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GDT: Game #59: Oilers @ Panthers - 5 PM - SN1

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I have no idea what to predict here. My brain says we are a joke again, but my heart says they'll actually work hard this time.

If I were to make a prediction - the effort level, or at least the appearance of effort is there, but we lose regardless due to one of an incredibly stupid and preventable error(s) and/or goaltending. This would be an improvement, as over the past 3 game we have made incredibly stupid/preventable mistakes, had terrible goaltending, AND decided to bring basically our worst possible level of focus and effort.

Baby steps.
 
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Looks like their plan is to go back to what worked in SCF, where they had the 3rd line set the pace vs. waiting for McDrai to put the team on their back. Honestly not the worst idea.

Imo Kapanen's at centre in name only, With Nurse out and Dermott already assigned to Bakersfield, they don't have a 7th dman for today, so that means 12 forwards. I imagine McDavid, Drai, and RNH are going to get double shifted at C, while Podz, Kap, and Perry platoon at wing.

Though that doesn't change the fact I'd rather have Savoie in on merit after Kapanen's horribad turnover last game. Or better yet, an actual defensive 4th line centre like Philp or Hamblin.
 
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K1984 said:
I have no idea what to predict here. My brain says we are a joke again, but my heart says they'll actually work hard this time.

If I were to make a prediction - the effort level, or at least the appearance of effort is there, but we lose regardless due to one of an incredibly stupid and preventable error(s) and/or goaltending. This would be an improvement, as over the past 3 game we have made incredibly stupid/preventable mistakes, had terrible goaltending, AND decided to bring basically our worst possible level of focus and effort.

Baby steps.
Click to expand...
This might just be the game where the team rallies. I say that because one of the biggest issues since 2025 started has been this teams lack of emotional investment in games. Its been getting worse and worse with the worst of it happening since the break.

This is why I like players like Sam Bennett so much because he is the type of player that can drag a team into the fight when they arent emotionally engaged. Kane does that for the Oilers and a younger Corey Perry did that as well. The 40 year old Perry just cant bring that as much.
Aside from those 2 players the Oilers dont really have anyone.

All that being said if this team (as a team) cant get emotionally engaged against Florida (and ramp up their intensity level) then they are in trouble.
 
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guymez said:
This might just be the game where the team rallies. I say that because one of the biggest issues since 2025 started has been this teams lack of emotional investment in games. Its been getting worse and worse with the worst of it happening since the break.

This is why I like players like Sam Bennett so much because he is the type of player that can drag a team into the fight when they arent emotionally engaged. Kane does that for the Oilers and a younger Corey Perry did that as well. The 40 year old Perry just cant bring that as much.
Aside form those 2 players the Oilers dont have anyone.

All that being said if this team (as a team) cant get emotionally engaged against Florida (and ramp up their intensity level) then they are in trouble.
Click to expand...

The sad thing is this could have been said about the Washington game and the Tampa game too. Said it before in previous threads, but good teams and contending teams go on slumps. We aren't any different there. I feel like we were kind of in one before the break in the sense that our effort level generally wasn't the problem, but bad goaltending and habits crept in that hurt us. Then after the break we decided to add shit effort into the mix.

The difference is our slumps are combined with utterly putrid effort levels. Normal good teams take the third period off in Philly in embarrassing fashion then make sure that doesn't happen again the next night. Here? We need to get throughly outworked for multiple games, maybe even weeks worth of games before we even realize there is a problem.

Every player in that room should be embarrassed, but they probably aren't because it's just annual tradition here.
 
Dazed and Confused said:
Looks like their plan is to go back to what worked in SCF, where they had the 3rd line set the pace vs. waiting for McDrai to put the team on their back. Honestly not the worst idea.

Imo Kapanen's at centre in name only, With Nurse out and Dermott already assigned to Bakersfield, they don't have a 7th dman for today, so that means 12 forwards. I imagine McDavid, Drai, and RNH are going to get double shifted at C, while Podz, Kap, and Perry platoon at wing.

Though that doesn't change the fact I'd rather have Savoie in on merit after Kapanen's horribad turnover last game. Or better yet, an actual defensive 4th line centre like Philp or Hamblin.
Click to expand...

It’s a decent plan. I’m glad Skinner has been moved back up to the top 6 as that is where he should be. I would have tried Savoie at centre on the 4th line instead of Kapanen (Savoie hasn’t done anything to warrant being scratched imo)

RNH/McDavid/Hyman
Skinner/Draisaitl/Arvidsson
Janmark/Henrique/Brown
Podkolzin/Savoie/Perry
 
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McDrai said:
It’s a decent plan. I’m glad Skinner has been moved back up to the top 6 as that is where he should be. I would have tried Savoie at centre on the 4th line instead of Kapanen (Savoie hasn’t done anything to warrant being scratched imo)

RNH/McDavid/Hyman
Skinner/Draisaitl/Arvidsson
Janmark/Henrique/Brown
Podkolzin/Savoie/Perry
Click to expand...

Glad Skinner is in top 6 but having him line up with Arvidsson on the opposing wing makes it just as likely that by the second period, Pod and Perry are getting the lions share of ice time with Drai.
 
K1984 said:
The sad thing is this could have been said about the Washington game and the Tampa game too. Said it before in previous threads, but good teams and contending teams go on slumps. We aren't any different there. I feel like we were kind of in one before the break in the sense that our effort level generally wasn't the problem, but bad goaltending and habits crept in that hurt us. Then after the break we decided to add shit effort into the mix.

