Greenspace
Senior Member
Looked like a team that hadn't played together for a long while. Curious if momentum continues into Game 2. Skinner was okay, really are missing Elkholm.
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- Thread starter Gronk!
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ChazYEG
Senior Member
Stu was at fault on MAYBE one of the 6 goals. The blue line was atrocious, and that last goal was a damn fluke.
IF anything, Oilers would've never mounted that comeback to 5-5 without him.
Questionable calls, absolutely, although that crosscheck that landed L.A. a 5-on-3 was stupid, and they need to stop getting stupid calls.
buildings
Active Member
why can't the team start strong? it's their job, they get paid a lot of $$, presumably they know that they're going to be playing hockey and yet it seems it's always playing from behind. you can't win cups this way.
ChazYEG
Senior Member
In all fairness, some of the players that started the game yesterday had never played together before. I imagine we'll see a better showing on Game 2, as making adjustments on the fly is hard, especially when you have no frame of reference.
IanO
Superstar
BrettB
Active Member
Kane making his season debut tonight
IanO
Superstar
Maybe the biggest ? of them all right now. Game changer or anchor?
The_Cat
Senior Member
I wonder if they’ll have drummers for the Star-Spangled Banner in LA tonight!
TAS
Senior Member
Special teams have always been crucial to Oilers success. Last year's PK in the playoffs was incredible. So far 4 pp goals against and 0 for - that's bwen the difference (-4 on special teams).
That said, we did score twice with goaltender pulled. Maybe we need to do that more.
That said, we did score twice with goaltender pulled. Maybe we need to do that more.
bodsbods9090
Senior Member
Start Pickard. Nothing to lose at this point.
northlands
Senior Member
Need to really rethink roster construction for next year.
scyeg
Active Member
It was a huge mistake not to match on Holloway, let Foegle walk, and trade McLeod. All three of those guys bring exactly what they're missing up front. More importantly, they need goaltending. No amount of changes will matter if you consistently allow a goal against on ~20% of shots. It was a complete failure on management's part not to address what everyone could see was the team's biggest need.
ChazYEG
Senior Member
Blue line is more important than goaltending.
With a healthy Ekholm, they're relatively stable, but we don't have anything even close to a replacement in the roster. While neither Stu or Pickard are bona fide starters, they're both good enough that with a solid defense in front of them, we could carry on. Unless you're hoping to sign Shesterskin, Helleybuck or someone of that calibre, doesn't matter how good the goalie is, as long as the blue line leaks more and a rusty oil pan, they'll be scored against A LOT
scyeg
Active Member
NHL goalies routinely make big saves to bail out their team when they need it. Skinner's combined playoffs SV% is the worst of any goalie since 2005—he's been the worst playoff goalie in 20 years. Their D isn't the worst D in 20 years, but it can certainly feel that way when your goalie can't ever seem to bail you out when you need it. While other teams make mistakes, they aren't magnified because they have a goalie making saves. The top-3 goalies in the playoffs right now were all acquired (for very little) in the last year by teams who KNEW it was an area they needed to improve. Oilers could have been in on any of those guys, but instead chose to stand pat. This is on Holland/Bowman/Jackson more than it is on Skinner.
Oilers can play better as a team and can certainly cut back on mistakes, but until one of these goalies steps up and starts giving at least league-average goaltending, it won't matter.
Avenuer
Senior Member
If they don't win this next game, it's over I think.