Post-Game Talk: All Good Things…

[Drivesaitl]

We need GUENTZEL or KONECNY or TOFFOLI and HENRIQUE

lmao. Thats your takeaway from the playoffs, from anytime we face Vegas, that we need mroe gunners? What we need is a premium goalie. Thats the number one apparent thing that should be evident that Hall > Skinner everytime out. As others have stated neither of the goals Skinner let in were unstoppable. The guy at the other end was making circus stops of greater difficulty against some of the best finishers on the planet. Skinner wasn't even facing Vegas top star forward tonight.

We add players like Corey Perry and the answer is we need more forwards. Surreal deduction. The one thing we don't lack is scoring capable forwards. We could add as many as we like but if we're facing stellar goaltending and don't have it ourselves its a hill to climb. Like it was last playoffs, like it was last night. A pattern is clear.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Didn't bother to look until now. Skinner still has a 920% tonight

One of the rare games we lose with that number. I wonder if we even lost one in a loooong time getting 920

Several of the shots were from the point. Two were from outside the zone. Vegas had maybe half a dozen good scoring chances all night. Considering they hit two posts and scored two.. This isn't going to likely be good enough against Vegas. Oilers beat Vegas everywhere but in net, which unfortunately is the most important position in hockey.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Just ridiculous at the criticism that Drai keeps getting. It's basically so evident that if McDrai are not on their A game every game, their bashed for it, even though they'll play well enough, like tonight, but hay we lost so whose to blame? Draisaitl of course.

Meanwhile someone like Nuge with one goal in his last 11 games, a PP goal, while playing on the top line, always seems to be absolved from any criticism, it's always crickets when it comes to him somehow.

Definitely agree with your take on Skinner btw haha

Mostly its people that don't completely get Drais game, how he changes tempo, how that often works to effect finding the trailer or confounding the D. he was in on the only goal scored tonight as well.

The curious thing is theres a dozen players on this club where critcism seldom lands on. Drai is a scapegoat here, and its laughable. I wonder if many fanbases would turn Drai into a scapegoat. Its not a good look.

Yeah, Nuge got muscled off the puck several times tonight, was back shooting popguns or shooting wide, and wasn't remarkable on PP misplaying puck as much as Booch did. Sure Drai didn't cash today. Thats more of a rarity for him career wise. Nuge is making a habit (again) of botching scoring chances. Kane sure isn't finishing anything either.

its not isolated either. Throughout this WHOLE Win streak forwards like Foegele or McLeod have been better than Nuge and Kane. Good for the former but that can't be happening for extended stretches like 20 games.

We have 3 players who have commendable production this season that should be above criticism in that regard. I wonder sometimes if posters know who they are.

 

[harpoon]

mao. Thats your takeaway from the playoffs, from anytime we face Vegas, that we need mroe gunners? What we need is a premium goalie. Thats the number one apparent thing that should be evident that Hall > Skinner everytime out. As others have stated neither of the goals Skinner let in were unstoppable. The guy at the other end was making circus stops of greater difficulty against some of the best finishers on the planet. Skinner wasn't even facing Vegas top star forward tonight.

So your solution is to go out and get a goalie who can out duel the guy who has been the best goalie in the league for eight to ten months? Get real. Not only is such a player not available, if he were, the Oilers could never afford him. We need reasonable and realistic improvements, not fantasyland nonsense.

Skinner did not lose the game for the team today. He played well. Disingenuous of you to discredit him for ‘not facing’ players who weren’t in the lineup.

 

[Navx94]

Everyone blaming skinner for the loss and praising hill are out to lunch. Few bounces here or there and we would be saying skinner is canadas #1 goalie.

Imagine we have a deadline anywhere close to:

OUT: Ceci, Kulak, Foegele, Janmark
IN : Walker, Carrier, Guentzel, Dowd + Broberg

That’s 4 offensive black holes gone. I don’t care what you say about Foegele he’s a proven overpaid bottom 6 at best player since he joined us.

 

[Yuke]

Several of the shots were from the point. Two were from outside the zone. Vegas had maybe half a dozen good scoring chances all night. Considering they hit two posts and scored two.. This isn't going to likely be good enough against Vegas. Oilers beat Vegas everywhere but in net, which unfortunately is the most important position in hockey.

