A Mountain Cascade

by Lowetide

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krakman

Winnipeg has the same issue as toronto their top players have no heart. They gave up when dallas scored the 3rd goal thats weak you’ll never win in the playoffs with that effort

Death By Misadventure

I’ve read that Drai is injured a couple times now, is he? Has something been said by a reliable source? When did it happen?

Also is Arvi injured or just sitting due to performance?

90s fan

I don’t know that he’s a 100%, but don’t know if say he’s injured. Rest would be nice.

Mirakodus

Based on Knob’s recent interview, it seems they wanted to make a change and narrowed down to him prioritizing keeping others in due to role (special teams, etc). He explicitly said it’s not performance based.

Shane

Well he did miss the last what? Eleven games of the regular season?

Skippy - the bush kangaroo

Winnipeg wouldn’t have this issue if their GM would just address the teams need in goal.

90s fan

Ha!

yeraslob

So Dallas got their wounded back today.

danny

Dallas fans were chanting USA USA USA near the end of the game tonight versus Winnipeg. Can’t say I ever remember that happening in an NHL game before. Hopefully we don’t hear that nonsense in the conference finals.

Ranford.85

Panthers fans did the same two nights ago and I would assume it’s heard for as long as there’s a Canadian team still kicking. I’ve also noticed goalie chants are crazy this playoffs, or just more so than years past.

yeraslob

Springsteen reference!

Reja

So if the the Oilers and Stars win out when would our series start? I’m guessing a day after the Florida 7 game series ends in OT

90s fan

Come on jets. Show some fight.

Tarkus

Summarizing!

Nicholl garnered an apple but O’Reilly was held soupless as London prevailed 6-2. The Knights lead the series 3-1 and can clinch the OHL title on home ice.

Prospecting takes a break until Thor’s Day.

Chelios is a Dinosaur

Kyle Connor is the Ales Hemsky of the 2020s?

Last edited 23 days ago by Chelios is a Dinosaur
Ranford.85

Don’t think Hemsky every came close to 40 goals.

Chelios is a Dinosaur

While Hemsky was certainly more of a set-up guy than Connor, upon further review he sure didn’t score nearly as much as I remember. Several injury shortened seasons as well. Was more thinking of skating style, frame, and under-rated-ness. Plucky Canadian prairie teams with some playoff appearances but well short of glory.

Chelios is a Dinosaur

Other than 2006 which was, well… short of glory.

yeraslob

On the flip side, can Kyle Connor stickhandle in a phone booth?

Neumann

Similar frame and stride makes them a good comparable. Big difference is Connor shoots the puck.

Reja

It’s too bad the Jets don’t have Dale Hawerchuk what a underrated fantastic player. He was all heart it took everything we had to beat those Jets back in the heyday.

OriginalPouzar

Going to need Connor H. to have himself a road playoff performance so these teams can bash each other for 7 games.

Chelios is a Dinosaur

Not looking good.

rockinghockey

LT Oilers are looking great.

What does EDM do with Bouchard next year?
They only have 8-10 million in cap space, they still need to fill out their roster and sign Bouchard?
i just don’t see how they can fillout their roster tone competitive and sign Bouchard?

RENNAVATE

You trade Nurse.

ArmchairGM

As much as I love Nurse and don’t think that’s realistic, I’m really liking what I’m seeing from Kulak and Walman right now – and we know what Ekholm is capable of. That’s 3 lefties already. There’s some wisdom in your suggestion.

leadfarmer

You probably beg Arvidsson to waive or you trade Kane. Kane is gonna want one more big contract that we can’t give him.

leadfarmer

Or always a chance which I don’t like but buy out Arvidsson saves 2.67 mil next year and kicks the 1.3 mil penalty into the following year

ArmchairGM

Please, no more buyouts.

leadfarmer

Completely agree. But once again we are in a cap jam. We didn’t want a soupy buyout either but knew it was coming

90s fan

Jeff Skinner, Klingberg, and the extra cash from our buyout costs should come close to covering the raise. The rise in cap covers drais raise with some pennies to spare. We will be fine, but no big contract goalie coming this way without a trade

OriginalPouzar

Klingberg needs to be replaced – he’s currently 2RD – although we do have Nurse/Ek/Walman/Kulak on the left.

90s fan

And bouch Emberson stretcher on the right.

90s fan

Finding a way to relieve ourselves of Arvis contract would be ideal.

ArmchairGM

Klinger doesn’t need to be replaced. The only reason he got a shot at the top-4 was because Ekholm was injured.

Scungilli Slushy

NMC’s are not a bar to a trade, it’s just more complicated. Buyouts are for unplayable players, not tradeable players. At least for a competent GM

donkeyboy

They have $10.6M with nearly a full roster.

