Life has a way of giving you lessons that linger forever. By the time most people reach 50, there’s a range of memories that contain both joy and regret. There are times, like the night old Tom Frost called Martha because his heart was breaking all over again, that the difficult moments of the past become all to real.
The thing is, one doesn’t always know these moments are taking place in real time. The mind allows you, sets you free really, to move on from the moment and seek shelter from the devastating events. It is only with time passing and distance gained that we know the power of a moment unseized. And then there is pain.
THE NUMBERS
At the very top of yesterday’s GDT, I wrote the following: “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.”
Well, the Panthers played the Oilers like a Stradivarius. By the middle of the first period, several Edmonton players were so angry at non-calls on fouls the game became secondary. After scoring early in the second period, making the score 2-1, a series of unfortunate events took place and the Panthers put it all to rest. The game became a series of fouls that showed Edmonton’s frustration and exposed the cold, hard truth: Florida found a way to get the Oilers off its game, to make things other than the score a priority. It’s a tale as old as time.
What can the Oilers do? Kris Knoblauch can change goaltenders, and he needs to solve the Nurse-Kulak riddle, which could fracture part of the roster if he scratches one of them. Game 3 will be massive of course, but you know that already.
What is unknown is if this Oilers team can show the discipline to play the game that helps them win. That’s structure defensively, organized breakouts, staying out of the penalty box, and not cheating for offense.
There is at least a portion of a script already written here that reads like a hockey tragedy. The marriage of Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers should be so much better than it is today. So much better. However, today we are left with the reality that part of winning a hockey game is self discipline.
Perhaps the Oilers will learn that lesson before Game 4. Perhaps not. Old Tom Frost could warn them of opportunity lost and that’s for sure.
And those were the days of roses, poetry and prose
And, Martha, all I had was you, and all you had was me
There was no tomorrows, we’d packed away our sorrows
And we saved them for a rainy day
And I remember quiet evenings
Trembling close to you
Daniel Nugent-Bowman at The Athletic will be our feature guest today on the Lowdown, noon to 2pm on Sports 1440. Plenty of rage in the cage, please join us.
Amongst all the bad feelings recently, and no matter what happens, let’s remind ourselves of the joy and the history and the downs and ups that hockey brings us. While I was never a John Garrett fan, this piece is heart warming:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/john-garrett-gordie-howe-assist-1.7556396
No thanks! I’m going to remember it for the farce it is. Similar to when Vegas had their hand held to the Stanley cup a couple years ago.
Or maybe last year when the Oilers had historic special teams and no penalties were called.
Or this year when phantom calls were made and actual obvious calls dismissed. When diving is a permissible tactic…..
I’d go on but its early and there’s just too much.
Love those Whaler uniforms!
What I understand from this article is that Colin Campbell is capable of fixing goalie assists in the past and goalie interference calls in the present.
— Tom Waits would approve this post. This was a big time post. Thanks for this.
Getting nearer to Closing Time indeed. Let’s hope KK can get the Ol’55 firing on all cylinders.
Thank you. That’s very kind.
Lets not discount this Oilers team being 18-2 or 19-2 in game 4-7 under Knoblauch. Its not a coincidence that they get better as series goes ad its not a function of just “digging in”. There is structure and adjustments at play here. Here is hoping this continues.
It’s one of the most interesting things about this team, for me, the way the coach and team respond. The first games of a series are usually harrowing. Then, wonders seem to occur.
This could be the fire in the belly they need it’s imperative they score the 1st goal this is why coach K.K will start Pickard. It’s clean-up in aisle 4 for Pickard as the team will rally behind him and win this crucial game.
Game 3 was one for the gords. This wasn’t going to be an easy series, everyone knew this. This team is resilient and will be better in game 4.
Game 2 Florida scores just after the 2 minute mark. Game 3 Florida scores inside a minute. This is so deflating we need some early saves chasing Florida is a bad recipe. I have zero doubt this team rallies behind Pickard and wins 3 in a row for Cup-#6
Here’s something for a tin foil hat. The Oilers had a historic PK last year and a very dangerous PP until the final but it scored a few important goals in game 6. The refs barely called any penalties at all in that entire series.
This year, Fla has a great PP leading up to the finals and the Oilers PK is historically bad. Now there are a tonne of penalties called.
Unfortunately, I do not see an Oilers path to victory.
Poor reffing exasperated by undisciplined play. Injuries to RNH and Hyman.
Kap has been a great story this post season but if he is your 2RW in the Cup finals, you’re in trouble.
Maurice remains the McDrai slayer.
Oilers have two 5v5 goals in all of the playoff road games played in Florida in 2024 and 2025. That won’t win you a series.
Is that true?
Janmark in game 7
McDavid in game 5 (snuck one by bob)
Eck in game 2
yikes.
Also, I totally forgot that they got a shortie and 2PPGs in game 5
Start Pickard and poof we win 3 in a row and the Cup. Pickard goes 9W-0L yet recieves little credit from the national and local media.
No discipline. No focus. No leadership. No Cup.
Is the hard decision the right one? Get the handedness right by going 3L and3RD by removing Kulak. No he doesn’t deserve it but subbing Stecher in for Klingberg still leaves someone (Walman) playing RD and that may not be wise against Florida.
These are the hard decisions things are won by. ‘Maybe’ Walman can play right. As is human nature in times past it was considered a big enough drop off you don’t do that. Now all of the sudden Kulak Walman and other here are said to be able to do it
I think Walman is playing better than Kling this series, so I take Kling out for Stech. Moving the puck is nice, but this is the type of series players like Kling don’t do well in and he hasn’t. Stech has more jam and a more straight ahead game, and that’s what they are missing
Being fancy doesn’t work against high pressure teams that take the middle away. That’s why they do that. Time for getting the puck weak side and deep, flow and skating. The Panthers are shortening the bench, they are slower, so play into making that a problem for them
Moving the puck isn’t being fancy. It’s a fundamental skill. If Nurse could move the puck like Kling and Stecher he would be everyone’s favourite D-man.
