leaked (9 seconds after the Oilers tied it up with a depth line goal – NINE).
Bash Pickard all you want but he gives us our best chance to win tonight.
I’m not bashing Pickard any more than I’m bashing Skinner – their performances in their games were highly equatable.
I love Skinner. I think he didn’t get good support. But Pickard is the play here.
Cheap shot by Tkachuk near the end of the lopsided loss yesterday. Hagel got one game suspension so repeat offender Matthew should get 2.
No supplementary discipline.
@FriedgeHNIC
There will be no hearing/supplemental discipline for Matthew Tkachuk
Reasoning as I understand it:
*Force of hit not considered at level of Hagel/Barkov
*No head contact
*Guentzel touched puck
For whatever reason, the NHL values looking after players of his type much more than other types.
This despite the 70s/80s method of dealing with these players no longer being available to the rest of the league.
He’d either already be retired due to repeated major injuries, or have been forced to alter his game significantly. Same with a whole bunch of others. As it should actually be.
Especially as Tkachuk said he’d do it, so it was premeditated, and he changed directions specifically to make the hit, after the puck was long gone. It was a conscious decision to blindside hit a player.
Bingo
Don’t get me wrong I’ll take a win any we can get it but a statement win would be nice. We need to continue to pound Mikey-Doughty-Byfield with Kempe added to that list. The Refs are going to give 1 penalty to Kane so he might as well get his money worth.
This is the main reason you leave Emberson in and maybe run 11-7
4v5 TOI (more than 3min total only)
Darnell Nurse 9.8
Brett Kulak 7.6
Ty Emberson 7.3
Jake Walman 5.7
4v5 xGA/60
Darnell Nurse 17.86
Brett Kulak 8.25
Ty Emberson 9.33
Jake Walman 22.56
4×5 GA/60
Darnell Nurse 30.7
Brett Kulak 7.9
Ty Emberson 16.5
Jake Walman 42.0
Some serious selection bias there are Nurse-Walman play the first shift against LAK’s 5F until which is great.
That said, the Kulak-Emberson pair’s results are so much better I don’t think you can take him out.
If EDM is losing this series due to 4v5 GA (and they are), then fixing PK1 Dpairs is job #1
I noticed that last game Nurse was on for the latter part of the pk.. when both goals were scored. I don’t think he was as obviously at fault for the goals like he was in the first few games but he has not been a calming influence there to say the least. And in fact his tendency to flop and take himself out of the play is a big reason for at least a couple of the goals against thus far. I’d leave Emberson in, start he and Kulak on pk. Then maybe go Nurse and Klingberg.. over Walman. Man do we ever miss Ekholm on the pk.
True, that was his second rotation.
Your comment spurred me to look and LAK’s 1st unit is scoring an eyepopping 20 goals/60 and the second unit has scored 2 goals in about 3.5 min for an even more ridiculous 32 goals/60
The PK stinks on ice. Lordy they miss Ek.
Best PK in the playoffs last year, but the 3 of the top 4 on that kill aren’t playing (Ekholm injured, Ceci and Desharnais)
Nurse-Walman pair is echoing the struggles of Nurse-Ekholm in the regular season. The left-shot only pairing in these cases is struggling a lot. Replace Walman with either Kingberg, or as you might be suggesting, Stecher, and leave Kulak-Emberson alone.
Emberson has been consistently good on the PK all season.
Do you put Stecher in for Emberson?
I think PK says no?
Yea but who cares what Subban thinks
Penalty Kill. LOL
Do you put Stecher in for Klingberg?
Not a chance given how Klingberg has played in his two games.
That’s what I thought too.
Just win!
This^
This runs counter to my intuition.
We don’t know the full extent of his rehab, and if he’s going to be able to maintain anything resembling his peak form upon arrival after being set loose from SJS. That is an impact player; a definitive power forward. Like top-4 RHD, you just don’t get an opportunity to grab one of those players for only money (and at a reasonable AAV, mind).
Should Bowman the Younger want to move on from Evander, the best time to do so is next year’s trade deadline when the return will be at a premium. Every GM wants a player like that to bolster their ranks for a playoff run. Which is a strong indicator to keep him (depending on potential assets in return) in and of itself.
I like Evander and I don’t necessarily want to see him gone, but a decent playoffs by him gives the Oilers the option of moving him this summer without a sweetener.
Move him at the next deadline, if you must. He’ll command a premium even if he has an average season due to market prices and player type. With the upcoming increase in cap his already fair AAV will be a bargain.
