Pre-Game Talk: Final Game 6. Do or Die. That is the Pole.

[brentashton]

Eckholm’s post game comments (for what they’re worth everyone was down) sound like a man who is truly defeated. Didn’t sound like he had much of any fight left in him.

 

[McShogun99]

Oilers have been pushing their top players hard, and they have been playing way more minutes than anyone on Florida.

You think they'd learn from when they played LA and Dallas that overplaying your top guys just burns them out but Knob also doesn't have much choice since we're usually down a goal within a few minutes of the game and down by 2 or 3 going into the 2nd.

 

[McJadeddog]

I watched that game 6.

- Leafs defence has been way better than the oilers in staying in their structure. They protected the house well
- Leafs were much better at attacking the Florida net with bodies.

Since Ekholm came back- their D structure has fallen to shit.

Yup, with somebody playing out of position all the time, it has been a gong-show really since the last game against Dallas. People are saying this is because of Florida, but we were bad in the last game against Dallas as well. Ekholm had a 33% xGF% in that Dallas game, and both pairs he was on the most with (Bouch and Walman) struggled. Bouchard was crap that game (37% xGF%) with Ekholm, but was very good away from him, as he had a 65% overall that game.

Ekholm has been really bad since coming back, which is 100% understandable with the injury and everything. He has been so bad that I think you have to consider sitting him, or at least staple him to our best defender (which has been Bouch) and hope Bouch can raise his play enough to counter EKholm's bad play. Putting Ekholm with another guy who has been struggling is a disaster waiting to happen.

 

[Louis Cypher]

If nothing else we have absolutely learned one thing this playoffs and finals in particular. One of the LS d Men has to be traded for a RS. This is going to be Kulak it’s nothing against the player but we need a RS to best utilize our blue line.

We have 4 right shot D but not playing them all.
Bouch
Klingberg
Stecher
Emberson

Didn't we just resign Emberson?

 

[CycloneSweep]

We have 4 right shot D but not playing them all.
Bouch
Klingberg
Stecher
Emberson

Didn't we just resign Emberson?

Only one can play top 4 minutes though.

 

[WaitingForUser]

We have 4 right shot D but not playing them all.
Bouch
Klingberg
Stecher
Emberson

Didn't we just resign Emberson?

Yes we did but can see any of those 3 bottom options playing top 4 for the foreseeable future?

 

[McJadeddog]

We essentially don't have Ekholm. not the version of Ekholm that can play. he's done. Stecher has to stay in. I don't that Klingberg can go either but maybe. Ekholm should come out. Unless he's for some reason feeling remarkably better before gametime.

I just posted that Ekholm is basically playing at 50% or worse, and the only real hope is to assign Bouchard to him and hope between Ekholm's bad play and Bouch's good play, that the pairing comes out at least even. We just don't have another option, as Nurse has been absolutely crap himself, so he can't play a lot more either.

Another solution would be to have Bouch play mondo-mins (like 30-32) in regulation, and rotate his left side partner. It would limit Stecher's mins (who was ATROCIOUSLY bad, with a 7.7% xGF% last game), and also limit Walman's mins on his wrong side. Keep in mind that Stecher had this ridiculously bad game when we had last change, which we won't have in game 6. They unfortunately need to just play 5 D again in game 6. Bouchard already played 27 mins last game, but I think they need him to play another 4-6 mins at least in game 6.

I don't see another way at all, as there isn't anybody else that can play mins on the right side. Stecher is having a really hard time, Klingberg is apparently injured, and everybody else would be playing on their off side.

 

[CupofOil]

I'm riding with this team until the end but this is the least confident I've been in a series perhaps since Colorado 2022, the Oilers have been getting vastly outplayed and they seem to lack answers or are just gassed. I'll never count them out but this seems like a Mount Everest sized hill to climb. It's only a 3-2 deficit but it feels bigger for some reason.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

I'm riding with this team until the end but this is the least confident I've been in a series perhaps since Colorado 2022, the Oilers have been getting vastly outplayed and they seem to lack answers or are just gassed. I'll never count them out but this seems like a Mount Everest sized hill to climb

Like we knew it wasn't going to be easy but there's a disturbing mentality with this team that they worked so hard to get back here only to flatline in several key games.

If they don't win this series that terrible game 5 will likely haunt them forever.

 

[McJadeddog]

The smart move might be 35 year old Ekholm….maybe along with Ardvisson.. Don’t think you can move Nurse. You open up 10 mill in cap space and might actually get something in return…Bouchard has taken the step to show he does not NEED Ekholm

Yup, this is what I think as well. Kulka is 31 and Ekholm is 35, age catches us all, and although Ekholm might still be good for next year or 2, you could probably still get something for him now. The other benefit is that he makes $6M and Kulak only makes $2.75M, so you would be able to take back a bigger contract.

