I remember this day, this moment. It was a hot July afternoon in 2022. We were three months from knowing Jo-Anne was ill, and four months from losing her. We were just a few weeks from the arrival of my book, something I cherish even more now (Jo and I spent all of our time together when the book was being written. It was during Covid. I remember those days most fondly).
It was hot that day. You can see my gigantic forehead in the mirror (I didn’t take the photo) but you may not be able to see I’m sweating. Even with the air on (we had just come from Cobbs and were heading for Mercato) it was hot. “Close” my Dad used to say when the heat was so abundant you could feel it against your body.
If I wrote a book of lamentations, much of it would include 2022. The thing is, you don’t know what you don’t know.
I think the Oilers know now. Stan Bowman knows.
Ken Holland built his team on free agency, and in areas it didn’t work out he attempted to trade contracts that were inefficient. He bled assets in doing so, but Holland did some good things with those dollars (Zach Hyman signing, Mattias Ekholm trade) and some of those things are part of a very good hockey club in Edmonton.
Stuart Skinner was drafted by the Oilers in 2017’s third round. I don’t know and the Oilers will never say, but I think Bob Green was the driver on that selection. Green knows the WHL and that pick seemed a priority based on the post-draft verbal.
By any measure, Skinner has been a draft success. He won and held the starting job in Edmonton for three seasons, and backstopped the team to Game 7 of the SCF in 2024. He has impressive playoff experience (38 NHL games) for such a young goaltender (he is 26).
Skinner will be in a new NHL city in the fall. The Oilers will have a new goaltender to play alongside Calvin Pickard.
The terrible line changes and ghastly coverage will remain. Skinner, like Devan Dubnyk before him, will find his way.
I’ve learned a lot since 2022. One of the biggest lessons is you have to go through the darkness to find the light. I have, these 30 months later, found the light. That is my hope for Stuart Skinner.
I hold out hope for this young man, and I live for redemption stories like the one Skinner could write this evening. If I’m honest, it seems the die has been cast. Damn shame. I still believe Bob Green was right, but the script is not turning out that way, at least in Edmonton.
At noon today, the Lowdown hits on Sports 1440 radio. Rachel Doerrie and Jason Gregor will be our feature guests, and we’ll chat Oilers, NHL playoffs across the elite eight, NBA playoffs, MLB and more. I’m at Lowetide on twitter, in the comments section here and on the Sports 1440 text line at 1.833.401.1440 directly. We can be heard at sports1440.ca; iHeartRadio, Radioplayer Canada, it’s available post-show on apple and spotify, and we tweet it out on X.
New for The Athletic: Edmonton Oilers team-building: Who should receive credit for current roster?
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6347866/2025/05/12/edmonton-oilers-team-building-2025/
https://x.com/friedgehnic/status/1922088310605848753?s=61
We will see where things progress over the next few days, but all indications are that the LA Kings are closing in on Ken Holland as their next GM
Hope so.
We’re getting tired of dismantling just rosters (Cal/Van) after crushing them in the playoffs every year.
We want managments now.
LA…welcome to the show.
Vegas…you’re next.
Do you blame the oilers for moving on? One year of not so great play is a while. Plus the year before was up and down, including the playoffs. He might have helped them win a series, but he might have extended series as well. All that can be said while still believing he outperformed his draft expectation. It’s a time they could win a cup, so it just isn’t enough. As a backup too, as you can’t give him multiple games to find his groove.
Although if you think it’s reasonable to move on, my comment is probably irrelevant.
Skinner and Pickard are almost opposite in styles – Skinner prefers positional play (sans last goal) and Pickard plays street hockey essentially.
I think the boys respond better to an unconventional goalie with character rather than a reserved conventional one. Mike Smith may not have been amazing…but he won more games than people thought he would (LOVE M. Smith, just wish he aged like C. Perry).
Why is just average goaltending so hard for us to achieve? My unprofessional opinion is simple…
We will continue to sewer young men’s careers or trade them way before we should…until the ENTIRE team has a desire to play as hard as they do in the offensive zone…in the defensive zone Even if that means no offense for your entire shift.
Be proud in playing D and this team will see the benefits without a doubt.
That being said…
Up 2-1 in the 2nd round is a helluva place to be…especially when you consider we just finished a 6-game winning streak to get here with home ice adavantage!
Be proud…cheer loud…and have faith. This team is good.
GOG!!!
I think we see Henrique-Frederic have strong games tonight.
Frede-ricooo! Let’s goooo!
Game 4 upcoming!
I have been tough on Skinner in the past as well, but I tend to be harder on most goalies today due to the style they play or how goaltending is taught. I can’t for the life of me figure out why so many goalies over 6’4″ commonly get beat up high, and I’m not talking Guy Lafleur beating Gill Gilbert high to the glove side, but under the crossbar. I know shooters these days definitely have the advantage due to sticks and the amount of time given to shooting, but it’s something that puzzles me. Is Benoit Allaire a saint or a heretic? That’s another discussion to have.
One thing the Oilers have to do is start to limit time and space in their own end, and stop the rush before it hits their blueline. Yikes, that 2nd goal was a classic example of that. Stick to stick, body to body, and at least get in the way and slow down the attack. No more free rides to the net and if they somehow manage to get that far, they will pay. Move your feet and swivel that head.
And if I’m Coach Garlic, I throw 97 & 29 out for the tying/winning/nail in the coffin goal, and then off the ice. That first game against LA and the last game are Exhibit A & B. Throw your big guys out there with the orders to send a solid message to the Knights. I used to have a habit of pulling my players off the ice after a goal was scored for or against and occasionally I will still do that depending on if players are too high on the Yerkes Dodson (Inverted-U) scale. Too aroused and your play suffers, and too low and you cannot perform either. It’s concerning to me that Coach Garlic keeps 29 out there for too long near the end of games, especially if there is an injury.
