Pre-Game Talk: Final Game 3. Best of 5. 1 new Pole.

[Shanahanigans]

In 2022 the Avs feasted on the Nurse pair, in 2023 the Golden Knights killed the Nurse pair which lost us the series, last year they were caved and we had to stabilize him with a rookie in Broberg, and in 2025 Nurse is being caved again. I do not want this player on my team. I don’t care how good he is in the room. Kulak was a playoff monster the last 3 years and his game falls apart the instant he has to play with Nurse. He’s being exposed and if we lose the series, you can bet his minutes will be a big reason why.

 

[TopShelfGloveSide]

Can't see us taking a game in Florida and expect us to be back down 3 games to 1 here. There is almost no difference between the teams. Moneypuck had both games at 60-62% chance of Edmonton deserving to win. When you include the inherit home ice advantage, that is basically a toss up statistically. Both games going to OT also shows this pretty clearly. With Florida having home ice, we are going to have to dramatically increase our play, get a bunch of puck luck in one of the games, or hope that Skinner steals a game for us. Basically if we play like we have been playing, we aren't going to win a game down there.

This will age like milk like your sad sack LA series posts.

 

[redgrant]

I can't believe the doomsayers. We have been a dominant 13 and 3 if you take out the first two awful games where Knob made his adjustments.

I'm hopeful one good thing to come from a loss is some tinkering with the lineup.

This is a team that gets better as series goes on, had the two best players in the game and are facing a team only comfortable rolling 3 lines and 2 pairs of d.

Hit Bob hard and their one advantage is gone. We have the better tandem of goalies. They don't.

 

[McShogun99]

Florida will be matching Barkov against Mcdavid all game with last change. Instead of giving Mcdavid the best wingers give him defensively responsible wingers and just keep that matchup even 5x5 and try to win the other ones. Draisaitl will need size and speed on his wings since his line will probably be up against the Bennet line. It’s a bit of a blender but I’d consider something like this.

Podz-Mcdavid-Brown
Kane-Draisaitl-Arvidsson
Rico-RNH-Kapanen
Skinner-Janmark-Perry

Ekholm-Bouchard
Nurse-Stecher
Walman-Kulak

Or go 11-7, remove one of Skinner or Kapanen and put in Klingberg.

 

[McJadeddog]

Kind of crazy people think that saying “we have to play better to win, have puck luck or have a goalie steal a game” is a bad take. Like, the series is tied and both games went to OT, the series is obviously close. It’s going to stay close unless something changes, this isn’t rocket science

 

[PitkanensGitch]

Kind of crazy people think that saying “we have to play better to win, have puck luck or have a goalie steal a game” is a bad take. Like, the series is tied and both games went to OT, the series is obviously close. It’s going to stay close unless something changes, this isn’t rocket science

I think a lot of people are worried that Florida’s entire top 6 has been bad, coupled with the inevitable Skinner meltdown.

If any of their top guys besides Marchand and Bennett get going, we’re in big trouble. Our stars are all going gangbusters and we’re still 1-1 in the closest hockey possible. Lots can get worse for us and a lot more can get better for them.

 

[rboomercat90]

This pole looks a lot like the ballot in the Carleton riding.

 

[redgrant]

Florida will be matching Barkov against Mcdavid all game with last change. Instead of giving Mcdavid the best wingers give him defensively responsible wingers and just keep that matchup even 5x5 and try to win the other ones. Draisaitl will need size and speed on his wings since his line will probably be up against the Bennet line. It’s a bit of a blender but I’d consider something like this.

Podz-Mcdavid-Brown
Kane-Draisaitl-Arvidsson
Rico-RNH-Kapanen
Skinner-Janmark-Perry

Ekholm-Bouchard
Nurse-Stecher
Walman-Kulak

Or go 11-7, remove one of Skinner or Kapanen and put in Klingberg.

Mcdavid has dominated barkov for 2 years. He got a vagina tear on that drai goal. Hell knob is sending him out with last change at home.

I agree with stecher but your winger combos just arnt going to happen.

 

[redgrant]

I think a lot of people are worried that Florida’s entire top 6 has been bad, coupled with the inevitable Skinner meltdown.

