The thing he can't fix is the history.
I know he can't change the history. I see this as a longer term flaw in his technique. I'd like him to make a change to it so he can change the future.
At some point you've lost trust of the team. The Vegas third goal did that. The 20X Skinner has butchered a play like that before causes doubts. The Florida game causes more doubts. The team has had to watch this now for 3 seasons. Damn sure if they're not saying it they might get tired once in awhile of having to outscore Skinner who isn't even better than Pickard, who we just picked up for nothing. The quote in your post is also one of the things that KK said when he came in. That it was feeling to the players that anytime they make a mistake the puck is in their net. Its been going on for so long.
Bettman type standings disguises that the Bruins have 17W's and 17L's. They are as average as it gets. Thats not early in season. its what they are. Only weak EC standings is keeping them in a playoff spot. 10WC teams have a better record.I agree, although I don't know that I'd say they're finished, they're just not the juggernaut they've been for so long.
Which to be honest, I'm not surprised about. If anything, I'm surprised they've managed to be so good for so long. I've felt like they've just continuously lost 2 good players every year for what feels like the last decade and just continued to be good somehow.
A testament to their teams culture, drafting, and development I guess.
I mean I hope so. That's my theory without ever being in the room with Schwartz or Stu. Like I said, you are right, traditionally you want your goalie ready in the stand up position. The caveat to that is if he can't read the play or see it, so in a situation where a puck is coming unseen or the play is screened, it comes down to a decision between using your size advantage and give up the top hole or take your chances with the the other holes and your reflexes. A goalie like Vasy is more athletic and quicker reacting than Stu can be, so it may very well be each goalie playing to their strengths.
And without the team being crap to start the season this year and last. Last year cause of the Woody era clown show. This year cause of the Cup hangover. His stats would be above average.
It is interesting isn't it. Now I must admit I am a rare fan of the pass, pass, pass, cause I think this team has the vision and the skill to pull it off. And that's why they default to trying to find the high danger dagger. But on a night like tonight when they couldn't make a pass to save their lives, it's the ugly and dirty goals they needed to rely on. Throw things on net like Hyman. And drive hard to the paint like McDavid.
I'm not convinced reading their board that this is much to go on.
Of course they do. And I gave props to Stu for having a good second half tonight. I just see this as a reoccurring form/style thing that burns him more than it should. Especially, if he's off his game a bit. So maybe he was screened or maybe he stays in RVH to cover holes when he isn't playing as confident as he can. I'm more discussing his tactics and form and hoping its something he can clean up vs ragging on him.
We don't have to wonder too hard. KK and JJ were both in the same room when they discussed what JSkinner on this team. They were enamored with his goal scoring ability. They wondered if he could take off on Drai's wing. They obviously dismissed or traded off his defensive liabilities for that goal scoring ability. And made a gamble here to be net positive. So far he's probably net negative but has shown flashes that he can produce like they had hoped. Still needs to come though.
I'm not convinced reading their board that this is much to go on.
Bruins are a classic example of a team getting slowly worse every season until there isn't much left. I keep asking this but after Pastaman what is there in Boston. Who else is supposed to produce. They all still think Marchant is some kind of legend. Bruins fans historically elevate their club and wouldn't realize how Bad Bruins are playing and how much pressure they would put on their goalie. Despite the scoreline (Oilers weren't sharp tonight) I've seen several other clubs come in here and play a tighter game than the Bruins were. Worse for the Bruins is they had awareness on ice from their topline who else was on ice. I think the worst coverage tonight was by the bruins topsix, if you could even call it a topsix. Its basically Pasta.
The Bruins have considerable difficulty scoring or mounting much of anything even on the PP so when behind in games they get cheating. That didn't feature tonight because they jumped the score and never trailed. But its plain ugly to see this Bruins team behind. Their team game is imploding pretty much like the Rangers have. I don't blame that on Swayman.
Just look at the Bruins roster. Where are the goals gonna come from. This results in the kind of garbage 200ft game that Pasta just played tonight. Worst game I've ever seen him play. Because he hast to be the offense on that club.
Helly is the same size too. Height anyway. I'm going to have to find a Winnipeg game to check it out.
Yeh it could be matter of playing to strengths. NHL goalies have NHL size and you look at the hole that's given in Skinner's personal RVH. That puck could have deflected anywhere off that shot, it delfectred to the one puck size hole left. But yeh it seems to be somewhat of debatable technique at the high levels.
They had the standard coaching bump reset. They've had some deadcat bounce too. This road trip for them was pretty ugly. Team played poorly in 4/5 games. Its falling apart again.
The goalie coach issue is an Oilers management issue I think we all agree on. That's why I don't get why Skinner gets no credit when he personally has gotten 2 goalie coaches (one mental, one technical) OUTSIDE of Schwartz. Some credit should be given to that if you are a big Schwartzy hater, which most everyone is. He's doing exactly what we want him to do on the goalie front.
Poor processor. Doesn't read situation on-ice fast enough and indecision bites him on the ass. Further hurt by poor skating and terrible puck control. For a big guy it's really surprising how weak Skinner is with passing the puck. I also hate Skinner blindly pushing pucks back out into the high danger areas with no thought of the chaos and high risk it creates. Often his own worst enemy with these elements of his developing game
I wanted Blackwood last year. Massive missed opportunity. The problem with the oilers is they fall in love with their players and refuse to upgrade. I agree- if Skinner is your guy you need to change the goalie coach. Last year during the Vancouver series when Skinner needed his “reset” he didn’t work with Schwartz- it was Francilia.
Lots of misconceptions about Francillia, his work and specialization. Francillia describes himself as a 'goalie mechanic' sports focusing on movement and the neurological link between movement and goaltending, the biomechanics of it.