Lutefisk

Was it the G-Man or was the K-Man who said

The right man in the wrong place can make all the difference in the world

RENNAVATE

Love to see a Half-Life reference here.

Fuhr and Lowething in Vegreville

Half life is how I met my wife and ended up living in the U.S.

So, yes.

Bad Seed

One might say that the best acquisition this year might be Stan Bowman.

Reja

When is the last G.M to win a Cup in his 1st year?

anti-Trust Issues

Stan Bowman

dangilitis

How’s this for offense through 10 GP in P/GP (regular season P/GP):
1 McDavid 1.7 (1.49)
2 Draisaitl 1.5 (1.49)
3 Bouch 1.2 (0.82)
4 Nuge 0.9 (0.63)
5 Hyman 0.8 (0.6)
6 Kane 0.78 (n/a)
7 Perry 0.7 (0.37)
8 Brown 0.7 (0.37)
9 Podz 0.6 (0.29)

Let’s do 5v5 points per 60 through 10 playoff games (regular season P/60):
1 McDavid 3.66 (2.65)
2 Podkolzin 3.31 (1.43)
3 Kane 2.99 (n/a)
4 Draisaitl 2.68 (2.74)
5 Arvidsson 2.49 (1.36)
6 Brown 2.39 (1.6)
7 Perry 2.18 (1.45)
8 Bouchard 2.07 (1.3)
9 Janmark 1.96 (0.92)
10 Henrique 1.95 (1.07)
11 Hyman 1.91 (1.67)
12 RNH 1.80 (1.24)

By comparison, in the regular season, only 3 players, McDavid, Draisaitl, and Skinner, had more than 1.7 P/60 (Skinner had 5.44 P/60 in game 1, but I excluded him for obvious reasons)

Last edited 23 days ago by dangilitis
Harpers Hair

Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson among others reinstated by MLB and now eligible goth the Hall of Fame.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/45115659/pete-rose-shoeless-joe-jackson-players-reinstated-mlb

kinger_OIL

— so happy for the legacy of Pete Rose. I’ve read everything on it and always believed he deserved to be (I’ve read all the reports downloaded them so this isn’t a “snippet” take). Despite his failings.

— Glad MLB finally came to the “just” take

— one day I will tell my Pete Rose + Hector Macho Comacho encounter in Vegas

kinger_OIL

— Further the “roid” players Bond McGwire Sosa Clemons : they too should be in HoF:

— Steroids was not illegal in Baseball during most of their careers.

— baseball benefited greatly from the roid era and implicitly approved it

Reja

They did allow all the players ripped on Cocaine Tim Raines etc.

DevilsLettuce

Bonds was a HOF before the scientific juices added in.

kinger_OIL

— Yup – MLB started testing for this additive in 2003. They were all in steroid use in a golden era of chasing home runs. Everyone knew and loved it. Those HR derbies and chases to 50 Sosa McGwire, Bonds breaking HR record: everyone in the sport was on the take making money.

— Ben Johnson took steroids. So did every other sprinter in that final it’s been well documented since.

— I’m not a fan of fake puritan beliefs and selective enforcement after the fact

Last edited 23 days ago by kinger_OIL
Reja

They sure should of did this years ago and he should of have had his moment in Copperstown as the greatest hitter ever.

Moonlight

Wow

Lewis Grant

From what I understand, Pete Rose was banned from baseball primarily because he sole counterfeit “game-worn” merchandise in order to cover his gambling debts.

Shoeless Joe, on the other hand, probably should have been reinstated long ago. His OPS was 1.100 in the 1919 World Series.

Lewis Grant

The legalization (and social normalization) of sports betting is surely related to this.

IMO, it’s a poor reflection on where we are headed. (Gambling addiction is skyrocketing among the young/poor, not to mention the threats to the integrity of the game.)

anti-Trust Issues

St. Kulak, who art on defense,
Steady be thy game.
Thy first pass come,
Thy breakout done,
On home ice as it is on the road
Give us this day a clean zone exit,
And forgive us our turnovers,
As we forgive those who forecheck against us.
And lead us not into giveaways,
But deliver us from odd-man rushes.
For thine is the skating, the gap control,
And the calm under pressure,
Forever and ever,
Amen.

DevilsLettuce

Kulak took your crush to the 50 cent theater, she enjoyed his popcorn.

kinger_OIL

— how does this get so many down votes?

anti-Trust Issues

Lots of Kulak haters I suppose

Lewis Grant

Blasphemy?

dangilitis

Having depth in your regular lines and pairings is one thing. Having depth beyond that in your reserves is another.

Being able to throw in players “off the bench” against differing opponents is something we see in NBA e.g. running a “small ball” lineup, but not many NHL teams have that luxury of throwing in players with different strengths to capitalize on different strategies.

Kapanen, Skinner, Savoie, Ryan, Philp, and Jones all bring different elements and the first 3 players could each reasonably fill in as a top 9 forward. Maybe Savoie would be in the deep end, but not far fetched.