I’ve acknowledged that Kling had a rough game. The team has to do a better job of providing good open options for the breakouts to work.
I also have to acknowledge the play Kling made just inside the blueline, to send Browny in alone only to beat Bob while losing the handle at the same time… was sublime. I don’t know that any left handed D in the world could have made that play.
14 – 2
96 – 36
25 – 51
This is my preferred lineup by a little bit. Kling is going to get paaaaaiiiiid next year. Let’s use him while we can.
My comfort with the coaches wanes it seems. I think it is overstated about the impact of small changes, in terms of how much, really they have been obvious moves, any good coach should make them. Credit for doing it, but thing have to happen as things go along. Is Maurice a genius for using Greer and winning 6-1? No
But after that game what now? They haven’t yet really settled in dealing with the pressure. They counters are pretty straight forward – the Panthers overload so you have to get the puck weak side, and you have to be able to get behind the forecheck. Hopefully as has been the case they get better the last 3 games. I’m not confident though because the Panthers are in the player’s heads, that has to change for there to be change
I am also not to cool with trotting out the highly struggling pair of Nurse Kulak. An adjustment there would bring a lot of help. As Curlock pointed out they went back to it and paid the price
We’ll see. They also need to have the guys better prepared to play 60. It’s all between the ears at this point, and they aren’t ahead in that over the Panther’s coaches
My new prediction is that yesterday does not mean this is not a close series, still.
Games 1 and 2 went to the literal wire. Game 3 was a blowout, so I think game 4 could very well be a blowout the other way. I might be crazy but I felt way worse after the heartbreak of Game 2 than the trashcan of Game 3. If anything, last night’s performance had a comforting and familiar feel to it. Give into the kink, it gives back, and usually quickly.
Looking forward to some very Oilersy-Panthersy road splits.
Knob definitely with more talk about the officials post-game last night and during his avail today – not afraid to say that there have been lots of calls they don’t agree with.
14-9 Total Goals FLA
8-4 5v5 goals FLA
1-0 4v4 goals EDM
1-0 6v5 goals EDM
5-3 PP goals FLA
1-0 SH goals FLA
17-16 PP opportunities FLA
5v5 goal difference is very concerning. Not sure how they overcome that.
Play smarter
You’re the voice of doom.
Did we watch the same game 3? The Oilers depth has to outscore Florida’s. Barkov will continue to keep McDrai quiet at 5v5.
They are smothering Connor and especially Leon a penalty could be called every shift but Maurice has dictated the style of play he wants the Refs to call. He doesn’t mind trading penalties
I would like to defend Evander Kane. All the media in Edmonton took to twitter after the first period “Kane can’t take those offensive zone penalties”. The first penalty he was called for is a push with your stick that happens 20-30 times a game that is not called. Kane has probably done that 10-20 times already this series and not been called. Forsling dove. It was clearly an embellishment. If a crosscheck is measured by severity on a scale of 1-10 that was a 1. The high sticking penalty against Kane on Marchand, he is forechecking trying to get the puck. Marchand see his stick is at waist level and with his own arm lifts Kane’s stick towards his face then snaps it back. I am not sure if the stick made contact with Marchand’s face as the angle was from the back and the tv did not show the opposite angle. So before the series and after game 2 the media says “the Oilers can’t back down from Florida we have to play them tough” then Kane does two very medium tough things and is called for both of them. Note, both of those penalties were killed off. Then Arvidsson gets called for goaltender interference. Bob totally dives, again, just like Forsling. It’s a penalty and Verhaege scores a beautiful goal. We get the PP and Perry scores a nice goal. Then 2 minutes later Barkov slashes Klingberg’s arm and shovels him to the ice, he loses balance and falls into the ref, turnover, 3-1 Panthers, and essentially the game ended. In the second period Florida proceeded to commit 2 stick to the face infractions that weren’t called, and Tkachuk ran Skinner just as hard if not harder than Arvy ran Bob, not called. This was all when it was still 3-1. All the oilers’ chippiness and stupid penalties happened in the third when it was 5-1, when they felt nothing Florida did got called so they took matters into their own hands, yet all the media commentary was about how the Oilers can’t play Florida’s game blah blah blah. If the Oilers didn’t fight back like that the commentary would be “the oilers are soft, where is the pushback?” But that all happened when the game was over. When it was 2-1 Barkov committed an infraction more obvious and influencing the game than Kane did, but Kane is foolish and immature but Barkov is a selke winner? Maybe the refs influence the game 100x more than the media wants to admit because they don’t want to appear to be whiners but that is 100% what happened in the game. What if they call Barkov on that penalty and we score on the PP and it’s 2-2? Is Barkov a stupid immature player? Why not see the issue as inconsistent and poor officiating rather than insult Kane?
This is the correct take! I bet they know it in the locker room as well.
Fully agree. I know I said it’s not helpful to break down each play etc and yet, the reffing has been all over the place and one could conclude incompetent. But as LT said, they evened it up in the first so there’s that.
I like what you’ve said here.
