Game 3, Stanley Cup Final: Oilers at Florida

by Lowetide

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Fuhr and Lowething in Vegreville

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 ?

Reja

It probably has to do with the NBA schedule.

Shamus23

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

Sierra

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.


Shamus23

Put Skinner in for Arvy

dangilitis

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

dangilitis

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.

Admiral Ackbar

But it’s so hard to referee in the NHL….. everything is just moving so fast!

slambanna

If only you could use slow-mo 4k video to get the call right. Not in Bettman’s lifetime unfortunately.

GaetanHaasWasAMediocreHockeyPlayer

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.

Last edited 20 days ago by GaetanHaasWasAMediocreHockeyPlayer
90s fan

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

Moonlight

Skinner expected GA tonight 1.94. -3.06 GSAA. Four goals on five MD shots. It has to be Pickard

slambanna

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.

slambanna

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?

Shamus23

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

greenshifter

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.

Last edited 20 days ago by greenshifter
Lewis Grant

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.

greenshifter

I suspect Skinner will start also

Tarkus

One more final thought:

If the NHL and WWE switched officials, would anyone notice?

MushedPeas

has that been thought 😕

tapper

in the WWE refs defence, they generally have their backs turned when rules are being broken. NHL has their refs looking right at it.

iwin76

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

Tarkus

One final thought for the night:

Who writes the scripts that are given to the game managers before each game?

SKOilerFan

“Coly” Campbell is still hanging around

Gerta Rauss

Steven King wrote tonight’s script

Boil-in-the-Oil

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!

LMHF#1

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.

Scungilli Slushy

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

MushedPeas

I’m just sorry the Oil will win it in Florida now.

Reja

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.

colieo_87

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.

tapper

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.”

Moonlight

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.

Reja

Coach K.K needs to man up and start the Goalie that gives us the best chance to win the next 3 games.

90s fan

I think it may be time to give Picks a start.

90s fan

Also, I’d put stetcher in for Kulak.

Prairie_Sentinel

For the second game in a row, team Zebra wasn’t up to the calibre of the hockey game. Unfortunately, neither were the Oilers.

Moonlight

Sadly these can both be true at the same time.

MushedPeas

Game Four: Knob’s Crucible.

Buddy

The ref takedown of Klingberg for the 3rd Florida goal was pretty much decisive. Oilers never really recovered.

Moonlight

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?

Prairie_Sentinel

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.

Tarkus

This game was managed like the officials had money on the Panthers.

Moonlight

I didn’t see this before I posted above. It makes you wonder.

DexandRuby

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.

Moonlight
Funny Bissonness

That game was bad.

Ice Sage

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

90s fan

Did we win 8-1? Man I can’t remember that!

Momentum doesn’t seem to carry over. Let’s hope not

Reja

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.

DevilsLettuce

That was a team mess, Skinner wasn’t able to clean it up.

Reja

Skinner is done the delay of game was him giving up why fo you think K.K yanked him mid period.

90s fan

Not sure I could pick a single player out of the pile. But I’d be willing to give Picks a turn.

Reja

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.

Moonlight

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.

Last edited 20 days ago by Moonlight
LMHF#1

Did they really hide Marchand at the end there?

He seemed to be nowhere at the end.

Gaz Gazzersson

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

Moonlight

That was an utter embarrassment

Gaz Gazzersson

And the Oilers played like crap, too

Moonlight

I tried to edit to expand….of officiating. It wouldn’t let me lol

OriginalPouzar

Less than ideal but, whatever.

Come out on Thursday and win one game – get the split and come back home tied with home ice.

slambanna

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.

Tarkus

Why bother putting PP1 out there?

Moonlight

Why are they sending McDavid over the boards?

hags9k

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.

DevilsLettuce

I mentioned grabbing Marchand in late October and got rotten comment food thrown at me lol.

MushedPeas

That’ll happen 🙂

DevilsLettuce

Why isn’t 27 thrown out then?

LMHF#1

Wes.

StixMalone

Hopefully lessons learned this game….

yycyegyvr

If they didn’t learn them last year…

StixMalone

Whole first line in the box lol

gogliano

Maybe guys on PEDs shouldn’t get to just slot back in.

Moonlight

💯

yycyegyvr

Sign of the times.

DevilsLettuce

Now Ekblad is tough, time for Podkolzin to introduce his 1 punch power.

NickShaver

I hate blaming the refs, but this is another game that has become what it has because they allowed it to go there.

DevilsLettuce

There’s alot of clowns tied to the league, Wes may be the single biggest one of them all.

StixMalone

Hall of fame refereeing in this series…

LMHF#1

Wes doing Wes things.

Loser.

Moonlight

Kane’s going to get a game for that

LMHF#1

Why precisely would he?

Moonlight

Because NHL, just a prediction.

Moonlight

I don’t think he should but there’s such a double standard

giddy

Nothing has really rhymed for Walman tonight, but I like his overall tenacity.

Moonlight

Classless move by putting PP1 out there

Moonlight

I meant Florida

Moonlight

You know they’re gonna run McDavid, keep his shifts to a minimum

StixMalone

All that and they get the power play.. well then.

GaetanHaasWasAMediocreHockeyPlayer

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.

Last edited 20 days ago by GaetanHaasWasAMediocreHockeyPlayer
LMHF#1

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.

iwin76

Atta boy Nurse. That’s a long fight against a tough guy.

KnightRain

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.