D isn’t as deep, but if we count that Ekholm is possibly capable of returning, having Emberson and Stecher as reserves would also be great depth.

OriginalPouzar

Berezkin with Loco’s lone goal in a 2-1 loss today.

anti-Trust Issues

I did not predict Kane would be as big of a factor as he has been this postseason. I thought he would still have value if he was a bottom 6 winger who could stir the pot and forecheck like hell, but man he has been unreal this postseason.

To drop right into a playoff run after not having played a game in a year is surprising.

Evander I should have never doubted you. Him immediately popping his helmet off and looking for a dance partner after the scrum in the corner after he got cross-checked into Hill was great.

Henrique has had quiet stretches but last night’s game showed he has a lot of skill and is an underrated offensive player. He got some looks on the PP late in the year and looked good, maybe it helped him rediscover something. He’s a great fit with Brown particularly (although with how they’re playing Brown and Kane would be a good fit for any C on the roster lol)

dangilitis

I was pretty confident in Kaner

dangilitis

Reply to  OriginalPouzar

 April 22, 2025 5:03 pm

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

But, then again, after game 2 round 1, I was ready to trade half the roster, so I am not the most credible supporter lol

anti-Trust Issues

Good for you lol

dangilitis

I was actually wrong. He’s been responsible defensively, as well 😉
Forgot how clever he is at relieving pressure with a nicely weighted clear that lands shy of the goal line and definitely putting in effort on the back check.

kinger_OIL

— how do you do “searches” on posts (or do you just save all your entries?!

dangilitis

I just remember the day I posted in, because it was just prior to his return. No saving, and don’t know how else to find old posts.

leadfarmer

Google it. Put in lowetide and your username and what it was regards to and you can find it

Reja

Every penalty he’s recieved was because of his reputation. I’m super impressed how smart he’s playing also as a team leader. He wants this Cup as bad as Leon-Connor

ArmchairGM

So it turns out when the team plays tight defensive hockey the goalie looks pretty good, when they play loose like Crazy horse at the Filmore he doesn’t.

Who knew.

DevilsLettuce

Skinner was not flubbing pucks, playing skinny, nor losing the net behind him. Yes the team played much better infront of him, but let’s not act like Skinner didn’t improve his own personal game just as much if not more between games 3 and 4.

ArmchairGM

I noticed him standing more too rather than defaulting to his knees whenever the puck was in the D zone – better to see the shot sooner.

Last edited 23 days ago by ArmchairGM
DevilsLettuce

Henrique had a regular season that completely deflated me on the player, looked absolutely disinterested and almost Foegele level of pouting in his role.

What a playoffs Henrique is having, a complete turn around. The goal of the series so far with the celebration that has TMac calling up Yakupov to give him shit one last time.

Kudos Henrique.

Last edited 23 days ago by DevilsLettuce
Reja

It’s to bad he was hurt last playoff Henrique is at the age where regular season mean squat. It’s all about the playoffs he knows he’s a depth player that needs to be a threat to score. You can’t make it through 4 rounds without a positive net 3rd line and a functional 4th.

anti-Trust Issues

I got flamed after G3 for saying I thought Skinner was okay and I was optimistic that he built some confidence with some good moments.

Obviously the team played a much better game in front of him but he looked better than he has in a while (months?)

Hope he can keep it up, even if he cedes the crease to Pickard when he’s healthy

rev.hans

I’m with you. Skinner was fine in Game 3. Made some huge saves that kept it close in the third. Was much better/ more confident in Game 4. It is, after all, “his game.” Skinner-hating makes no sense to me.

smellyglove

Posted this last night, but do you know why the Oil are up 3-1 in round 2?

Wahlman 15-3 ES GF-GA
Kane ~66% xGF ES

finn_fann

Wahlman might turn out to be Bowman’s Ekholm. What a great in-season addition

DexandRuby

Imagine being a prospect in the king system today. I am curious to see what La will do this off season. I hope they blow their load on someone like Nikolai ehlers, and the Barry Bonds of hockey from Florida which will create no playing time for Clarke òr Spencè

Reja

Holland will sign proven free agents and will trade all futures to win now mode. I see St.Louis (Armstrong) and Detroit ( Yzerman) benefiting from Hollands urgency. I also expect to see his Son within the L.A organization as a replacement just like I believe he had planned in Edmonton.

tapper

Goal 2 highlight is kinda hilarious. Knee-slide cellies for 3 guys on one side of the ice, oblivious to Kane (then Nurse) taking on 6 Vegas players on the other side.

leadfarmer

Can’t wait for Bouch to sign a extension so he can go back to “sucking”

SVR

I wonder if there were any contact talks during the season. Might have been able to get him under 10. Not likely now if he keeps doing what he does in the playoffs

90s fan

Tongue in cheek?

