The Edmonton Oilers are the most dangerous team in hockey. For the opposition, and themselves.
We will find out much about this Oilers team tonight. Entering the series versus the Dallas Stars, this train was bound for glory. Through two periods, there were concerns (turnovers at the blue line is such a terrible way to give up goals) but the 3-1 lead looked legit from the cheap seats.
The Oilers looked like frauds in the third period. Folded like a cheap suit (and I’ve owned a few). Sucktastic. Confirmed fears for fans, gave hope to haters and exposed the holes in the roster.
Edmonton got spanked. Will there be pushback? Will this team stand and deliver? Will the coaching staff MacGyver a solution to the power play?
Can we please not fall in love with beautiful goals to the point that an alert team can fish for turnovers and get them? I love Leon Draisaitl as a player, and realize that elite skill players have the puck more often so it’s reasonable to expect more turnovers. However, he had four in Game 1 and the Stars have lines in the water at the blueline. Evan Bouchard and Connor Brown had three, so No. 29 wasn’t alone. It’s a thing that needs fixing.
The Oilers are going to take penalties. That’s a fact. You can’t build a meek team and win diddly in the NHL. The penalty kill is an apt name for the game state, since it actually ended the Oilers in Game 1. Perhaps the unit (and coaching staff) felt shame after Game 1, and will play a stronger game. I don’t think it can be worse.
I’ve said the all season this is a unique team. I’ve never seen a true SC contender with this high a ceiling and this low a floor. They are truly heaven and hell in the NHL. Hold on to your ass.
A busy show today, Lowdown hits at noon on Sports 1440. We’ll have feature guests Steve Lansky and Tyler Yaremchuk, to talk Oilers and Panthers (who are the modern Shero Flyers). We’ll chat CFL, MLB, NFL and of course NBA. Declan Krueger will have Declanations (top 5 list) at 12:40. Hold on to your ass! A big day in Oilers Nation.
Solid shift by Kane
Plays have been dying with Nuge on that top line today. Hope he dials back in because he’s either been too slow to react or not making smart choices to advance/maintain the play.
Oilers looking slow. Not sure if they’re intentionally slowing the play down to look for better angles/lanes, but it feels like they need to be 0.1 seconds faster every time
If Perry did that instead of Robertson, 2 minutes
Plus a 3rd to Calgary
Unbelievable that it wasn’t called.
Ice tilted in the wrong direction at the moment…c’mon boys!
We’re scrambling a bit.
Yup, but they’ve defended well – nothing really got to the net.
The team is really committed to blocking shots tonight
Where was the elbow to the head call?
If we win this game it will be despite Skinner, not because of him
Ya, he needs to make more stops out there….
Fack Skinner
Is Skinner drunk??
He just looks uncomfortable in the net.
I think pressure may be short-circuiting his brain.
Considering his record in games 4-7 of playoff series, I doubt that he’s cratering under pressure.
I’m talking about this game, not a bunch of other games.
I’m not gonna say it again.
Stu coming iut aggressively to the play the puck looks like an intentional strategy. Dallas forechecking deep, as long as he gets the pass up it catches two forwards out if position. It’s scary seeing him wander that far out under pressure though
Now I’m starting to suspect Mike Smith may in fact be our new goalie coach, jesus
In that NHL.com scouting report, Woodley, I think, they said that Otter gives up hard rebounds and so players shouldn’t be so close to the crease. We’re seeing that. Need a little bit of distance from the net to grab those ones coming out
Second time the Oilers had the puck behind the goalie and between the goalie and the net…..
Nurse is skating well
Skinner is just swimming again. WTF? He’s fighting the puck.
I think one of the players caught his stick which caused him to spin on that sequence
Dallas plays like an Edmonton from previous years.
Suspect defense with lots of firepower, they get bailed out by their goalie for long stretches of the game then crank up the offensive pressure towards the end of the game.
Not a team to slip into a defensive shell against and pray to hold onto a lead.
Why’d Skinner play that, it was icing
I’ll say it again – stay in the net Skinner.
Not sure about the most recent play but its imperative that the goalie helps the team by playing the puck – if a goalie cannot, he can’t play in the NHL – its part of the job.
Draisaitl is constantly involved in what I
assume are set plays that are very cleverly done. I’m excited for him to have a long successful coaching career in the distant future.
Being +1 on the penalty calls makes me nervous. Need a quick one just get the puck to the net that’s how you beat Oettinger on rebounds.
Strong road period. Don’t let up
Strong period with room for improvement, especially controlled entries into the O zone (especially when it’s 3 on 2)
Dallas with active sticks breaking up our entries. Need to be sure that we’re not trying to force the passes
So many close calls just get the puck to McDavid who’s flying tonight,
Good first period!
Fast pace, it’d be nice to get a PPG early in the 2nd.
In particular because even up penalties become more and more of a thing later in the playoffs.
Exactly, gotta make hay while the sun shines
We never got a replay on that Podkolzin backhand but it looked like it got behind Otter and hit the post
If interference isn’t being called, at least we know head locks are still not allowed lol
Aghhh, yes, I remember what its like to have a healthy and fresh Leon – the guy that was the best player in the league this season.
McDavid and Leon on separate lines both rolling – coming in waves – its a delight!
That week off was definitely important for him
We’re trying to force passes
Lots of broken plays
At some point in this series would love to see Kane kick the crap out of sleazeball Marchment.
Kane has been pretty quiet tonight
I think he would be better used on the second line to maximize Draisaitl’s recent upturn
This Nurse-Stecher pairing is giving me heart palpitations.
Bend don’t break, that’s both of their specialties
Rantenen is a beast
For sure but think Heiskinen is the real danger guy.
Stecher often resembles the duck paddling frantically under the water, but man, he’s a game rooster.
Edmonton are so good at protecting the HD area, they are kinda vulnerable with late players coming in, so Heiskanen will be a big threat this series Skinner needs to be aware
Terrific save by Ottinger…that had 2-0 all over it
Nice kill…Stu made a couple of decent saves
He just needs to make the saves he should. No more no less.
Enough with the cutsie passing
Guys getting in the lanes when short-handed
We needed that kill!!
So many posts hit by the Oilers in 3.5 periods….
Damn posts
Kapanen looks like a giant Keebler Elf.
I’m not sure that’s a great call.
Just kill it!
Fack guys, be more mature
We have to be quicker to the loose pucks
Nuge is having a splendid playoffs
Will Zach Hyman score again?
He is playing the role of Punisher now!
Well said
PP goal! Followed by one of my favorite Phish tunes!
Happy they did not take Nuge off the PP like many suggested…… 2 PPG in two games.
Now let’s keep the sticks down and play OUR game