Finally, I have a feeling 29 is going to do something extraordinary tonight. 97 will bring his muted best (Eichel is really checking him close), but 29 has a bounce back night tonight.
Go Oilers Go!
Hopefully tonight is a great game. I’m super excited.
I hope they come out ready to make a statement that they’re focused on fixing ill-timed mistakes, and putting effort for all 60 minutes.
What I find hilarious is when a loud vocal few Oiler fans hate a player for the way they play. Dubnyk, Poti, Petry, Eberle, Gilbert, Schultz, Horcoff… This team has a history of selling low. That seems to be of no concern to a lot of the fanbase.
We’re a passionate bunch but applying that passion when evaluating a player is a recipe for all sorts of biases. It’s quite apparent with the rage spewed out on this comment board when a player makes an error. I had this problem myself with Kris Russell. I still can’t stand him.
I have a feeling we’re about to throw the baby out with the bath water with Nurse and Stu.
You can’t go into next season with Stu and Picks as your tandem. One needs to go in place of someone who has a better track record of consistency. For much of the season, I thought it would be a Pickard upgrade, and that still may be the case. However, I too am reading the tea leaves and it is clear that Stu’s time is nearing an end here.
I would love to give Stu another season to get back on track, as last season was well out of character for his pre-established level. Right now, he is the ultimate sell low candidate
But, and this is a big one, his pre-established level features wild swings in play. NHL_Sid documented this a few months ago. He either goes months at bottom 5%ile for goaltending, or top 10%ile. He did this last playoffs. Rounds 1-2 were bottom 5%ile, Rounds 3-4 were excellent. He almost cost us against Vancouver, and was a key factor in Dallas.
I’m rooting for him, I just know that even if he recovers to 2023-24 level, he will likely continue to meander between below replacement and excellent without warning
What is the Oilers win the Stanley Cup this season.
I mean, there are only 8 teams left an no team is closer than the Oilers or currently in better position (well, I guess Carolina who is also up 2-1 in the 2nd round but up a goal in their game 5).
Horcoff was 34 and chasing a cup.
Dubnyk is self admitted that he was broken and was not going to find his way back without the trials and tribulations he endured after the Oilers moved on from him.
I think the best thing the Oilers can do is try to find a different goaltending coach. It’s the easiest solution to try. You don’t increase cap hit, you don’t have to find another goalie, you aim after the best goalie coach that is available with the most history of success and try and see if they can work with your goaltenders.
I personally don’t know enough about being a goalie or coaching a goalie, all I can say is the sheer amount of goalies (10) Edmonton has played that are not Berlin since 2015 (year Schwartz was hired), is an extensive amount of goalies.
The number of seasons people would be happy about the success of those goalies are few and far between, there have been a few good years but not many that have sustained any good play.
This is my opinion and I may be way off but I have a hard time being confident in the way the goalies are being coached to improve consistently.
I do find that puzzling as well, but maybe he is, in terms of technical knowledge, a genius, but his mental coaching is so lacking. I’m basing that primarily on what I’ve seen. So many Oilers goalies have major cases of the yips and they only have it when they’re here.
I’m pretty sure the Oilers scouting staff already does this, but a big part of evaluating goalies, is the mental end of it. I was fortunate enough to be in the rink as part of the Best Ever program here, when Carey Price was “trying” out. We had a 90 minute goalies only session where the goalies were being shot on by senior level players. Some of the drills are designed for goalies to fail, and the only thing you are looking for, is to see which goalies stop to adjust their gear, get a drink, dawdle between reps and just generally see who has the mental skills. One drill most kids would take 5-6 shots in a 2 minute timed drill and go 0-for-whatever. Carey Price did the same drill, took 20 shots and didn’t let a single on in.
The mental skills count and somehow, for whatever reason, the Oilers cannot find someone to teach the mental end of the game.
Dr. Saul Miller, please answer all calls from Stan Bowman!
I understand inserting Kapanen for speed reasons, presumably for a fourth line role. It’s hard to argue Kapanen is better than any of the 12 guys who dressed last game, so I see this as an adjustment to play him in a very specific role. Might get PK time too.
I would have taken Frederic out instead of Arvidsson though – I think Arvidsson is faster and more of an offensive threat, but they’re probably more concerned about defense right now.
My best guess is Arvy is banged up.
Kap is fresh, fast, and hits. We need that with our home crowd tonight…and I really had Kap as an unlikely hero in the playoffs for us. Speed can kill and he’s got it. Hope his energy gets this team some positive bounces.
And Freddy stays as his game is improving the further his injury appears in the rear-view mirror…which is perfect for playoff hockey.
Better 11-7 than having Kapanen draw in. Goodness sakes, he’s fast but he’ll be torched by Vegas. Jeff Skinner is just sitting there, if you really need another productive forward.
I don’t think KK will go to Skinner unless his back is against the wall, and maybe not even then.
I agree, but c’mon man. He was on fire at the end of the season. *sigh*
He played the final 6 games on McDavid’s wing and produced 2 assists.
He was the fourth highest scoring forward and had the team’s best goal share (each 5 on 5) in 2025.
There has to be something going on behind the scenes with Jeff Skinner. It’s beyond insane that a team would dress Kapanen over a healthy Skinner.
I doubt it. The coach gave a very revealing set of comments early in the season. He doesn’t think Skinner fits on this team skill set and role wise.
He’s completely wrong of course, but that’s what he was saying.