What’ll really get your goat is the Skinner extension.

Last edited 23 days ago by 90s fan
leadfarmer

HHism. Bouch sucks, but now he needs a contract so he’s gonna get offersheeted for huge money, and then he sucks again when he’s signed long term.

Side

Bouchard’s evolution through the eyes of HH from what I recall

“Terrible pick, the Oilers drafted the wrong D”

“Don’t get your hopes up about Bouchard. Elite D show themselves early and Bouchard is not elite”

“Bouchard is sitting because he is not an NHL defenseman. Ty Smith passed him like a house on the side of the road and my money is on Juuso Valimaki being the better player”

“Oilers really overpaid Bouchard. He is not an NHL player”

“Oilers really underpaid Bouchard – they should have locked him up long term”

“Bouchard will want extra money on his next contract because the Oilers nickel and dimed him and he wants to catch up to his peers financially”

“Bouchard is not elite”

“The Oilers are stupid for thinking of paying Bouchard at his elite production – they can’t afford him”

“The Oilers will be stupid if they let Bouchard go on an offer sheet and will be stupid if they match”

90s fan

HHism. Nice.

Whaler Slamamoto

Amazing game by the Oilers! Like clockwork, HH is here in full force projecting whatever negatives he can find. It’s a miserable time for a troll! WOOOOOOOooaoaooaoaoaoaoao!!!

OriginalPouzar

Ummmmmmm……

Ryan Rishaug

@TSNRyanRishaug

Knoblauch says Ekholm may be available next series. He’s been taking light skates.

Pickard day to day.

Boil-in-the-Oil

So let’s say Stu is in goal and wins this series… in the mean time Pickard recovers to 100%… who starts the next series? How tough is that decision and will it affect the confidence of the non-starter? Two competitive goalies, what a (wonderful) problem to have!

Tarkus

Easy. Games 1-3 go to Pickard. Skinner for the balance.

I say this only partly in jest.

Dee Dee

In hockey you ride the nag until it drops, then you put the other one in.

Skinner plays until he loses, then the some for Pick.

godot10

Todd Nelson has a 1A 1B this year in Hershey. 1A won game one (best of five) and lost game two and game three. Nelson played 1B in the first elimination game to tie the series, and went back to 1A in winner-take-all game 5, to win his ninth straight playoff series victory in Hershey.

LMHF#1

Should be Cal, for the same reason it should have been him round 1 game 1.

Will be Skinner, for the same reason it was him round 1 game 1.

DevilsLettuce

It’s Stu’s net until he falters if Pickard is healthy. Thems the breaks

Benign Bone

Pickard gets games 1-3. Skinner games 4-7. Easy 🙂

Boil-in-the-Oil

Even if Cal wins 3 straight? That would be an awkward pull.

smellyglove

What colour do you think our banners should be at the Stanley Cup parade?

OriginalPouzar

If Oilers win the next game and Skinner is solid-good, I think the choice is clear.

90s fan

Here’s the thing. Coaches throw all the goalie data about necessary rest out the window come playoffs. Noone dares to run a two goalie system in playoffs unless one really struggles.

How many game day off game day offs can a starter handle before play deteriorates due to being tired?

Maybe I’m wrong maybe the data supports the idea that one guy can handle the load. Has anyone looked into this?

MushedPeas

Kane is an absolute load, a key difference maker. Oil shouldn’t have needed his contributions to get past the first round, but without Kane I think they’re golfing already. That series turned sharp, it almost didn’t, and a raging, bullheaded Kane is part of what sent it spinning. And now against nemesis Vegas the beat goes on. Hail Kane!

Last edited 23 days ago by MushedPeas
Death By Misadventure

It’s been said on this blog many times that Kane drags this team into the fight each night. And that is precisely what he is doing now and precisely what was missing during the regular season.

Ryan

Pretty crazy how KK found a way to shut down the imposing Eichel line by matching them against an injured Draisaitl, Kapanen who hadn’t been playing and Podkolzin.

https://oilersnation.com/news/oilers-vs-golden-knights-game-4-tactical-review

Romanski

Pure brilliance! Who else would have thought of this?

How many times has he made adjustments that seem questionable, but work perfectly? He did it in every series last year and he seems to have the magic touch again.

Ryan

Yeah, KK often has a few more levers to pull than prior Oilers coaches.

It’s refreshing.

From Todd McLellan on to Woodcroft, it’s mostly been shorten the bench and ride 29 and 97 hard.

Cassidy is a pretty sharp tactician and it was an impressive coaching adjustment.

The need for a guy with speed to forecheck had been mentioned a few places prior to that.

Reja

Eichel was having himself a series the best you can hope for is to contain him which they did so well last night. He’s a great hockey player and after making him virtually invisible he still managed to smoke one of the crossbar on the PP.

