2020-21 Game 35: Oilers at Maple Leafs

by Lowetide

Saturday afternoons as a kid were spent with my brother, often playing on my Grandpa’s driveway, in Whonnock, BC. Our Tonka cranes lifted mighty boulders and we’d build “A” frame houses that matched the size of our identical metallic green Tonka Volkswagons. We had all kinds of adventures.

Once, my Uncle Mark drove into the driveway with his actual Volkswagon and ran over one of our metallic green Volkswagons, flattening it. My brother, four years older and quicker off the mark, said “Uncle Mark drove over Lowetide’s volkswagon” and that statement instantly became the accepted story. I kept saying “how does HE know it’s my Volkswagon, they’re identical!” but adults didn’t listen to kids worth a tinker’s damn in the 1960’s, rarely did the youngest voice carry the day.

As the afternoon faded into early evening, adults and children would gather for supper, cards, drink, cigarettes, and Hockey Night in Canada.

I haven’t mentioned this before, but as a kid you can tell who is good and trusted just based on your Dad’s tone of voice when discussing players. Tim Horton? The gold standard. Allan Stanley? Mr. Reliable. Kent Douglas was a little too fancy and don’t even mention Jim McKenny. I expect we’re all the same way, saving the hushed tones for 97 and 29 and looks of sarcasm and innuendo for the also-rans and never weres.

THE ATHLETIC!

I’m proud to be writing for The Athletic, and pleased to be part of a great team with Daniel Nugent-Bowman and Jonathan Willis. Here is our recent work.

OILERS AFTER 35 GAMES

  • Oilers in 2015-16: 15-18-2, 32 points; goal differential -15
  • Oilers in 2016-17: 18-12-5, 41 points; goal differential +6
  • Oilers in 2017-18: 16-17-2, 34 points; goal differential -7
  • Oilers in 2018-19: 18-14-3, 39 points; goal differential +1
  • Oilers in 2019-20: 18-13-4, 40 points; goal differential -2
  • Oilers in 2020-21: 21-13-0, 42 points; goal differential +17

This year’s team has a better record than the previous McDavid teams, but the competition this season is unique. That makes it difficult to compare. What we can say is that the current record has the Oilers safely inside the playoffs and looking like something close to a lock with 21 games to go in the campaign. The lack of need to sweat every game, to gulp every time it’s 2-0 the other guy after one, is fresh. That’s new.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM MARCH

  • At home to: Toronto, Toronto, Calgary (Expected: 1-1-1) (Actual 1-2-0)
  • At home to: Ottawa, Ottawa, Ottawa (Expected: 2-1-0) (Actual 3-0-0)
  • On the road to: Vancouver, Calgary, Calgary (Expected: 2-1-0) (Actual 1-2-0)
  • At home to Winnipeg, Winnipeg (Expected: 1-1-0) (Actual 2-0-0)
  • On the road to: Montreal, Montreal, Montreal (Expected 2-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
  • On the road to: Toronto, Toronto (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
  • Overall expected result: 7-5-1, 15 points in 13 games
  • Current results: 7-4-0, 14 points in 11 games

The Habs week being canceled changes the look of the month, and gives the final series against Toronto a different feel. Edmonton already accomplished a helluva lot, no matter what happens this weekend in Toronto.

MARCH 21, 2021 STANDINGS

  1. Toronto Maple Leafs 32 games, 20-10-2 (42 points)
  2. Edmonton Oilers 34 games, 21-13-0 (42 points)
  3. Winnipeg Jets 31 games, 18-11-2 (38 points)
  4. Montreal Canadiens 31 games, 14-8-9 (37 points)
  5. Vancouver Canucks 35 games, 16-16-3 (35 points)
  6. Calgary Fames 32 games, 15-14-3 (33 points)
  7. Ottawa Senators 33 games, 10-20-3 (23 points)

At this point, the Oilers were about to have the week off without knowing it. The team had 42 points, most in the division, but Toronto and Calgary (2), plus Winnipeg and Montreal (3) had games in hand on Edmonton. Vancouver had played one more. Let’s check the standings now.

