Post-Game Talk: Below average goaltending + below average finishing + below average defense = ugly losses

[Louis Cypher]

Let’s say you’re right and JJ/SB aren’t fans of the goaltending, I don’t understand why changes are not being made.

Guess it comes down to why Dustin Schwartz is still here? Is he close with Katz?

If they change the goalies I'm think Schwartz goes then. Skinner is already a headcase. Swapping his coach out mid season would probably break him even more.

 

[North]

Let’s say you’re right and JJ/SB aren’t fans of the goaltending, I don’t understand why changes are not being made.

Guess it comes down to why Dustin Schwartz is still here? Is he close with Katz?

Yeah that’s the other thing, we need to punt Schwartz in the offseason.

 

[Lacaar]

Man I hate to bring this up but Knoblauch is approaching 150 regular season games coached for this team.

Jay Woodcroft lasted 133 games.
Dave Tippet 171 games.

They can't seriously be tuning the f***ing coach out again can they?

This team couldn't score a goal on most AHL goalies. Never seen so many chances absolutely pissed down the drain. It's not a couple of players. It's the whole f***ing team. Even Leon butchers some prime gimme shots.

I think the forwards get off way to easy and I've been saying it all year. They make every goalie look like Hasek.

Skinner wasn't great.. But neither were the forwards. 2 goals doesn't cut it. 2 goals on thirty plus shots and 5 posts/crossbars. doesn't cut it.
BE BETTER Oiler forwards because collectively you guys are sucking massive balls in this stretch.

 

[McTonyBrar]

Man I hate to bring this up but Knoblauch is approaching 150 regular season games coached for this team.

Jay Woodcroft lasted 133 games.
Dave Tippet 171 games.

They can't seriously be tuning the f***ing coach out again can they?

This team couldn't score a goal on most AHL goalies. Never seen so many chances absolutely pissed down the drain. It's not a couple of players. It's the whole f***ing team. Even Leon butchers some prime gimme shots.

I think the forwards get off way to easy and I've been saying it all year. They make every goalie look like Hasek.

Skinner wasn't great.. But neither were the forwards. 2 goals doesn't cut it. 2 goals on thirty plus shots and 5 posts/crossbars. doesn't cut it.
BE BETTER Oiler forwards because collectively you guys are sucking massive balls in this stretch.

I think our forwards were okay. We did hit 4-5 posts. It's the way Knoblauch utilizes our team and that, in my opinion is our issue outside of the net.

KK keeps changing up lines over and over again to the point where some lines can't even gain chemistry. We can't have that happen. I know people hate Arvidsson but He was great against Dallas.

He made one mistake last game (which shouldn't even matter since it was on that first goal. That was 100% on Skinner) and Knoblauch puts Brown with Leon.

I am sorry but Leon and Arvidsson have a better chance of scoring when playing together than Leon And Brown

 

[bucks_oil]

View attachment 991231
Dustin Schwartz goaltending masterpiece in a nutshell.

Skinner f***ing sucks

@McAsuno ... I know you are just meming around here, but you might as well criticize the worst goals... that one wasn't even that bad from a fundamentals and "error" perspective.

The 1st goal was ATTROCIOUS rebound control, like "I'd be mad at myself in beer-league" horrible. Even after giving up a bad rebound he misjudged his own ability to corral it... using only his stick when if he was in trouble (he was) he should have dove out, blocker, stick and glove to corral it. That was just inexcusable... trying to be too routine because he didn't recognize just how badly he muffed the first shot.

The 2nd goal (Tuch's blocker side one) was also terrible... Skinner completely misread who the pass was going to... he slid to the far, far side and went down, when all along the pass was going central slot. I mean holy-F... he wasn't even screened on the pass, he just didn't watch WHERE the pass was going. Another major tactical error which shows a huge lack of concentration.

At least on the above goal he made a full (albeit off-balance) effort. He was trying to poke check which is why he ends up on his face. I don't have a particular beef with this goal.. if it were me I might have actually LUNGED with the stick (ie change grip to slide hand up to the shaft, let the stick do the work) rather than lunging with only my arm... but many younger goalies don't really have that skill (a proper poke check) in their repertoire.... If he had let the stick do the work, he would have kept his balance and still left himself "an out" of extending his right leg as Tage tries to tuck it around him. The full lunge with his arm was both an overcommitment (body) and under commitment (stick) at the same time... but at least he read the play well and fully committed to the play. You'd correct this in practice by tweaking "save selection" rather than scold him for attention to detail. On that basis, the first two goals were far worse.

 

[Bring Back Bucky]

Put RNH on a milk carton - believe they said on the broadcast one goal in his last 14 games. Guy has done NOTHING this year. He should be off PP1

This team really seems to think that they can just flip the switch come playoffs and it will all be fine.