In the latest edition of WWVD (What Would Vegas Do) the answers are in. If Stone plays go after him right off the hop. If you can make unpleasant Hertl’s night you do it with a smile, a Don Jackson grin (you youngsters can internet it)
And, if by some unfortunate chance a big goon or hack defenseman pushes you, as you constantly crowd Hill’s crease, well balance on skates is iffy. Or so says Hurtl
I haven’t looked at numbers but my eye test recollection tells me that Nurse/Stech played well together, at least for portions of the season.
With that said, I’m not even close to positive they run that as a pair. I presume more of the same as we’ve seen with Stecher in the Emberson spot – maybe with more minutes.
Truth be told, that deployment just won six straight playoff games. It wasn’t all pretty but I’m not convinced matter changes are warranted.
Maybe its all due to small sample sizes, but there’s a stark difference between how the team plays in front of Skinner vs how they play in front of Pickard. This is especially seen in the PK.
At 4v5, Skinner has faced 75 shots/60 while Picks has faced 50. Of those 50 shots, 10 were considered high danger shots. But of the 75 shots Skinner faced, 42 were of the HD variety. That leads to a 15.2 xGAA for Skinner and a 5.5 xGAA for Pickard. Skinner actually has a better save percentage than Picks at 4v5 (and a better HD sv%) but has allowed 4 goals in 14 minutes vs 6 goals in 29 minutes for Pickard.
Any idea why?
Interesting. Thank you for sharing.
It appears to be a bit like a home/away dynamic. When Pickard plays the team is usually anxious about previous games where they’ve played poor defensively. Skinner (recently) has been put back in the net just as the team starts to get complacent.
Skinner got to play the first two games of the playoffs which have been the team’s sleepiest. May be as simple as “the team happened to play poorly in the games where Skinner played was in net” with a sample size small enough that it may start and end there.
Observations on Atro Leppanen vs the Swedes today after 2 periods:
-appeared to play 3rd pair and on 2nd unit pp (left half wall)
– did not appear out of place against top comp. Looked smaller but won multiple hard battles near the net vs Filip Forsberg and Alex Wennberg
– sort of looked like a forward back on d at times, albeit a defensively responsible one.
– skates well in both directions with ease, more comfortable with the puck on his stick than without, not surprising based in scouting reports
– did take a penalty early but was a soft 1 handed “hook” that likely wouldn’t be a penalty in NA
Overall certainly remain very intrigued by his signing.
Thank you for your intrepid reportage.
The fact his name sounds like a cross between Leppard and Zeppelin means I like him already.
For all the talk of Skinner in the last few days, I think Nurse is once again having a really tough playoffs. Looking at Moneypuck, there is a column for relative expected goals.
W/o Nurse the oilers are 66.8%
W/ Nurse the oilers are 39.8%
That leaves Nurse with a relative expected goals of -27%. Dead least in the league among defensemen who have played 100 minutes in the playoffs.
I hope the coaching staff and Nurse can get this sorted.
Orlov is a UFA in Carolina. I wonder if Carolina was have interest in Nurse if Orlov leaves.
The Oilers would probably have to eat $1.5 million per season to get his salary below Slavin’s.
The boat anchor beside his name on puckpedia is so painfully accurate. What a disaster.
Doubt they would do that. Nurse or Carolina
I think the way Carolina is with advanced stats they’re likely the last team that would take him.
I was optimistic Nurse would have a strong playoffs after a strong regular season.
I was wrong. He has been brutal.
Definitely need to explore any and all options to replace him this offseason.
With Ekholm out he’s been asked / feels he needs to do too much. During the season he was anchoring an elite 2nd pairing.
Oilers Nation has a pretty dire look at Nurse over the last 3 years in the playoffs. It is uh not very good.
Not only is Nurse on a NMC, he’s good buddies with McDrai. And 97’s former agent is the POHO. I don’t think Nurse is going anywhere.
LT has finally moved to my side of the boat, that keeping Skinner as a backup or 1B was not a realistic option, with one year left to UFA status. He is either the starter or he has to be traded.
Pretty sure LT is projecting what Bowman will do, not what LT thinks should happen.
Giving your opinion more weight based on reading what LT said is not the right way to look at this, I’m 99.99% sure LT doesn’t mean he would trade him.
More of what I would file as “not so great” news on the injury front
https://dailyhive.com/edmonton/ekholm-skating-when-oilers-back
Tom Gazzola says “weeks away, at best” – so at best, end of round 3? I guess that’s what my brain was telling me, but the heart was hoping for an early round 3 return.
I don’t expect him back at least in a functional way
Ekholm is skating again. He’s not imminently due back but this is a positive note.
“Skinner will be in a new NHL city in the fall. The Oilers will have a new goaltender to play alongside Calvin Pickard.” – Lowetide May 12, 2025
So LT, what do you figure the Oilers will be able to get for their 27 year old Stanley Cup winning goaltender and his $2.6 million cap hit?
The power of positive thinking.
Anyone remember Antti Niemi?
He’s gone no matter how this goes if the management is sane.
If you’re only trying to sign established goaltenders that have huge cap hits, you’re doing it wrong. IMO internet commentators have largely got goaltending all wrong. The best thing anyone could do is ignore everything everyone says about goalies.
Unless they’re smoking a cigar, wearing top hat with skull face paint on
I’d like to see these as the pairs most often deployed today:
Kulak-Bouchard
Walman-Klingberg
Nurse-Stetcher
Stetcher can play more even strength minutes than Emberson and played well with Nurse in the regular season. Nurse also badly needs his minutes and responsibilities reduced. I’d like to see them in the 12 minute range at ES.