Again, all reasons to keep him for the playoffs and let him walk as a UFA.
Unless it’s a legendary offer Bowman can’t refuse, of course.
Keep him. Keep him keep him.
Morning LT, nice article
As for goaltending, I’m in the camp of if you can get better you do it. Fuhr said Stu is still young, but the question remains that next season is 9 seasons post draft, at what point does he figure it out? I think high end goalies have by then, and that’s what you want
The D needs to be balanced better and ideally has no soft spots, for the first time in a long time. I liked Emberson’s stats when they got him, but think his style and size aren’t going to work long run. They also need bigger D if they are not high skill players, able to bring a harder physical game without running around, Kulak, Emb and Stecher aren’t that. Emberson tries but takes the worst of it. I suppose Stecher as well. The Oiler defensive zone needs to become a far more unfriendly place to be
If Klingberg can fully recover his skating I wouldn’t mind him back, but not if he doesn’t. I also think that a lot of the issues with D, outside of Nurse losing focus frequently and dramatically, is related to the forwards when they don’t support well enough
The bottom 6 needs a retool. It needs to be bigger, faster, and able to play a physical brand. So that the top 6 don’t feel the need to bring that as much. They need those two RS C on the team if they can make it, I think Philp can do it if given enough of a chance
They also need more speed down the middle, or at least current capability. Nuge and Henrique can’t do it 82 plus playoffs at a high enough level. They need to find 4 lines that can push consistently in their own way, and back pressure game in and out. As it stands I think Bowman ‘can’ make these tweaks, first time in a while I think that way about the GM. Whether he does or can try to pressure some movement clauses who knows, or what his higher ups think
Knoblauch isn’t a bad coach, but if Bowman can upgrade there you have to do it. Other teams have recently. Having Connor and Leo demands the best of everything you can get. The reason they stand Cup less as I see it is the inability of management to do just that. They’ve wasted a decade, there isn’t more daylight to burn
Gonna be a long day…. Let them have it fellas
Good post. I left my thoughts on goaltending in my post below so won’t repeat here. I actually think the defense corp is good enough, when healthy, and agree a lot of the problems with all of these goals allowed of the rush, lays at the feet of the forwards lack of commitment to come back hard and disrupt the rush, allowing the defense to stand up more.
Agree, they need to change up the mix at forward. Get faster, bigger, and younger. Regardless of what I think of the Frederic trade, he may be a guy to sign for bottom six duty. Bring up Philip and Savoie. I’d keep Kane and look at moving Arvidsson, Henrique. I wouldn’t bring back Brown or Perry although I love what he has brought this year. Wouldn’t bring back JSkinner unless we fire the coach. Even then, I probably wouldn’t.
Oh yeah, I’d fire the coach. Too much under achieving from across the roster this year to think that Knoblach is the answer. This roster should not be a third place team fighting for their playoff lives
So that begs the question – given the conmnection with Bowman, are you advocating for Joe Q as the next coach? Discuss.
It’s a touchy issue for a few here. I take a more nuanced view, but also don’t believe in letting folks off of accountability. Do we want the 3rd year NHL coach, or one at the top of the all time list? Vegas straight up decided they wanted Cassidy who has a higher W% than most, St Louis the same decision
When a top coach is available you jump, there aren’t many. My only concern is that he’s no spring chicken. Lots of Oiler fans haven’t seen what great players with a great coach looks like with their team. I think there is a difference having seen it. I think hte coach has to match the drive and character of the players, drive not meaning just working hard
MacT was the last Oiler coach that made his team better than it’s roster getting them to the finals. He has that drive and attitude, ask Harvey the Hound. But they didn’t have the horses others did, now we have them
Why not Gerrard Gallant?
And improve on the other GG and a DS while they’re at it.
— undefeated in games watched game won I’m not sure if I can take one for the team tonight
— plus I added secret potion of jack and diets
— Win tonight and we have a series.
— The key is how the injured and not playing lots of games will do playing after only a day off.
Kinger! You better be watching the game tonight! That’s all I have to say.
Play hard, stay out of the sin bin and I think they will win.
