In what was arguably one of the biggest games in franchise history, a massive statement game against the champs that punted us last year, so arguably the most important game of the season, you type the bolded. Wow
The Oilers problem in hockey, in general, isn't scoring goals. The problem is they have to play letter perfect D everygame to not expose their medium goaltending. Having to commit resource back and work hard in own zone is impeccable, and good habit, but invariably it leads to less goals scored both ways. The Oilers can't run and gun with the goaltending they have and try not to. The Oilers have some of the best scoring players on the planet. The most obvious position where improvement is needed is goaltending. That was the inference at coach firing point, that was the inference last spring, that was the inference before this long win streak. Just because the Oilers team have been playing some real leak proof hockey shouldn't disguise the critical point that we need a premium goalie in net. Some other teams we face in playoffs will have them.
they were definitely gripping their sticks tight trying to keep the streak alive
Every team on the planet ever gets goalied on occasion. I do think that said, the Oilers are a wee susceptible to it. They do probably start holding sticks tighter when its going to be one of those games and the Oilers have a history of struggling in playoffs against solid goaltending. Adin Hill isn't getting lucky and what still gets constantly overlooked here is how huge Hill is close in around crease, when the Oilers were bringing it to the net the many times they were.
Its possible the Oilers themselves can start to see it that way. In specific matchups numbers can be had. Anybody see the rage in McD the moment it was clear we were losing this one? Lets be clear here THIS game was taken very seriously by the Oil. They had more reason to win it than Vegas did, and more revenge reason, and evening score reason. They were facing a Vegas club depleted by injury, without Eichel and Theodore and others. This would be like the Oilers not having Drai and Nurse. We still lost.
Yeah, Bouchard has evolved immensely this season, but that was a frustrating game by him to watch last evening. He had numerous clear looks to shoot and didn't pull the trigger. This matters because his point shots represent the key to scoring when Vegas does their clog the home plate routine. Somebody needs to show him a Brent Burns highlight package, where he creates lots of chances by just getting a shot on net.
Somebody is actually critiquing Nurse's game last night? He was our best player by miles
I was just referring to last night's game... especially in the 3rd and trailing.. he was still dancing on the blueline or passing it off instead of using his shot. I think he hit the post or something the one time he did wire it.
I too felt that the Oilers were deserving of victory. But I've been getting used to that feeling in important matchups with Vegas. This was an important game, 4pt game, and with Vegas missing critical elements.
They played a good defensive game though. Skinner was just fine. Vegas defense plays well, they make good adjustments and they have the best goalie in the league. I wasn’t expecting to win this game 5-3 or something. I knew if Vegas won it would be like 1-0 or 2-1 type finals.
Its inevitable that Drai will not be able to retain his peak play. He's getting older, and he's not superhuman like McD. Drai has delivered on contract and then some every season. He's been one of the value superstar contracts through the whole stretch. Yeah, some team will pay him big bucks, he's earned it, more than earned it.
Its the human nature of the game. Booch is comfortable against a lot of clubs now dancing on the blueline. But he should be nervous doing that against the Knights. fact is its not easy to hold line against Knights and its dangerous to do that as they love the counter. They love to set up any odd man out situation. They're the best in the league, jmo, at that one aspect. So this isn't on Booch as much as who we were facing. Sometimes I credit that. The Knights challenge at the line and with intent to create.
