Post-Game Talk: Almost blown away in the Windy City

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

They were but I still believe we were better. The Nurse play was the turning point in that series, IMO. That, and Woodcroft's indecison to make changes or the proper changes cost us.

It was definitely a very large factor. All he had to do was just not overreact.

 

[Canovin]

Woodcroft had to be committed to Skinner because his other option was Jack Campbell, one of the worst goaltenders to ever wear the Oilers crest.

People can point to Campbell’s numbers in relief during those playoffs but starting a game is a whole different animal. He never played a single minute with the lead and spent most of the time playing against players that were trying to defend a multiple goal lead. Nothing he did before or after those playoffs showed that he was capable of taking this team anywhere. He’s also famous for being fragile mentally.

Pickard is a much better option at least. There’s no shot Knoblauch pulls Skinner out of the Vancouver series last year if his other option was Campbell.

Woodcroft only option was Jack Campbell who save % was .961 that playoffs? So coming in relief and playing in deficit is easier than starting a game? lol

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Woodcroft only option was Jack Campbell who save % was .961 that playoffs? So coming in relief and playing in deficit is easier than starting a game? lol

Yes. Because teams generally back off when they have a substantial lead and focus more on making sure they don't blow the lead rather than taking unnecessary offensive risks.
Campbell played five more games for the Oilers and was horrific in 4 of them before he was exiled from the league. The further we get from that series the more it becomes apparent that Campbell wasn't going to win us the Cup no matter how much we wanted him to.

 

[oXo Cube]

People are free to believe what they like of course, but the one group I will absolutely never understand on here are the Jack Campbell apologists.

Just what?

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

Generational players are lights out from the getgo. Bedard is not lights out. As it stands, I dont know if he's even in the Matthews/Mackinnon tier

his size will always hamper him but I think he can get close to a MacKinnon-tier

let's not forget after his rookie season, MacKinnon turned into a 50 point player in Colorado because he had no one to play with for awhile

 

[yukoner88]

It’s actually a woman lmao

Maybe it's a woman that identifies as a small small man

 

[Coffey]

Maybe it's a woman that identifies as a small small man

Is that allowed in Red Deer?

 

[CupofOil]

Yeah, I've been monitoring this as well. Unlikley that we catch Winnipeg, or that Calgary/Vancouver can catch Colorado/Minny. But I suppose anything is possible. The more likely scenario actually, is that Vegas catches us, and we play LA again in the first round.

If the Oilers come out ahead after the brutal Southeast trip, I think it's quite likely they win the division.
That will also be deadline time as well so we'll see what's added to the roster right after that trip. Big couple of weeks after the NHL greed tournament concludes.

 

[yukoner88]

Is that allowed in Red Deer?

I dunno, I haven't lived in the area for almost 20 years lol.

 

[BudBundy]

The Oilers have a Bedard lite in Savoie

Ours can skate.

 

[Canovin]

Ours can skate.

Bedard can skate as well.

 

[guymez]

People are free to believe what they like of course, but the one group I will absolutely never understand on here are the Jack Campbell apologists.

Just what?

I couldnt agree more.

That illustrates a serious level of denial.

That being said I am more pissed at Holland for not doing his due dilligence than I am at Campbell who was a fraud as an NHL starter. That signing really f**ked this team over.

 

[CanadasTeam99]

I hope they work on closing out games. What to do, what not to do in general. Dumb it down, no fancy stuff going forward.

I still remember our last game in Vancouver before the 2006 run. Mac T had us playing the trap in the third period.

I also remember Kesler cutting to the net and Peca just giving him a beauty massive missile hit

I couldnt agree more.

That illustrates a serious level of denial.

That being said I am more pissed at Holland for not doing his due dilligence than I am at Campbell who was a fraud as an NHL starter. That signing really f**ked this team over.

Campbell had about a two month stretch the prior season where he had Vezina numbers and then came crashing down from like December to the end. Leafs fans kept telling us, but Brad Holland said he watched 100 hours of footage....

 

[ManByng]

Not really liking how the team is playing right now but they keep getting points.

4 point lead for the division somehow.

The way they’re playing right now is driving me nuts but indeed at least they’re winning and finally in first in the division! Blowing leads has to be worked on still before the playoffs start but coming from behind to win is something championship teams do and the Oilers have shown they can do it so that’s a positive!!

 

[K1984]

People are free to believe what they like of course, but the one group I will absolutely never understand on here are the Jack Campbell apologists.

Just what?

Seems to be coming from a lot of the same folks that insist that Pickard is as good or better than Skinner.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion right or wrong, but Campbell is better! or Pickard is better! Is just grossly and fundamentally wrong IMO.

I think Campbell should have started Game 6 against Vegas, but some of the commentary regarding his heroic playoff performances in nothing but garbage time might take the cake for the most ridiculous Oiler narrative over the past few years. The only game where he faced more than a small handful of shots was Game 4 in LA, and even then a few hit him where you could tell he had no idea where it was. There was a degree of fortune there.