In an ideal world, the league reviews the penalties, and the game overall, and looks for what happened that a team that averaged the 22nd most penalties per game in the regular season (3.16) and 6th most in the playoffs (4.53 – inflated due to last night’s game), was losing its cool so easily and often playing a team that averaged the most penalties per game in the regular season (4.15) and most in the playoffs so far (5.85). The review would ideally uncover the numerous missed calls (both ways), the standards for what will be called a penalty, the inconsistency of the penalties, the timing of the penalties, game flow, the factors leading up to the penalties (including the previously stated findings), etc. The league would then react accordingly to ensure the game is refereed fairly.
Believe it or not, I am not one to blame the refs after each loss. The Oilers also had their opportunities last night and did not capitalize. The Oilers did lose their cool too often, but can understand why.
I have been posting on this forum and calling into fan shows for 25 years. While there are clear missed calls like in 2OT that decide games, and don’t bother calling in or complaining about the refs. I don’t believe the league has a conspiracy to help or hurt teams but recognize there is human bias and strategies in refs and they have varying degrees of competence or game impact. For example I didn’t blame the refs or complain about them in any of the losses this season or in the playoffs until game 2 OT. However in many ways I find last night’s game more frustrating and causing anger because I am so tired of the local and national media being as incorrect on this topic as the refs were in the game last night. I don’t know what a crosscheck is, goalie interference, high stick, slashing, holding, or tripping. Sometimes it seems obvious but it is not called, or seems like nothing and it is called, then for some reason the media blames the player for taking a foolish penalty when it doesn’t seem to me it is a penalty, or says a team was outsmarted when really they were out reffed. We talk about how hockey could be called “goalie” but in some games it could be called “ref”. Last night was one of them and unlike the local media who believe they are somehow taking the high road for not complaining about the ref but not calling obvious multiple mistakes by the refs that directly impact the game , I want to push back on spec and rishaug and many others who didn’t see the major cause for the lack of game flow, inability to forecheck (Kane got one for high sticking that to me was Marchand lifting his stick purposefully into his face), inability to get puck out (Barkov slashed, held and took Klingberg into the ref), score (McDavid was tripped on a partial 2 on 1 on the first shift)…push back (kane for cross checking a low level degree push), yet we get high sticked in the face, Tkachuk knocks down Skinner, and we should smile and say please sir can I have another? We have to be disciplined but they don’t?
I agree. You’ve stated it better than I can. My brother and I lament about the media bias on the regular, although it is usually about the comments made by NHL Network on Sirius XM shows.
I agree with the idea that a referee sets a standard with the first penalty called of each different penalty. In last night’s game, the standard of what is a cross check was ridiculously low and so maddeningly inconsistently called. I made the comment to my brother while watching last night’s game, that if Kane’s cross check is a penalty, then Hintz’s cross check on Nurse that led to Hintz’s fractured foot should have also been a penalty, or, conversely, Kane’s shouldn’t have been.
As you said in your original post, the “cross check” by Kane is a play that anyone who stands in front of the net for anything longer than 1s should be expecting. And, it happens numerous times without a call. And, they are usually more severe blows.
I also said to my brother after G2 that “Bennett and Tkachuk get away with so much. Maybe later in their careers they’ll get no benefit of the doubt like Kane.” My implication was that Kane has a target on his back with the refs. He can barely make contact without there being a penalty called.
Oh god the choice to only show one angle (yet multiple times) of Kane’s high sticking penalty told me everything I needed to know about the penalty: that it likely wasn’t.
This misses the broader context.
The NHL gives both teams scripts of what is going to happen for the opening of each game in each city. They don’t ask much other than the named starters and refs stand at the blue lines and red lines respectively like good boys and allow the ceremony to take place. But Kane didn’t like the instructions, the ceremony, or anything else in that situation. So he decided to be a bad all and skate around in the dimmed stadium while the focus should have been on the announcer’s words and player’s being introduced.
Bad sportsmanship in full view of the fans, world, and the refs. While I watched in horror at the lack of respect, the refs prepared to punish Kane the way a bad sportsman should be punished. And punished he was.
Message: Don’t be an asshole. Kane has never learned and ripping the refs after the game is not going to help his cause.
A major liability for the Oilers at this point and we can expect more ticky-tacky calls on him.
So if thats the case what has happened in all the other games?
What?
Really?
We expect unsportsmanlike conduct from outside of game play to be punished with actual differences in calls on the ice?
What kind of BS is that?
Fine him if it’s not appropriate. Hell, fine the team if they can’t get such horrible behaviour as skating around under control.
I don’t doubt that there’s some truth to this, but what an absolutely ridiculous way this would be to manage a league and norms within it. What a betrayal of the integrity of the actual sport taking place.
The league has a rule book. Call the rule book. If the rule book is wrong, change the rule book.
The refs are a third team on the ice and they are allowing personal bias to influence calls. No wonder there’s inconsistency and everyone is constantly talking about it and confused. Fans, players, coaches, management, media. Inconsistency is by design.
Punishing a player in-game for something that happened outside of the game? How very Eagleson era of this league.
What? That is how a bad sportsman should be punished? Doesn’t this sum up all of the Oilers fans angst in one sentence? That the refs have predetermined that a player needs to be punished? And to be clear, its Kanes fault that the refs have decided to call bad penalties and let penalties go?
What apology of unprofessional behaviour (on the ref’s part, if what you say is the case). Referees aren’t there to improve Kane’s attitude. If the calls were retaliation for something that didn’t happen during the game, that’s a far greater indictment of the referees. Sure, maybe that’s the reason, but if it is, that’s far far worse.
Hallelujah.
Love this comment. That game partially went the way it did because of the poor officiating that happened from the get go. It set a tone. Kane didn’t deserve at least one of those calls maybe 2 as you stated.
The media have to say what they say seemingly, they can’t call out the NHL.
