Pre-Game Talk: Apparently Skinner is starting Game 2

[ToeMcDrag83]

Reviewing the regular season stats, it's insane to me that with Skinner we basically played just a shade above "0.500" hockey without loser points.
26-18-4 was his record, so 26 wins and 22 losses.
Pickard went 22-10-1, so 22 wins and 11 loses.

It's astounding to me, for all Pickard's faults as a goaltender as well, that without our backup we probably miss playoffs. He brought pretty much the same amount wins in as our starter less a couple games and eclipsed our starter in winning percentage. Like that's nuts.

If Stu fails again tonight, should be no hesitation putting Pickard in. Not a number 1 goalie, but seems the team wins more with him in net anyways. Management failed us again here, the coach better be ready to make the right call with the pieces we have if necessary after tonight.

 

[CycloneSweep]

So he gained 22 pounds. You can just tell by how slow he is that he does not value personal fitness so he can move quicker. Just get down in your butterfly or try to get across like the Byfield goal by shuffling over 5 times instead of one big push lol.

I wonder if this dude hides twinkies in his pants

That’s just his di….

 

[Seth92]

So according to naturalstattrick, Stu had 17 giveaways last postseason. already at a SF% of under 47% and Kuemper at a 53.85% which makes sense. Basically Stu's advanced stats after a 6 goal loss don't look nearly as bad as they should so that must be what gives him this confidence we see in him.
Buuuut we had 11 high danger chances against their 5. They got goals on 2 of them and we scored on 2 of them. It truly was a game of "make a save you fat sunofabiatch what is WRONG with you" type of game.

And we can expect more of it tonight since I verified that he never gets us calls for anything he just misplays the puck constantly and looks at the ice at a weird angle and he is tall but plays so small. Just unfortunate that I have to go look at stats and stuff and learn the facts while others want to say "oh but he rebounds after letting in 5+ goasl!" well he doesn't after getting scored on only 4 times? We need the forward group to score 5 goals a game to win? We need a save. Then more saves. That is all.

 

[bucks_oil]

LOL. Keith was washed. He retired the next season. Utterly hilarious that you think you could trick anyone on here into thinking it was the same quality of player who won a Smythe and anchored a cap-era-dynasty. A faded Keith in no way, whatsoever, compares to Ekholm.

The overall team wasn't good enough to go on a longer run in 2020 and 2021, so you can't really compare those playoff runs with Stu's, but there's zero question that the 2023 and 2024 Oilers were a vastly better team defensively than the 2022 Oilers. Your attempt to argue otherwise is good for a laugh.

If you think Smith's lows are "far lower" than Stu's then you definitely missed the series against Vancouver.

All the bolded is a Strawman argument that I never made, please don't do that. I simply refuted your statement that "his top pairing as Nurse and Ceci", year 1 it was certainly Klefbom and Larsson.

I agree, never said otherwise, that our team now is far better than then. I'm not making that comparison at all.

I'm simply stating that Smith, who was an overall better goalie than Skinner, had higher highs and lower lows. That goal from the Calgary side of the ice was probably the 2nd worst Oiler GA against I've ever seen, going all the way back to Steve Smith. It didn't matter who the top pairing was, it was an icing attempt. That same year he also gave away the puck while trying to play it, resulting in an additional two GA. Those are low lows. That's it... that's the entire point.

Skinner in comparison... his worst playoff GA that I can think of off the top of my head were a similar puck playing event, but at least on that one he had the excuse of his stick breaking, and last nights lazy/wilting attempt to look around a screen on a very flukey shot. Bad goals, to be sure, but not as bad as the above. The problem with Skinner isn't "terrible goals every night", it's "never makes the big saves" he doesn't make a lot of mistakes, he just isn't that good. Different goalies, different problems.

 

[I am the Liquor]

Snowpants had some puck skill, Arvidsson has just been a paper bag filled with shit and then lit on fire.

I miss Snowpants!

 

[bone]

Holy crap, lots of over reaction over being down 1-0 vs. LA and JSkin being scratched and a goalie that has won many more games vs. LA than he has lost getting a start.

I agree JSkin probably deserves the spot over Arvidsson and maybe Janmark (but I'm not sold on the latter). I also understand concerns over Stu, but Pickard is a shitty goalie who played over his head a bit this year and still had very mediocre stats despite 68% of his starts being vs. non-playoff teams and 48% of his starts being vs the bottom 10 teams in the league.