If any of their top guys besides Marchand and Bennett get going, we’re in big trouble. Our stars are all going gangbusters and we’re still 1-1 in the closest hockey possible. Lots can get worse for us and a lot more can get better for them.

I like to think we've already seen the Skinner meltdown last game.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

This pole looks a lot like the ballot in the Carleton riding.

Yes but you get 3 votes!

 

[lopper]

Any update on Ekblad injury? Time for the Oil to put on their big boy pants and grind out a game 3 win. I truly believe if they win game 3 they will win the series.

 

[Snipesaitl]

Kane - McDavid - Brown

RNH - Draisaitl - Perry

Skinner - Henrique - Kapanen

Podkolzin - Janmark - Arvidsson


Kane works better with McDavid and vice versa with RNH and Draisaitl. Brown’s played with McDavid before and he can provide that defensive presence that Nuge usually does. Henrique getting a bit more speed on his wing should help. Florida’s third line has far outmatched ours but I like our fourth line way better than theirs especially since their coach doesn’t seem to trust them that much, keep them together.

Jeff Skinner needs to play, with all the chances we had in overtime having one more player who’s shown a history of being able to score when he gets his looks might have been the difference especially with Hyman’s absence.

Frederic is the least effective forward at this point with a post concussion Brown being not far behind. To me Frederic looks a lot like Brown after his injury last season but Brown had an entire season to get up to speed before catching fire later in the playoffs while Frederic hasn’t had that time. Should we resign him I think we’ll see the player we expected next season but he isn’t bringing nearly enough right now.

I doubt Knob will scratch him though, they value his forecheck and physicality even though he’s a complete black hole offensively at the moment. IMO we can afford to trade some physical play with adding some scoring with Skinner. We already sent the message to Florida that we can roll around in the dirt with them should they choose to play that game unlike all the soft teams they bulldozed through in the East. Our toughness doesn’t come from one or two players but rather a pack mentality where no matter who is on the ice we always get involved physically.


Kulak - Bouchard

Nurse - Ekholm

Walman - Klingberg

Reuniting Stetcher and Nurse makes the most sense but I think no matter what the team sees the current 6D as the strongest they can ice and they would rather put up with playing someone on their offside than in their eyes having a better D sitting in the press box.

Walman - Klingberg has been our one consistent pairing that’s played well so I’d rather not mess with that. Kulak has played well with Bouchard in Ekholm’s abscence and no doubt Ek will be less effective on his offside but Kulak has seen a sharp drop off since the switch and I feel Ekholm has the smarts, poise and patience to do well in that spot compared to our other lefties. Nurse getting scratched is complete fantasy, the coaching staff has never once shown that they’ve considered doing that even when his play warrants it.

 

[RevengeOfTheDrai]

Can't see us taking a game in Florida and expect us to be back down 3 games to 1 here. There is almost no difference between the teams. Moneypuck had both games at 60-62% chance of Edmonton deserving to win. When you include the inherit home ice advantage, that is basically a toss up statistically. Both games going to OT also shows this pretty clearly. With Florida having home ice, we are going to have to dramatically increase our play, get a bunch of puck luck in one of the games, or hope that Skinner steals a game for us. Basically if we play like we have been playing, we aren't going to win a game down there.

So much doomerism after one loss is kinda crazy. Down 2-0 and losing in game three against LA was a much tougher position. Anything can be overcome.

 

[Oilhawks]

So much doomerism after one loss is kinda crazy. Down 2-0 and losing in game three against LA was a much tougher position. Anything can be overcome.

Lots of posters doing mental gymnastics to come up with the worst case scenario, as if it was a certainty. Ignore list has grown

 

[Senor Catface]

Kind of crazy people think that saying “we have to play better to win, have puck luck or have a goalie steal a game” is a bad take. Like, the series is tied and both games went to OT, the series is obviously close. It’s going to stay close unless something changes, this isn’t rocket science

I think they're just LAUGHING at your posts because you're the same guy who said the Oilers would likely get swept against the Kings.