STANDINGS MARCH 27, 2021

  1. Toronto Maple Leafs 33 games, 21-10-2 (44 points)
  2. Winnipeg Jets 34 games, 21-11-2 (44 points)
  3. Edmonton Oilers 34 games, 21-13-0 (42 points)
  4. Montreal Canadiens 31 games, 14-8-9 (37 points)
  5. Vancouver Canucks 37 games, 16-18-3 (35 points)
  6. Calgary Flames 35 games, 15-17-3 (33 points)
  7. Ottawa Senators 36 games, 12-20-4 (28 points)

The bleeding by Vancouver and Calgary this week has been significant despite playing only a few games. Vancouver gained no points but played two games, so now have to catch the Oilers with only 28 games left in their season. Calgary spent three games getting nowhere and now have an even bigger climb.

Dom at The Athletic has Edmonton at 94 percent to make the playoffs this season, Calgary at 10 percent, Vancouver 7 percent and Ottawa done. The Canucks and Flames may not make April with even a sliver of a chance.

OILERS 2020-21 ROSTER AND NUMBERS

Toronto runs two defensive pairs (Muzzin-Holl and Rielly-Brodie) against elites and the team’s most recent game saw them run four lines designed to share the wealth offensively:

  • Mitch Marner-Auston Matthews-Wayne Simmonds
  • Alex Galchenyuk-John Tavares-William Nylander
  • Joe Thornton-Jason Spezza-Alex Kerfoot
  • Zach Hyman-Pierre Engvall-Ilya Mikheyev

It’s actually an impressive group and creative deployment, I’d be tempted to run Hyman high but there’s something to worry about for the Oilers on each line. I will tell you that Jason Spezza is a treat to watch these days, suspect he’ll have a good game.

OSTAP SAFIN

Well holy hell Safin finally found the keys to the highway. After being drafted in the fourth round in 2017 (I had him No. 52, late second round) he spent most of the next two seasons injured, and then posted a pedestrian year in the ECHL 2019-20. In the last two games, he has scored three times, and his shot is an absolute rocket. His boxcars (9 games, 3-1-4) don’t really prepare one for the sensational quality of his AHL goals this year, but we finally have something to talk about with Safin that involves on-ice performance.

The Condors’ goaltending is regressing to the meat like a magnet heading toward the metal plate in Ed Sullivan’s head but the Safin story is a welcome distraction.

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JimmyV1965

I’m probably in the small ball camp when it comes to the trade deadline. I think we could possibly win the division, not likely though, with only minor modifications. And IMO the winner of the North will get an ugly wake up call when they move to the top four. I don’t think any team in the North has a realistic chance of beating any of the other division winners. 

If we blow a bunch of assets to get Hall we’re basically boosting his value in free agency and possibly making it too expensive to acquire him in the off season. As I’ve said before, I don’t think there is a team in the league that can have a bigger impact on Hall’s value than the Oilers. 

hunter1909

HUNTER1909’s Death March™ 

Update:

Oilers lose to Leafs in OT Edition:

With Oilers now on pace for a 69 point finish, here are the current leaders in the Death March game which might pay out to all winners at the end of the season. 

Yeti; TOML;  agent_sid ; BONE207; PerryK; Indy; hunter9

Will replace previous various leaders:

Boil-in-the-Oil; Cowboy; Z Mac; Crazy Pedestrian 

JRizzer25; Hazwasted; KGB; Oilnc79; Unjustenrichment; Whale 

Bobcaygeon

I don’t think the Leafs win if Tippett splits up 29-97 with a two goal lead.
RNH line got caved in.
Having said that, this falls on Tippett too.

hunter1909

So you’re saying RNH isn’t worth worrying about keeping on the team, because he doesn’t make enough difference for the bother?

Rebillled

I didn’t get to see it twice but wasn’t Kass hauled down on a potential breakaway after our 3 goal?

€√¥£€^$

Yup

JimmyV1965

That was actually the second ridiculous interference penalty ignored by refs between the second and third goal.

Munny

Does Holland look at this game and think something less than Hall will do it?

If it’s not Hall it needs to be someone who can win board battles and skate with the other team’s vaunt.

