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

[BobbytheBrain]

I've got to believe knob isn't dumb enough to go back to skinner. He literally just choked in his most dominant game of a series.

He didn't choke. He was the best Oiler that period. Oilers sucked.

Picks made huge saves and they responded after.....something they didn't do on Stus saves.

I'd go with Picks ultimately but its more about the team

 

[Fishy McScales]

Skinner was hung out to dry in that 1st, but he also didn't hold the fort and bail his team out.

He doesn't get the benefit of the doubt, especially since he's been leaking on breakaways and other HDC's.

He was feeling it in the middle of the run, but now he's back to mediocre Stu. You never know which Stu you're gonna get, of course; he could bounce back and post a shutout, but it feels like Florida has him figured out.

Meanwhile Pickard is 7-0 and just backstopped the team to an unlikely comeback win.

 

[syz]

The team has always felt like it plays better in front of Pickard, as well. Think you have to start him to test that theory if nothing else.

 

[StoveTopStauffer]

I think Klingberg will draw back in and will have both gotten "the message" and some rest.

 

[TopShelfGloveSide]

He didn't choke. He was the best Oiler that period. Oilers sucked.

Picks made huge saves and they responded after.....something they didn't do on Stus saves.

I'd go with Picks ultimately but its more about the team

He was just as shit as the rest of the team.

 

[MessierThanThou]

Skinner deserved to lose the net by being inadequate in Game 2 and terrible in Game 3. He was fine in Game 4 and put in a tough spot, but he had to be Patrick f***ing Roy to save his job after the previous two games.

 

[Thomas Tatar]

1. It's only a matter of time until McDavid delivers a vintage performance. The fact it's a tied series without him potting a goal so far should scare Florida.
2. I actually thought Draisaitl got stronger as that game went on. He's still healthier than last season dealing with those broken ribs and finger(s).
3. Pickard is a good luck charm and the team plays more confidently in front of him. Bob has a major weakness that we can exploit and at 36 fatigue may become a factor.
4. Again, law of averages. This team is beyond due to have a game where they blow the doors off Florida and home ice will give them an adrenaline boost.
5. Gotta keep those sticks down. NHL refs will continue to be embarrassing but scoring on our own PP opportunities is just as important.

Manifesting a comfortable 5-1 win tomorrow before we lift the Cup in Florida in game 6. We deserve a couple of stress free games.

I would also add that Nuge finally joined the series and looked much better last game. He was dominant in Dallas. If he plays like last game that is another threat to score.

 

[MessierThanThou]

I would also add that Nuge finally joined the series and looked much better last game. He was dominant in Dallas. If he plays like last game that is another threat to score.

Yup, the Alternates ALL stepped up: Nuge, Drai, and even Nurse!

 

[HamiltonNHL]

Is it confirmed who starts ?
vegas needs to know ahead of time.

The Score said Pickard was (expected) and so was Bob.

 

[M Ace]

If Pickard starts it has the next coming of Jordan Binnington & Adin Hill written all over it!

Espacially Binnington. Blues was a complete different team in front of him opposite Jake Allen!

 

[MessierII]

Is it confirmed who starts ?
vegas needs to know ahead of time.

The Score said Pickard was (expected) and so was Bob.

Pickard is in

 

[HamiltonNHL]

Pickard is in

And The Score updated the goalie status as well

 

[Stoneman89]

That Stecher play was sooooo bad.

I may be remembering wrong but didn’t Emberson struggle with pressure in the regular season?

No kidding. How dare he flinch when taking a stick to the face.

 

[TopShelfGloveSide]

No kidding. How dare he flinch when taking a stick to the face.

He gave the puck away before getting a stick to the jibs.

 

[LiseL]

The Oilers' brass are obsessed with Skinner being the #1 guy, and giving him every possible chance imagineable. My theory is that this is a pathological response to the Campbell disaster -- Skinner kind of saved their bacon after that hairball, and now they feel if they can somehow force him into being a Cup winner or a #1 guy, then they won't all look like idiots.

Anyway, I don't think Skinner was that bad in the 1st period. The 5-on-3 goal is entirely on Nurse for creating the 5-on-3, not the goalie, and there wasn't much Skinner could do on the third one.

But it has become a real thing that the Oil always seem to play better when Pickard comes in.

Maybe start Skinner for 5 minutes, and then pull him for PIckard....? Seems to be a formula that works.

The Cats have the book on Skinner-difficulty moving laterally, a shoe-in on a breakaway. I imagine they were surprised when they tried those same moves on Pickard and he made the stops. So back to the drawing board they go. Meanwhile, the Oilers are starting to shoot top-shelf, Bob's kryptonite, so maybe they can get the 1st goal this time. When they have a lead, they play tighter defense which should result in fewer breakaways and turnovers. Can't wait for this game to start.

 

[LiseL]

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.

Wholeheartedly agree. Some are saying because Skinner faced 17 shots in the 1st period, he gets a pass on letting 3 goals in. Well Picard faced 22, including a PP and a breakaway and allowed 1 goal on the 6v5. Imagine the pressure coming in cold, down 3 goals, knowing you have to shut the door to give your team a chance to win. Yes, that last goal sucked but there where lots of mistakes made in that sequence. 3 Oilers going towards the wall, leaving the slot wide open. There's just no comparison IMO.

 

[LiseL]

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.



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.

Also can't forget that awful goal in game 2 O/T. He definitely has an issue with breakaways. I wasn't surprised by his awful play in game 3, just a continuation of game 2 O/T. Even game 1, he was just OK. If Oilers didn't get a PP, who knows how that would've ended?

 

[LiseL]

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.

And maybe get to play with a lead instead of always behind.

 

[LiseL]

I voted for Skinner, only due to the regression to the mean for 7-0 Pickard. Eventually he will have to take a lost? Maybe? lol or can he go 9-0?
If Pickard starts game 5, and he loses, then what do you do? Start Skinner for game 6 in a win or die situation in Florida is not ideal. If starting Skinner in game 5, and lose, starting Pickard in game 6 is a better fall back situation.

Skinner probably has the higher highs than Pickard, and he can steal game 5. Have him on a short leesh.

I don't see Skinner stealing a game against the Cats. They know his weaknesses + he's not very good at handling the puck which results in the Oilers having even more difficulty getting out of their zone which leads to icings or turnovers.

 

[LiseL]

Klingberg getting 5 days off will really help him. If he draws back in, I won't be too worried. Probably just needed a game off to reset things and recover.

Marchand was really quiet. Maybe he's hurt

He's 37, maybe getting low on gas. Also, his breakaways are no longer a sure thing when Pickard's in net.

 

[oobga]

He was just as shit as the rest of the team.

Didn’t like either of the first 2 goals. First one was typical low confidence skinner making no effort to find the puck. Just stands like a statue with his head stuck straight up, and drops late and prays on the eventual shot. Second one was a weak shot right in the bread basket. Somehow he fumbles the rebound and it leaks out of him perfectly sideways.

He is very much in his mode of just hoping luck will carry him through games. His technique is random and his efforts looking through traffic and second efforts is spotty as heck. It’s not good enough.

 

[LiseL]

Pickard should be the obvious choice and I do think he starts but I wouldn't bet big money on it. They love going back to Stu

Start the guy that saved your ass last game

Well, he pulled Stu against LA due to his poor play, didn't go back to him till Pickard got injured. It's not like Stu has been lights out this series. Every breakaway went in except for Rienhart when he missed the net. Most goals he lets in are due to lateral movement. Many times the Oilers get stuck on their zone because Stu isn't very good handling the puck. And that O/T goal in game 2, yikes.