 

[Niten Ichi Ryu]

Neutral fans are almost in unison saying this series is already one of the best finals of all time, with last year's final in the same breath
The first regular season meeting this season, the first game after game 7, it was another high scoring 11 goal thriller. Panthers up 2-1 after the first, Oilers score 3 unanswered in the 2nd, then Panthers follow it up with 3 straight of their own

When these two teams face each other, it's the most exciting hockey in the modern era. High scoring, unpredictable, muscle to muscle, huge momentum swings and just pure entertainment

From our perspective, this was the best match up possible for a potential McCup. Game 1 had more than 3 times the viewers it had than last season; and last season's game 1 was the most watched SCF game 1 since 2016 (Crosby). This finals has already proven to be the full package: 16 goals in two games, extremely physical affair, unrelenting pressure from both teams resulting in an unbelievable pace, and with the best players in the world.

It was never going to be easy, not against the defending Champions; but stay the course comrades, soak it all in, both the wins and losses. This is the time we've been waiting for our entire lives. It's unfolding right now, and it's beautiful hockey. McDavid will not be denied this year

Game 3, Monday

 

[Fishy McScales]

Can't see us taking a game in Florida and expect us to be back down 3 games to 1 here. There is almost no difference between the teams. Moneypuck had both games at 60-62% chance of Edmonton deserving to win. When you include the inherit home ice advantage, that is basically a toss up statistically. Both games going to OT also shows this pretty clearly. With Florida having home ice, we are going to have to dramatically increase our play, get a bunch of puck luck in one of the games, or hope that Skinner steals a game for us. Basically if we play like we have been playing, we aren't going to win a game down there.

This doesn't make sense. If the Oilers have had a 60% chance to win both games, shouldn't they have excellent chances at getting at least a split considering home ice is a relatively small advantage and Florida's home record is significantly worse than their road record?

 

[MessierThanThou]

I think the answer to the Lundell line may be putting RNH at 3C and moving players around the lineup accordingly. We have the luxury of three centers, why not use that to our advantage, especially with Florida getting last change.

I remember Kane-RNH-Hyman being one of our best lines for a stretch. Maybe Kane-RNH-Kapanen could see similar results?

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

Curlock wrote to change the bottom 2 D pairs putting Klingberg w Kulak and Nurse w Walman. He is pretty good at his analysis and it makes sense to me.

 

[Fishy McScales]

Curlock wrote to change the bottom 2 D pairs putting Klingberg w Kulak and Nurse w Walman. He is pretty good at his analysis and it makes sense to me.

Definitely worth a try but I think unless Walman fires a puck in Nurse's head it won't change much.

The Cats are exploiting his indecisiveness.

 

[McBigYak]

In 2022 the Avs feasted on the Nurse pair, in 2023 the Golden Knights killed the Nurse pair which lost us the series, last year they were caved and we had to stabilize him with a rookie in Broberg, and in 2025 Nurse is being caved again. I do not want this player on my team. I don’t care how good he is in the room. Kulak was a playoff monster the last 3 years and his game falls apart the instant he has to play with Nurse. He’s being exposed and if we lose the series, you can bet his minutes will be a big reason why.

He was absolutely brutal last game. Looks like a guy who is playing with no confidence. He wants the puck off his stick as soon as it touches it. So many brutal chips, unnecessary icings.

It is a shame too because his regular season was just outstanding.

 

[Bring Back Bucky]

Skinner Connor Perry
Kane Drai. Kapanen
Podz Nuge Arvi Janmark Henrique Brown

Rotate the right wingers around depending kn whose feet are moving and keep Perry legs fresh.

 

[frag2]

Lots of posters doing mental gymnastics to come up with the worst case scenario, as if it was a certainty. Ignore list has grown

Really the weakest link on the team, aside from general fatigue, is Nurse

Limit his use and Oilers should be ok. And this coming from someone who felt Stu was by far the biggest problem all season.

 

[frag2]

Curlock wrote to change the bottom 2 D pairs putting Klingberg w Kulak and Nurse w Walman. He is pretty good at his analysis and it makes sense to me.

You just gotta limit Nurse. He’s like beyond fixable at this point.

Bowman has to find a way to punt him even if we win the cup.

 

[McFlash97]

Just dont shit the bed for an entire period would be a start. Just disgusting hockey in both games literally handing Florida the game in the second.