Rebillled

If he’s super cheap. He might play for Buffalo but he only HAS 2 GOALS IN 33 GAMES.

Bobcaygeon

So did Jack Eichel, by that logic I suppose he’s bad too?

godot10

Eichel has been injured all season. He hurt himself in training just before camps opened.

godot10

The Oilers need a legit top six left wing AND a legit top four left defense to contend this year.

(Tippett has no confidence in Jones, and he won’t give Benson a shot, and Holloway is hurt.)

OriginalPouzar

Conor Garlund – much more realistic than Hall or Rakell.

More hobbits for the top 6.

flyfish1168

I have been watching Couturier. I contemplate what would work to get him.

Munny

That’s a very nice player to be watching, but I think they will go winger. They might not make a move at all.

jp

Agreed. Don’t think Tippett *wants* to be playing Draisaitl with McDavid 5v5.

hunter1909

Are you serious? He’s Flyers top player almost.

Contemplate Chiarelli trading Draisaitl for Couturier + Flyer’s 1st round pick. That should help you feel better.

Last edited 3 years ago by hunter1909
flyfish1168

If you follow the Flyers you will understand they are looking for a Dman that gets the puckout of their own zone. Also, their right side is old. That is why this may work

Last edited 3 years ago by flyfish1168
hunter1909

Until this season the Oilers were desperate for the exact same thing.

The last thing the Oilers need is to start shedding defencemen that can get the freaking puck out lol

TheGreatBigMac

I have no idea how desperate the flyers are but Joel Farabee looks like a nice cost controlled forward option at a similar stage in contract and development to Bear. I could see trading Bear for Farabee in the off-season if we had Larsson and Barrie signed.

Decidedly Skeptical Fan

Really like the Nurse/Barrie pairing. That combo really complements each other and is a force multiplier. I never thought I would say this but I think both should be re-signed, assuming Barrie does not ask for the moon.

Not sure about the Nuge. If it takes anything over $6M, I probably let him walk. And I do like the Nuge.

Someone

Nuge is a tough one. Can’t afford to let him walk, can’t afford to pay him. He’s clearly not a driver of offense, but he contributes to it. Can play center or wing, but Can’t be the main guy. I don’t think he deserves a raise based on ability, but is likely due one based off of production and market. If he asks for $6.5+ I think you have to let him walk, except that there’s nobody ready to step into his role and the cost of replacement might be worse than the cost of signing. Maybe he’s willing to sign a team friendly deal?

jp

Pretty much agree with this take.

I’m hoping this season (not scoring with McDavid, failing to keep a 2nd line afloat) drives the offers/demands down, so he stays with the Oilers.

Very valuable player, but with limitations. I’d be happy if he returns for around the same price. But if someone wants to pay him $7M to be their 1C… well I don’t think they’re going to end up liking how that goes.

hunter1909

Easy peasy. Holland analyses team needs, looks at the cap then makes his move.

Likely that RNH walks away to a Vancouver Canuck 1st line position, or something. Oilers have too many more glaring needs. Like having a defence and goaltender situation that works.

Someone

I hope Holland is willing to walk away if the contract demands are too much. The problem is, that leaves the team with no top 6 left wingers, and short on prospects ready to step in.

Last edited 3 years ago by Someone
90s fan

Hey we can still walk out with 3/4 against TO, we are still in striking distance of first, and we still have a ways to grow with this team. Dont burn it all down, it will come.

hunter1909

Fact: Toronto are further ahead in developing a coherent team than the Oilers right now. That’s down to Chiarelli.

The fact that Holland has Oilers back up, is a testament to what no one around here has mentioned. It’s all been more like: “Holland is really mediocre” etc on Lowetide.

Unfunny Fact: The more Oilers fans whine the funnier it looks to Leaf fans.

Decidedly Skeptical Fan

That loss was ALL on Tip. Hate the “game management” bullshit. When you take a team like Toronto out behind the woodshed, you don’t back down after you have gotten in a few good licks. Leafs are too offensively talented to play stupid fucking prevent defense and spend the last 8 minutes in your own zone. The strength of this team is offense, play to your strength. That’s what got you the 2 goal lead. Really shitty, stupid coaching.

