Post-Game Talk: A successful season?

[Dazed and Confused]

Telling stat, in an elimination game that went to OT, Nurse was the only blueliner to break 20min; and only by 18 seconds.


With him hurt this team really lacked a difference maker on the backend.


The bare minimum they need is another top 4 with size and skating that can eat defensive minutes, but I hope Holland at least takes a look at getting 2nd horse so they're not overly dependant on Nurse.

 

[Oilhawks]

And Drai

Even with his injuries he was an absolute warrior. One of the toughest players in the league

 

[McTonyBrar]

Back guys. Decided to leave the boards until the Playoffs were over.

I hate Mike Smith. He cost us this game. He did not make any big saves in either of the last 2 games.

But a successful season yes. If we can play this good with a subpar goalie in net, one legged Draisaitl and Nurse and some more injuries, I'll take our chances with a better roster

 

[McJeety McJeet]

Disappointed right now, obviously however I think it should be viewed as a good year overall. Have to figure out how to open up some cap space and plug some holes.

 

[Soundwave]

The defense wasn't even that bad tonight. Smith let in 4 terrible goals that any starting goaltender makes in their sleep.

Ceci deflection is on Drai for not getting over to the point. Mackinnon one oir D got caught high. Keith and Bouchard weren't good on the OT goal.

This team just doesn't defend nearly well enough. If they want to actually get a Cup finals you're never gonna do it playing this fire wagon 5-4, 6-5 style.

 

[TypeSly]

How stubborn was Woodcroft for not starting Mikko desprite Smith shitting the bed in game one was something.
Stubborn to get 4 game of that, Not sure I want him back tbh.

Agreed. Especially since Smith didn't once (this series) show us anything that would inspire confidence to ride or die with him.. and when he did get pulled, Koskinen played great. I thought at least when the Oilers went down 3-0 in games, Koskinen wouold have gotten the start.

 

[Zenos]

Probably wouldn’t have changed much but it looked like a high stick to me. Looked like his stick was head level or higher. Amazing that they couldn’t find an angle that showed both the stick and cross bar at the same time.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think in this case the crossbar isn't the necessary point of reference (because he doesn't score directly on the play). Instead it's the players shoulder. At least that's my understanding of the rule.

 

[Game 8]

Go East

 

[McOilers97]

25??? Lol

Better tell the Lightning that their back-to-back Cup wins with Kucherov, Stamkos and Hedman were a fluke!

 

[McClelland]

Feels like a waste next season when Smith is our starter again!

Good playoff experience for the youngsters though, but need a real starter to go all the way and some defensive changes.

Cya next time!

 

[DingDongCharlie]

He won’t clear waivers if sent down

Package him with Puljujarvi for the highest draft pick you can get.

 

[iCanada]

Yes goaltending would help.
Looks above his shoulder

Lol nope, apparently that's definitively below the shoulder.

 

[soothsayer]

Since the dawn of time, goaltending and defense was argued by people on this board as the likely downfall of this season. Sure enough, it was goaltending and defense.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, if ever there were an argument for Holland going all in on either goaltending or defense, it's this series.

This team will go nowhere with mere 'tweaks' up front.

 

[Bryanbryoil]

Good experience but it's never a successful season unless you are hoisting the cup in the end. It's unfortunate that we could've have gotten Skinner, Holloway (I missed the 1st and swear that I didn't even see him out there) and Broberg some experience in the fire.

Holland is on the clock, he needs to improve this team and get us some goaltending and upgrades on D and the 3rd line. We are in win now mode and nothing short of the Cup will do over these next 2-3 seasons.

 

[gordonhught]

At least I can shave my beard and change my gonch now

Change it? Burn it.

Do you think it's possible to start a GoFundMe for Mike Smith and raise the 2 million he'd make next year so that he'd retire?

I'm dead serious by the way.

I’m in for $20.

 

[Mez]

Gonna go watch the calgary series highlights.

 

[Patch101]

I'm pretty proud of that run, and the better team won, absolutely.
Just happy to be watching Hockey in June

UFA / Draft is already around the corner !! can't wait.

 

[Mr Positive]

I really feel good about this team. The best days are ahead.

Yes the best players will be a year older but they are well within their primes

Woodcroft will have a full season. He is the right man for the job.

Injuries held us back.

Most of all, we have some obvious holes to fill. It will be challenging but I believe it is a simpler project that having to make core changes

 

[CycloneSweep]

Better tell the Lightning that their back-to-back Cup wins with Kucherov, Stamkos and Hedman were a fluke!

They have an elite goaltender as part of their core. The best goalie in our org is a shitty 41 year old and the best prospect has barely played as a backup.

 

[FlameChampion]

Fot the record Nurse had a good game, made a huge hit leading to the tying goal. Mike Smith should have taken the night off. Remember we could have easily won 3 out of the 4 games with a little luck and a little less suck.

I been hard on Nurse, but he was fairly solid tonight.

 

[Sweetpotato]

This was always going to be a series the avs had to lose themselves. On paper they were favorites. I'm not disappointed we lost, I'm disappointed we got this far and maybe we could've gotten farther had Holland been more active. We have the longest serving goalie tandem in the NHL in Smith and Koskinen, how can you possibly defend having those 2 as the longest serving tandem.

We got really far. Conference finals. Hopefully we just keep building.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Well, the National broadcaster, CBC, your tax dollars at work got the "Killshot" they were hoping for all game. Imagine a National broadcaster cheering against the only Canadian team left and multiple times talking about an Av's "Killshot". Uncanny. Really a disgrace. Cancel the CBC.

Helm and Lehkonen, two TDL adds, combine on the OT winning goal. Think about that. We added Brassard as a forward and he's not even deemed good enough to be in the lineup. AV's added two heros. Of note we have Malone taking the faceoff on 2nd shift of OT and the illustrious pairing of Nurse-Bouchard. What are we trying to lose?

 

[alanschu]

Also I do apologize. I set an avatar before this series. It was too late when I got rid of it for game 4

 

[Mr McV]

Do you think it's possible to start a GoFundMe for Mike Smith and raise the 2 million he'd make next year so that he'd retire?

I'm dead serious by the way.

Just make it an Oiler 50/50 draw. Cash to spare. Maybe it will add some cap to get a goalie.

 

[Shanahanigans]

I'm sorry to be negative but I can't feel good about this. Yes we beat Calgary and made it to round 3. Yes the experience is good for the group. But even a Hurculean effort by our top guys (even RNH was phenomenal) couldn't mask the gaping holes on the back end and it net. Everyone knew this coming into the season, and it was exposed this round. A competent GM with that much cap space surely could have done so much better than what we've been trotting out back there.