This Stanley Cup Final is an exceptional display of hockey through two games. I think the split in Edmonton fairly represents the quality of play from both sides, and suspect luck has punished and rewarded both teams something close to equally.
The Oilers have some things to clean up (the penalties are going to end their hopes if they continue, and five-on-five outscoring was poor in Game 2) but there are truly good things about the effort by Edmonton through the first two games.
I will linger just a moment to express, once again, that when officials decide not to call a too-many-men penalty (as an example) because they don’t want to impact the series, they do in fact impact the series because they didn’t make an obvious call. Not calling that foul takes the game from hockey to something else. This is the NHL.
THE NUMBERS
Connor McDavid setup Leon Draisaitl on one of the prettiest plays I’ve seen in my life. He is incredible, other-worldly, and capable of doing things no other hockey player has every dreamed out on NHL ice.
He also played 35 minutes last night, and led all skaters in the category. I don’t think the Oilers benefit from running the captain 18 more minutes than the No. 4 center (Mattias Janmark) and suspect part of the problem was Adam Henrique’s playing time is just two minutes more (19 to 17) than Janmark’s last night. Janmark played 3:22 versus Aleksander Barkov, Henrique 3:03. McDavid’s optimal deployment is shy of 35 minutes. Nuge played quite a bit at center, suspect that will continue in Sunrise. He’s better on the wing, but the absence of alternatives clears the mind.
I thought Stuart Skinner had a strong game, and the OT GA isn’t a reason to rain down blows on the goalie nor Evan Bouchard. It was luck, and there has been good and bad for Edmonton in this series. The most you can say on that play is all involved were exhausted, and only big Leon had the wheels to make a play. Good on him; this series was always going to be a long one and now it’s best of five.
I wasn’t a fan of Edmonton’s five-on-five play last night. The retrievals and breakouts were not strong for much of the game, and the second period was rancid for the second game in a row. That said, there is much to be delighted about, not the least of which is this fact: The 2025 SCF is one of the best I’ve ever seen through two games.
This is NHL hockey at its best, even with the outrageous filth of the Panthers and the officials who have somehow settled on the addled idea of not calling clear penalties in an effort to ‘let them play’ at five-on-five.
So what’s the difference between Hertl accidentally falling on a 6W-0L and injuring Pickard with the Bennet Goal-Bennett penalty? The difference was Skinner rolling around like he was shot. If Pickard would of withered on the ice on the Hertl play he would of recieved a penalty. Marchand-Tkachuk-Bennett know exactly how to work the Refs.
Any potential referees designated for the next set of games will all have watched both Panthers and Oilers in detail.
I have to think that Bennett is front and center, his antics fully exposed. Same with every player.
I also want to think that because of this focus and preparation by any incoming refs, if the Oilers can be disciplined, the tide will turn in their favor.
is this a reasonable assumption?
Kevin Weekes
@KevinWeekes
KK went away from what worked – rolling the 4 lines. He needs to be better. Also, who ever is coaching the PP please tell Bouch to take care as Marchand is just waiting to break out. This essentially gives us a 4 on 3 so deal with it by not using Bouch if Marchand is even close.
This result is on KK and the PP. Sorry but if you are even with 6 power plays and the other team is +1 you will probably lose. Need to get that sorted.
Great game by Skinner!
It’s true that Marchand will put himself in good positions given the opportunity
but not using bouch on pp is not the play
True, but you can use it to your advantage if you outnumber them low in the zone.
We played our depth more than they did again. Only 2 forwards under 10 minutes of ice time were Panthers. Lowest ice time for a D was Nate Schmidt.
And if there’s ever a time in the season you can make a case for running your top players into the ground it’s gotta be the SCF.
Absolutely have to fix that PP. 1/6 with a shortie against is the difference in a 5-4 game.
It didn’t need to be a long series. No way that game shouldn’t have been 5-2 5 minutes into the second and you put it to bed. The Oilers are the better team. They drifted away from an execution game and it cost them. Even then they almost pulled it out. Not sure why Knoblauch abandoned the way he was playing his lines. Klingberg struggled, which was tough. They haven’t been as good since Nurse-Kulak became a thing. Frederic played maybe 2 good shifts. Those last 2 things need to change.