 

[Oilslick941611]

Marchand was inside the faceoff circle and the 3rd goal shouldn't have counted. I hate that the NHL has come this but here we are. Awful product on and off the ice. View attachment 1050576

its kind of hilarious because of how Drai gets kicked out of almost every face off he lines up for.




*not that i actually think Marchand being a few inches in the circle has any bearing on anything. Just other "coincidence" of the refs not seeing florida's infractions of the rules.

 

[McJadeddog]

See a lot of crapping on Ekholm after he had a stinker. People talking as if he's been awful since he came back.

This is why this place can be such a drag after a loss.

He has been bad since coming back though. His xGF has been about 47% these playoffs. The only D that has been worse is Stecher at 45%.

 

[frag2]

Oh, don't worry, he missed the last twenty games of the regular season and two playoff games...

Would be hilarious if the Panthers were retroactively stripped of the Cup for juicing and we were declared Champions in the worst, most bittersweet way possible.

Id still take it lol

 

[McJadeddog]

Now that I found out they don’t test in the playoffs it honestly would not surprise me one bit. Once a cheater always a cheater and we know PEDbad was caught this year already.

This can't be real. The NHL surely to god tests for PEDs in the playoffs. It's the only time they SHOULD be testing for christ sakes! lol That can't be true.

 

[FlameChampion]

I'm riding with this team until the end but this is the least confident I've been in a series perhaps since Colorado 2022, the Oilers have been getting vastly outplayed and they seem to lack answers or are just gassed. I'll never count them out but this seems like a Mount Everest sized hill to climb. It's only a 3-2 deficit but it feels bigger for some reason.

Hopefully the Panthers who haven’t been great closers and an Oilers team that now has their back against the wall prevail for a game 6 win. Then anything can happen in Game 7. But yeah I don’t feel confident either.

 

[WaitingForUser]

This can't be real. The NHL surely to god tests for PEDs in the playoffs. It's the only time they SHOULD be testing for christ sakes! lol That can't be true.

Right from the source

NHL Playoff Drug Test​

The NHL does not conduct drug testing during the playoffs. According to the league's drug-testing policy, testing for performance-enhancing drugs does not occur during the playoffs and off-season.However, players are tested at least two times per season for performance-enhancing drugs such as steroids, and individual players can be selected for random testing during the regular season and playoffs. The testing is conducted "at work on the day of a scheduled practice or meeting," but not on game days.

 

[Oilslick941611]

Ekholm is done for this year. had trouble skating, moving. Looks to be in constant pain. Even a Viking can't always pillage.

This is a better thread than the PGT. haha, I should've come here.

Oilers have the gift of an extra day of rest before game 6, and game 7. This is required and helpful to the Oilers. if you're the Panthers the remaining game(s) feel like an eternal wait. Especially considering they blew game 4.

Panthers will still be nervous facing generational superstars. Anything can happen.

I dont think hes "done" but he isn't healthy and him coming back disturbed the chemistry we going on D. I dont think anyone can deny that. Our D was more than the sum of its parts and Inserting a Ekholm who missed a lot of time back into wrecked them. The flow is gone, putting them back together probably wont reignite it.



However, i dont think it matters much, we miss Hyman too much up front, and our guys looks dead tired compared to the Panthers. I hate to say it because I don't respect the way panthers play and i dont respect Maurice, but they are just to a man, built differently. They lucked into getting Marchand for peanuts and its made all the difference in the finals.


On to more general thoughts


Bob is bob, but he's given up some stinkers as well, That i don't think he's the difference. The difference has been up front. THe oilers lost the intensity they had vs Vegas and Dallas. Fatigue caught up. These are the undisputed top 2 teams in the league, but Florida just has the edge, especially McDavid decided 1.5 years to stop scoring goals, you see the panthers literally not respecting his shot when he's out flying, they know he's passing and its usually at the last minute. He's still connected quite a few because he's McDavid, but him not shooting is like him playing with one arm tied behind his back.

Overall though, I'm not too upset, I still think goes 7, and anything can happen in a game 7, but at the end of the day theres no shame in losing to this team. i think we need to respect that, and not piss all over everyone in Orange and blue.

 

[Canovin]

The Oilers have won 6 straight and also 4 straight in the playoffs so winning 2 more is very possible. Just need to bring their absolute best games

 

[Oilslick941611]

See a lot of crapping on Ekholm after he had a stinker. People talking as if he's been awful since he came back.