OriginalPouzar

Kahun, not managing the game and trying to beat 3 Leafs and on a 1 on 3 in the neutral zone instead of dumping it in was the first mistake leading to the 2nd goal.

Could have used a bit more game management by the players.

flea

Yeah I think it’s a natural tendency to sit back a bit as a player, try not to take risks when closing out a game.

For the Oilers, they are still learning a little in this game state. Overall they’ve been pretty good at it, so I’ll give them. Pass against an offensively talented team like the Leafs.

Leafs can have these regular season wins – Oilers will save their wins for the playoffs.

Decidedly Skeptical Fan

Yah, dumping it in and letting them come at you in waves is a great strategy. And it worked so well too.

GMB3

Didn’t smith toss er out to centre for the leafs to regroup on goal 3?

flea

I believe they are now 16-1-1 when leading after 2.

I think they know what they are doing in this game state.

hunter1909

Although I missed that part of the game…

lol

Bling

Disappointing to not get the two points, but otherwise a pretty good game. At least two of the GA were bad bounces. Bank the point and move on.

Effort level was there in the first half, but the execution was off. I attribute that to the long break. Many “near” chances that were thwarted by a block or a missed/weak shot.

I continue to be concerned by the lack of a driver on the second line. With Haas and Khaira having good years, I think the quest for another C is misguided.

Need to have another forward who can drive the play.

Scungilli Slushy

Bling

Crapping the bed repeatedly against the toughest opponent is not ok. Unless you are happy with a good college try.

When you have elite players like the OiIers (a gift from the hockey gords) that is absolutely not enough.

Connor and Leon are in prime now. There are only so many chances in their careers. They are still carrying a lot of dead weight on the roster, and we have had to stomach it for years and years.

Is this yet again the turning point, or do they not get it and are going to waste the biggest opportunity any team has had in the last 25 years?

The proof is in the pudding, and Tippet is playing Kahun over Nygard for example. Lagesson had a hot start but has been bad for a few games at least, and is not a good fit for Larsson at all. Two sluggish skaters with marginal passing, one a rookie. What could go wrong? Loving Russell. Steady but blah, not good tonight.

Something continues to smell bad to me.

Pretendergast

If you think Dominik Kahun is the reason this team wont win stanley idk what to say. What’s the dead weight on the roster? Sure the team could be better but I genuinely believe Toronto has more talent in the lineup than us other than 1c 1l/2c. Does that mean those players we have are bad? No. So 1 game where they did not crap the bed at all is dramatic. Toronto got some lucky bounces. Oil did not look like the team from a few weeks ago which is positive but they still have a ways to go.

Trade deadline is a real bugger this year.

Scungilli Slushy

“What’s the dead weight on the roster? Sure the team could be better but I genuinely believe Toronto has more talent in the lineup than us other than 1c 1l/2c. Does that mean those players we have are bad?”

Kahun isn’t an NHL player as I see it. He’s not good enough for top 6, even playing with Drai, and too small for bottom 6.

But read what you wrote. The Leafs are better does that mean our players are bad?

Well maybe not bad, but far from what they need to win when it matters most.

Chiasson is invisible in many games and is also losing puck battles. Scoring a goal here and there isn’t enough, especially if it’s PP.

To be a top team, ALL lines need to come out on top in the end.Every player needs to win the battle in the role they are given, like the role or not.

The Oilers still carry a lot of players that are marginal NHL players or wouldn’t keep a job on those teams that contend over time.

Forwards that are meh and lucky if replacement level to me. Don’t deliver strong role based contributions game in and out as they would have to on a consistent top team:
Kahun
Chiasson
Khaira (other than his 10 game good streak and he’s fading off as per usual)
Neal
Russel
Shore
Turris

Forwards that don’t hurt as much but don’t do enough on a strong team
Haas
Nygaard

That’s 9 forwards on the roster. Nuggie is also having a poor year both ends of the ice. 10 out of 17 forwards. This is the heart of the issues against stronger teams when those teams play well.