Kulak has been playing a lot this year and playoffs and I think he can handle those minutes. Fade him on the PK if need be.
Play who’s playing the best. What’s to lose? Nurse can accept the results of his play, maybe rebound for later
I think kulak has been worse than nurse all year round. The more he plays the worse he gets too.
Oilers lines look like a bit of a dog’s breakfast
https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/edmonton-oilers/line-combinations
This has all the makings of rolling 4 with potential for an occasional sprinkle of McDavid centering Hyman and Draisaitl
Perhaps the best news one can take from this is that KK is having Draisaitl center his own line, suggesting he may not be as banged up as some of us are speculating. Also, with the trust to put Frederic at 4C where he was hoped to be, perhaps he is getting stronger?
Is Arvidsson injured? Our fourth line was one of the few things that seemed to be reliably working against Vegas, splitting them up seems foolish otherwise. Also not a fan of Janmark at 2R if that’s what they’re going with. This honestly looks like a lineup that someone at this blog might trot out as a hypothetical and get shot down for being disconnected from reality. Kapanen in over Skinner is even more ridiculous.
That was my thought as well re: Arvidsson. I know the 3rd line played poorly but they were strong in previous games, and I don’t agree with breaking up the 2nd line, either.
Drai and McDavid being separated may help them be less deferential to one another.
I personally would have considered going RNH-McDavid-Perry, Kane-Draisaitl-Hyman because I liked how Hyman was playing with Kane
Viktor has to be injured no other reason to bring him out.
I think KK has found the secret into tapping Draisaitl’s inner pissy demon, by giving him linemates who can’t score. Watch Leon go off tonight with a hatty and 2 apples.
Oilers 7
VGK 2
The D pairs are fluid but not sure I like Kulak Stecher against such a big team
Jesse Granger from The Athletic reports on X:
He’s a gamer.
GamerWhiner 🙂I think his right wrist deserves a little attention tonight…
As does anywhere below the waist of Hill. All legal of course.
I had my doubts that the Oilers would win 7 playoff games in a row.
Yet they almost did it, so close.
They need reflection to get back to their top game, it has been slipping for 2 games now. Their top game beats Vegas.
That’s interesting. I thought the 4th line was playing well.
Perhaps they want more physicality out of that line; match Vegas’ 4th line better.
Stetcher will give em better outlet passing; they’ll be able to get out of the zone faster.
The 4th line has been excellent this series in limited minutes. Arvidsson may be banged up?
I am not sold on Janmark as a Center. Also, during these playoffs he is rocking a 26.3% Faceoff percentage.
I really like the look of this 4th line.
Kapanen with be motivated to “play gooder” and all of them have good speed, so this will be an effective line. It appears to me that Arvy gets hit and thrown around a lot.
He isn’t fast enough to get out of danger consistently and he pays the price often.
No line rushes this morning but coach says “one, maybe two changes – a couple of game time decision”.
I presume Stecher for Emberson might be one.
Jason Gregor reports Kapanen in for Arvidsson and Stecher in for Emberson on X
Kapanen in for Arvidsson? the coach is losing it. Kapanen is the worst defensive forward on this team
Maybe Arvidsson is banged up. Not really a good explanation otherwise to take him out.
all bruised up from falling
Rishaug advising:
Stecher off before Emberson
Kapanen off before Arvidsson
Wild that they would put Kap in over Skinner – I know its probably abou speed but Kapanen is the worst defensive forward – leaked goals WAY more than Jeff Skinner.
If Kapanen RW is in for Arvidsson RW on the fourth line, it makes perfect sense.
How effective would Jeff Skinner be on the fourth line?
Skinner has had success from the bottom for much of 2025.
Trying to remember – does Kap PK?
Kap has provided some depth PK minutes but its not like he is coming in for a player than has been on the PK.
They are using the likes of Hyman and McDavid more on the PK – likely won’t need Kap there.
Yes, and he may have the ability to take some draws on the righthand side.
(Podkolzin-Janmark-Kapanen) should form a functional fourth line, adding even more size & speed to the lineup.
6’1 200 versus 5’10 185?
:shrug:
You can shrug al you like.
I’m shrugging because it’s anyone’s guess why Kap is in – he’s a bigger body and that could be a reason.
Two of the next three games are on home ice. Tonight is a massive opportunity.
LFGOilers!
Yeah, this die looks cast. It seems like a ghastly oversimplification to put that goal on Skinner. Every Oiler on the ice played/ didn’t play a role in that one. Fan reaction to him starting was overwhelmingly negative and every goal against was a ‘there, I told you so!’ moment for the Skinner sucks brigade. Edmonton, by and large doesn’t want Skinner to redeem himself, they want him gone. He’s not a guy that a GM is going to bet his own future on.
Actually most of us would love nothing more than him to find his way, win the cup and become a Vezina candidate for the next decade. It’s just not going to happen
It’s paramount that Stu Skinner redeems himself, along with the rest of the team for a disastrous game three. A loss tonight puts VGK in the driver seat.
There is always one guy who the fans want to chase out of town with pitchforks. Right now it’s Skinner. Same as it ever was.
Skinner is the one guy we all wish would step up and play well. It just hasn’t happened.
I think Skinner played the last goal well. He is much more vulnerable the way he plays sitting deep with a player like Reilly coming in alone to a short side high shot. He made Reilly miss. It was a poor play by Drai
The way he put his stick in the likely outcome if he made contact was directing it in the net given how close it was to the goal line. He would have had to have his blade angled the other way for any chance of knocking it away and he was leaning pretty far so maybe couldn’t
That game had a lot of trying too hard in it, instead of playing smart
Yeah the team was piss poor (is Draisaitl injured AND sick?) but come on man.