This is why this place can be such a drag after a loss.

This place absoulutely is a drag after loss, its all chicken littles.

However, there is something to the Ekholm talk. Our D was doing fine before he came back and when he was put back in the line up, its almost the D lost all chemistry. Personally, i dont feel Ekholm is 100% recovered, and is playing hurt, and the nature of his injury is preventing him from moving around effectively. He was already slowing down. I think he'll be fine next year though. Just really bad timing here for him.

 

[Drivesaitl]

I dont think hes "done" but he isn't healthy and him coming back disturbed the chemistry we going on D. I dont think anyone can deny that. Our D was more than the sum of its parts and Inserting a Ekholm who missed a lot of time back into wrecked them. The flow is gone, putting them back together probably wont reignite it.



However, i dont think it matters much, we miss Hyman too much up front, and our guys looks dead tired compared to the Panthers. I hate to say it because I don't respect the way panthers play and i dont respect Maurice, but they are just to a man, built differently. They lucked into getting Marchand for peanuts and its made all the difference in the finals.


On to more general thoughts


Bob is bob, but he's given up some stinkers as well, That i don't think he's the difference. The difference has been up front. THe oilers lost the intensity they had vs Vegas and Dallas. Fatigue caught up. These are the undisputed top 2 teams in the league, but Florida just has the edge, especially McDavid decided 1.5 years to stop scoring goals, you see the panthers literally not respecting his shot when he's out flying, they know he's passing and its usually at the last minute. He's still connected quite a few because he's McDavid, but him not shooting is like him playing with one arm tied behind his back.

Overall though, I'm not too upset, I still think goes 7, and anything can happen in a game 7, but at the end of the day theres no shame in losing to this team. i think we need to respect that, and not piss all over everyone in Orange and blue.

Its a combination of Bob and the Panthers defending, possession, marking etc and that they contest shots and chances. Its been rare to get open looks on Bob and when we have we've done OK with those. Usually we're seeing chances with pressure, with limited time and space.

I think Bobo is an elite goalie and I put him there for the types and difficulties of saves he can make. Those can be huge. Its often the highway robbery saves that stick in players craniums. Not just for the player stoned but the team watching. Its a facet of hockey that once a goalie is stoning opponents tend to think they're not beating the guy and hold sticks tighter. That kind of thing. Bob gets in heads, he does that to most teams.

Some of the goals that have beat him though have been pretty good shots, all with time, and bar under type of stuff. The Nuge goal he had time, so did Nurse. Walman had all kinds of time right from the slot and just cranked one full and more windup. The trouble for the Oilers is that time and space is rare in this series so far

Ekholm. He's looked in pain, having trouble moving, clearly not comfortable. Its hell playing through certain injuries and we won't find out the details. Ekholm is clearly hampered and has an injury that makes it difficult to play his game or even be a physical presence out there. A healthy Ekholm isn't letting a Marchand walk around him multiple times.
.

 

[bone]

This is going to be the biggest week of what has now been 10 year careers for McDrai's. A couple wins and their names go up with some of the all time greats because of all the crazy stats they've accumulated along the way, but a loss will make them look like the NHLs version of Jim Kelly and Thurman Thomas.

What will it be?

 

[Captain Controversy]

My optimistic side says we squeeze out a win in Florida and murder Florida in game 7.

 

[Arpeggio]

Are we practicing today? Dying for some lineup news lol. Just a thought here:

Kane - McDavid - Skinner
Podkolzin - Drai - Arvidsson
Kapanen - Nuge - Frederic
Brown - Henrique - Perry

Throw it in the blender! Put your best players down the middle, hopefully helping the breakout.

 

[Drivesaitl]

See a lot of crapping on Ekholm after he had a stinker. People talking as if he's been awful since he came back.

This is why this place can be such a drag after a loss.

Nobody is "crapping" on Ekholm. He's not been anywhere near his usual play since coming back and frankly Ekholm wasn't Ekholm this season. The Viking is injured and he's aging. Its hard to say if he ever gets back to the great D we previously had.

 

[Little Fury]

Its a combination of Bob and the Panthers defending, possession, marking etc and that they contest shots and chances. Its been rare to get open looks on Bob and when we have we've done OK with those. Usually we're seeing chances with pressure, with limited time and space.

It was nice of the Oilers to feel so bad for lighting him up in game 4 so they decided to give him a night off in game 5. 11 shots and 3 HDSC at 5v5 all night.

I guess they can't be much worse next game.