But completely giving up on the team seems to be a bit of an over reaction to the current situation.

 

[fireantz]

Regardless who plays goal, if Oilers want to get back in the series they increase the odds if they give up less HDSC. Anyone know how much time spent in the LA zone in the last period verses the first two? A few more contributors verses passengers will bring better results. Hoping Kane goes nuclear

 

[MessierThanThou]

All the bolded is a Strawman argument that I never made, please don't do that. I simply refuted your statement that "his top pairing as Nurse and Ceci", year 1 it was certainly Klefbom and Larsson.

I agree, never said otherwise, that our team now is far better than then. I'm not making that comparison at all.

I'm simply stating that Smith, who was an overall better goalie than Skinner, had higher highs and lower lows. That goal from the Calgary side of the ice was probably the 2nd worst Oiler GA against I've ever seen, going all the way back to Steve Smith. It didn't matter who the top pairing was, it was an icing attempt. That same year he also gave away the puck while trying to play it, resulting in an additional two GA. Those are low lows. That's it... that's the entire point.

Skinner in comparison... his worst playoff GA that I can think of off the top of my head were a similar puck playing event, but at least on that one he had the excuse of his stick breaking, and last nights lazy/wilting attempt to look around a screen on a very flukey shot. Bad goals, to be sure, but not as bad as the above. The problem with Skinner isn't "terrible goals every night", it's "never makes the big saves" he doesn't make a lot of mistakes, he just isn't that good. Different goalies, different problems.

You haven't refuted anything. You knew exactly what I meant, but you tried to get sneaky and talk about Smith in previous seasons having the benefit of Klefbom and Larsson (still not as good as Ekholm...oh right, you're totally not implying that. LOL.), then tossed in Keith's name, hoping I was dumb enough not to call you out on that... You've done a clumsy job of walking back your argument.

And I'll take uglier goals from a goalie who can regain his composure over a goalie who needs to take a mid-series timeout because he's on the verge of losing a whole playoff round almost on his own. I'd definitely argue that the latter qualifies as a "lower low."

 

[russ99]

Gonna give em 10 minutes to show me if they’re in this for the fight or if it’s the same old blown coverage defense, overpassing cute offense and bad goaltending dreck from game, of course until they’re down a bunch with 15 minutes left.

if the team can’t take this seriously, why should I stay up until 1AM

 

[russ99]

Reviewing the regular season stats, it's insane to me that with Skinner we basically played just a shade above "0.500" hockey without loser points.
26-18-4 was his record, so 26 wins and 22 losses.
Pickard went 22-10-1, so 22 wins and 11 loses.

It's astounding to me, for all Pickard's faults as a goaltender as well, that without our backup we probably miss playoffs. He brought pretty much the same amount wins in as our starter less a couple games and eclipsed our starter in winning percentage. Like that's nuts.

If Stu fails again tonight, should be no hesitation putting Pickard in. Not a number 1 goalie, but seems the team wins more with him in net anyways. Management failed us again here, the coach better be ready to make the right call with the pieces we have if necessary after tonight.

Tonight? I’m thinking first period.

 

[russ99]

So he gained 22 pounds. You can just tell by how slow he is that he does not value personal fitness so he can move quicker. Just get down in your butterfly or try to get across like the Byfield goal by shuffling over 5 times instead of one big push lol.

I wonder if this dude hides twinkies in his pants

I don’t know he was bad at lateral movement before he gained the weight.

 

[Seth92]

Gonna give em 10 minutes to show me if they’re in this for the fight or if it’s the same old blown coverage defense, overpassing cute offense and bad goaltending dreck from game, of course until they’re down a bunch with 15 minutes left.

if the team can’t take this seriously, why should I stay up until 1AM

Oilers get projector privileges until it gets way too suck. Hope for the best always but this squad played so terribly for 50 minutes last game it was so weak to witness and not worth watching at all.

 

[GMofOilers]

Reviewing the regular season stats, it's insane to me that with Skinner we basically played just a shade above "0.500" hockey without loser points.
26-18-4 was his record, so 26 wins and 22 losses.
Pickard went 22-10-1, so 22 wins and 11 loses.

It's astounding to me, for all Pickard's faults as a goaltender as well, that without our backup we probably miss playoffs. He brought pretty much the same amount wins in as our starter less a couple games and eclipsed our starter in winning percentage. Like that's nuts.

