The Edmonton Oilers are two games in to a fantastic Stanley Cup Final. I’m finding this year’s series against the Florida Panthers far more interesting and intense. I’m not certain that will hold, but both of the games we’ve witnessed have been top drawer.
Much discussion yesterday about running goalies and answering the Panthers in the trenches, but for me the Oilers lost the plot a little in Game 2 with the parade to the penalty box. The physical aspect of this series has already been established, staying away from minor penalties now becomes the goal. Winning the battle but losing the war should have zero appeal to these Oilers.
It looks like the defensive pairings will be Nurse-Bouchard, Kulak-Walman and Ekholm-Klingberg. I like all six defensemen in the group, not sure that would be my choice but Kris Knoblauch and his staff’s spackle tweaks have worked consistently well.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is reportedly a game time decision, I don’t believe Jeff Skinner will be the plug-and-play. I could see Evander Kane moving up, with Vasily Podkolzin lining up with the Draisaitl trio. Losing Nuge, after losing Zach Hyman, is less than ideal.
This is a massive game, but they all are. Edmonton needs a split on the road, and I expect the visitors will get one of two in Sunrise.
I want to talk briefly about the wild cmments section on game nights. They are fantastically entertaining, and in the heat of the moments there are hilarious posts. One thing to keep in mind: If the Oilers earn the Stanley Cup, music! If the Oilers do not win it, there will be roster shuffles and next season may bring glory. The range of opinions on this blog about Evan Bouchard, Stuart Skinner and Darnell Nurse is earth to sky, but I don’t see any of them leaving. We’ll see. Enjoy the game. Respect each other.
Rachel Doerrie and Jason Gregor will join us on the Lowdown starting at noon today on Sports 1440. We’ll talk wall to wall Oilers. Join us!
New for The Athletic: Which Edmonton Oilers players have increased their value for next season?
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6411776/2025/06/09/oilers-players-nhl-playoffs-roster-value/
If this has already been covered, apologies, but why are there two days off on between FLA home games but only one for the travel back to EDM ?
It probably has to do with the NBA schedule.
Panthers have gotten into the Oilers heads a bit it seems. Skinner was off as was the defensive game in the Oilers end. Reffing is a bit weird as well in this whole series as they seem to be trying to dictate the game in the 1st ( which doesn’t let the Oilers get going 5 on 5).
I would put Skinner in next game for Arvidson and definitely get Stetcher back in for Klingberg who has not been very good the last few and pair him with Nurse. Stetcher is a little Pit Bull and was great all playoffs till yanked.
Boys need to have a huge bounce back and dominate game 4. Let’s hope they do.
Pretty sure Skinner gets the net back, but he has to play way better. He was shaky in the OT last game and it carried over. Need solid Skinner
Terrible game by the Oilers.
Drai had zero shots on goal. McDavid had 2.
Drai had 7 minutes of PP time. McDavid had 6.20..
Not going to win with stats like this.
Did Arvi play? Apparently he played just over 9 minutes. He needs to show up, like RFN.
Put Skinner in for Arvy
Expected goals tonight 5 on 5 was 1.03-0.96. Some of that gap closing was score effects, but still, 1 goal expected against on 5 on 5.
I watched some of their games against Toronto and Carolina, and just like some of those blowouts, Florida was highly opportunistic. Very skilled shots tonight. Doesn’t absolve Skinner of making 1 or 2 more saves those first 2 periods, but I still think it would be foolish to pin this loss on him. If he needs a mental or physical rest to reset, I have faith in Pickard too.
Best thing you can say about this game is that it only counts as one loss. But crawling out of the wreckage must be quick. Also agree with those who say we need to go back to not getting into Florida style hockey
Should also add that if game 4-7 Skinner shows up, he needs to be met by his game 4-7 teammates. If so, we go back to game 5 at home with a 2-2 series, which is undoubtedly a better position than going into Florida down 3-1 like last year.
But it’s so hard to referee in the NHL….. everything is just moving so fast!
If only you could use slow-mo 4k video to get the call right. Not in Bettman’s lifetime unfortunately.
Looking at the numbers, it has to be Stetcher in for Klingberg. 36 has been a revelation, and has far exceeded expectations, especially considering where he was mid February, but my God, he got murdered tonight.
I’d also go J Skinner in for Fredric. 21 has done very, very little to move the needle. This was a tough game for him in particular, as there was quite literally no rhythm at all, and he got lost in the shuffle, but 53 will be playing for his life again, and they need the desperation. Desperately.
Given S Skinner’s game 4 numbers, you don’t really want to tempt fate, but I’d understand starting Pickard.