Kane is honest and brash to a fault at times and can be over the top but his statement ‘They get away with more’ says it all how and why that boiled over. He is correct, they do.
I will be happy when this is done regardless of outcome so I can walk away from the NHL for at least a while or maybe a long while.
Couldn’t agree more
I had friends message me and tell me how stupid Kane and Nurse were last night. No one else (well one person was pissed at Walman). Oilers fans. But not unique, and other teams’ fans love to hate on them.
Kane and Nurse have been upstanding citizens during their time as Oilers, giving to this community. Wearing their heart on their sleeves, much like McDavid.
Kane in my opinion wanted to return earlier, but didn’t for the good of the team to allow them to add at the deadline.
For those of you who are thinking Kane is the problem, perhaps consider the role of structural racism in the game of hockey, much like the rest of the world, and how that might affect a) your view of the player, b) your view of responsibility for penalty calls against the player, and c) your view of the player relative to Sam Bennett and Marchand (who are actual assholes and would not be called stupid even if their penalties were called, but are white Canadians). Also not surprised to see one name here with an asinine take
Love this. To call Bennett a silent assassin is to miss the fact that what he’s does is incredibly blatant.
Actually not to pick on HH directly, but this player doesn’t get away with more because he’s better at being sneaky. He’s not. It’s obvious in real time. They just aren’t calling it as much. Same for others on the Panthers.
Personal bias should be left at the gate when they step on the ice and the only thing that should matter are the actual infractions on the ice during that particular game. Anything else is influencing the game and inevitably it will not be fair.
Structural racism absolutely matters. Kane has a “reputation” but the Rat and the Worm and the “silent assassin” are savvy vets. It would be funny if it wasn’t so depressing.
Marchand skated by McDavid and cross checked him in the ribs in Edmonton after a whistle and in front of the ref. No call. If that was Nurse or Kane, what is the likelihood of them being in the box, regardless of score or time of game? And what is the likelihood someone would call them a “meat head”?
You stated ALL media, important to note that is incorrect. I did not tweet on the subject, and of course several others did not tweet about it as well.
Nuge not at practice – Skinner in his spot.
Lines and pairing remain unchanged from game 3.
Hey LT, et al,
How many of you have ever been to Mackenzie, BC? Just a short almost two hour drive North of Prince George on Hwy 97 heading towards Chetwynd. As you enter town, you will see the World’s Largest Tree crusher from an era gone by when Mackenzie was created as an industry town after the building of the WAC Bennet Dam. For decades, people cut and processed trees here and like many of those forestry towns, there was money and jobs. It is no longer like that and Mackenzie could be getting a visit from Johnny Harris pretty soon.
Mackenzie is a hockey town though, and I have many hockey memories there from taking my Fort boys up there in -48c weather and beating the hometown team in the final of a midget (U-17) tourney, to being an evaluator for BC Hockey and seeing for the first time ever, some quiet polite kid from Williams Lake play goal like no 14 year old I’ve ever seen before or since (Carey Price). For the past two years, I’ve brought my daughters U-13 team up there and we’ve mixed the squads up and had some of the best girls hockey the North has ever seen. I complain about the cold and the weird benches and my girls ask me how many times I’ve been there. I often tell them many times and tell them how I still have the unofficial record of furthest distance a water bottle has been kicked and they seem amazed at such a stat. See, these days I think I’m a cross between Jim Valvano, Badger Bob (I use his “It’s a Great Day for Hockey!” all the time), and Ted Lasso. It’s a far cry from the coach I used to be be in my ’20s. I used to just care about the results and now I care mostly about the game itself. Such is the maturity LT spoke about. Oh believe me, I still want to kick the odd bottle every now and then and sometimes I say/do the wrong things behind the bench, but it is good for the most part. My girls get their butts handed to them by boys teams all the time, but the ever present smiles is what I really care about in the end.
The Oilers had one of those bottle kickers last night. While wanting to take out Bennet, Tkachuck, and Marchand’s teeth may seem appealing, the instant gratification of doing so takes the focus away from the team on on yourself, and last time I looked, hockey was a team sport. Too many individual efforts and not enough team. There are guys who shouldn’t be playing due to injury, but these are proud players and they want to play. I get that. Part of giving a selfless effort is the ability to play through the bullshit that Florida does. You know it’s coming, so don’t be surprised by it. Refs? Absolute garbage. DROP THE PUCK AND GET OUT OF THE WAY WHEN THE PLAY IS ON!. Expect all this, and react accordingly. What drives dirty players crazy? When you don’t react to all their garbage.
If I’m Coach Garlic, I’d rework the PP a bit. Yes, having 97 is an advantage other teams dream of, but even he is becoming predictable these days. Maybe swap out Stecher for Klingberg? Stecher seems to calm down Nurse for some reason. Skinner in for Arvidsson, Brown (clearly injured), or Frederic (What was the fanfare around this guy?)
Anyway, I’m beginning to ramble here.
Go Oilers Go!
Thank you. I appreciate your posts. The SCF is pretty cool, but I think you’re closer to the beating heart of hockey.
I’ve worked a bunch in Mackenzie. Charming spot. Good people.
This… this is the product the NHL wants to sell. This will go down as one of the worst finals ever. Worse than the neutral zone trap era.
LT, I’m not seeing the awesome hockey you are. I’m seeing a league with a mandate that the best team doesn’t win and skill is secondary to knowing what you can get away with.
But should we be surprised considering that the US celebrates cheating (Barry Bonds, Tom Brady) as something that is on the non-cheaters for not catching?