LMHF#1

Leon looks ill out there, rather than injured. Movements have been just fine. Would explain a lot.

OriginalPouzar

Drai has done media 3 times over the last couple of games (I think) – doesn’t sound or look ill.

DevilsLettuce

KK is one hell of a coach

Last edited 23 days ago by DevilsLettuce
anti-Trust Issues

I have shat on his decision-making and lineup decisions at times, but he does have some inspired moments.

Last night’s moves were great – I’ve wanted to see Kulak-Bouchard Nurse-Stetcher for awhile and I’d like to stay with this D until Ekholm is back (barring any breakdowns or awful performances that warrant another switch.

But Kapanen with 29 and 92 was something I never would have thought worked, and it did! If Kapanen’s hands were half as fast as his feet he’d be a superstar, but he was effective because his strengths lined up with what the line needs. I do worry a bit about their ability to score as a unit but for the time being it looks like it can be an effective possession unit that can make life difficult for Vegas’s best forward.

Reja

I love the fact they’re as a group targeting Pietrangelo every opportunity to hit that dirty sob. I’m a little surprised Vegas hasn’t had more pushback physically I do think they have the injury bug coming out of that tough Wild series.

Ryan

Perry took a pretty heavy cross check on the power play from McNabb, I think. He didn’t play many minutes. I hope he’s alright.

anti-Trust Issues

McNabb and Roy in a competition to see who can get to 100 crosschecks first this postseason….

Tarkus

Samanski scores his 2nd of the tourney in a 5-2 win.

Played 18:19, 2nd among German forwards, just behind Stutzle.

donkeyboy

Wow, that is excellent!

Tarkus

Goal sequence begins at 1:23:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xAE_83Y-EA

Durag

Am I the only one who loves checking on the lower-tier IIHF tourneys?

Big story is Uzbekistan in their first ever tournament winning Division 4 (8th tier). They dropped a 3-2 heartbreaker in a shootout to Armenia, but rallied to score double digits in winning all 4 of their other games. Exclamation point was a 26-1 debacle over Indonesia en route to a +69 goal difference for the tourney.

Keep an eye on the Uzbeks! Honourable mention to Mexico for winning Div 3B on home ice. Gotta feel good for fans of Mexican hockey.

Last edited 23 days ago by Durag
dsr29

My father was the coach of the Mexican national team in the 2000. Quite the gig back then. Competed in Belgrade for their divisions world championships.

Durag

That’s awesome! It’s cool to see how many countries not only have national hockey programs, but have had them for a long time.

Last edited 23 days ago by Durag
jimmers

Awesome for the Uzbeks!

And some forgotten propaganda for those of us of a certain age: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hCCCRAcTAA

Tarkus

Did that air before or after that beloved sitcom “Hey Giorgy”?

jimmers

It was about the same time. There was a season with a few skits on these themes, including the new Soviet Mini-Cam and Giorgy. 1983 maybe?

dimestore saint

I feel an honorable mention needs to be made for Frederic dropping the gloves and going 12 rounds with a monster of a man.

Reja

Especially with a sore beak after the cross-check by Roy. This man needs to be signed he’s only going to get better he does his job smartly.

Boil-in-the-Oil

Certainly hope he’s not damaged, they both launched a ton of blows; lots to the helmet but some landed clean… Fredric absorbed a big one right near the end of their battle. Bruised but not broken!?

dimestore saint

Sure hope so! I admit I am not overly familiar with Frederic but looked like he wasn’t feeling any ill effects, at least during the game. Might be a different story once the adrenalin wears off tho.

anti-Trust Issues

Yeah he looked reluctant to go at first (understandably) but after he got punched in the face a few times he refused to Daniel Sedin it

Hopefully he finds the scoresheet soon

kinger_OIL

— the concerns about the health of Kane Klinberg Fred 6th/7th D and the lack of ideal prep being a worry going into playoffs has been answered

— Drai not Drai’ing and Pickard hopefully comes back healthy. McD picking his spots

— Any reservations about the fitness of this team to win the Cup have been removed.

— That was a statement win. For G and team.

— This team is legit and it’s the best chance to win Cup since Kinger was a little boy.

LFGOILERS!!!!

* whispers: they can win it all.

anti-Trust Issues

They need to string together a couple of games with that kind of effort. Hope they can close out the series in 5 and give everyone a chance to get healthy

flyfish1168

The refs lost control of hill last evening. I counted at least 4 wacks and one roughing the player that he should have been called. The most egregious was this roughing on Zack. Maybe it is a good thing the refs let it go, and Hill kept adding to his misery.