Oilers were up 2-0, including a PP goal which is always a confidence booster, and then 5 minutes later, Knights score 2 goals in less than a minute.
I actually wonder if part of the poor performance is because the team doesn’t believe in Skinner anymore.
If they didn’t believe in Skinner, they should have been clearing out rebounds and not letting Reilly Smith walk down main street. Deflating goals, no doubt, and many NHL tenders would have stopped at least 1.
I’ve been saying for months, that in my very humble opinion, that I think this team’s biggest flaw is they lack confidence in Skinner. It just seems to me goals against him just deflate these guys, then they start gripping their sticks tighter, trying to force plays, etc, etc, and they just start playing poorer and poorer, total snowball effect than takes place as run support goes down, defensive lapses happen more and then Skinner loses even more confidence as well.
It sucks for Skinner, but I think that is where we are with him.
Whatever happens with Stu Skinner in the off season remains to be seen. But right now, they’re in a crucial game 4, 2nd round battle with the Vegas Golden Knights at home. They have their starting goaltender in net, who has been the starter for the last 3 seasons, as well he has plenty of Stanley cup playoff experience. This team to a man needs to buckle down and compete at the highest level if they want to win tonight in front of their home fans. Nothing else is expectable. They need to trust one another to perform at peak performance. They know their roles; this is what they’ve been waiting for. DO IT NOW.
I see it got mentioned.
I love KK. Big fan overall. That said. One peculiar move twice now…putting the big guns out after they tie it. The LAK G1 he did it… and we got scored on. I am not blaming them directly. Just feel it would be wise to use the energy stores of the 2nd and 3rd line to get into OT, then use the big guys after they have rested.
I get the idea, they tied it and he sees a chance to pounce on a reeling team late. Twice now it has backfired.
Thoughts? Maybe I am reading too much into things but as soon as he threw them over the boards for the icing i actually said to my son… this makes me nervous as they had been pushing hard for the last 5 minutes and smelled like LAK G1…
Just like 97 & 29 decide to double-shift themselves in OT during the regular season and get exhausted.
I think they call the shots. I think it’s hard to say no to 2 of the top players of the last 20 years.
But yeah, fool me twice….fool me won’t get fooled again.
Lock. It. Down.
Any superstar in any league influences the shots, to various degrees. (To call them in entirety is called being player coach. A la Bill Russell.)
Your right, it’s hard to say no to putting those guys on when they say they are ready. The reason it’s hard? Because it leads to way more good things than bad. Great players gotta play!
I noticed and felt the exact same.. both times. Not a smart move, and not in keeping with what has brought the team success thus far these playoffs. The three losses, coincidentally (or not) have relied a lot on the top guys and all of the games they had both offensive contributions and defensive lapses that resulted in deflating or debilitating goals against.
To be fair to KK – that’s what he did after big guns tied it up in G1 against LAK. Danault scored immediately.
Ya, I had mentioned it. I watched the icing happen, and then camera shifts over to the bench and we see McDavid standing up immediately while simultaneously looking like he was catching his breath, almost looking a bit exasperated to have to go out again so soon. Even though it looked like he was standing up of his own accord, I couldn’t obviously hear if he was being told to go out or merely responding to the icing with the intent to head out as has been typical practice.
I am not sure McDavid was calling the shot, but KK could have easily read the situation, recalled LAK game 1 experience, and pivoted.
K, enough what ifs. It is what it is, and on to the next one
Drai was outstanding two ways all season, and no he’s not. Connor struggled all season defending per his norms. So it doesn’t make any sense to me either. They aren’t playing well defensively, trust the whole team. I hope he’s not going full Woody, too cute for school
now not no
What I find interesting is apparent need to find one player to blame for every loss. Skinner’s play was certainly not what the team needed and he doesn’t appear confident at all. Having said that, there were many glaring mistakes made by the skaters that had they not happened might have changed the outcome in the Oilers favour. The truth is that the Oilers have not played well for two games and were fortunate to win one of the them and almost won the second. So a stronger game by Skinner likely would have led to a win in game 3 but a stronger game by the rest of the team likely would have also led to a win, despite Skinner’s performance. A stronger game by both Skinner and the skaters and the Oilers win the series in 5 or 6.
We sure do want this team to win eh!? Frustration is part of that.
We also love to discuss what should be done, who should play, who should be trades. That’s good stuff! Big debates over Pickard vs Skinner.
I don’t really like the just slamming a player posts (probably mostly frustration). I like the what should have been done posts. Looking at the last goal, I like the posts that look at the line that was out there, how aggressive Skinner was playing, what he should have done, what McD should have done what kk should have done. Or what should be done for next game.
Just some random thoughts.
Good points. I also don’t buy the theme that pitchforks come out and the ‘fans’ (like we’re a homogeneous group) pick a scapegoat is picked and guys get run out of town. Perhaps some media have done that at times
I think that the ‘fans’ want the team to win, and some players lose support because of how they play. Sometimes like with Bouch the focus is too much on the mistakes and the large contribution he brings is overlooked. Many folks don’t use stats or have the knowledge to break down video, so unless they read it don’t realize Bouch floats all boats, and he is taking on water with one partner, who is doing it to most of them. Hockey is so fluid it’s harder than other major sports to find absolutes
Nurse has been on the hot seat, but when he was playing well they doused the flames. Now he’s not and he’s under scrutiny again. Pro sports
We need a strong defensive game by everyone, including Skinner, who I thought had much much better rebound control last game. All in mentality, need to be up 3-1 in the series before the clock strikes midnight. Looking for Henrique and Kane to have a big game. Sticks Up!