It’s sometimes said that watching just to see Connor play makes it worth while. I don’t enjoy watching him in games like that. He’s wildly frustrated obviously, and mostly not able to or doesn’t play his game that makes him so great. Also trying to do too much, which pains me as it moves away from what they need to do as a team to win this. Part of which is for he and Drai to use their teammates more, to dupe the Panthers, as Gretzky used to do when facing such things
The first two games were great hockey, last night was a gong show. Game had no rhythm or flow with all these penalties.
I don’t understand the Kane slashing penalty. I have watched that replay several times. Neither official had their arm up for a penalty, a linesman blew the play dead.
Next thing the two officials are looking at the iPad for a penalty that was not called. I thought they had to call a penalty to get to the iPad. With all the missed slashing calls is the standard on a potential missed call to go to the iPad and change the play? Did they add time on the clock?
Then the WWE came out … a minor penalty and a misconduct. Why? To get a tough guy off the bench.
I noticed this as well, seemed very strange.
If I was coach I would tell Evander Kane that if he gets a penalty in the 1st period he will be stapled to the bench.
Perry was a culprit in Game 1, but cleaned it up.
Game 1:
Game 2: EK High sticking 0:37
Game 3: EK High Sticking 5:13 & 7:54
You may as well leave him on the bench then because last night was not a good example, those were reputation calls right out of the gate, him and a similar player Bennet don’t get the same leash.
Calls like that right out of the gate set the whole tone for the game.
Watching the 3rd goal again Barkov takes his hand off his stick and grabs Klingberg before they collide with the ref. Could have been a penalty but then again Klingberg needs to move that puck earlier.
It was a hold, similarly called earlier in the playoffs.
It looks bleak until you realize that 97 and 29 will not let this continue. In my view, blaming individual players in a team sport gets you no where. This was a collective wet fart. Shameful, actually. But who among us haven’t had a shameful display of behaviour right? Tweaking here or there might help but the bottom line is we are at the dance and you gotta go with who you came to the dance with. Focus, energy and most critically that “I’m going to lay everything on the line” attitude is what it will take. Just look at Florida’s hustle, two men to the puck, incredible sticks and the overall sacrifice, and mirror that and then we win game 4 and rinse and repeat this and the Oilers can take the series. Last night was a disaster with too many parts to criticize and breaking each down is, in my view, not helpful
Reading some of these posts is very entertaining. I swore to avoid any hockey until game 4 and to not break down the game but there’s some excellent insight in these here posts. Bravo!
When the Oilers are on top of their game, they are playing the puck quickly. They get to pucks quickly and move the puck quickly, support each other well, go to the net, get in on the forecheck well, etc.
https://x.com/nhlrumourreport/status/1932424936200835320?s=46&t=VKZ79-9hN-xwMNTBjohq7w
well at least we’re not this level stupid
Funny how the two teams have switched places on special teams this year. Lots of penalties seems to favour Florida mainly because the Oilers pk is so bad this year. I think Skinner and Klingbergs struggles go back to OT in game 2. Klingberg coughed up the puck multiple times under pressure. I will say that the Oilers D are holding onto the puck too long and turning it over. For all the talk about how well the Oilers D looked coming into this series they look very beatable right now.
If Evander Kane can’t get through the 1st period without taking a penalty then the Oilers are cooked. I would start Skinner next game but if he doesn’t return to Dallas Skinner then the Oilers are cooked. If the Oilers don’t beat Florida on special teams from here on in then they are cooked.
Penalty kill is bad but the Panthers are moving puck around quickly. Our PP Drai is happy with the puck on his stick for 5 seconds looking for a pass to players that are stationary.
And more Bouch bombs is not the answer. Get the puck down low
The team reacts the same way to anyone clogging the middle. Bruce Curlock had the same take in his game 3 tactical review. They start playing more as individuals, I find especially the Duo and Bouch, and try to do too much, and puck support fades and making basic plays that you have to make to succeed, plays the Panthers are making
On PP they do as you are saying, with the added pressure of SCF the PP gets bad. I think they need to have set plays to isolate a shooter or get shots with screens. Then they don’t have to think, can focus on the set up and teh puck would be moving along with the players. Staying on the perimeter and trying to force the puck through isn’t a great way to beat what the Panthers do, in any game state
It’s up to the coaches to get them doing what they have to. This is where teams like the Panthers that don’t have the elite players, and while I think Barkov is good I don’t see him as elite, can be a problem for teams that do like the Oilers and Leafs, because the Panthers and the like as a team have to play their system to win. The Panthers play their game very well to a man, a basic high pressure game. They are also good at capitalizing on the mistakes they create. They won’t by trying to highlight reel as individuals, even if it happens a times
Agreed. Draisatly has been the weak spot on the PP, when he’s not the finisher. He’s not moving at all, and then still forces a pass.
PK needs to change formation. Teams have figured out how to move the forwards around to create lanes. Our defense are blocking at ton of shots and still we are getting lit up. It hasn’t been working all playoffs (or really all season). Go to something simple, or be more aggressive. Just do something else.
The other thing that drives me crazy is we get guys like DeBoer and Carlyle playing the refs like a fiddle, complaining openly about it in the media.
And we sit here after the non-calls on Bennett, no too-many-men penalty, etc. etc etc and somehow think us being silent on this will help?
We all see it, call the NHL out on it. Get them to answer some of these questions.
KK made a specific comment on how the refs correctly caught our too many men penalty last night, and wished they had done the same in 2OT.
Needs to be a lot stronger than that
Fair. As commentators stated, players have no idea what the standard is. Standard should be the same in all games, all periods, and for each team. Comments to that effect could be direct enough to raise notice without throwing refs under the bus.
Knob was definitely on the officials both post-game last night and in his media avail today.