I’d be ok with stetcher, and j Skinner. Skinner in sends a message. Let’s play hockey. Puts a guy who can score out there.
Picks? I mean yeah… Maybe we are there
Skinner expected GA tonight 1.94. -3.06 GSAA. Four goals on five MD shots. It has to be Pickard
I can’t outright disagree, but it’s too small of sample size to rely on these analytics IMO. Expected goals misses an ocean of context on individual plays. Which three goals was he expected to save? The first one he lost his position, you could say that’s one. Every other goal was legit. I F***’n hate Bennett but that breakaway move was sick.
I can’t blame Pickard given the situation but the goal he gave up was the weakest. I’m fine with Cal getting the start, If they focus on D either goalie will be successful. I’d go with game 4 Stu, Undefeated Cal can run the table if that doesn’t work.
I haven’t looked at the numbers yet, but I can’t condone taking Klingberg out if he’s healthy. He had couple mistakes for sure, might have been his worst game of the playoffs, but his puck movement is sublime. He’ll setup more than he gives up.
If you want Stecher in, you have to take out a lefty not named Ekholm or Walman IMO. Nurse and Stecher seem to have the chemistry. I don’t know.
I do the JSkinner for Frederic swap and I think KK finally gives in.
The delay of game penalty showed that Stu was rattled. I’d start Pickard if it wasn’t game 4. Game 4 Stu vs Undefeated Cal is not a decision I care to make. I think Stu is the better goalie but he might need a break. Is two days off enough?
Yes. Stetcher was great. And paired with Nurse they were very good. He goes out and Nurses game goes south a bit. FIX THAT NOW
Nobody to blame but themselves. Dumb penalties in the 1st again. Blaming refs, Panthers antics is BS. Play better and smarter. Bottom line.
I’d start Pickard game 4. Panthers look for and have the talent to make a lot of cross crease/slot passes. Pickard is much better laterally and at anticipating the play.
I’m 50-50 on who should start. But I will note that after Pickard starts a game (or more), Skinner seems to come back much stronger.
(I also think they should have pulled Skinner after the 4-1 goal.)
But I suspect that at this point, the Oilers are going to ride or die with Skinner.
I suspect Skinner will start also
One more final thought:
If the NHL and WWE switched officials, would anyone notice?
has that been thought 😕
in the WWE refs defence, they generally have their backs turned when rules are being broken. NHL has their refs looking right at it.
PK needs to be fixed. Doesn’t deny zone entry, doesn’t pressure, and still doesn’t stop cross ice passes. Useless.
Our depth has disappeared. Not sure if it tactics or effort but we also aren’t finishing checks on their D.
I don’t really put that one on Skinner. I’d probably start him Game 4 but wouldn’t object to Pickard either
One final thought for the night:
Who writes the scripts that are given to the game managers before each game?
“Coly” Campbell is still hanging around
Steven King wrote tonight’s script
The best thing I can come up with after that debacle… this Oilers team loves a good comeback story… well, here you go boys, git ‘er dun!
I truly hate that they haven’t adopted the dominant attitude of the 80s Oilers. They should be in that mindset and can’t seem to get themselves there.
Florida has it. Maurice is a strange dude, I’ve always found him greasy, and as teams take on the demeanour of their coaches, they have taken his. They will play any way to win, don’t care about honour, don’t get fazed, enjoy the battle
Knoblauch was clearly rattled in the presser. The team is also rattled and can’t get the things done they need to to defeat a team with less talent that is a one trick pony. But that trick is hard to play against. Not that talent always wins, but it is an advantage if used properly
I’m just sorry the Oil will win it in Florida now.
Nice to see the boys get a little payback and show some heart at the end. This could be a rallying cry start Pickard and win 3 in a row.
Well there goes alot of oiler fans game 5 prediction. What a wash of a game. The refs and linesman need to stay out of the way. That klingberg fall was a plus for flordia.
The Panthers are making a mockery of the sport, and the league is complicit. The shark has been jumped.
“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”
The turning point was Charron blocking Klingberg. Why are you in that spot? The play was clearly coming around that side of the zone. (I think Rodrigues) then cross checked him and Charron didn’t even attempt to move.
Coach K.K needs to man up and start the Goalie that gives us the best chance to win the next 3 games.
I think it may be time to give Picks a start.
Also, I’d put stetcher in for Kulak.
For the second game in a row, team Zebra wasn’t up to the calibre of the hockey game. Unfortunately, neither were the Oilers.
Sadly these can both be true at the same time.
Game Four: Knob’s Crucible.
The ref takedown of Klingberg for the 3rd Florida goal was pretty much decisive. Oilers never really recovered.
