Pre-Game Talk: Final Game 5. Who starts? Obvious Pole question.

[brentashton]

Going to game 5 with my wife. She's Swiss and it will be her first ever playoff game.

I'm trying to prepare her mentally for what the atmosphere is going to be like. She has no idea!

Tell her it’s like the crowds watching World Cup ski races at Crans-Montana but more people, more cowbells and more alcohol.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

Tell her it’s like the crowds watching World Cup ski races at Crans-Montana but more people, more cowbells and more alcohol.

Waaaaay more alcohol.

 

[McDoused]

It's Pickards net for sure.

I voted Skinner though only because big picture I think he gives them a better chance in games 6 and 7. Skinner at home for game 5 would be a much better situation for Skinner than coming back to Florida for game 6.

 

[I am the Liquor]

Neither Jackson, Bowman nor Knoblach were involved with the Oilers when this happened. They are not tied to that event. Whatever the obsession is with Skinner by current management it has nothing to do with not selecting Wallstedt.

Dustin Schwartz

 

[Wreckus]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calg...r-sale-because-he-cheers-for-oilers-1.7559794

 

[Heavy Dee]

This on Skinner. Pickard needs to start.

 

[DrDrai]

Skinner didn't play bad at all the he actually had a few big saves. But I think the players play a lot harder for Pickard then they do Skinner. It's even obvious in all the interviews the way they talk about Pickard vs the way they talk about Skinner. Knob has to see that it's plain as focking day

One of the biggest things I know in every players interview they really emphasize how Pickard always makes that key save when needed. Its a slight poke at Skinner imo

Ya its very apparent they like him.

Even the Panthers players made mention of him in post game stuff, I think he was in their heads a bit.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Tough call, honestly don't know.

But they can't play another period like that first period in game 4. They won't come back next time. I mean, maybe they will but it's not a good idea to leave it to chance.

How the hell is it a tough call.

Pickard is 7-0 in playoffs and playing great and making great stops.

Skinner is .500 in the playoffs and would be lower than that except for all the times Pickard turns around a game stopping everything coming at him.

Skinner is so poorly suited to play Panthers this should be indelible to anybody. You'd have to be trying not to see it, to not see it, and its what you're doing.

It should've been Pickard in game 3. It should have been Pickard starting in game 4. Its beyond the pale anybody would start Skinner in game 5 when he hasn't had a good game yet in final and his stats and play are abysmal.

 

[Drivesaitl]

This on Skinner. Pickard needs to start.

The Wrath of Khan. Sounds like some of the posters here. NEVER Skinners fault.

 

[soothsayer]

How the hell is it a tough call.

Pickard is 7-0 in playoffs and playing great and making great stops.

Skinner is .500 in the playoffs and would be lower than that except for all the times Pickard turns around a game stopping everything coming at him.

Skinner is so poorly suited to play Panthers this should be indelible to anybody. You'd have to be trying not to see it, to not see it, and its what you're doing.

It should've been Pickard in game 3. It should have been Pickard starting in game 4. Its beyond the pale anybody would start Skinner in game 5 when he hasn't had a good game yet in final and his stats and play are abysmal.

I think there is a zero percent chance Skinner starts game 5. I also think it's worth noting that the only reason Pickard "lost" the net back to Skinner was because Pickard got hurt. Pickard has proven himself; he can win the cup.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

How the hell is it a tough call.

Pickard is 7-0 in playoffs and playing great and making great stops.

Skinner is .500 in the playoffs and would be lower than that except for all the times Pickard turns around a game stopping everything coming at him.

Skinner is so poorly suited to play Panthers this should be indelible to anybody. You'd have to be trying not to see it, to not see it, and its what you're doing.

It should've been Pickard in game 3. It should have been Pickard starting in game 4. Its beyond the pale anybody would start Skinner in game 5 when he hasn't had a good game yet in final and his stats and play are abysmal.

The Panthers backed off after the first period. They had it in their heads the game was over. Rookie mistake. But the Oilers played terribly with multiple stupid penalties and turnovers.

Pickard played great, but I hope he buys Ekholm a steak dinner for preventing a sure goal.

 

[Duder54]

I'm in town until the day after the potential game 7. Starting to think it might be a good idea to secure some tickets for game 7 in advance...

For those with experience - did prices for game 6 last year drop closer to game day, or would it be wise to try and grab what I can now before game 7 becomes official??

What's the best (and most secure) platform to buy tickets from? (Ticketmaster? FansFirst? something else?)

Thanks!

 

[Drivesaitl]

The Panthers backed off after the first period. They had it in their heads the game was over. Rookie mistake. But the Oilers played terribly with multiple stupid penalties and turnovers.

Pickard played great, but I hope he buys Ekholm a steak dinner for preventing a sure goal.

You just refuse to give the Oilers any credit ever. The Oilers took the game in 2nd period from puck drop. In that period forced their will. Teams are good enough and even enough that in the momentum sport of hockey both can own periods in this series. The Panthers, 3X time finalists are not making "rookie mistakes" they're facing a team with generational superstars that nobody has been able to solve.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

You just refuse to give the Oilers any credit ever. The Oilers took the game in 2nd period from puck drop. In that period forced their will. Teams are good enough and even enough that in the momentum sport of hockey both can own periods in this series. The Panthers, 3X time finalists are not making "rookie mistakes" they're facing a team with generational superstars that nobody has been able to solve.

They deserve credit for bouncing back, but it's also true that the Panthers backed off instead of finishing the job. Both things can be true. They already blew a lead once this series, was very surprised they did it again.

Every team makes mistakes, even that one. They're not infallible, especially in Florida. We aren't either. The Oilers need to cut out some of the crap that's getting them in trouble like the dumb penalties.