I agree with the Kulak and Frederic out, Stetcher and Skinner in. It’s not Kulak’s fault, he’s playing his off side. It’s a real detriment to his overall play. We have been the better team after almost 9 periods and I believe that the loss is more a result of us defeating ourselves.
Looking through NTS, I think pulling Kulak for Stecher may not be the play. Nurse likely the one that deserves to sit, but we know that won’t happen. Kulak on his correct side is likely playing better than Nurse. Is Walman stronger on his off side than Kulak? Klingberg struggled and its reasonable to think he may need a rest.
Frederic isn’t contributing to the forecheck. I wonder about him as 4th line centre, Janmark can’t defend and is a better forechecker. Would really like Skinner in the lineup but we need to continue (or return to) pounding their D on the forecheck. Not sure who comes out, Frederic should on merit but theoretically he provides size and toughness. Need to roll the lines more and use McDrai more selectively.
Nurse-Kulak can’t get out of their zone against a forecheck. Stecher was solid with Nurse, Walman-Kling are fading a bit but subbing Klingberg still leaves us with too many lefties.
Also need to reduce Perry’s ice time a bit 5v5. Wouldn’t mind seeing RV with some shifts with 97 to give him a line-mate with some pace.
The thing is, Frederic isn’t actually providing toughness as he can’t make it to the plays.
He’s also playing with guys who are generating chances for him and is unable to finish.
Gotta come out of the lineup.
Probably that’s the play. Still not sure about how to handle the D.
We need Janmark and Brown to show up and Kapanen to find consistency. Otherwise I’d love more fresh legs at the bottom of the lineup. It won’t happen as I don’t think he’s been with the main group at all, but I’d have time for Savoie in a bottom 6 role, he’s a strong forechecker and fast.
Well the future $10 million dollar D man gave one game away.
Negative variance often bites at the worst time.
Marchand would have had the same breakaway shorthanded in the first game if Nuge had not made a great play along the wall on this strong side (that led to the Draisaitl goal). So in this game Florida forced Nuge to make that same play on his weak side, but Nuge failed this time, and Bouchard was out of position to defend Marchand both times. And he was again on Marchand’s first goal last night. How many times is Bouchard going to let Marchand sneak behind him this series? The Panthers clearly believe they can trap Nugent-Hopkins and Bouchard high on the boards on the PK.
McDavid went was the 3rd forward to go low on the winning goal against (mistake), when Draisaitl passed low to high to Ekholm. Ekholm shot wide on the wrong side (mistake), and Bouchard held the blue line when he knew he had no support (mistake), and then chased like a hobbled old man.
Bouchard also let Tkachuk get to the front of the net easily to screen Skinner on the Kulikov goal, when he could have easily blocked Tkachuk’s path to the front of the net.
Has there ever been a lazier defenseman not chasing a breakaway against that he was responsible for than Bouchard?
Perhaps it was Ekholm that “gave the game away” with his wild shot that missed the net far side?
Perhaps it should be acknowledged that Bouchard had good position on the puck coming around the rim but it took a fortuitous bounce off the boards right to Lundell?
Of course, since Drai had done a great job to get to Marchand and make a play on him, the proper play by Bouchard was as he did, hold up to ensure he’s net front for the rebound.
Leon didn’t allow Marchand to get a shot off. But somehow the puck still mysteriously found its way past Skinner. That’s hockey.
I like bouch on the pk but that’s a lot of minutes being logged
maybe we need to even out the mins
Thank god you don’t have any say in managing the Oilers. We’d be the Peter Chiarelli Oilers all over again.
No more Strome for Spooner type trades please.
Nurse resetting behind the net never works. He just doesn’t have the passing ability
These are two evenly matched teams of assholes and asshats.
I’m not sure I’ll ever get over Frederic not going postal on Bennett. I get it, high ankle sprain. But his ankle isn’t attached to his fists or mouth. This is the guy earlier in the season running around like a psychopath throwing nucks with Corey Perry.
Scratch him, dress Skinner.