If everyone does their job well enough they win
— If Oil win a Cup this year, he stay IMO (I suppose they could trade Cup winning goalie but that doesn’t happen often)
—. Alls I know is I’ve got my spiffy official Oiler cufflinks on and We ought to “know” a lot more tonight how legitimate Oil cup chances are
— Don’t have to win tonight but a few weak goals game lost by goalie and the writings on the wall.
— Vegas knows this. Oilers know this.
LFGOILERS!!!
What we don’t know (but I’m guessing we all want to know): your cuff links W/L stats?
The burning question of the hour!
— Undefeated while wearing (2-0). Got them for Father’s Day last year.
— In the heart of Bay Street let’s just say I make sure to let people know when. I wear them !
Any news on the Stone injury? I feel a lot better about our PK chances with Stone out.
A game time decision according to Daily Faceoff.
They were cagey about McNabb, too, but he came back with no obvious drop off. The difference, obviously, is that Stone never returned after an hour on the sidelines, while McNabb only had 17 seconds to recover before a potential return to game.
You would hope that if he is back, that at least for our sake he’s gutting it out. The Oil are still 2-0 with him in the lineup for the duration of the game, so there’s that…
I do, unfortunately, think that unless something significant happens at the feet of Stu Skins he will be traded to a fortunate second team where he will be better supported and meet his full potential. I hope he can turn it around here in this playoffs and he forces Bowman’s hand. Fans can change their minds on a whim.. somehow, despite worse results this playoffs, Nurse is not being attacked anymore.
Maybe we should be looking more his direction though.. not that I’m looking for blame. It doesn’t seem to help bring more wins if fans can find someone to blame for each and every goal!
https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-need-darnell-nurse-to-step-up
Pretty darn true. Just like the McDavid minutes need to count, so too do the Bouchard minutes.
Knoblauch would never put Nurse on 3rd line, but that would be a bold coaching adjustment
For a second I thought you meant “3rd line” as a forward, Brent Burns style. Not the worst idea.
lol, switch him up with Podkolzin 🙂
The team isn’t quite in “backs against the wall” territory yet but for Skinner it is. He has to come in and secure a win. It’s important for the team but, more importantly, for Skinner’s psyche. He needs to prove to himself that he can get the job done.
A lot of blame can be placed on the skaters for that loss but the bottom line is Skinner lost. Again.
The skaters owe it to Skinner to give them their best effort. If they play a much better game and Skinner still loses, it’ll be really tough for him to, mentally, come back, imo.
I think we see a Skinner win, tonight.
I think we see a ferocious and focused defence, tonight.
Pressure can crush you but it also produces diamonds.
Skinner is gonna shine, tonight!!!
LOL, we say this to our trainees and some of them love it (especially because we start it with ‘lump of coal’)
And Mythbusters showed us that although it’s really really REALLY hard, you can polish a turd.
We bought the episode’s on Apple TV. Think we’re at about 40 episodes now. Everyone love them! lol Except the one where they showed how ketsup is made. Ruined my two youngest and they refuse to eat ketsup now…
I’ve recently heard my adult kids, who are at the UofA, talk to their younger siblings (14,13,11) about school and they used the “pressure” line I gave them when they, too, were younger.
Sometimes we occasionally hit the mark as parents and it’s a pretty damn good feeling! lol
That’s the problem if we play low effect hockey and try to baby Skinner all game we’re basically playing Vegas style hockey. I don’t know what the answer is but if Skinner loses the plot not only will he not be in Edmonton next year but he’ll also be untradeable. Confidence is a thing especially for netminders we are going to need some intervention by the hockey gods to get a victory tonight.
They don’t need to try to be a shut down team, they do need to hit their assignments consistently. Just in not allowing players to be wide open would be a huge difference
This team is not lacking in confidence, and Stu Skinner is part of the team. They don’t need any intervention from the hockey gods, if there truly is such a thing, they can do it as a team. That’s what it’s going to take.
The UFA goaltender market is horrid. Skinner will have value in the trade market.
I think he actually has less pressure this game than last. One under his belt, everyone was awful, hopefully a more normal effort
Skinner has been here before I don’t think pressure has anything to do with it. He hasn’t played well all year he’s fighting it everyone and their dog wants him to succeed and all it takes is one win and he’ll be the toast of the town again. Skinner needs to dig deep and gut out a win and show his himself-teammates-Edmonton he still has it.
I absolutely agree. We’ll see the best version of Skinner, tonight. He’s risen to the occasion before and will tonight. He’ll do it because he has to. Sometimes that’s the best remedy.
I agree that we are not the lockdown type of team. I think we play our best when we are a puck possession, backcheck hard and get the puck out quickly type of team. The key is not to give up odd man rushes and quickly stuff cycles(our Achilles heel).
I think that, if we limit odd man rushes and pp’s against(seems like we often get called against the dreaded cycles) Skinner can get the job done. Asking him to stop cross ice shots and breakaways is pretty tough for any goalie.
Pickard stopped 3-4 L.A breakaways as well as the breakaway by Pearson in game 2 when it was 1-1 that led immediately to us scoring a couple in quick fashion. We played way better defensively in game 3 then the previous game anyone that doesn’t think Pickard stole game 2 is lying to themselves. Even if we play flawless we’re still going to need a save or two.
Enough about Pickard. It’s Skinner’s net now and that 4th goal game winner in game three was a complete fluke.