And I was one who felt it was the deepest forward group we had seen in years. Maybe it is, but still far from the right balance and quality.

flea

Do you really think the Oilers org is all in this year? In a year where there are no fans in the buildings, no playoff revenue, a modified playoff format?

I think they played a conservative hand this year, and it’s paying off. But if it doesn’t result in Stanley – I don’t think they would be that upset.

Next year – it gets real.

OriginalPouzar

Is there a word for a “human” that has an express passionate hatred for a sports organization, is nowhere to be found on nights when the team wins or otherwise has positive events but shows up immediately after the team’s tough losses?

tcho

Was thinking the same thing. Frustrating loss, and cue…

Bank Shot

Stop responding to the guy seeking attention then. Don’t engage in any kind of serious discussion. Just mock the rubber hitting the road.

Sierra

Mock? More like completely ignore. OP just can’t resist.

who

It’s sad see a grown man seeking attention by mocking Oilers fans on an Oilers blog.
But it’s even sadder to see all the other grown men, (I think), who just can’t stop themselves from responding to him.
We actually have posters here who seek to engage him when he goes silent.
Mystifying.

wolf8888

Pathetic?

tcho

Bruce McCurdy must be scheduled to grade this game.

godot10

Are the Oilers a month away from Broberg – Larsson? Samorukov is hurt. Coach doesn’t trust Jones. Lagesson is settling to his level.

Harpers Hair

All the while Andrej Sekera is being paid by the Oilers to be an effective bottom pairing D for Dallas.

Bank Shot

Lol. Loud wet fart

GMB3

Correct though

wolf8888

I have Monday as a win. Who’s on board?

Last edited 3 years ago by wolf8888
OriginalPouzar

Yup but how does one reconcile that with the catastrophizing?

wolf8888

haha. Oilers didn’t play bad, had some bad bounces. I still feel good about them. Sad to hear about Holloway though

ashley

They looked tired tonight. With this schedule, they are going to need more rest to win these games.

Harpers Hair

Good grief…they played one game in a week and they’re tired?

Sierra

Flat then? Too much downtime?

Harpers Hair

That’s possible but the most likely reason is they played a better team.

Sierra

The record would indicate as much

Solly

So what happens to the Canucks…on a nightly basis.

Last edited 3 years ago by Solly
Sierra

Who cares

Scungilli Slushy

I would wager the Oilers are closing in an any won goal record.

I wish someone could calculate it. I think it has to do with team directive, as I have said for years. You are either in position to let it hit you or let the goalie have it.

No trying to make a save. That is how players get hurt, side of skate, hit where the padding isn’t.

It’s so frustrating for me.

Scungilli Slushy

Own goal, sorry.

Scungilli Slushy

In other news, the Oilers are far too small up front. Small is fine if they can keep their head above water in battles, but this group doesn’t when the other team is a hard out. As I see it.

If you can’t handle Toronto, you are at best a ‘made the playoffs’ group. Another playoff round like the last should be considered a big fail at this point. They need to compete with the best without losing through poor play, giving games away.

Expectations are higher now. Even their own.

MrEd

With everyone healthy (who’s available) our heaviest (most truculent) line-up would be?:

Draisaitl- McDavid. -Puljujarvi
Neal- Turris –Kassian
Khaira- RNH -Archibald
Shore- Haas -Chaisson

Nurse- Barrie
Lagesson-Larsson
Russell-Bear

Last edited 3 years ago by MrEd
Sierra

Please stop posting trade ideas and potential line-ups here.

MrEd

How come?

Sierra

You are proposing a 2nd line of Neal-Turris-Kassian.

Scungilli Slushy

The problem Tippet faces is that many of his skill group are very small. Kahun Ennis Yamamoto, Nuggie is also small player.

Archie is small and tries to battle, but he loses a lot of them and is not skilled. Haas is a smaller player and tries hard, doesn’t leak goals, but can’t score, or be relied upon for RS faceoffs. Although he seems to be getting better.

Turris isn’t short, but he as light as Nuggie, is a weak skater, can’t score and can’t defend, or win key faceoffs.