Might be because the game was tight and didn’t want to put the Oilers on a PK.
Oilers need to start faking every filthy play Florida does. If Bouchard hits the ice in withering pain after the Bennett slash it’s probably a 5 minute major with a attempt to injure. How bad do the Oilers want it? McDavid and Leon should flop when they are getting mugged. Tkachuk-Marchand-Bennett know exactly when to embellish and are professionals at it. Leon-Connor-Bouchard better figure this out NOW or we are crying about the 4th line winger and 6th defenceman all Summer.
Embellishment is a penalty the officials should call every time and it’s certainly not professional behavior. Give your head a shake.
They took Rodrique off on a Stecher last year to get the 5 minute major and magically he’s playing the next shift. If you can’t see the Panthers are working the Refs to their style of game then so be it. Be prepared for at least a couple of flops by Marchand-Bennett-Tkachuk that will draw a penalty at a critical time. Try listening to someone other than Hrudey you might learn something about embellishing while fooling the Refs.
So, does that make it right?
The Oilers have had trouble breaking the puck out clean and have turned the puck over near the defensive blueline quite a bit.
I am not smart enough to know exactly what the Panthers are going in this area but I do believe that coach Knob and his staff are.
We do know that, under coach Knob, the Oilers almost always get better as the series go on. I think quite a bit of that is coaching- small structure adjustments as well as “finding the optimal lines for the series”.
If one wants to take a glass half full approach, one would note that, through 2 games, the series has basically been a saw-off. Both teams being the better team for stretches of each game. In fact, I would say the Oilers have been the better team for most of each of the 1st two games.
Take that, along with the history of the Oilers getting materially better as series go on and I think the team remains in good shape.
I have little doubt they’ll get at least one of the next two games in Florida, quite possibly two.
No doubt we don’t want to run the guy ragged but, at the same time, there are two full days off before the next game and then two full days off (with no travel) before the game after that.
In fact, if the series goes 7 games, there is only one game left where they don’t have 2 full non-game days in between.
While that is true…rest and recuperation also apply to the Panthers.
Barkov led all Florida forward in TOI last night with 30:30.
Meanwhile, the third line all topped 22 minutes and of course were very effective with a total of 2 goals and 5 points.
It all adds up.
That’s nice – the blog post, and my response, was about McDavid’s ice time.
Barkov also led all Panthers with a -3. And is -9 in his last 4 games going back to the CAR series. Injured? Or just not able to handle the top of the Oilers lineup when they are healthy?
The first game the Oilers rolled more lines and had more balanced ice times, it flipped in game 2. That third line has been great, for sure. Flip side is the top two lines haven’t looked very dangerous.
We shouldn’t be complaining about the reffing since we just recieved home cooking officiating. If Skinner doesn’t fake a injury we probably get the minor for cross-checking Bennett into Skinner. Tell me the difference between that play and the Bennett goal.
Maybe you should take another look at the replay.
Watch the Bennett goal right next to the Bennett penalty. What’s the difference? Bennett is flopping on Skinner when he feels any contact. Hill ( Vegas) took things into his own hands when it came to Hyman and Perry. It didn’t work but I would like Skinner to clear his crease with a couple of chops to Bennett ankles. We are sure missing Hyman in a series of this magnitude.
Bennett flops even when there is no contact, he’s like the little boy that cried wolf, finally the refs are seeing Sam Bennett for what he is. He’s making fools of the refs and no doubt they should be embarrassed.
Yeah, they sure miss Hyman.
So why didn’t he get a flop when Bouchard barley touched him and he went down in a heap. If he does it 7-8 times and the one or 2 times it works at a critical time with him and Tkachuk laughing about it. We are about to see some home cooking reffing the Panthers know if they egg on Kane-Nurse they will instantly get a penalty.
Florida dictated the reffing of the first 2 games they were happy to trade penalties with our weak PK and our over passing on our PP. By the midpoint of the game the Refs abandon the whistles and it’s prison rules from there on. The slash by Bennett in front of the world showed that NHL is closer to WWF then we think.
The NHL has the worst referees of any of the major or secondary major sports, and it is not even close.