I agree that was the turning point. I cannot even begin to fathom how that even happens in a SCF game. I do think that Klingberg should have reversed direction. At the same time Charron saw that play unfold. Rodrigues cross checks him (which apparently they were calling all night) and he doesn’t even attempt to move. It makes one go to dark places as a sports fan. Has the explosion of gambling in sports started to corrupt the influence/outcome on the game?
There’s a very simple avoidance mechanism that is taught to every official from day one of their careers. The first part is the “bump”, which is what Charron was doing. Unfortunately, he forgot the “pivot”. Take a stride out from the boards, let the play go behind you, then back to the boards. Easy peasy.
This game was managed like the officials had money on the Panthers.
I didn’t see this before I posted above. It makes you wonder.
Every single call seems to be perfectly timed to destroy any chance of momentum for the Oilers. I remember the Vegas series in 2023 was managed very similar.
Yeah that’s about right.
https://x.com/OilersJack/status/1932272840507888123?t=LuiT2ARqzlLejFMe05Z_pA&s=19
That game was bad.
Well the oilers won a SCF game 8-1 last year, so there’s that.
But, not much else hopeful there, at this rate, Saturday fans will get their wish of seeing the cup
Did we win 8-1? Man I can’t remember that!
Momentum doesn’t seem to carry over. Let’s hope not
Skinner was lost all night the delay of game was just bad at this level. It’s time for Pickard to clean up Skinner’s mess again.
That was a team mess, Skinner wasn’t able to clean it up.
Skinner is done the delay of game was him giving up why fo you think K.K yanked him mid period.
Not sure I could pick a single player out of the pile. But I’d be willing to give Picks a turn.
He lost his jock strap on the Bennett goal. Watch him on the first goal he has no idea what the hell he’s doing. It’s time for bi-weekly reset.
This has got to be the worst display of officiating I’ve seen in my lifetime. I don’t think even Tigers Blood infused can take away the taste.
Did they really hide Marchand at the end there?
He seemed to be nowhere at the end.
Jeezus have any of these guys reffed a game before? Maybe don’t restrain one guy so he can take shots from the other guy
That was an utter embarrassment
And the Oilers played like crap, too
I tried to edit to expand….of officiating. It wouldn’t let me lol
Less than ideal but, whatever.
Come out on Thursday and win one game – get the split and come back home tied with home ice.
Yep. Just one game. They got to take their frustrations out. Time to play the disciplined defensive hockey that they need to play to win a championship.
Chris Rooney and Jean Hebert, despite a bad performance in game 2 are actually the far better ref tandem.
Charron probably feels he owes the Oilers one after getting the assist on the Reinhart goal.
Maybe he can convince Wes not to go “Full Retard” in Game 5. Apologies to anyone who is not a Tropic Thunder fan, but Wes McCauley is the Tugg Speedman of NHL referees.
Why bother putting PP1 out there?
Why are they sending McDavid over the boards?
Boston made deals with both of last year’s finalists ahead of the deadline. One team got a perennial Hart trophy candidate, the other got Trent Frederic.
I mentioned grabbing Marchand in late October and got rotten comment food thrown at me lol.
That’ll happen 🙂
Why isn’t 27 thrown out then?
Wes.
Hopefully lessons learned this game….
If they didn’t learn them last year…
Whole first line in the box lol
Maybe guys on PEDs shouldn’t get to just slot back in.
💯
Sign of the times.
Now Ekblad is tough, time for Podkolzin to introduce his 1 punch power.
I hate blaming the refs, but this is another game that has become what it has because they allowed it to go there.
There’s alot of clowns tied to the league, Wes may be the single biggest one of them all.
Hall of fame refereeing in this series…
Wes doing Wes things.
Loser.
Kane’s going to get a game for that
Why precisely would he?
Because NHL, just a prediction.
I don’t think he should but there’s such a double standard
Nothing has really rhymed for Walman tonight, but I like his overall tenacity.
Classless move by putting PP1 out there
I meant Florida
You know they’re gonna run McDavid, keep his shifts to a minimum
All that and they get the power play.. well then.
The only good news is the cup cannot be won tonight. In a literal sense.
Boy. I did not see this coming. Worse game they’ve played since Game 2 of the LA series.
Nothing to hang on to from this one.
Oilers in 6.
It was shaping up this way.
From the mid point of period 2 game 2, they looked tired/sick, and were not dictating the game.
The coach needed to step in and make change – he didn’t.
So instead of “whatever, still up 2-1”, here we are.
Atta boy Nurse. That’s a long fight against a tough guy.
Alrighty, then.
Freddy finally decides to show up? To late for that stuff, pal.
Kinda glad we had the dust up, though.
Might be what we need to get our shit together.