Don't get where you are coming from. I was at the game tonight. Oilers scored 1. Knights scored 2. Biggest difference was Knights had sticks and/or body on someone as much as can be expected.
They scored on their chances, we didn't.

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

Mostly its people that don't completely get Drais game, how he changes tempo, how that often works to effect finding the trailer or confounding the D. he was in on the only goal scored tonight as well.

The curious thing is theres a dozen players on this club where critcism seldom lands on. Drai is a scapegoat here, and its laughable. I wonder if many fanbases would turn Drai into a scapegoat. Its not a good look.

Yeah, Nuge got muscled off the puck several times tonight, was back shooting popguns or shooting wide, and wasn't remarkable on PP misplaying puck as much as Booch did. Sure Drai didn't cash today. Thats more of a rarity for him career wise. Nuge is making a habit (again) of botching scoring chances. Kane sure isn't finishing anything either.

its not isolated either. Throughout this WHOLE Win streak forwards like Foegele or McLeod have been better than Nuge and Kane. Good for the former but that can't be happening for extended stretches like 20 games.

We have 3 players who have commendable production this season that should be above criticism in that regard. I wonder sometimes if posters know who they are.

Unfortunately Draisaitl had a poor game. He was 47% in the face-off dot including losing a critical late game one in the offensive zone. One shot on net and line 2 collectively didn't do much. Nugent Hopkins also was poor including missing high blocker on Hill (which upper net is where you have to shoot on this tender who's great low and has excellent team defense getting bodies and sticks on pucks in the home plate area). Vegas showed an extra level through their work effort and team structure. Only Oiler that really stood out was the captain who was dialled in and played with urgency and intensity all night.

This was an evenly played game that the Oilers were better through a lot of it. Notably the second period. Unfortunately it broke on a couple of defending mistakes, Ekholm caught above the puck on a tight rebound and his open man cashed. Second saw two coverage breakdowns with Ceci skating behind the net to defend a harmless play leaving Foegele to scramble net front and Chandler Stephenson who was excellent all night found the open ice and buried a top corner blocker shot with a quick, precise release. Guy was also 73% in the dot.

Oil hit some goalposts and missed on opportunities. Little too much overhandling the puck against Vegas' strong, structured team d that clogs the middle ice around their goaltender. Players like McLeod opting to carry pucks out of scoring areas with behind the net flybys instead of straight line hockey taking it hard to the net. Still, this was a coin flip game where Vegas capitalized on split second Oiler mistakes. A theme that carried them to the Cup last year.

Peeps shouldn't get overworked criticizing individual players on a team that just rolled a major winning streak only once bettered in the game's history. This team now has to reset and get back to winning. Lots of big games ahead on a harder schedule.

 

[Ol' Jase]

Several of the shots were from the point. Two were from outside the zone. Vegas had maybe half a dozen good scoring chances all night. Considering they hit two posts and scored two.. This isn't going to likely be good enough against Vegas. Oilers beat Vegas everywhere but in net, which unfortunately is the most important position in hockey.

To be fair, the Oilers likely win that game most nights. Hill was out of his mind tonight.

Oilers were 5-0-1 against Vegas in their last regular season matchups before tonight, and that was Hill’s first regular season win against us in his career. I still think we match up ok against them.

 

[bellagiobob]

No worries, karma will say hi to you guys shortly.

 

[5 14 6 1]

lmao. Thats your takeaway from the playoffs, from anytime we face Vegas, that we need mroe gunners? What we need is a premium goalie. Thats the number one apparent thing that should be evident that Hall > Skinner everytime out. As others have stated neither of the goals Skinner let in were unstoppable. The guy at the other end was making circus stops of greater difficulty against some of the best finishers on the planet. Skinner wasn't even facing Vegas top star forward tonight.

We add players like Corey Perry and the answer is we need more forwards. Surreal deduction. The one thing we don't lack is scoring capable forwards. We could add as many as we like but if we're facing stellar goaltending and don't have it ourselves its a hill to climb. Like it was last playoffs, like it was last night. A pattern is clear.

More scoring gets you through the stellar goaltending. Not sure where your confusion lies.

 

[AddyTheWrath]

Kind of hilarious that we’ve all been clamoring for a 2nd line upgrade and 2nd pairing upgrade and Foegele/Ceci are the ones who make a mistake on the GWG.