So Tipp puts the bigger guys in, many can’t skate worth a poop which TO really exposes, and can’t score or defend reliably either.

So the true playoff Oilers are shown, which is what I’m saying. I don’t like it. Why can that goof Dubas flush out his roster better being more top heavy than the Oilers?

Having a great reg season run against teams they match up well against for me isn’t satisfying, when the weaknesses are playoff killers, even if mediocrity when having McDavid and Drai is ok for other commenters.

MrEd

I don’t disagree with much of what you say. Heavy hockey is a thing during the playoffs.

I don’t know Turris as well as I’d like. I was spotting him in according to his listing and comparing him to RNH. They’re close.

A guy like Thornton doesn’t skate overly well for the Leafs but defends the puck well with his size. He played more than 17minutes tonight.

I actually don’t mind our “heavy” line-up. Neal with O-zone starts at home? He was a scorer just last year and he doesn’t get pushed off the puck.

Kahun and Yammer are struggling right now.

godot10

97 backchecks worse than 99.

21 and 56 don’t mix. Draisaitl made them barely tolerable. Nugent-Hopkins cannot carry both of them. Don’t understand why Dave keeps going back to it.

56’s defensive deficiencies get exposed if the line he is on spends too much in the defensive zone.

Sierra

The OT goal doesn’t look good on McDavid.

flyfish1168

Mathews did interfere with his progress back

Last edited 3 years ago by flyfish1168
Sierra

That’s one way to look at it. I don’t think it’s the correct way.

Last edited 3 years ago by Sierra
€√¥£€^$

It was a legal pick

jake70

How many D zone faceoffs did Oilers win? Seemed like none. Man.

Scungilli Slushy

The way Nuge has played this season they should be very careful. He is always been a good guy passenger. Lately he’s really not been the kind of player I want on the team. He’s had a lot of Eberle/Gagner just in photo moments, for a ‘strong’ defensive player.

GMB3

Dave Tippett dresses a weak lineup and we get a weak result. Lucky to get an OT point.

This was a Todd McLellan era game. Hope you can load one line and pray the goalie can steal the game.

William Lagesson running 1.37 xGF/60 minutes, second last out of all D with over 150 minutes played 5v5. Kneecapping his own team.

Last edited 3 years ago by GMB3
Brogan Rafferty's Uncle Steve

Agreed. Lagesson has been very underwhelming for weeks. I like the player but he definitely should be the 7th dman.

GMB3

I don’t. He’s in way over his head in his role. You’re just praying he can “defend”. Dave Tippett’s quote about puckmoving defensemen sure rings hollow.

You have Kris Russell and William Lagesson out there on two different pairings and your kneecapping your teams ability to break the puck out for over 50% of the game.

his PDO heater earlier sure fooled a lot of people, Dave Tippett included

Brogan Rafferty's Uncle Steve

I mean I like the player as a 7th dman, i.e. not playing.

I seem to recall him being more assertive passing the puck in his first few games. But yes, he has been a black hole recently.

OriginalPouzar

Lagesson has played 41 minutes with Drai this year and 19 with McDavid.

Just a bit of extra context to xGF rates.

GMB3

That context doesn’t change that he’s in over his head

Sierra

I thought Lagesson – Larsson had been a good pairing?

GMB3

They’ve been getting caved nightly for a while now. They’ve had strong goaltending behind them, but Lagesson might be a bottom 5-10 guy in terms of moving the puck.

jones-larsson though… they had nice results together

Sierra

Up by 2 with 8 left and lose is not at all good.

its looking like these Oilers can’t beat these Leafs.

Harpers Hair

Well fuck..that cost me aa lot of money.

leadfarmer

What do trolls use for currency?

Harpers Hair

Cash.

What currency do dimwits use?

BONE207

May the Lames experience of the curse of the tabernac!!!

Derek

It shouldn’t have gone to OT. They need about 2 more forwards who are a danger to do anything other than dump the puck in before they can run with Toronto.

