Let me start with TOO LONG DIDN'T READ: Both goalies were near perfect, focus attention elsewhere and apply the same standard regardless of position.
@iCanada , I disagree here and
@Drivesaitl you need to step back from the ledge and look at the vista.
There is a complete double standard imbedded in these posts and I'm going to defend the goalie union and call it out. Skinner ABSOLUTELY WAS NEAR PERFECT... and he was far more "near perfect" than any of his teammates (unless someone witnessed a perfect game out there? Maybe McJesus?... is that our standard?).
Here is my assessment:
Oilers first goal: two on zero against the most fearsome duo in the league. You can't stop those, yet if we are going to apply the same lens as you guys do above, I guess you could say that Hill came across square to the net rather than square to McDavid... it was an awkward slide and he didn't fully commit. Perhaps he'd try that a little more "full sell out" with his glove and body out attacking the puck angle (Hasek style which everyone now emulates). I mean... since we're talking about "perfection".
Vegas first goal: Ekholm is engaged with Roy and then just inexplicably leaves him there in front of the net. Roy is a big human and impossible to see around once you are down. So Skinner does what he should, he stands tall until the shot comes, stays square to the puck and shot, he looks on both sides of Roy prior to the shot, picks it up and gets into the butterfly central to where he expects the puck is going (which is through Roy's screen). The puck hits him, just like he planned, but unfortunately it spills out and Roy beats him to it. Is this a "bad rebound", no F'n way,... iCanada said Hill had those stick to him all night. But when did we have a body directly in front - and the puck actually got through? Vegas blocked most of them. And where did the puck hit Hill? Rebounds all depend on that... if it hits you in the belly, groin, hips, armpits or elbow blocks it's gonna stick. If it hits you in the chest it's coming out and you need to glove it... but you won't be able to do that if truly screened. So after that it's a scramble to the loose puck and those are 50:50 at best. The vaunted Ekholm (and I mean that honestly) for his part made TWO errors on that play that were worse than the "error" Skinner committed in failing to coral the rebound. 1) As I said above, he left Roy in front of Skinner for no good reason... he just disengaged from the net front battle, and 2) he coasted out to block the shot... only adding to the traffic Skinner needs to look around.
Vegas 2nd goal: This one is entirely on Nurse and Ceci. Nurse gets completely outmuscled by Cotter (who?... exactly!) in the corner and after losing the battle decides to punch him rather than recover and get into position. Ceci chases the puck behind the back of the net and doesn't get it, a big no-no at any level. Then he does a fly by screen of his own goalie just as the pass is coming out to the short-side slot and the shot is on its way. Drivesaitl, Skinner was absolutely in position for this shot... he was fully hugged on short side as the puck was coming around, he got up and pushed out as the pass was made... he simply got beat by a PERFECT shot. Maybe, just maybe he manages to get 2-3 inches further out to cut the angle if Ceci hadn't screened him, but there was NO ERROR on that play other than TWO ERRORS from Nurse and TWO ERRORS from Ceci.
As for Hill... he also didn't play a perfect game, but he did play great. To me there were four notable plays:
1 and 2: On both Hyman and Kane's cross crease chances, he played those well and was in position to make what I call "stuff 'em out" saves... when the pass across is that close to you, you don't really need to make the save, just get there and get close. Those saves are 95% anticipation and maybe 5% skill. It's like fielding a baseball on the short hop, they look good, but they aren't super hard to make. I give great credit for the read by Hill, but equally, and I noticed this ALL NIGHT... I give great credit to the Vegas D... McDrai and Nuge were looking for those passes to their wingers all night, but Vegas would not allow them through the slot, when they are more dangerous... Edmonton had to skate hard and down low before that lane would open up and by then the goalie can either deflect the pass itself (which Hill did several times) or "stuff 'em out". Credit where credit is due, but I think those were pretty routine for a goalie as strong as Hill (or Skinner).
3: On the first diving "save": I don't remember exactly who... was it Kane? In any case Hill got himself way, way out of position and overcommitted as McDavid circled the net. So far out of position that his LEFT skate actually got caught on the RIGHT post. The shot was a guaranteed goal, but a defender got a stick on it. Hill bought him his beers last night, but make no mistake Hill committed a significant ERROR on that play. Thankfully for him, his defender absolved him of his sin - tis' nice when the goalie gets that benefit... stick taps all around boys!
4: On the 2nd diving SAVE: This was a great, great effort and super f'n lucky save. Again, Hill over committed on the short side (but not as bad as the first time) as McD circled and then passed to Draisaitl. But credit to him, he didn't give up he made the valiant effort to dive across and lady-luck smiled on him. If that goes in, there is ZERO blame given by most fans (except Oiler fans) but Hill would for sure be mad at himself for the over-commitment ERROR... nobody else but his goalie coach and himself would know.
Anyway... I thought that was a pretty sloppy game with the puck on both sides (but especially on Vegas) and an exceptional defensive game - again on both sides. Our skill carried the play and we win that game on puck luck 8 out of 10 times EVEN IF the quality of the goaltending on both sides... which was NEAR PERFECT but NOT PERFECT... doesn't change.