You sure weren’t saying this when Pickard was winning you kept going on and on about about starting Skinner even though Pickard was on a roll as well as being the better goalie all year. Well you got your wish Pickard is probably done for the season but he was kind enough to spot Skinner 2 Wins.
loved it when he made those stops! It was definitely a confidence booster to the team but nobody would’ve blamed him if he didn’t stop them. Cut those types down and we got a shot, regardless of who is in net(I hope).
Like the team of old, they are better when using that possession to attack. It’s what they want to do naturally. They should never sit back, just make safe plays when leading or trying to close out
They suck sitting back. Ekholm said they need to learn to be comfortable in close games, but that doesn’t mean taking the foot off the gas, it means be smart, don’t panic don’t gift any play. What a vet team is supposed to be able to do
Why is there so much emotion attached to whether the goalie stays or goes? He’s one of 22 pieces on the chess board. McDavid and Draisaitl are the King and Queen and there are a few other key pieces but the rest are pawns to be moved or sacrificed for the greater good. As Kadri tweeted last night in reference to Rantanen, you always keep the big dogs.
We moved Foegele and McLeod and Ceci, three other good soldiers, to make room for other soldiers that might be better in the playoffs. And both of those guys earned more than Skinner and are arguably a little further above “replacement”. Why does no one lament these decisions to the same degree? The first two lit it up this year and the third looks like he’ll be waiting for us in the conference finals. That’s all good…they’re fine players but not mistakes of significance and certainly not of ignorance. We know what they are.
So They’ll budget a bit more money for goaltending, there will be cap room and hopefully we’ll see a nice upgrade. We can’t be scarred by the Jack Campbell decision which was correct in design but franchise altering in execution.
The reason to lament decisions made in the context of a bad season are very different for a goalie- see Dubnyk, Devan, than they are for a winger or other forward on 3rd or 4th line. See also overpay for Jack Campbell. A goalie affects all game states, not just the 10 or 12 minutes of a third or fourth liner. Not the same discussion
Dubnyk walked a long road before he found his redemption and part of it was accepting experts advice about changing his ways.
https://tinyurl.com/4ppbdwev
Very true. Still I think Duby was better than who we have even before they gave him away
Bowman wasn’t a part of choosing Campbell, wouldn’t affect him. But Schwartz was, and that is something I hope SB thinks about. You always upgrade whenever possible, it’s pro sports, shouldn’t be personal. Sb doesn’t seem sentimental, which is great
To me Bowman seems a lot more in tune than what we saw out of Holland. Yes KH made a couple of good moves, but they were completely obvious, older players, and full price plus
You don’t want to buy an aging player that costs a lot in cap, term etc if you don’t have to. You want to get in on a player before they pop or as it starts. Find a younger good goalie, be the team that trades for a mid 20’s Mark Stone
To my eyes, the last game was one of the Oiler’s worst game in a month. Even so, they were tied with the VGK with less than 1 sec remaining in overtime. Stu is not the main reason they lost – he did not steal the game nor did he give it away.
If Draisaitl and McDavid elevate their games (score on the PP and EV please and thank you), the Oilers should win game 4.
Oilers come out guns-a-blazing and take this one 5-3.
Notes:
Why is that surprising? Home team for game 5 has home ice advantage in a best of 3 scenario. You highlighted so nicely why this game is pivotal, and I am thankful its happening in Oil country
This game will decide the series Vegas wins they’ll smell blood Vegas will have all the momentum.
I listened to a Vegas podcast. One of them said he thought the Oilers are lacking in basic fundamentals and that Florida is certainly not lacking in fundamentals. He seemed to think Edmonton is toast and VGK is going to meet Florida Panthers in the SCF. They also said Mark Stone most likely has a concussion and won’t play tonight.
Not that they have a clue about what they’re talking about, I guess we’ll see.
I thought the odds would be higher for the team with 2 out 3 at home.
Your comment above suggests that the home team for game 5 is favoured, and that is the team with 2 out of 3 at home (game 5 and game 7 if necessary).
We all like the personable home grown Stu. He’s going to be 27 next season, this is him. Like Pick, who has worked and worked on his NHL game
They both have technical issues, and that’s the difference. I’m not sure Stu can change it. He’s worked with a top coach not named Dustin, still there. Every goalie has ups and downs these days, it’s true. It’s not really a foregone conclusion there will be changes in net, but given the mission critical importance of the position Stan has to improve there if he can. A goalie hovering around the top of things most of the time would be a big boost
Skinner will be a good NHL goalie for a team that has average defensive structure and commitment to team defense.
The Oilers don’t defend much. If they are forced to defend, they lose.
There are not many, if any, goaltenders that can survive behind a team that does not defend well.
That’s a good point. Some teams choose the style of goalie to match the style they want the team to play. Hill is a goalie like Skinner, but the Knits system protects the slot and they focus on limiting rushes against. Hill is big so when it works he can be hard to score on. Cassidy is smart, he wants to limit the highest danger chances against
Stu is in the opposite situation in many games, Pick too. If the Oilers can’t get it together their ideal goalie would be good at stopping off of rush plays and seeing through traffic which they allow a lot of
That being said, the goal for the Oilers should be to get Hill moving. I wish they were better at penetrating how the Knits defend when the are doing their thing well. It was really the difference in game 7 against the Panthers as well, they could get enough going. You’d think they would have focused on that more than it seems they have, achilles heel and all
For every one person willing and able to walk that walk, there are countless others who are not. It cannot be assumed.
The Oilers inability to identify, support, monitor, and otherwise positively assist in this area is suspect at best. And inexcusable for a billion-plus dollar business and its best assets. Who also happen to be human beings.
Not to mention the amount of times they’ve sent the impressionable and vulnerable into positions of extreme pressure rather than a position to succeed first. Thankfully some pull through.