They need to come out flying and whoever starts in goal can’t let in any softies. ( It should be Pickard)
Go Oilers Go
It will be interesting to see what Bowman does with the goaltending situation. Through the season, I was of the opinion that they should get a 1B tender that would push Skinner for starts. Roughly a 50/50 split. Now I think we need to get someone who can carry the mail as the starter for next season. Skinner seems like he’s lost his confidence. Maybe next year as a back up could give him the rebuild he needs. His contract is low enough that being a back up is acceptable for next season. What if we gave him the Pickard treatment? Start 30 or 35 games against lower competition. Teams they should beat most of the time regardless of goaltending. At the end of next season, could likely resign him to another reasonable contract regardless of his results as a backup. Say another two or three years for under 3 mill per. If he has a good season, maybe his confidence recovers and you try him as a 3 million dollar starter again in 2026-2027 season.
Question becomes, who can we get as a legitimate starting goalie for next season? I still think John Gibson is young enough to be the answer. Two more years on his contract coming off a really good season for a terrible Ducks team. Although he wasn’t the starting goalie so there is risk involved and the Ducks would likely have to retain salary so we could fit him in. Who else is out there?
In terms of not old with some high end track record probably Swayman as LT says. The Bruins are weird. For 1A Stolarz is interesting but under contract for a year. Great SV% last two seasons. He does seem to get hurt a lot though, maybe because he’s so big
Yes, Swayman would be great but if you are doing that, no need to keep Skinner around. Swayman would be the starter and under contract for many years. You could trade Skinner and keep Pickard in that scenario.
Stolarz is signed for 1 more year for cheap. I don’t think the Leafs would trade him
If you trade for Swayman, you’d better be right. Get that wrong and you put a big giant nail in the coffin of the McD window.
Skinner is a year away from being a UFA. The Oilers pretty much have to make a decision on him in two months.
He doesn’t have much or any trade value now, so why not build him back up as a backup in his UFA year? Worst case scenario, he flops and still has no trade value. Best case, he rebuilds his confidence and regains the starters job the following year after signing another team friendly contract
I’d enter into talks and see how cheap you can sign him for after this season. And would run him back up if possible.
Gibson hasn’t been any good for like six seasons, this year’s uptick in results — as a backup to Dostal, playing largely against weak competition — be damned.
Absent a big trade for one of the Russians from NY, Swayman from BOS, or taking an outright gamble on UPL from BUF, I don’t see a clear cut move to get an upgrade that’s feasable. Maybe Elvis in CBJ?
Gavin McKenna earned five assists in last night’s win for the Hat.
His point streak is now 51 games, passing Alexander Radulov for the longest CHL streak (reg/playoffs combined) this century.
129 points in that span. Incredible.
Watched that game. That kid is so good. He really is the next one.
Prospectic!
London and Barrie return to action this afternoon.
The Knights are the only undefeated team in the CHL playoffs, having reeled off nine straight wins. O’Reilly’s point streak is at 18 games, while Nicholl got off the schneid with an apple in Game 1.
The Colts lost their opener, surrendering home-ice advantage. Neither Akey nor Wakely found the scoresheet.
London (O’Reilly, Nicholl) @ 2 p.m.
Barrie (Akey, Wakely) @ 4 p.m.
Both times, as usual, are Foremost time.
As expected we started Skinner and dug ourselves a big hole
Given Pickard’s performance in game 3 was, essentially, in line with Skinner’s performance in games 1 and 2, it probably wouldn’t have made a difference.
The only problem I have with this, is you give our defense a pass. They were every bit as culpable.
Going back to Skinner for game 4 is an all or nothing move if your the coach. If he has a great game and the Oilers win, you’re a genius. If he flops and we lose, may as well pack your bags imo.
Do you take the average yet fun-caring-laughs at your jokes girl to the dance are do you go with the superfical looking that is a drag to be around girl. L.A Aren’t the 1982 Islanders we don’t need a stand on your head goalie all we need is a steady eddy performance to beat these clowns.
You obviously take the hot girl and put up with the drama.
Depends which one has the bigger . . . never mind.
Like with goalies, I would argue “production” is the key stat… read that how you will.
If Skinner flukes a win Ok but what in the world makes anyone think Pickard can’t win especially as he’s the only Oiler goalie so far this year who has a W in the playoffs?
All Skinner has done so far is lose two games and demoralize the team to the point that he might as well pack his bags because unless he’s gone next year McDavid is insane to want to waste any more of what is left of his career in Edmonton.
I think they keep Pickard in until he loses. Win & you’re in.
I’d love to see him win the next three straight and start in round two.
Quit worrying about scoring goals on the pk and just kill the damn thing
I don’t know. If the Kings put 5 forwards out to start the PP, I would put out McDavid, Draisaitl, Bouchard, and Nurse.