Tim Peel exposed the entertainment value of an NHL officials a few years ago.
The game is obviously managed by these four guys, and that is a shame. It is a culture.
The NHL has 32 white, 30- 50 ish years old males, 7 from American and 25 from Canada. The gene pool is way too small to produce quality.
The truth is the youth sports system has not build enough quality officials. With turnover of 70% of amateur officials each year, we can’t expect to develop officials, the focus is on player development.
Players that can’t make a living playing, take up the profession of refereeing between the age of 19-24 and that subset is too small to produce quality.
Then the NHL only selects white Americans and Canadians males. That subset is too small to produce quality.
Added to all this the declining youth hockey rates, and the changing demographics for North American, the subset that traditional become hockey official is too small to produce quality.
The 200 hockey decision makers, have not invested in technology to help beyond an iPad at ice surface and a land line to a war room. That sunset is too small to produce quality.
The 100 hockey pundits has all agreed that that excuses and lack of real time accountability is to be supported with well worn repeated phases like it is a tough job, it is a fast game, these guys are the best in the business.
NHL Edge provides LOTS of data to better understand the game. The players and coaches face lots of criticisms based on these published stats. Why don’t the games officials have the same scrutiny?
Weird.
White is the problem, apparently.
I read a few year ago that they have changed recruiting from bringing up amateur refs to using former players and the like. Which is a disincentive to trying to rise through the ranks and learning the craft
Lots of hockey played over 2 games. Will be interesting to see if either team inserts fresh legs. The Panthers had more jump last night than the Oilers, which was surprising. Remember how many post there were after game 1 about how little the Panthers 4th line and 3rd pairing played in comparison to the Oilers?
Maybe JSkinner will be inserted, but he doesn’t bring speed, tenacity or strong board play.
Nurse and Kulak haven’t been good. I’d replace Kulak with Stecher for Game 3.
Stecher’s size might be a factor against Florida.
They needed finishing last night, not board play.
Kulak was 2nd on the team for 5 on 5 TOI, gave up zero goals and had an expected goal share of 53%.
Maybe that doesn’t match the eye test but its what NST shows.
I reviewed ice time after the game
was surprised to see Podz Kap and Janmark so far behind
They need to play and pound the opposition into the boards
Kaps soft play in the 2nd probably impacted his ice time and that’s on him.
But they need to play and play hard every single shift
It will be interesting to see how Knoblauch adjusts the lines for game three. Maybe they reunite Podz & RV with Leon. I think the coach has his finger on the pulse.
Janmark really seems to struggle in zone defending as a centre. Frederic doesn’t seem to have the speed to forecheck on the wing, but is very positionally sound. I’d like to see Podz up with Draisaitl more, and wonder about Frederic as 4th line centre with a defensive focus. Kane, Drai, Podz on 2nd line perhaps.
I think what we saw was really impacted by a lot of the team not having their legs, I think Drai mentioned it. Against a team that plays like Florida, it meant the attack was way off, and the 4th line for one wasn’t getting to their game
Nuge struggled last year against them. He and Henrique have to find a way to contribute more every game, they are in key positions. They really could use a 3C with some pace and some game, so 3 lines could push as the Panthers have. And that was not McLeod last year, or the year before so says NST, so he wouldn’t help now either in the way needed
They will need a full contribution from the bottom 6, which starts with the pairings, which is what got them here so strongly. If Nurse Kulak and Klingberg can’t handle the pressure, it neuters the bottom forwards abilities to attack and get up ice. Which is why Bowman got Klingberg and Walman, in his own words. Stecher might have to be used to bolster Nurse, we can’t have him getting crushed again this time around. Lefties on the right against this forecheck isn’t going to work well enough, maybe Walman can handle it, but Kulak and Nurse don’t seem able
They can adjust, I hope they do. I think they are the better team, but you have to be the better team, and finish chances. Tempting fate is a bad idea. After the shortie I thought they were in trouble (well before that happened actually) not having put the game further away from bounces or bad breaks. Kudos to battling to 2 OT, but lets take them out of games earlier when the opportunity is there
I didn’t think the Oilers played a good game last night. I suspect part is on them and part is on the speed and tenacity of the Panthers. I expect the Oilers will play a better game, with better structure in Game 3. Tough loss, but can’t win them all.