I’m looking forward to watching the first home win of the series this evening.
New game, who cares if Skinner was 6 feet out of his net. Tonight, he’ll stay in it.
Hopefully Draisaitl has a game for the ages.
I really hope Skinner can bouce back with a solid game, and that the Oil can play a solid game in front of him. There are several things working in their advantage.
1) They get better deeper into series. They have shown this so many times over the last few years.
2) Vegas has effectively responded to the Oiler’s tactics that worked so well in game 1. I think Pickard bailed the team out in game 2, and they deserved to lose game 3. Now it’s Knoblauch’s turn, and he has been very good at making in-series adjustments.
3) We have yet to see McDavid or Draisaitl’s best in this series, save a few great moments. I expect them to dominate at some point.
4) Skinner has been in these situtations before, and he has been good to great. I think he will play well today.
I think Stu Skinner is due for a break. No, he hasn’t played great, but bad luck has also played a part in his undoing and may be affecting his confidence. A few breaks the other way, a solid game by the players in front of him, and a win could be just what the doctor ordered, and all of a sudden, he is on a roll.Things can change quickly with this team.
For sure. Every team has lost a game. The team owes him a normal outing, the last one was so bad they should be embarrassed, there is no excuse to play that poorly, half dead or whatever. Lose maybe, but completely forget how to play NHL hockey, no, especially for the oldest team in the league
More like the team should lock it down in front of Skinner.
This post today has a very somber tone.
Does predicting Skinner’s departure hinge on the Oilers crashing out of the playoffs? I certainly hope not.
But it would take a ridiculous bounce back playoff performance by Skinner to even consider keeping him next year. NHL_Sid has highlighted his inconsistency before, and that has been the most frustrating thing. He’s a Ricky Bobby type goalie (“you’re either first, or you’re last”) and those swings just can’t happen in the playoffs.
I, too, believe this to be true. Even if this happens, the Oilers’ window can’t be wasted waiting for Skinner to find his way.
All that being said, trying to keep optimistic here.
McDavid’s line still has another gear, the coaching has had to have made adjustments and Stone, even if he returns, is unlikely to be at full strength.
Home ice crowd, home ice quality, and another good start needs to be in the cards.
I believe Dallas is the next stop and will be the most difficult obstacle, but I refuse to believe this team withers away against Vegas because Skinner is in the pipes. LFG!
I see Skinner as a scapegoat for the Oilers fandom.
Criticising McDavid and Draisaitl for their poor defensive play is an impossibility. So you blame Skinner.
Did McDavid play poorly defensively? He got duped, like his D, on Smith’s fake shot (which he was in good position to block). I don’t see his play as partucluar
Also, surprised no one is talking about the coaching decision. That’s the second time KK puts a gassed McDavid line out after expending a lot of energy to tie the game late, only to watch them get outworked in the dying seconds. Gambled trying to end it in regulation, again, when the better part of valour would have been to put a fresh line out to finish regulation.
Also to point out the slash against McDavid gets called (post-tying goal, right?), its likely a different ending
On one of the goals McDavid was in no-man’s land, covering nobody. On another he was lackadaisically shifting out while Las Vegas was descending into the Oilers zone for a goal.
On the latter goal, both Arvidsson and Podkolzin got walked. But let’s blame McDavid because he didn’t speed burst to the bench and instead did what every single player on both teams do.
McDavid and Draisitl were either on, or directly responsible for every goal against. This isn’t an isolated incident.
They were both bad. CoH called them on it. The whole team basically was
But most of the others still in it have had them, dropped a stinker. The key is to smell blood and win this game
Playoffs
6W-3L (we know the goalie split)
In the 3 losses:
Lost 1 in the last minute
Lost 1 in the last second
Got blown out (game 2 v LAK)
In the 6 wins:
2 OT Wins
3 Wins clinched with EN goals
1 Power win (as defined by Scungilli)
39-34 Total Goals EDM
25-21 5v5 Goals EDM
3-1 6v5 Goals EDM
1-1 4v4 Goals EVEN
6-11 PP Goals Opposition
4-0 EN Goals EDM
31-20 PP Opportunities Opposition
PP = 30%
PK = 65%
Interesting to see the numbers as a stat pack. Thank you.
I’m with you, LT. It’s been frustrating watching Skinner this year, but part of that is really wanting him to succeed. What a story if he kicks at the darkness till it bleeds light, and rides a .930 save percentage to a Stanley cup win in his hometown. Fingers crossed. Big game tonight.
not happening
It must happen.
Gavin McKenna saw his 54-game point streak snapped last night in the Hat’s 6-2 loss to Spokane. Series tied at 1 heading stateside.
My hope is a confident game by Skinner. All of his extra or odd movements seem to be nerves or guessing. If you get beat, you get beat but I hope for the rest of the playoffs he has no regrets and goes down swinging and playing his game
Prospectopotamus!
The Knights we can actually support are back in action as they head to Oshawa with the series knotted at 1. O’Reilly’s 1+1 yestergame gave him 18 points (6 + 12) in 14 playoff GP, good for fourth on the team. Nicholl has 6 points (1 + 5) in that same span.
Both have been successful on the dot, with SOR handling the most by a good margin (342 vs. 203) and winning 52.0% of them. Nicholl has had the 3rd-most (176) and has won 55.1%.
Puck drops @ 5 p.m. New Sarepta time.
New Sarepta! The Vienna of the prairies.
Calvin Pickard is Edmonton’s best “Road Hockey” goalie … SS not so much (commentary expressed with much empathy)
There’s no road hockey in the playoffs.