Durag

I honestly thought Skinner was going to have to come down and drop the gloves with Hill the way things were going.

finn_fann

Honestly, I think the oilers were fine with it. It was clear they were getting in his head. Hopefully they can fire him up next game and he leaks in a few goals for us early

anti-Trust Issues

Yeah the Oilers looked like the more composed team which I wasn’t suspecting after G3 – what a performance.

dcsj

That was a whale of a game last night. I was so pumped I had trouble getting to sleep! Kept rerunning the highlights in my head!

blainer

Man that first period last night was insane. The oilers were just a mean heaving hitting and at times dirty team. We were finally that team that we have complained about for years. Janmark taking out Hill was a Tkachuck type of move. Kane and Hyman also drove Hill and their defense crazy. We keep playing like this and the cup is ours this year!!

cowboy bill

It could be argued Hill put his skate out to make contact with Janmark. Kane was cross checked into Hill. Oilers were certainly out to bully the Knights but in a controlled manner, unlike VGK’s goaltender, who was obviously told to chill out.

Reja

He stuck out his leg and took a dive. He suckered in the Refs and got the penalty call. He’s doing whatever it takes to win only problem is the Refs may be on to him. When your a Stanley Cup champion goalie you do get the benifit of the doubt but this was Billy Smith obvious.

dimestore saint

100% this. I couldn’t understand why no one on the broadcast was mentioning it. Absolutely looked to me from the net cam angle that Hill stuck his foot out as Janmark was doing his flyby. I admit Janny was in the blue but Hill instigated.

jdhardy

Not sure about Sportsnet but they showed & discussed it a few times on the TNT broadcast, same with Kane getting crosschecked. Biz even called out the refs “for trying to keep Vegas in it” during the intermission.

anti-Trust Issues

Kane was absolutely crosschecked into hill. Hill absolutely DID NOT initiate contact with Janmark. Janmark was being cheeky and stirring the pot, and I
m 100% here for it

DevilsLettuce

Hill literally stuck his skate out to trip Janmark and fell on his ass. We’ve all seen the tape, gaslighting won’t change that.

anti-Trust Issues

Lol after rewatching it again I tend to agree actually – I just watched the highlights again and I missed that last night

Pretendergast

And bullying Pietro trying to bait him into another Bunyan. Not like Wes would’ve called it.

Kaner whipping off the helmet after he saw 3 Knights coming after him is why you pay for that kind of guy. Worth the price of admission. Hill on tilt was a sight.

Was also hilarious to see Wheeler have to praise him on the panel when his leadership core was the reason Kane got thrown out of Winnipeg (with his track suit).

Jethro Tull

Janmark didn’t take out Hill. Janny did a fly by a little too close and Hill stuck his foot out. The rest was a shit show.

dustrock

I agree on Kane being MOTM. There are not many players in the entire league who can affect a game like him when he’s healthy.

I appreciate the Oilers bringing intensity but, to me a biased fan, staying on the line of cheap shots. Kane did nothing wrong, etc.

And kudos to Hyman – the scoring touch isn’t there anymore, but he’s skating like vintage Glenn Anderson out there.

Hitting Pietrangelo every single Gord-damned chance they get is having an effect. I thought he might pass out on the bench at one point.

Ryan

He was certainly wincing after one of the softer looking hits he took and struggling on the bench a bit.

Elgin R

That was from the Nuge shot into his ankle.

DevilsLettuce

Kapanen was taking many beautiful runs at him

OriginalPouzar

3G and 8P in 10 games is solid production for Hyman – goals on par with this regular season and assists way up.

I think Hyman is likely in the 25G-30G range going forward for the next few years.

They do seem to be targeting Pieterangelo and he’s taken a beating this series and his play is showing it (seemingly)

anti-Trust Issues

Re: Hyman I was just about to say that saying “the scoring touch isn’t there anymore” is a bit of an overreaction.

We shouldn’t expect 50G again from him and we shouldn’t judge his performance based in this/future years based on that performance

Sort of like how it was unfair to Eberle that folks constantly griped about him not being to replicate his sophomore season

giddy

Someone pointed out yesterday that Vegas was not wise to engage the Oilers emotionally like they did in the 1st: immediately the Oilers started feasting off it and really gained some major momentum off it. Cassidy must have told them during first intermission to cut that all out, and sure enough they did. Kind of fascinating as you don’t often see a playoff game heat up like that in the first then become rather emotionless for the remainder.

Scungilli Slushy

Getting Kane back and having Frederic Perry Pod Nurse at times, and adding 220lb Walman has this group looking a lot like the 80s Oilers. They can play a skill game and they can play the dirty way. The Knights are big team but I don’t think they can take it to the trenches and come out on top

anonymous

This is the best I’ve ever seen this team post childhood. If they can beat the refs and the other team they have a chance. Maybe if Winnipeg makes it through there will be no funny stuff.

A healthy Kane really could be the key to overcoming the annual Draisaitl injuries. No criticism of Drai, mans a warrior.