Guess the NHL heard the Oilers have depth this year, so they decided to make it a special teams battle.
Oilers depth has taken a hit with Hyman out.
If one player getting hurt erases your depth then you didn’t have depth in the first place.
They have the depth. But they’re afraid to use it.
Hyman out and then Brown taking that head shot and killing his momentum – he hasn’t been nearly effective since his return.
It feels like Kris needs to walk into the team meeting this morning, say something like “OK, you guys get all of that out last night? Good, let’s move on.” Coming into game 4 like a bunch of choir boys might be enough to throw the rats off their game.
That said, if someone gets the chance to give Bennet or Marchant the ol’ Mark Messier special, well, maybe don’t pass it up.
It’s like somewhere along the way we forgot what motivates these Oilers. There was no way they were going to win last night, there was no way they were going to play hard and come up just a bit short. They needed to look like a trainwreck and like they had faked their way into a game that they had no business being in. They need to go into game 4 believing that no one believes in them outside of their room. The stage is now set. Edmonton will win the next 3 games and by the middle of game 5 we’ll all be marveling that somehow this is the same team that mailed in game 3.
Its not that I want to believe this, which I do, its that theres a growing body of evidence now pointing to this as being very possible.
Re Frederic: Remember Brad Invisibister?
The real problem, besides the NHL giving Florida carte blanche, which they’ve had all playoffs long, is that the refs will eventually have to call SOME penalties, and if your PP can’t make them pay for their bad behaviour, it’s game over.
Panthers had 3 PP goals last night. We had 1. And the goal we scored was from Bouchard throwing the puck at the net and Perry being in the right place. I think we’ve forgotten how to score dirty goals, obviously losing Hyman is part of the problem in finding the blue paint.
We talked about our depth and how we’ve had so many goal scorers throughout the playoffs. Nuge was maybe having the playoffs of his career. He’s hurt and Florida is a tough matchup for him.
We need something from Podkolzin, Kapanen, Henrique, Frederic, Janmark and Brown.
The PK needs to be better and the PP needs to figure it out, get the puck into the blue paint.
And Bobrovsky has been the better goalie in each game, just like last year.
Refs called four penalties in the first period for each side. Too many of course, but it was even.
Yup, and we start poor and end the period down 2-0. Even 1 PP goal for us in the first changes the game.
The game wasn’t lost in the first, it was that nasty second period again tat the Panthers seem to own.
The game wasn’t lost in the first, it was that nasty second period again that the Panthers seem to own.
I understand that statement and where you are coming from but that is a cop out statement to how bad the reffing was. It’s terrible and when they become the game it’s ugly and not good hockey to watch.
It’s a quibble but Bouchard didn’t just fire the puck to the front of the net blind. That was a pass right to Perry’s stick and he had the hands to bury it. It was the only beautiful thing from the Oilers all night. And the 40yo Perry knows where to be on the ice.
If a defence change is made, I think Stecher in for Klingberg is the logical choice.
Nurse/Stecher and Nurse/Walman are both real solid options given this season’s results. V
For me, Nurse- Stetcher and Walman- Klingberg would be better. Take Kulak out he needs to find his game again
To be honest, for me, the ideal is:
Kulak/Bouchard
Nurse/Walman
Ekholm/Stech or Klingberg
The top two listed pairings have had great results (the first in these playoffs and the later in the regular season).
Pickard looked good in relieve it’s tough coming in cold to a shooting gallery mid period. K.K needs to put feelings-emotions aside and man up and give our better goalie this year the start in this crucial game.
Pickard looked good in garbage time. He should have started the third period. The game was already lost.
Agree, give Pickard (6-0) the net for game 4. He deserves it
We had better opportunities in the first yet we’re down 2-0 Bob is elevating his game he’s getting stronger and more focused. This could be the reason the boys are over passing looking for the perfect goal. On the otherside Skinner is getting weaker maybe hes trying to hard but Florida are scoring goals with a gaping net to shoot at. Skinner has the same look as the L.A series it’s Pickard time 6W-0L win game 4 than we control the series again
Pickard wasn’t winning that game last night, Skinner has been very good since he regained the net.
Skinner is 7W-6L he gave up a last minute goal to L.A that was terrible-gives up a last second goal against Vegas-couldn’t make a stop in the 3rd against Dallas game 1. Gives up a goal to Marchand at a crucial time in OT that he should of had. Pickard is a career back-up yet he gets results. Pickard was the better Goalie all year if you’ve been following the regular season. Pickard is 6W-0L when it matters start Pickard and he’ll reward this franchise with Cup 6
I guess we will never know how Pickard would have performed under the same circumstance.
Nope haven’t been following the season whatsoever.
I’m a Pickard fan, but Skinner has been very good since regaining the net when Pickard unfortunately got injured.
This is not meant to disparage Pickard, but did you not see the goal he let in last night? That was worse than anything Skinner let in. We can’t know if that one goes in if Pickard had started the game, but we do know it was more saveable goal than anything Skinner gave up.
Pickard 22-10 Skinner 26-18 Playoffs this is when it matters Pickard 6W-0L Skinner 7W-6L If healthy Pickard deserves next start. K.K must start the goalie the players play better in front of. If K.K is more concerned about feelings than winning he needs to be let go. Without Pickard we would of lost to L.A in 4 or 5 games. This is not a difficult decision as I have faith in K.K going with Pickard and not waiting until we’re down 3-1 in games.
They will have to let go the ticky tack garbage officiating that began the game last night and set the whole tone, let a fan like me whine and moan about it. As hard as that would be to do when you are on the ice.
You could see that game coming a mile away as soon as you saw the Kane ‘cross check’ penalty (not calling the ticky tack trip on 97) and then the high stick as well Skinner flopping like a whale on the first goal.