Skinner sucks and nobody can score on Leon's line.

Yeah I wonder if Jeff Skinner has ever scored goals….. he should also be in Nuge’s spot on pp1. Our favourites get rewarded incessantly in spite of failing over and over and over.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

I think our forwards were okay. We did hit 4-5 posts. It's the way Knoblauch utilizes our team and that, in my opinion is our issue outside of the net.

KK keeps changing up lines over and over again to the point where some lines can't even gain chemistry. We can't have that happen. I know people hate Arvidsson but He was great against Dallas.

He made one mistake last game (which shouldn't even matter since it was on that first goal. That was 100% on Skinner) and Knoblauch puts Brown with Leon.

I am sorry but Leon and Arvidsson have a better chance of scoring when playing together than Leon And Brown

The lack of finish has to be more than coaching at this point. This has been an issue all season long. You never, ever see the depth guys step up and contribute more than the requisite one goal every 10 games or so. This is a team that should be tearing these weaker teams apart but... 2 goals against the Sabres, 2 goals against the Ducks, 3 goals against the Flyers...

This team's game plan is the same as it always was: Let McDavid and Draisatl carry the team while the rest of the players do nothing.

 

[K1984]

Another game where this team made the other teams goalie look like a superstar.

Very sloppy and loose defensively.
Far too often this team plays like it just doesnt care enough to commit to playing defence.
Just a nightmare to watch...especially Bouchard. I know he scored but he is becoming one of the most unreliable D men on this team at crucial points in the game.
Why Knoblauch keeps playing him against the other teams best players is beyond me.
Thompson owned his ass in this game.

Stu was bad tonight. All over the place.

I would like to give the team the benefit of the doubt and suggest that this game had trouble written all over after that emotional game against Dallas.
I cant though. They need to start acting like a contending team more consistently.

Lastly...if Connor wants to be pissed then he should watch the game tape and see how many times he made a high risk low reward pass. He went from being brilliant against Dallas to being sloppy and mostly disinterested just 2 days later against one of the worst teams in the League.

I can't help but shake my head at the "HE'S GONNA WEAVE BWECAUSE OF THE GOALIE!" commentary.

It isn't like he's been lighting it up in spite of the netminder. He chased the puck and lost his man on the 3rd goal, was a turnover factory, mismanaged the puck as bad as anyone, and refused to shoot when we were looking to tie it.

If he actually thinks this way (and I'm dead certain he doesn't), that doesn't reflect well on him. Especially considering how he's playing. Seeing people here cheerleading it is f***ing ridiculous.

 

[TB12]

what 'internal metrics' could they be using to say that Skinner and Picard don't need to be upgraded?

California Closets / 60

 

[NegativeNelly]

If they change the goalies I'm think Schwartz goes then. Skinner is already a headcase. Swapping his coach out mid season would probably break him even more.

You mean it can get worse?

 

[K1984]

Man I hate to bring this up but Knoblauch is approaching 150 regular season games coached for this team.

Jay Woodcroft lasted 133 games.
Dave Tippet 171 games.

They can't seriously be tuning the f***ing coach out again can they?

This team couldn't score a goal on most AHL goalies. Never seen so many chances absolutely pissed down the drain. It's not a couple of players. It's the whole f***ing team. Even Leon butchers some prime gimme shots.

I think the forwards get off way to easy and I've been saying it all year. They make every goalie look like Hasek.

Skinner wasn't great.. But neither were the forwards. 2 goals doesn't cut it. 2 goals on thirty plus shots and 5 posts/crossbars. doesn't cut it.
BE BETTER Oiler forwards because collectively you guys are sucking massive balls in this stretch.

For me the posts, missed open nets, etc aren't a "aw shucks puck luck!" thing, its an indicator of a lack of focus and detail.

We justifiably rip players like Bouchard for detail f*** ups defending, that's exactly what the missed shots are, just on the offensive side of the puck. Lack of focus, lack of detail, overthinking, etc. The same things are causing issues on both sides of the puck, one side of it just doesn't get the credit for it. This isn't the first game of it either, we had a bunch early against the Stars too. Basically any game that we tilt the ice in a good way is counter acted by pretty much the entire roster (including Leon at times) totally incapable of actually putting it in. Always "aw shucks, the goalie" or "aw shucks the post!" After a while it stops being a coincidence or bad luck.

Said it earlier, but we need to control what we can control. We can't control the goalie, but we can control shooting the puck in wide open f***ing nets like every other team in the league manages to do. We can control not throwing the puck around at the blue line creating a slog of rush chances against. We just choose not to do these things, then wonder why we lose.

 

[CrazyJoeDavola]

Terrible rebound control on that first goal by Stu but WTF was Bouchard doing?
Another leisurely skate back into his own zone watching Thompson go in on net and score on the rebound.
Elite.