Last edited 3 years ago by Derek
fishman

TO really does have a strong, experienced and fast set of forwards that we don’t match up well with. I think our D group better as a whole and of of course we have 97 + 29.

who

They need a left winger who can drive play and produce some offense. Kahun, Ennis and Yamamoto are nice little complimentary wingers, but they don’t drive play, and they don’t make defenders give up the blueline. They are more quick than fast, and they’re too easy to knock off stride when they try to chip and chase.

GMB3

That’s what I’ve seen too. None of them create any space. They are all good hockey players too, just too many of the same type. They all can make nice skilled plays along the wall and down low but they struggle to get the puck to the net front or open a lane for a pass/shot in the slot

Seismic Source

Kahun will sit next game

Scungilli Slushy

I hope

Completely a waste of ice time IMO. Every game I’ve seen. Meanwhile, Nygard seems to have the pox.

Sierra

and who replaces him?

jake70

He is one of those guys who is real busy doing a whole lot of nothin.

Harpers Hair

Yamamoto should join him…totally ineffectual.

Sierra

First game back from injury?

Solly

All 4 of their goals had lucky fucking bounces.

I seriously hate Toronto.

LMHF#1

Being in position and filtering pucks through is not luck.

Should’ve finished that off. Bad defensive plays at the wrong times.

Sierra

Agreed LMHF#1

Solly

Not even taking a shot on net, puck bounces 10 ft in the air, whiff on punching it mid-air, bounces off our goalies head, and in our net….is luck.
Pucks bouncing off of skates right to an opponent’s stick, in the slot for a Grade A chance….is luck.
The OT goal…just bullshit luck.

You can dominate a game and not score a single goal. Doesn’t mean the Queefs didn’t have insane luck tonight.

€√¥£€^$

Because Oilers

Derek

I mean…they got about 10 unlucky bounces and carried the play for long stretches of the game. I hate Toronto too but they’re a damn good team.

Last edited 3 years ago by Derek
GMB3

Yeah. They dominated the vast majority of the game. The Oilers had a strong second and very week first and a downright awful third.

jake70

Whatever Oilers….shouldn’t have gone to OT.

Boil-in-the-Oil

Ouch. What a terrible way to lose. That was a missed opportunity.

Material Elvis

Off Draisaitl’s stick, off Nurse’s skate and in. Tough luck.

BONE207

If I were Mr underpants, I wouldn’t accept that goal after all the good chances he had

Brogan Rafferty's Uncle Steve

It will be interesting to see what Holland does going into the deadline. No doubt the Oilers need scoring help on lines 2-3 if McDrai stays together.

Brogan Rafferty's Uncle Steve

Not sure what would be better, a true 3C or a 2LW. Haas and Khaira have been good this year but they are both better suited on a 4th line. Neither is a consistent threat to score.

who

I think about building a 2nd line that can score before I worry about the 3rd line.

Oil2Oilers

Tabernac

leadfarmer

One of those bounces go the other way nights with 2 bounce goals against

Lucinius

Turns out my earlier post didn’t age as badly as it almost did.

Disappointing, frustrating.. a lot of other adjectives, as well.

N64

Oil overcome their aversion to Bettman points.

Last edited 3 years ago by N64
Munny

Go fuck yourself Toronto

OriginalPouzar

That’s OK – they’ll get them on Monday!

fishman

Crap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gerta Rauss

That’s a disappointing result, I gotta say

KnightRain

FFS

JimmyV1965

Why does the reffing have to suck so much? They missed two very obvious calls after Toronto’s second goal. We should have been in the PP when they scored their third.  So frickin frustrating. 

Munny

Way too much cutesy in our game tonight

BONE207

Bettman point warning…

Munny

This is where the addition of a Pujo to the roster can make a heck of a difference

Last edited 3 years ago by Munny
Paulie

Oil outplayed and got lucky with 3 TML posts. Good to get a pt. Let’s get 2!

Solly

What the hell? The game keeps going after 3 periods…what is this madness!?

Reja

I’m picking Nurse with the winner.

Gerta Rauss

Well, Nurse did put the puck in the net LoL

Reja

Me and my big mouth.

Seismic Source

Well we pissed off Winipeg

MrEd

Good to see McDavid gaming Hyman behind the net there.