 

[MessierThanThou]

How the hell is it a tough call.

Pickard is 7-0 in playoffs and playing great and making great stops.

Skinner is .500 in the playoffs and would be lower than that except for all the times Pickard turns around a game stopping everything coming at him.

Skinner is so poorly suited to play Panthers this should be indelible to anybody. You'd have to be trying not to see it, to not see it, and its what you're doing.

It should've been Pickard in game 3. It should have been Pickard starting in game 4. Its beyond the pale anybody would start Skinner in game 5 when he hasn't had a good game yet in final and his stats and play are abysmal.

Yeah, Skinner lost the job with his performance in Game 3 and that was one total implosion too many for me. If this was his first game like that, sure, but in every single team loss in these playoffs Skinner has performed poorly.

You can't have a game like that in the Finals, I don't care how bad the team in front of you plays. For as good as his stats might look, game 3 was a reminder that Skinner's ability to lose us games on his own is always a looming threat. Even if the team did show up, how the hell could they win with a goalie rocking a .783 save percentage and -2.63 GSAx? The rest of the team playing bad doesn't absolve Stu, it just lets his defenders deflect blame from him.

I kind of saw his collapse happening based on how much OT he had played in the previous two games, given that he's never played so much hockey in such a short amount of time. Unfortunately, he's just not wired to play that much.

The Panthers backed off after the first period. They had it in their heads the game was over. Rookie mistake. But the Oilers played terribly with multiple stupid penalties and turnovers.

Pickard played great, but I hope he buys Ekholm a steak dinner for preventing a sure goal.

Only if Skinner buys Kulak a steak dinner for the same reason.

As I said before though, Skinner had a raw deal in the first, but just can't be trusted after the kind of collapse he had in Game 3, regardless of how bad the team played. He was substantially better in Game 4, but it's Pickard's net and deservedly so. Skinner's potential lows are just too risky.

 

[Drivesaitl]

They deserve credit for bouncing back, but it's also true that the Panthers backed off instead of finishing the job. Both things can be true. They already blew a lead once this series, was very surprised they did it again.

Every team makes mistakes, even that one. They're not infallible, especially in Florida. We aren't either. The Oilers need to cut out some of the crap that's getting them in trouble like the dumb penalties.

The penalties and Skinner are the major dysfunctions.

Panthers confidence started to deflate against Pickard because they realize you can't just pass across and have great chances of scoring on him. With Skinner its like you can just punch a cheat code. Several Panthers can beat Skinner regularly.

When Panthers are facing a goalie that can make stops on real HDSC they are not as confident. The converse of course is true with Oilers. When you can make an error on ice and Pickard has your back its easier to make some plays and settle into some confidence and flow.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

The penalties and Skinner are the major dysfunctions.

Panthers confidence started to deflate against Pickard because they realize you can't just pass across and have great chances of scoring on him. With Skinner its like you can just punch a cheat code. Several Panthers can beat Skinner regularly.

When Panthers are facing a goalie that can make stops on real HDSC they are not as confident. The converse of course is true with Oilers. When you can make an error on ice and Pickard has your back its easier to make some plays and settle into some confidence and flow.

Again the HDSC were 13-1 in favour of the Panthers in the first period. I don't think Pickard fares that much better in that scenario. I don't know how anyone can look at that period and think Skinner was somehow the biggest problem there.

 

[29Beast97Mode]

Guys I found Pickard's off season pic, I wasn't supposed to find this.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

Again the HDSC were 13-1 in favour of the Panthers in the first period. I don't think Pickard fares that much better in that scenario. I don't know how anyone can look at that period and think Skinner was somehow the biggest problem there.

1000%, Stu deserves grief for his play, but not last night, that was on the team overall. That said, pulling Stu was absolutely the correct call.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Again the HDSC were 13-1 in favour of the Panthers in the first period. I don't think Pickard fares that much better in that scenario. I don't know how anyone can look at that period and think Skinner was somehow the biggest problem there.

Cumulatively in rest of game Pickard faced just as many HDSC and arguably greater degree of difficulty and was air tight giving up one goal. Again Pickard made about 6 stops Skinner just doesn't get to.

Pickard wouldn't have given up 3 goals in first. He would have made stops on more of those. We've seen him do it, in the same game as well.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Cumulatively in rest of game Pickard faced just as many HDSC and arguably greater degree of difficulty and was air tight giving up one goal. Again Pickard made about 6 stops Skinner just doesn't get to.

Pickard wouldn't have given up 3 goals in first. He would have made stops on more of those. We've seen him do it, in the same game as well.

How do you know that? You get dominated that badly and... well, just see period 2. Dunno why Bob gave up three goals, one of them being horrific.

I understand the frustration with Skinner from game 3 but when you get hung out to dry like the first period last night no goalie is keeping the score even. Even the so-called amazing goalie at the other end.

 

[Little Fury]

As I said in the other thread, the GTG was largely on Pickard. Not sure if it was the pressure of the situation or what but the whole sequence started with him misreading the play and misplaying the puck.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

I'm in town until the day after the potential game 7. Starting to think it might be a good idea to secure some tickets for game 7 in advance...

For those with experience - did prices for game 6 last year drop closer to game day, or would it be wise to try and grab what I can now before game 7 becomes official??

What's the best (and most secure) platform to buy tickets from? (Ticketmaster? FansFirst? something else?)

Thanks!

If there is a G7 prices will skyrocket from wherever they are now. Get them from Ticketmaster as they are guaranteed. The fraudsters will be out in full force.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

Guys I found Pickard's off season pic, I wasn't supposed to find this.

View attachment 1049768

The guy looks weird and he needs to Pull up his pants FFS.

 

[Kamus]

I find the teams that move the puck side to side are successful against Skinner which is exactly Floridas game.