Guy is sad that he lost his three BFFs in the summer, and is playing like someone that just doesnt give a shit anymore. When was the last time he set up someone in the o zone? He just hits shinpads now. Can't walk a blueline.

He's our Pettersson. Except we have a chance to not sign him to an albatross conty. I would flip him for Dobson in a heartbeat, although I'm not sure NYI would even entertain it.

 

[GMofOilers]

Man I hate to bring this up but Knoblauch is approaching 150 regular season games coached for this team.

Jay Woodcroft lasted 133 games.
Dave Tippet 171 games.

They can't seriously be tuning the f***ing coach out again can they?

This team couldn't score a goal on most AHL goalies. Never seen so many chances absolutely pissed down the drain. It's not a couple of players. It's the whole f***ing team. Even Leon butchers some prime gimme shots.

I think the forwards get off way to easy and I've been saying it all year. They make every goalie look like Hasek.

Skinner wasn't great.. But neither were the forwards. 2 goals doesn't cut it. 2 goals on thirty plus shots and 5 posts/crossbars. doesn't cut it.
BE BETTER Oiler forwards because collectively you guys are sucking massive balls in this stretch.

They have to score 4 or 5 a game just to get a point.

This is solely on goaltending!

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

For me the posts, missed open nets, etc aren't a "aw shucks puck luck!" thing, its an indicator of a lack of focus and detail.

We justifiably rip players like Bouchard for detail f*** ups defending, that's exactly what the missed shots are, just on the offensive side of the puck. Lack of focus, lack of detail, overthinking, etc. The same things are causing issues on both sides of the puck, one side of it just doesn't get the credit for it. This isn't the first game of it either, we had a bunch early against the Stars too. Basically any game that we tilt the ice in a good way is counter acted by pretty much the entire roster (including Leon at times) totally incapable of actually putting it in. Always "aw shucks, the goalie" or "aw shucks the post!" After a while it stops being a coincidence or bad luck.

Said it earlier, but we need to control what we can control. We can't control the goalie, but we can control shooting the puck in wide open f***ing nets like every other team in the league manages to do. We can control not throwing the puck around at the blue line creating a slog of rush chances against. We just choose not to do these things, then wonder why we lose.

I was watching the Caps play the Wings over a week ago and they were trailing going into the third period and they just seemed to score at will. Meanwhile this team has to work their tails off just to get one and I don't understand.

 

[brentashton]

Can't blame the guy. Gretzky and Messier didn't have to carry the team every night. The supporting cast and the goaltending was strong.

Agreed. Not blaming him at all. This line up has too many weak links for 2 people to carry every game.

 

[North]

Guy is sad that he lost his three BFFs in the summer, and is playing like someone that just doesnt give a shit anymore. When was the last time he set up someone in the o zone? He just hits shinpads now. Can't walk a blueline.

He's our Pettersson. Except we have a chance to not sign him to an albatross conty. I would flip him for Dobson in a heartbeat, although I'm not sure NYI would even entertain it.

His offense might make it palatable to the Islanders.

He still has 51 points which I believe would make him the Isles leading scorer.

 

[Echodek]

So the game was winnable until Skinner decided to do the worm??

 

[K1984]

Guy is sad that he lost his three BFFs in the summer, and is playing like someone that just doesnt give a shit anymore. When was the last time he set up someone in the o zone? He just hits shinpads now. Can't walk a blueline.

He's our Pettersson. Except we have a chance to not sign him to an albatross conty. I would flip him for Dobson in a heartbeat, although I'm not sure NYI would even entertain it.

I was dead set against the idea of trading Bouchard even in spite of his atrocious play this year, but I'm starting to change my mind if it means a different type of quality defender and maybe something else of value somewhere else on the roster is coming back.

We have way too many of the Bouchard personality and always have. It's why we do this every year. We need to change how we build the team from a personality perspective. Bouchard and Nuge are the poster boys of it, but there are more. Our best players slip into this mode too. Need to start working to tip the scales and get players that play with a bit of spine instead of the dumb p***yes that get pushed out of any game they don't feel like working too hard in.

Dobson + Sorokin or something like that for Bouchard and other stuff. Start fresh and kill two birds with one stone.

 

[Shanahanigans]

Man I hate to bring this up but Knoblauch is approaching 150 regular season games coached for this team.

Jay Woodcroft lasted 133 games.
Dave Tippet 171 games.

They can't seriously be tuning the f***ing coach out again can they?

This team couldn't score a goal on most AHL goalies. Never seen so many chances absolutely pissed down the drain. It's not a couple of players. It's the whole f***ing team. Even Leon butchers some prime gimme shots.

I think the forwards get off way to easy and I've been saying it all year. They make every goalie look like Hasek.