Professor Q

Unfortunately we’ve seen what occurs when we’re up against Winnipeg. It is very much funny stuff.

Elgin R

Revenge for the Avco cup loss is coming – if the Jets can make it by Dallas.

anti-Trust Issues

Last year’s team is the best version of the Oilers I’ve seen in my lifetime. This team could top that, which is exciting.

Beats my childhood memories of watching them lose to Dallas and Colorado in the first round every year

Scungilli Slushy

At 7-3 in games the Good Guys currently sport the best record these playoffs. 9 more fellas

Funny Bissonness

Carolina is 7-2. But the Good Guys record is absolutely impressive! And I’m firmly of the belief we could take Carolina if that’s the SCF. As long as Roli Stu and Picks don’t get hurt.

Scungilli Slushy

Missed them thx

anti-Trust Issues

Good think Pickard has already been Marc Andre Bergeron’d and he has time to recover before the SCF lol

Moonlight

In Eichel’s post game, he mentioned Skinner’s puck play with limiting their zone time. Specifically the timing and delay he used before he moved the puck. We laud Pickard’s stick handling, I’d never noticed if Skinner’s was on par. Good for us.

cowboy bill

He must have been working recently on his puck handling.

MushedPeas

I agree, as if anything it’s been a known Stu weakness. Last night he looked capable and decisive

anti-Trust Issues

I think it’s gotta be confidence to make plays with the puck. Probably not something you can improve on enough in a few days/weeks, but being confident, aggressive, and decisive with the puck goes a long way.

OriginalPouzar

Game 5 vs LA
Game 1 vs Vegas
Game 4 vs Vegas

Those were dominant 2-way games by the Oilers.

They haven’t been able to string that type of performance together but, when they are at the top of their game, I don’t imagine there is a team that can beat them without a goalie steal.

Neumann

Absolutely OP. Their three best games of the playoffs.

Neumann

The PK was outstanding last night. Completely frustrated VGK. They are still running the T formation just after zone entry as the puck moves through the point. The top FWD pressures Theodore to one side and forces them downhill (with the goal of not allowing a roll back or cut to the inside). The other FWD splits the ice and reads the cross ice pass and is ready to pressure the point for the drop pass (ala Nuge to Bouch) and the two FWDs continue that cylce until VGK gets set up with Eichel on the halfwall. Last night is where they made a change to a traditional box formation. The most important part of this is the established the “go” or “slide” guy after the pressure is put on Eichel. They are giving up the point a little more to make sure they take care of the pass from Eichel to Stone on the goal line and cutting off the cross ice pass that burned them for two goals in game 2. The second PK in the first was picture perfect!

MushedPeas

I counted maybe eight back doors that didn’t connect, and it was hard to tell which were misses due to pressure on the passer, which were attributable to stick checks by the D, and which were pure horseshoe. Vegas was *very* close to potting a brace there, at the least. Just as Eichel’s wicked wrister off the post was centimeters from being buried top corner.

All credit to the Oilers, who earned every break. It’s just the nature of the game that these things can hang by a thread. This time the dice came up ‘total domination,’ but my the margins are thin…

Neumann

Of course they could score on any PP. They have an exceptional player QBing on the half wall, an extra man, and they were the second best PP during regular season. The Staff adjusted their PK and were better organized so they could put pressure on and have sticks in the lanes. It was much better than the first two games where teh puck was getting through the seams at will.

anti-Trust Issues

Yeah for me a successful night PKing would be to kill 1/4 or to at least kill the big ones late in the game. PPs are so good in the NHL (for the most part) you almost have to assume the other team is going to get a PPG if they have 4 tries.

anti-Trust Issues

Agreed 100%. Vegas have been PP merchants this entire postseason, and last night’s adjustment’s on the PK paid dividends. Also helps to have you goalie make a timely save or two.

And it enables your team to be as aggressive and edgy as they were in the first when you trust your PK/goalie to get the job done.

SoCaloil

Kudos to KK and the coaching staff for making the right adjustments. There are several reasons why I say this.

  • 1. Connor McDavid. In previous games he tried to dance through the D. Not this game – he put the puck in deep and saved it for another sortie. Score effects, sure, but that’s a first regardless.
  • 2. D Shuffle. It’s rather surprising that the most effective D partner for Doc is Troy Stetcher. His game is simple yet effective and that’s what the Doc ordered.
  • 3. Good verbal on Stu from the coach in the in-game interview. You can see KK supports his players even during tough times.
  • 4. Kapanen showed why he belongs in the lineup

Great team win! It’s nice to see them come together and support their goalie. They haven’t done that for Stu until last night.