If Stu fails again tonight, should be no hesitation putting Pickard in. Not a number 1 goalie, but seems the team wins more with him in net anyways. Management failed us again here, the coach better be ready to make the right call with the pieces we have if necessary after tonight.

Not my fault skinner started more games then then that he was 26w and 25l he transferred 3 loses to Pickard lol

 

[Dirty Mind]

Again- Stuart’s playoff numbers that year were WORSE than Campbell’s in the regular season. By this logic, why wasn’t Stu considered unplayable.

Using your same logic- Stu has very close numbers to “unplayable” Campbell. Why is he starting tonight? You’re talking circles

I firmly believe the Oilers beat Vegas in 2023 if Woodcroft had started Campbell instead of Skinner. Especially that pivotal game 5 where Skinner was the biggest factor in a 3-1 lead being erased like it was a regular season game.

I know that’s ballsy to say after Campbell’s disasterous showing during the 2-9-1 start in 2023/24 (Skinner was just as bad but somehow only Campbell got heat for it), but Campbell DID look better than Skinner every time the latter was pulled in the 2023 playoffs, which was what? Half the games?

That Cup should have been the Oilers for the taking. The Skinner experiment HAS to end.

 

[McTonyBrar]

I can’t stop laughing at this. Seriously. Is this what Oiler fans logic has come to? Skinner should be in the game because he cheered like crazy for a goal his team scored… even though he played bad?

 

[McTonyBrar]

Skinner has been better than Arviddson. The rub is that this is no compliment at all.

No he hasn’t LOL you just hate Arvidsson just like every small player

 

[McDNicks17]

I can’t stop laughing at this. Seriously. Is this what Oiler fans logic has come to? Skinner should be in the game because he cheered like crazy for a goal his team scored… even though he played bad?

We don't care what random people on Twitter think.

 

[McTonyBrar]

Snowpants had some puck skill, Arvidsson has just been a paper bag filled with shit and then lit on fire.

Uhhh no. Compare their stats. This is a terrible take. This bias and hatred of Arvidsson is disgusting

 

[McTonyBrar]

We don't care what random people on Twitter think.

Well they kind of sound like the majority of this board when it comes to Jeff Skinner

 

[Messrules11]

Skinner again eh, Knob is a moron.

 

[Perfect_Drug]

Woodcroft bet his career on Stu and lost.

Makes me wonder why Knob is doing the same.

 

[ohheyhemsky]

Woodcroft bet his career on Stu and lost.

Makes me wonder why Knob is doing the same.

That's a damn good line.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

I'm simply stating that Smith, who was an overall better goalie than Skinner, had higher highs and lower lows. That goal from the Calgary side of the ice was probably the 2nd worst Oiler GA against I've ever seen, going all the way back to Steve Smith. It didn't matter who the top pairing was, it was an icing attempt. That same year he also gave away the puck while trying to play it, resulting in an additional two GA. Those are low lows. That's it... that's the entire point.

Skinner in comparison... his worst playoff GA that I can think of off the top of my head were a similar puck playing event, but at least on that one he had the excuse of his stick breaking, and last nights lazy/wilting attempt to look around a screen on a very flukey shot. Bad goals, to be sure, but not as bad as the above. The problem with Skinner isn't "terrible goals every night", it's "never makes the big saves" he doesn't make a lot of mistakes, he just isn't that good. Different goalies, different problems.

worst goal I've never witnessed live...the entire arena was in shock that went in...how the f*** do you let in a goal from centre ice lol
luckily Nuge saved his ass and we can laugh but that could've been a series turner

also cost us Game 1 against LA that same year with his atrocious puck handling, giving up the winner with like 4 minutes to go...never seen a goalie so hot and cold in my life

 

[KCC]

Woodcroft bet his career on Stu and lost.

Makes me wonder why Knob is doing the same.

At this point it has to be management. There is no way Stu deserves the start let alone another start in this league. He's an AHL level goalie with his numbers, terrible lateral movement, soft goals and rebound control. Pickard is better than him in every aspect of the position yet he continues to get cast aside because even the new management can't cut ties with this guy.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Uhhh no. Compare their stats. This is a terrible take. This bias and hatred of Arvidsson is disgusting

I see you adopted a new puppy.