Honestly I could see a world where one of Kane/Foegele are shipped out for cap space to address both D and F. Otherwise Holland will have to get real creative to fill both holes (and yes they are holes).

Draisaitl had some terrible giveaways tonight. Bouchard and RNH didn’t look great either. In these types of games your best players need to be your best players, and that wasn’t the case unfortunately.

 

[5 14 6 1]

"You forget sometimes how much you hate losing. Its a good reminder." - Connor McDavid post game

 

[Fishy McScales]

Until they beat them in the playoffs, I’m not wrong.

Unless they change something we will be talking about how we had 38 shots, just couldn’t catch a break, Hill stood on his head, we hit 22 posts, why did Skinner let in 2 goals.

So why are you posting about it now? This wasn't the playoffs.

 

[JordanGalhanth]

Honestly, I'm just thankful this happened in the regular season and not in the playoffs. This is necessary to keep the boys humble so that they don't take winning for granted.

 

[Tobias Kahun]

Mostly its people that don't completely get Drais game, how he changes tempo, how that often works to effect finding the trailer or confounding the D. he was in on the only goal scored tonight as well.

The curious thing is theres a dozen players on this club where critcism seldom lands on. Drai is a scapegoat here, and its laughable. I wonder if many fanbases would turn Drai into a scapegoat. Its not a good look.

Yeah, Nuge got muscled off the puck several times tonight, was back shooting popguns or shooting wide, and wasn't remarkable on PP misplaying puck as much as Booch did. Sure Drai didn't cash today. Thats more of a rarity for him career wise. Nuge is making a habit (again) of botching scoring chances. Kane sure isn't finishing anything either.

its not isolated either. Throughout this WHOLE Win streak forwards like Foegele or McLeod have been better than Nuge and Kane. Good for the former but that can't be happening for extended stretches like 20 games.

We have 3 players who have commendable production this season that should be above criticism in that regard. I wonder sometimes if posters know who they are.

Draisaitl sucked tonight.

It’s okay to admit that.

He hasn’t been as good as he usually is this season and he’s about to get a huge pay raise.

 

[Duke74]

Draisaitl gave the game away

Right. There weren't 17 other players playing tonight.

Draisaitl sucked tonight.

It’s okay to admit that.

He hasn’t been as good as he usually is this season and he’s about to get a huge pay raise.

Maybe you consider trading him?

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

Fell asleep listening on the radio after the first period tied. Woke up to see we suffered a 3-1 loss.

I predicted an Oiler win with my heart as I never predict losses however my brain told me we were going to drop a close one as we’ve beaten Vegas twice this year and they had much more to lose than us. Overall I don’t care where we finish so long as it’s in the playoffs and in our division.

We will be adding 1-2 more pieces I imagine at or before the TDL to bolster the team - if we could move Brown out and pickup a 4C moving Ryan back to RW and some defensive depth we should show well.

I am concerned about the lack of production from whatever the line Kane plays on. He’s not been himself since the first month where he was our best player. Injured core is what I’ve heard and now we hear Leon’s been banged up for a while which explains his drop off in play from what I’ve read here.

The next 10 games will be telling in what we need to add and subtract.

Onto the Ducks.

Edit - @Morpheus way to carry on the streak!!!

 

[onetweasy]

Gritty hockey, a style I’m not sure we can play.

I will say that the team defence did look better overall.

Our problem is scoring, they refuse to take what is given to them, I hope Knob rips them for that crap.

Maybe this hurts enough for them to figure it out, otherwise Vegas has this team in 5 or 6 games.

We just played around 12 straight games with two goals or less scored against and probably should have beat the Knights tonight if Drai was awake.

I have no idea how you come away from this run and that game thinking we can’t play gritty hockey and can’t beat this Vegas team.

I get the frustration of their style of play but a couple of smart trades at the deadline and there isn’t a team that would scare me come playoff time.

 

[BlackDogg]

Fell asleep listening on the radio after the first period tied. Woke up to see we suffered a 3-1 loss.

I predicted an Oiler win with my heart as I never predict losses however my brain told me we were going to drop a close one as we’ve beaten Vegas twice this year and they had much more to lose than us. Overall I don’t care where we finish so long as it’s in the playoffs and in our division.

