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

[WaitingForUser]

So they can selected at random during the playoffs.

Apparently they can but there is no history of this actually being applied.

 

[McJadeddog]

Rishaug has

Nuge - McD - Brown
Skinner - Drai - Kane
Frederic - Henrique - Arvidsson
Kapanen - Janmark - Perry

for those interested.

Podkolzin was really bad the last game (7.4% xGF%, last on the team) but was really good in game 4 (58.8%, 5th best on the team), and then really bad in game 3 (3.1%, last on the team). So in 2 of the past 3 games he has been the worst player by this metric. Now, of course this stat doesn't tell the full story, but it does paint a narrative of sorts. So not too surprised to see Podz come out of the lineup.

 

[McJadeddog]

Knob just can’t quit Brown. No goals in what 13/14 games, 3 points since LA…you get promoted to play with McDavid. Im sure it’ll help the offence.

Brown was 3rd best on the team in game 5 for xGF%, 3rd worst in game 4, 4th worst in game 3, 2nd worst in game 2, and 3rd worst in game 1. So yes, he has been really, really bad this series and his only good game was game 5 where he was stapled to McDavid.

Skinner has been 1st on the team in game 4, and 12th in game 5. I would play Skinner with McDavid for other reasons though. He looked good in the top-6 near the end of the year, and he is a shooter, which McDavid always plays better with.

 

[McJadeddog]

People want our third best D in the series in the pressbox after a rough outing.

They are crapping on him.

He has been really bad since coming back from injury, that is the reason. People still like him, but the results aren't there. It doesn't matter though, the coaches aren't going to take him out, that is obvious.

 

[bellagiobob]

 

[BlackDogg]

We kind of needed one of the panthers bigger guns to come disc with an injury or something to take them out a couple games. They are amazingly lucky though.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Podkolzin was really bad the last game (7.4% xGF%, last on the team) but was really good in game 4 (58.8%, 5th best on the team), and then really bad in game 3 (3.1%, last on the team). So in 2 of the past 3 games he has been the worst player by this metric. Now, of course this stat doesn't tell the full story, but it does paint a narrative of sorts. So not too surprised to see Podz come out of the lineup.

I'd mentioned in game 2 I think that the Panthers 4th line with very limited minutes put up 17 hits. Podz had 1 hit in the game. I mean its the first thing you expect of him he does so little else.

Yet the defining moment of the series thus far (or one of them) ws Podkolzin getting nailed with a perfect open ice hit by Bennet, being staggered, put on the ice and then comes up to give the puck away for a Panthers two man break for the Bennett goal. Its bad enough Podz isn't hitting enough but getting clocked like that and making bad plays preceding goals. He's one of the players here that gets unconditional praise just because he hits some of the time.

Still, in my books he stays in because we desperately need even a fascimile of his forecheck, relative speed, and hopefully some hits and plays.

 

[VainGretzky]

Everyone read for the incoming 2 game winning streak

 

[frag2]

Everyone read for the incoming 2 game winning streak

At this stage, I'd even settle for 2 goals for in the first period lol

That said, I'm praying we at least force game 7

 

[bellagiobob]

 

[Fishy McScales]

He has been really bad since coming back from injury, that is the reason. People still like him, but the results aren't there. It doesn't matter though, the coaches aren't going to take him out, that is obvious.

He has been our third best D since coming back. The entire team has struggled the last three games.

 

[bellagiobob]

 

[McJadeddog]

He has been our third best D since coming back. The entire team has struggled the last three games.

You are correct, but you could throw a blanket over the bottom D players on this team since Ekholm came back. Here is the link: Player Season Totals - Natural Stat Trick

Ekhom has 47.3% xGF%, Kulak with 45.7%, and Nurse at 43.6%. Klingberg and Stecher are farther down. So basically its Bouchard at the top in these last 6 games at 56.2% and Walman at 54.1%, and then a big drop off to the next 3. So yes, Ekholm has been 3rd, but all of him, Kulak and Nurse have been pretty bad.

Nurse is a 3rd line defender at this point, so still him with Stecher and try and limit their minutes somewhat (especially Stecher, by rotating Bouchard with Nurse once and a while). Then Kulak/Walman is the 2nd pairing, and they both need to improve as well. Ekholm gets paired with Bouch (hopefully) and that should help him, plus the familiarity with playing with Bouch as well.

 

[M Ace]

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.

Even Ekblad and Barkov had their stinker vs. McDavid i game 2..

 

[Fishy McScales]

You are correct, but you could throw a blanket over the bottom D players on this team since Ekholm came back. Here is the link: Player Season Totals - Natural Stat Trick

Ekhom has 47.3% xGF%, Kulak with 45.7%, and Nurse at 43.6%. Klingberg and Stecher are farther down. So basically its Bouchard at the top in these last 6 games at 56.2% and Walman at 54.1%, and then a big drop off to the next 3. So yes, Ekholm has been 3rd, but all of him, Kulak and Nurse have been pretty bad.

Nurse is a 3rd line defender at this point, so still him with Stecher and try and limit their minutes somewhat (especially Stecher, by rotating Bouchard with Nurse once and a while). Then Kulak/Walman is the 2nd pairing, and they both need to improve as well. Ekholm gets paired with Bouch (hopefully) and that should help him, plus the familiarity with playing with Bouch as well.

My point is that people are essentially saying Ekholm ruined our pairings and is playing terribly and should sit.

Maybe we're just playing a better team now and that's why the pairings are struggling. And Ekholm doesn't have anywhere near the worst of it.

Ergo he should not sit.

 

[brentashton]

No questions for Darnell until around the 5 minute mark and then it’s a question about Connor.

Media are unimaginative.

 

[FlameChampion]

Makes you wonder if the Oilers just motivated them more. Might of just been better to play their game.

 

[barry halls]

Florida has proven they’re a better team. Better depth, better special teams, better goaltending, better structure.
What advantage does Edmonton have? 97 & 29. We’ve seen these two win games by themselves. All remaining hope rests on the shoulders of McDavid and Draisaitl, fair or not - let’s see what they can do. Keep believing until the clock runs out.

 

[GhostfaceWu]

Florida has proven they’re a better team. Better depth, better special teams, better goaltending, better structure.
What advantage does Edmonton have? 97 & 29. We’ve seen these two win games by themselves. All remaining hope rests on the shoulders of McDavid and Draisaitl, fair or not - let’s see what they can do. Keep believing until the clock runs out.

I wouldn't hold my breathe on those two this year. I think back to game five and they're down 1 zip they get a pp and they don't get a single setup in the ozone not f***ing one. We have to be one of the worst teams at winning faceoffs on special teams. I don't think we've had a single pk this series where they didn't get setup on a pp.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

Finally something Gregor is correct about!

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

Really? Maybe he should check with the Air Canada team charter pilots and rink attendants while he’s at it.

 

[McJadeddog]

Finally something Gregor is correct about!

Blind squirrel and all

 

[brentashton]

Finally something Gregor is correct about!

That’s Bernstein and Woodward level investigative journalism!! Lol.

 

[Dolemite]

He said it.

 

[Mr Kot]

He said it.

Well he could also use his enormous penis as a hockey stick. I say try him out, can't hurt.