“Don’t panic”
Douglas Adams.
Got your towel?
Perhaps the penalty parade in the 1st impacted the refs as well
The cats game plan is to capitalize on soft plays and we played into their game plan. Fortunately the 3rd was better but we can’t play that way and expect to win the series
I was hoping to see that Edmonton had figured out the Panthers for checked and would capitalize.
Instead, I think we learned at Florida has another gear in regards to their forecheck and that they can double down on aggressive pressure play across all areas of the ice. Plus there is not even room in front of their net to get a stick down. This looks difficult.
It looks to me that on the
breakout the middle of the ice is open. It appears the puck must move quickly, and that is the pressure man can be beat, free ice opens up.
The coaches will be working overtime on this. So far they’ve come up with a solution to every team, I look forward to them. Coming up with a Florida killer system.
I think they will, but they are going to have to have a lot more energy next game, and pace. Florida’s game is skating and pressure. It can be beat of course, but it takes discipline and energy. The Panthers are very good at playing their style and staying in position, to get past it you have to exploit the weaknesses, and that will take skating 200 feet hard, like they do, and then let the talent take them over the top
All of the issues that we could see were from a lot of the team being a step behind and that took away their time. It also made them weak on the walls not gaining position
A agonizing two day break and then back to their best game
The Marchant tactic can be used in reverse. When the pinch at the blue line is beat, a breakaway can ensue.
For Florida, this is why they conduct board battles with such intensity. Aggressive pressure does not work if you don’t win the board battles.
Gotta win the board battles
for Patt Quinn!
I feel it is time for Frederick to come out and Jeff Skinner to go in.
Frederick is not able to deliver at the moment. He lacks power and he lacks confidence. He does play positionally sound and he doesn’t give up much. He should be better next year.
this year his hits have no power. It’s as if he can’t follow through and it’s probably back to an ankle problem. His speed seems off. He’s arriving everywhere late. I think it’s an injury issue, and if it is, let’s put in someone who is 100% healthy.
Skinner has been good at capitalizing on chaos, broken plates and finishing around the net. I think he should go in.
I think both Kulak and Frederick would benefit from watching one game. They both can play better
Kulak was 2nd on the team for 5 on 5 TOI, gave up zero goals and had an expected goal share of 53%.
Maybe that doesn’t match the eye test but its what NST shows.
I completely agree with the fact that the reffing played a substantial part on my enjoyment of the game.
I want to watch hockey. A penalty is a penalty. Easy.
I don’t wanna watch subjective reffing that takes my attention off the game into the nonsense.
The refs could’ve sorted out in the first period. Call the BS and the BS stops. Then we can continue.
They finally called Sam Bennett for goalie interference and Oilers made them pay, that was refreshing.
Just another questionable officiating decision.
Jameson Olive
@JamesonCoop
Ekholm pushes Bennett into Skinner.
Skinner kicks out his right leg and trips Bennett.
Penalty on Bennett.
https://x.com/JamesonCoop/status/1931153581773652240
(click for video)
You are so intellectually dishonest, that I’m sometimes astounded at just how brazen it can be. But I guess this level of dishonesty is something we’re used to given the state of North American politics. Congratulations, you’re no better than a politician spinning narratives.
There are none so blind…
The definition of disingenuous is HH. If someone was to ask me to define disingenuous, I would show them the various HH posts. His posts so clearly demonstrate the definition of disingenuous, more so than any dictionary could. It’s funny, but not haha funny.
Thanks for that, it just shows the officials got it right. Ekholm was clearly trying to guide Bennett past Skinner and Bennett purposely stumbled over Skinner’s pad falling into the Oiler goaltender. The video plainly shows Skinner didn’t kick out hie leg.