We will be adding 1-2 more pieces I imagine at or before the TDL to bolster the team - if we could move Brown out and pickup a 4C moving Ryan back to RW and some defensive depth we should show well.

I am concerned about the lack of production from whatever the line Kane plays on. He’s not been himself since the first month where he was our best player. Injured core is what I’ve heard and now we hear Leon’s been banged up for a while which explains his drop off in play from what I’ve read here.

The next 10 games will be telling in what we need to add and subtract.

Onto the Ducks.

Edit - @Morpheus way to carry on the streak!!!

Too bad Leon went to the asg. Should have been resting and sent Hyman or even Nurse this year.

 

[Zguy370]

Don't get where you are coming from. I was at the game tonight. Oilers scored 1. Knights scored 2. Biggest difference was Knights had sticks and/or body on someone as much as can be expected.
They scored on their chances, we didn't.

We had more and way better scoring chances than Vegas did though, not blaming Skinner but Hill was the difference.

 

[Lacaar]

Damn fine effort and game. Vegas exposed what I think is the oilers biggest weakness. Our complete inability to finish a scoring chance. You can all orgasm over Aden hill all you want but I say bull shit. This team gets goalied too much is the only weakness. Th oiler’s play geat and make the opponents goalie great. It will be their only undoing come playoff time. Tons of chances and nothing to show on the scoresheet.

com playoff time they cannot give a freebie game like they always do. Because coin flip hockey is the way to beat this team and Vegas just gave them another lesson in it.

 

[VanCanFanEDM]

I didn't like Bouchard's game... decent effort overall though.

 

[Frank the Tank]

No worries, karma will say hi to you guys shortly.

They neutered their own comment by using a euphemism.

Overall, I wonder how players feel when their teams PR department gives the opponents bulletin board material.

 

[FlameChampion]

Damn fine effort and game. Vegas exposed what I think is the oilers biggest weakness. Our complete inability to finish a scoring chance. You can all orgasm over Aden hill all you want but I say bull shit. This team gets goalied too much is the only weakness. Th oiler’s play geat and make the opponents goalie great. It will be their only undoing come playoff time. Tons of chances and nothing to show on the scoresheet.

com playoff time they cannot give a freebie game like they always do. Because coin flip hockey is the way to beat this team and Vegas just gave them another lesson in it.

I think it’s because the team doesn’t score enough dirty goals. Goals around the net. Deflections. We also lack shooters in general who can score from distance.

We did play around the net a bit last night. But we couldn’t capitalize.

But I didn’t see a whole lot of point shots with successful deflections.

I think this is one area that could be improved if we did upgrade Ceci. Defenseman who make more plays at the blue line. But the forwards have to be willing to play in front of the net too.

I just think in the games where the offense isn’t clicking or the ice is bad, the team needs to adapt in the offensive zone better.

 

[SupremeTeam16]

Playoff style game where Edmonton was the better team. Two small mistakes is all it takes against the Cup champs.

Ekholm can’t let Roy get body position on him right in front of Skinner and if he does you absolutely have to tie up his stick, critical error from a guy who usually doesn’t make them.

On the second goal, Ceci shouldn’t of chased Marchessault behind the net but even still he maintains good position cutting off the wrap around and forcing Marchessault to go wider giving Ceci the opportunity to keep himself between Marchessault and the net front. The real mistake was Foegeles, if he sticks with Stephenson there’s no play but he abandons his post and that’s what creates the wide open look for Vegas. Ceci’s mistake though was gliding right in front of Skinner as the shot is coming.

In the other end, a couple adjustments and I think you can get more then one past Hill. Draisaitl buries on a wide open net that he converts 99.9% of the time and it’s a different game. Mentally when you’re up against a goalie who’s having a strong game you start trying to get into the very high danger areas, holding onto the puck a little too long looking for that perfect shot. You can’t do that against a team like Vegas that collapses and protects the slot area so well. Doesn’t have to be the hardest or most accurate shot, just get it towards the net quickly before they and their goalie has a chance to get set. Throw it in the blender and see what happens. That’s always how you beat a goalie who’s having himself a game, rarely do you beat him cleanly, it’s always a seeing eye shot or a shot that banks off a body or skate and in or right onto a teammates stick to bang home, just get it at the net quickly.