As soon as Drai got the too many men (cough without being in the play) I get it, it was a penalty.
That is when I bowed out. I understand the oil played terribly and the cats got under their skin. It is the consistent injection of game management trying to change game states and be involved in outcome that I am completely done with. I love hockey and the magic the elite players bring. I don’t love the NHL.
This league is losing me.
We may not have the ability to impact outcomes as fans. What we can do is stop spending money on anything the NHL profits on.
Win game 4, back in the drivers seat.
Team usually responds incredibly well to a humiliation game.
I’d start Skinner, put Stetcher in for Klingberg, dress Jinner over Brown.
5×5 I’d swap McDavid and Janmarks winger sets. Sucks real bad that Nuge is hurting.
Podz-McDavid-RV
Kane-Leon-Kap
Janmark-Nuge-Perry
Fred-Janmark-Brown
Ek-Bouch
Kulak-Walman
Nurse-Stecher
Interesting. I still wonder how effective Jeff Skinner would be on a fourth line. Also, I’m not sure Perry should be taken off McDavid’s wing. Janmark-Nuge-RV might work?
Probably need another center. Janmark can’t play two positions. LOL
Put Noah Philp in there.
Pod/McDavid/Arv
Kane/Draisaitl/Kapanen
Jinner/Janny/Perry
Nuge/Henrique/Brown
Slide Frederic in if Nuge can’t go, or slide Henrique or Brown out for Frederic.
Nuge isn’t going to be playing center, he clearly has an injury stopping that.
The die is cast. And I would be furious if I were a tier 1 fan. Call everything in the first. Wether in favour or against. That leads to a healthy amount of the period being played on special teams. In turn, that leads to the Oilers being off rythim for the rest of the game. Oilers rely more on skill than brawn. The cats are the other way around. Cats are a filthy, dirty team, reminiscent of the Detroit bad boys of the NBA. They are also one of the “Grow the Game” teams. So they will get away with murder. Oilers gotta find a way to tune the refs out and play their game no matter the end result. And it boils my blood to see a stinking rat like Katchuk getting away with all the crap he does. Come on Oilers, let’s show them who the better man is and get this done.
Well said. I am beyond furious and it is June, the weather is getting nice.
I can’t imagine scouts looking at this series and wanting to draft a 5’9 player. Yes I know Marchand is out there but he is a unicorn.
5’9″ Lane Hutson just won the Calder Trophy.
Thankfully that still only counts as one
I think GoDot is right. Stetch in for Klingberg.
I also wonder about Skinner in for Frederic as has been posted many times. It sends a message, let’s play hockey. Puts another scorer on the ice.
Stetcher for Kulak. Get the LD RD right. No one playing their offside against a fierce forecheck
Walman kulak is a good pair. Walman cam play offside, just not with Nurse
Kulak & Bouchard was a good pair. Why are Nurse & Walman not a good pair again?
Ekholm & Klingberg have a history playing together for Sweden. Not sure why they’re so stuck on Ekholm & Bouchard? They need to balance out the pairings. Sure, Stecher & Nurse works too if they should decide to go that route, then Klinger comes out.
I’d be all over:
Kulak/Bouchard
Nurse/Walman
Ekholm/Stecher (or Klingberg)
Why can’t Walman play with Nurse?
For me that is a prime solution.
Those two had exceptional numbers together in 105 regular season minutes.
With Hyman out this series was gonna be hard for us. Too many passengers. Put Stetcher in. He’s fresh and has some battle. Put skinner in.
And if you are gonna take a penalty at least make it a worth while penalty. None of these stupid high sticks that happen to glance off a visor
Solid beat down last night. The Oilers lost their minds last night. The Oilers can’t win playing that way. They have to get back to playing their game, their style and scoring first.
Uphill battle without Hyman and a depleted Nuge. We have faith!
I’ll tell you this. A blowout loss last night was a much better outcome than a 3-2 loss. They’ll come out determined and focused.
Reminds me of Detroit Colorado in 97. They exchanged a couple of serious beat downs. A Detroit 6-0 win was followed by a Colorado 6-0 win.
Oilers will be focused. No better lesson than the one last night.
True – if that doesn’t focus them to do the right things nothing will
We certainly live in an age of the worst behaviour wins the day, of late. It’s happening at so many levels of humanity and it’s now happening in hockey even within an offensive upswing in the NHL. Long lost are the hooking-trap days where you’d worry about Scott Stevens ringing your bell and the victim is blamed for not keeping their head up (newsflash, the puck, and everything that matters to win, is not up). Now, we’re shifting toward pure villainy wins the day and the crowd cheers the behaviour as “smart”. Then they get under your skin and can run up the score on the PP, because the villain is somehow also the victim.
At this point, if the good guys win, I’ll be celebrating who they beat more than what they’ve won. And that has truly sucked the joy out of it for me. I’ll watch my team play, but it’s starting to feel like obligation to get through the game given how cringe this has gotten (constant inconsistency in game 3 and obvious calls not called in game 2). You have to just take the elbows, and out right attacks (Greer on Ekholm) and if you defend yourself, they “always call the retaliation”. But of course, the reason itself for the retaliation is ignored. And hockey continues to be stuck in the 1970s.
Thanks for reading my rant.
Yeah it’s an absolute embarrassment. If McDavid wasn’t available to give moments of pure joy and wonder I don’t think I’d watch the NHL at all.
This is what I feel. The Panthers know the zeigeist and we live in shitty times. South Florida to boot. Behaviour matches.
Great rant. I whole heartedly agree.