8-8 Total Goals Tie
5-4 5v5 Goals FLA… 3-2 goals off the rush EDM – 3-1 settled offense FLA
1-0 4v4 Goals EDM… goal off the rush
1-0 6v5 Goals EDM
2-2 PP Goals Tie
1-0 SH Goals FLA… goal off the rush
10-6 PP Opportunities EDM
This is the statement the league will plant their flag on:This is NHL hockey at its best
The dinosaurs decided long ago that allowing the zebras to be the conductors of their entertainment event achieves this. It’s not a sporting event, It’s entertainment. Close games achieve the goal and they’re willing to piss off the well educated fans to grab the attention of new and casual fans since they represent a higher percentage of the population
Oilers signed another Finn this morning. Viljami Marjala via TPS Turku in the Liiga.
Left winger
Some positive news today, Oil have inked 22 year old LW Viljami Marjala to a 2 yr ELC.
Ex 5th rounder from Buffalo whose rights expired June 1. Decent size and great numbers in the Liiga the last two seasons, including 8-44-52 in 54 games this season.
If only we had a Swedishposter equivalent for more details aka Finnishposter.
https://x.com/EdmontonOilers/status/1931365548006453754
Of note, he was #80 in 2021’s Here Comes the Sun, and a “highly skilled and creative playmaker” according to our host!
Florida played a strong game last night, have to give them their due.
Oiler were disjointed, undisciplined & sloppy with the puck far too much.
Skinner is playing well, just would have liked to see him battle a little harder on that second breakaway.
Minor quibble with a major implication.
Hopefully they can find that Defensive structure that served them so well in the previous series.
Easier said than done
That wasn’t Edmonton’s A game. Give Florida credit for that because they played their A game and Bob kept them in it. Florida deserved the win, even though the game winner was kind of lucky. But that’s hockey.
Well I guess it is settled now, confirmed going to game 5
With all the talk about Panthers as road warriors, Oilers are 5-1 on the road after an 0-2 start that wasn’t reflective of who they are. Get a split and we’re in good shape. Take both and we’re golden
I predicted Oilers in 5, that’s it for Panther wins. Three straight wins now for Edmonton. LOL.
Another totally epic game, edge of your seat hockey… unfortunate result. Onto Sunrise where we’ll need at ‘least’ a split.
The 150 foot pass they are trying to use when resetting behind the net, needs to be examined. It isn’t working. Florida is defending it, taking away options rather easily.
I thought they could not exit on the short pass. Florida winger sealed off the boards and right behind him was a defenceman pinching at the line.
They were turned back repeatedly over and over. When they switched to the long exit it forced the Panthers defence meant to leave the blue line. It wasn’t working that effectively, but at least the puck was getting past the blue line line.
They could have played the 2024 Stanley Cup Final hundred times. It would have finished 50-50.
They could have played that Game 7 in particular a thousand times. It would have finished 500-500.
This year appears somehow even more square.
These are two of the most equally matched teams you will ever see. Unfortunately, this game is won in the margins. 1-1 through two games is a fair assessment.
I am so proud of this team. They truly are never out of it, and frankly, that’s all you can ask for.
Oilers in 5.
I was at the game last night, and I’ve never seen so much embellishment from one team. It was unbelievable. The refs were right there, yet they let it all go—it has to be one of the worst-officiated games I’ve ever witnessed. Nurse had a rough night out there… they seriously need to bring in Stecher. Doesn’t matter if it’s Kulak or Nurse coming out just make the change. And the Panthers? They love to cherry-pick, especially Marchand. Can’t stand that guy, such a rat.
Can’t see Stecher coming in unless there’s an injury. Nurse needs to be better no doubt about it. I’ve always thought the optimal defense pairs are Kulak-Bouchard, Nurse-Walman & Ekholm-Klingberg. That’s what I’d like to see moving forward and if there’s an obvious too many men penalty for either team at any point of the game the refs must call it, enough said.
Agree on all of this.
Stecher has averaged about 8 minutes of TOI less per game than Nurse and Stecher – he did a very solid job in his 6 games but he’s not able to play the minutes these guys are playing – its a different job.
Nurse/Walman were fantastic in over 100 minutes this past regular season.
Nurse and Kulak were 1-2 in TOI at 5 on 5 and were on the ice for zero goals against