The difference is our slumps are combined with utterly putrid effort levels. Normal good teams take the third period off in Philly in embarrassing fashion then make sure that doesn't happen again the next night. Here? We need to get throughly outworked for multiple games, maybe even weeks worth of games before we even realize there is a problem.

Every player in that room should be embarrassed, but they probably aren't because it's just annual tradition here.
Click to expand...
I agree they should be embarrassed because this isnt something thats been going on for a game or two.
They have let this get away from them.

For me though Florida is different from Tampa and Washington because the Oilers have a recent history with Florida. A history that has caused them a significant amount of emotional pain.
Perhaps they should show the dressing room clips of Connor after game 7 before this game.
I suspect they wont need to do that though because the pain of that loss is still there.

The thing I notice about this team is that when they are not enagaged emotionally their defensive game slips and then their offensive decision making goes next. So their offensive execution falls off. Makes sense because they have been making average goalies look like allstars the last few weeks.
So we have seen all of that (to one extent or another) play out in this recent poor streak.
Very loose defensive play and way too much over passing and hesitiation in the O zone.
(Draisaitl is the only exception)

I mean my read on this team could be off base here but we shall see how things play out
 
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guymez said:
This might just be the game where the team rallies. I say that because one of the biggest issues since 2025 started has been this teams lack of emotional investment in games. Its been getting worse and worse with the worst of it happening since the break.

This is why I like players like Sam Bennett so much because he is the type of player that can drag a team into the fight when they arent emotionally engaged. Kane does that for the Oilers and a younger Corey Perry did that as well. The 40 year old Perry just cant bring that as much.
Aside from those 2 players the Oilers dont really have anyone.

All that being said if this team (as a team) cant get emotionally engaged against Florida (and ramp up their intensity level) then they are in trouble.
Click to expand...

This is why I think they've gone back to Janmark-Rico-Brown. They're a trio that you know are going to play hard, and more importantly because they're so good defensively it's easy to toss them out every 3rd shift to set the pace/tone.


It also wouldn't surprise me to see them go to McDrai super quick this game, and use the 4th line as a chance to give them different looks and get them away from matchups.

Plus as odd as it sounds, I don't mind giving Skinner-RNH-Arvidsson a look. Imo one of the Oilers' big issues right now is their offence is too predictable. Everything's going through McDavid or Drai. as they wingers are always looking for them and not generating s**t for themselves.

This line solves that by letting all 3 just attack. They're free to try lower percenage plays, as they don't need to worry about getting the puck to a particular linemate. Imo that lack of randomness is one of the big things striffling the Oilers atm.
 
Dazed and Confused said:
This is why I think they've gone back to Janmark-Rico-Brown. They're a trio that you know are going to play hard, and more importantly because they're so good defensively it's easy to toss them out every 3rd shift.


It also wouldn't surprise me to see them go to McDrai super quick this game, and use the 4th line as a chance to give them different looks and get them away from matchups.

Plus as odd as it sounds, I don't mind giving Skinner-RNH-Arvidsson a look. Imo one of the Oilers' big issues right now is their offence is too predictable. Everything's going through McDavid or Drai. as they wingers are always looking for them and not generating s**t for themselves.

This line solves that by freeing all 3 up to just attack. They're free to try lower percenage plays, as they don't need to worry about getting the puck to a particular linemate. Imo that lack of randomness is one of the big things striffling the Oilers atm.
Click to expand...
Interesting points.
I hope they dont go to the McDrai option too quickly because (and this is something I dont care for about Knoblauch) I would like to see the top 2 lines get an opportunity to get some traction.

I really like the Janmark-Rico-Brown line for exactly the reason you stated. A solid dfensive line that never hurts the team and I think that a return to details on defence is going to be a big part of what turns this thing around.
 
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Drivesaitl said:
I'm all here and dressed up but I can't play D or G anymore.

Random comment but one report that Matt Savoies eyebrows were screening Skinner on a few of the goals.

Take with grain of salt and how you will.


Except Matt Savoies eyebrows. That would be just weird.
Click to expand...

As a man with rather bushy eyebrows himself, stop picking on him!

Not our fault we were blessed with healthy brows hahaha
 
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guymez said:
Interesting points.
I hope they dont go to the McDrai option too quickly because (and this is something I dont care for about Knoblauch) I would like to see the lines get an opportunity to get some traction.
Click to expand...

Generally I agree, but I think they need to read the room.

RNH and Hyman are just watching McDavid skate around and waiting for him to do stuff.
Kapanen was over his head there, but I at least liked that he tried to support McDavid's rushes and stayed close enough to him to jump on pucks if McDavid couldn't win going 1v3 vs. WASH...

Podz, Arvidsson, Savoie all just look to get the puck to Drai and default to him, even if they have a halfway decent lane to the net themselves. Skinner's about the only one I think doesn't immediately look to get the puck back to Drai, which is why he clicked there a bit before the break.


In both instances, teams know there's only 1 guy on the ice that they need to worry about, as the other 4 aren't about to try something sneaky. That's why I think the Oil need to get a few of their offensive players away from McDrai and let them work on their confidence to make their own plays. This isn't a long term thing, just something to shock their systems back into normality.
 
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