Skinner wasn't great.. But neither were the forwards. 2 goals doesn't cut it. 2 goals on thirty plus shots and 5 posts/crossbars. doesn't cut it.
BE BETTER Oiler forwards because collectively you guys are sucking massive balls in this stretch.

Podkolzin was in the AHL last year. Max Jones spent the last year between the AHL and NHL and his career high is 9 goals. Kapanen was put on waivers by first the Penguins and then the Blues before we claimed him. Brown and Janmark both scored 4 goals each last year playing basically the full season, worse than regular 4th line level. Arvidsson’s body fell off a cliff after injuries and LA moved on. Henrique is 35 and got demolished at centre last year. The forward core is not underperforming, this is who they are and who they’ve been. We have no real pro scouts and it shows.

 

[K1984]

I was watching the Caps play the Wings over a week ago and they were trailing going into the third period and they just seemed to score at will. Meanwhile this team has to work their tails off just to get one and I don't understand.

Pretty much every team other than us is capable of bearing down and pushing for goals. Especially against bad teams. Outnumber defenders down low, pucks on net, bodies in front, volume shooting. Unsurprisingly, these universally followed tactics usually result in goals, especially when it's a good team against a bad one.

Here? Still the same p***y, turnover filled perimeter bullshit. Nobody will take a shot unless its been flipped around the umbrella a half dozen times (usually at high risk of turnover) and our two main playmakers on the ice are focused exclusively on forcing pucks through 8 players to Leon for a one timer. It's so f***ing stupid, but nobody seems to recognize it.

 

[North]

Pretty much every team other than us is capable of bearing down and pushing for goals. Especially against bad teams. Outnumber defenders down low, pucks on net, bodies in front, volume shooting. Unsurprisingly, these universally followed tactics usually result in goals, especially when it's a good team against a bad one.

Here? Still the same p***y, turnover filled perimeter bullshit. Nobody will take a shot unless its been flipped around the umbrella a half dozen times (usually at high risk of turnover) and our two main playmakers on the ice are focused exclusively on forcing pucks through 8 players to Leon for a one timer. It's so f***ing stupid, but nobody seems to recognize it.

They’re trying to be too pretty instead of scoring the effing goal.

 

[K1984]

They’re trying to be too pretty instead of scoring the effing goal.

Draisaitl's shot is quickly becoming more of a curse than a blessing. At the moment it's pretty much the only option we shoot on with a power play or goalie pulled.

Smart, proactive coaches would take him out of that position so that it forces his teammates to not be f***ing stupid, but it doesn't appear to be in the cards. If he started in the slot, or the other side of the ice and rotated into the spot it would be miles more effective. Instead he just parks there and we wonder why it doesn't work.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Pretty much every team other than us is capable of bearing down and pushing for goals. Especially against bad teams. Outnumber defenders down low, pucks on net, bodies in front, volume shooting. Unsurprisingly, these universally followed tactics usually result in goals, especially when it's a good team against a bad one.

Here? Still the same p***y, turnover filled perimeter bullshit. Nobody will take a shot unless its been flipped around the umbrella a half dozen times (usually at high risk of turnover) and our two main playmakers on the ice are focused exclusively on forcing pucks through 8 players to Leon for a one timer. It's so f***ing stupid, but nobody seems to recognize it.

Everyone knows the play is the Drai one-timer on the PP.

Or to cycle for 2 minutes and let Nurse take a hopeless unscreened wrist shot from the point. This team has no offensive creativity, and no depth scoring for what feels like the 8th year in a row.

This year's team is nothing like the one that went to the Cup Final last year. I frequently watch highlights from the run and that team would clown this one easily. Almost the entire roster has regressed and nothing was done to mitigate that.

 

[Bumblebee Man]

J Skin hit a bar, got a couple good scoring chances, drove the dmen a couple times and had 2 key forechecks that kicked off 2 great chances.

Why in the hell is Nuge on McDs wing every nite?

 

[Bumblebee Man]

Draisaitl's shot is quickly becoming more of a curse than a blessing. At the moment it's pretty much the only option we shoot on with a power play or goalie pulled.

Smart, proactive coaches would take him out of that position so that it forces his teammates to not be f***ing stupid, but it doesn't appear to be in the cards. If he started in the slot, or the other side of the ice and rotated into the spot it would be miles more effective. Instead he just parks there and we wonder why it doesn't work.

Have you not watched games? He's started on the other side quit a few times the last few games.

Also, his spot isn't a problem at all. See OV and Stamkos for examples.

Currently the biggest issue i would say is Nuge. He loses alot of battles and retrievals. He always back passes to Bouchard or slides it to McD goaline.

He needs to shoot more, hit Drai on a cross pass or the most important, shoot at Hyman far post.

Why is McD the only one who makes that shot to Hyman or that pass to Leon?

Nuge had 2 wide open passes to Leon yesterday and deferred it both times