Something is off w/ Drai. When Kap got called for the slash (weak call), he changed with the puck in the neutral zone w/o possession. It was a surprising decision given the state of play. Hope they get the next one and have a few days to rest.

smellyglove

On #1 totally. CMD was trying to do too much and was getting stifled by VGK system and players. Better to use his elusiveness in different ways, rather than 1v4s, putting him on the PK as a breakaway threat.

judgedrude

I don’t know why it takes so long, but after a few games, the coaching staff makes tactical adjustments to play (and PK in particular), the team has the skill to execute it, and it seems like a different team. I don’t know if this is KK or Coffee, but this is what I’ve noticed the past few years. I wish they could do this earlier in the series, but here we are.

judgedrude

I don’t know why it takes so long, but after a few games, the coaching staff makes tactical adjustments to play (and PK in particular), the team has the skill to execute it, and it seems like a different team. I don’t know if this is KK or Coffee, but this is what I’ve noticed the past few years. I wish they could do this earlier in the series, but here we are.

MushedPeas

I’ve been thinking Doc Stetch a natural pairing for some time, tho I don’t recall anything in the regular season strongly supporting that (sorry if I missed something in the numbers LT’s been posting by and bye). By the same token I don’t think any blue apart from Kulak had particularly sterling seasons, Stetch included (until the very end), and for a time Nurse’s improved play seemed self-sustaining, or partner independent. Until again he got the playoff wobbles.

Gut call I guess. I’d like to see this pairing stick.

anti-Trust Issues

I’m not really surprised that Nurse-Stetcher works as good as it does. Stetcher is a very smart, composed player and anticipates plays very well. He knows he can’t rely on his size or athleticism to win battles, so he uses good body/stick positioning to gain a marginal edge.

That seems like an ideal partner for Nurse, given Nurse’s physical tools, great speed/ability to jump up in the rush/offensive zone, etc.

smellyglove

Panthers co-owner suspended indefinitely over call to make Canada the 51st State:

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/nhl-suspends-florida-panthers-co-owner-douglas-cifu-over-social-media-posts-1.2305103

Pretendergast

It definitely wasn’t just that

anonymous

I’d sure hope not or my crazy uncles long running predictions would be eerily accurate.

dustrock

Ha ha ha no definitely not just the 51st state talk. Cifu is just gross.

donkeyboy
Lewis Grant

Cifu was responding (poorly!) to some disgusting tweets.

“Hey what’s worse, using headshots to win a series or using starvation as a weapon to win a war?”

“you MAGA d*** licker.”

Obviously as an owner he has to avoid taking the bait on social media. But he didn’t start it.

donkeyboy

Your interpretation of this is really really bad.

Shane

So it seems as if those of us who speculated that the team was dogging it(at least a little bit) during the regular season may have been on to something.

This is the team we knew they could be in the playoffs.

Wagon.

rev.hans

“Dogging it” suggests being lazy, which I doubt is your intention.
As I fumbled my way through to understanding WTF was up with this club as they rarely seemed to be 100%, the best explanations I could find were: exhaustion/hangover from SCF Game 7 run, and “load management.”
I know the 82-game season lines the pockets of owners, players, and league. But really, it’s just a prelude to the real season, up to 28 games of intensity and brilliance and heartbreak/jubilation. Do we really need 82 games of foreplay? And now there’s talk of an even longer regular season… Ugh. How many players will decide to coast at 75-80% before the “season that matters?” They are smart to do so.
ps. I’m a big fan of the wisdom of dogs. Unless there’s good reason to race in the heat of the sun, they’re much happier biding their time in the shade. Maybe this is what you mean by “dogging it.” In which, my apologies for suggesting otherwise.

Litke 94

I love Emberson and I think he will be a key component to this team’s blue line in the future, but the addition of Stetcher is immediately noticeable just within your numbers.

Way less blending on the blue, with much more stable pairings. That seems like a very good thing. Additionally, Stetcher picked up an extra 8-9 minutes compared to what Emberson was providing which seems a lot more sustainable for the other 5 guys.

Great work by Stetcher to step into the middle of a major series and immediately make a massive impact!

dessert1111

These pairings looked good and stable for the first time this post season.

If they were going to play Stetcher twice as much than they were willing to play Emberson, I have no idea why it took this long to make that change. I guess don’t mess with a winning streak lineup.

SoCaloil

It was more about the pairings then individual efforts

Nurse and Bouch were not good together. It was more about putting those two with the right partners.

anti-Trust Issues

To be fair Nurse/Bouch had a decent run of performances before G3. I still prefer St. Kulak-Bouchard and Nurse-Stetcher

MushedPeas

Agreed. Both about Stetch’s contribution and maintaining a sustainable workload across the D.

Neumann

15-10 Total Goals EDM
13-7 5v5 Goals EDM
1-0 4v4 Goals EDM
3-1 PP Goals VGK
12-9 PP Opportunities VGK

anti-Trust Issues

The 5v5 numbers are particularly interesting to me, given it’s a reversal of the two teams’ regular seasons