Totally agreed that the Oilers need to keep their composure and remember how they played against Vegas and Dallas.
A though occurred to me that the series could play out like game 1: Oilers get the first, Florida gets the next 3 and the Oil get the last 3. Wouldn’t that be epic.
Well F**k! Time to shake the Etch a Sketch and draw up something good for Game 4.
Crying won’t help you, praying won’t do you no good
No, crying won’t help you, praying won’t do you no good
When the levee breaks, mama, you got to move, ooh
Etch-a-Sketch: the art of straight lines.
The series is 2-1.
last night sucked but they simply need to win one game and get their split – come home tied with home ice.
How last night played out means nothing to how game 4 will play out. This has been proven over the years.
Oilers can certainly outplay and beat this team.
The Oilers got completely sucked in by Florida. They are so distracted and constantly shouting at refs during play if a call doesn’t go their way. Or worse, retaliating and taking dumb penalties. This has caused several goals against.
I don’t even care about the complaining about the refs at this point from fans. The league is the way it is. The way they are playing is completely disrupting their 4-line game that has worked so well for them in the playoffs.
I do think they will do a better job next game. They are in a much better position than last year, down 2-1 instead of 3-0. But man, this is supposed to be a veteran team and they are shooting themselves in the foot after such a good stretch. My worry is that even if they play their best, Bob can steal two games.
Florida suckered in the Refs The first 2 calls on Kane were bunk this man has unfairly been targeted all playoffs. The game was over by the time the Oilers tried for redemption. You can only be a punching bag so long. We needed that 2nd game bad as you knew Florida would recieve home cooking reffing. Our PK is killing our Cup hopes.
Start whoever you want for game 4. Goaltending is not the problem. I’d start Skinner, but I can understand why Knoblauch and many people might want Pickard.
Stecher in for Klingberg.
Draisaitl should play centre, with Podkolzin on left wing.
I agree it’s not really the problem but I hated the first goal against, put them on the back foot immediately. Skinner was swimming and it’s the 2nd game in a row Florida has scored 5v5 on an empty net (Jone 2-2 goal in game 2).
The PK also giving up open wristers and clappers to Florida’s best players is infuriating.
I believe you’re onto something here…
They learnt rather quickly Nurse & Klingberg aren’t a pair. Nurse & Stecher is a better bet.
Can’t see them taking out Kulak. Walman is performing well, they don’t appear to want to separate Ekholm & Bouchard. I think they overthought their D-pairs last night and it proved fatal immediately. How did they suddenly arrive at Nurse & Klingberg?
It’s a tough call on goaltending with Skinner being Mr. G 4,5&6. But maybe he needs a reset, he’s lost two straight. But to give the net back to Pickard and hope he wins three in a row to add to his previous six would be a miracle.
This is the way.
What pairings are you suggesting?
Ekholm Bouchard
Nurse Stecher
Kulak Walman
This works for me, as does:
Kulak/Bouchard
Nurse/Walman
Ekholm/Klingberg (or Stecher)
Is there any possibility that Stetcher goes in and Nurse comes out? Run Stetcher and Kulak as your third pair, and having lefty/righty pairs back there might help with the Fla forecheck in our zone.
I’d also be turning to Pickard for game 4. If he loses, you can go back to Skinner. If Skinner plays and they lose game 4, it’s hard to go to Pickard facing elimination.
It is beyond frustrating that Coach has to think/overthink who to play with his 9 million dollar defenceman that best makes him less a complete liability.
No chance – nor should there be.
As mentioned this team from one day to the next can be completely different. I think the key is whether or not they can do the things needed entering and attacking the O zone when playing teams that take away the middle
Part of the issue with the full court press is the Oilers start to play as individuals (especially the top 3 trying to force plays) and puck support fades. There is a way to play against what Florida (and others) does, and it takes the whole team doing it consistently
Part of the defensive issue is not getting the puck deep and setting up plays, and facing repeated counter attacks because of it. Play the game plan, and focus on getting to the puck and winning each play. Forget about the rest, especially getting baited
A frustrated Marchment hit has thrown this series on its head. The Oilers winger depth is really showing its warts with Hyman out and Nuge at 40%. Sigh.
Come on guys. It’s all a perfect narrative and exactly what Oilers needed. Oilers are beasts coming from behind in a series. Stu is absolutely dominant in game 4s and has beyond elite stats in games 4-7. They win game 4, then win game back home and that’s their road to success. And this series had to have an alley fight with the Cats. If they lose game 4 only then will I be worried, but they absolutely dominate game 4s. They’re in a lot better shape than they were last year and even if they lost game 4, well if there’s any team who can win three in a row in a Stanley Cup Final!
To put it mildly, they’re in a lot better shape than they were last year. And they ALWAYS get better as a series progresses. I believe they needed this.
Agreed. Gut check. Happened pretty well in all three series so far.
It’s much more daunting with Hyman out and Nuge badly hurt. I would have full confidence if those two were locked and loaded.
They’ve got the Panthers just where they want them.
I remember how down I was on this team after Game 2 vs. LA. Tyler Yaremchuck called it then, something to the extent of, “this team is weird, no need to panic”. No, Florida is not LA but the team in bue remains the Oilers and, as we’ve always said, the only team that can beat Edmonton is Edmonton and the Panthers played right into that last night.
Regroup. Tactics, line-up. Fresh start. Go win Game 4 and we’re back.
Dear Oilers, we know you can hang with them physically, and won’t back down. You have shown us this. Good.
Now it’s time to show us how you play smarter and work harder. This we have also seen you do. It’s time to take us higher (RIP Sly).
https://youtu.be/BqWQzOzK3kw?si=NhoT1JEBngs3N-Uw