Post-Game Talk: Josh Archibald has eliminated the Oilers from playoff contention

[Behind Enemy Lines]

Every player and every person has done something stupid in their life at some point. We all f**k up. Doesn't mean we aren't still liked and respected by our peers, or that we are instantly fired or cut loose by our family. And hockey is more like a family than anything else, and guys have each others backs, even when the screw up. I'm pretty sure Arch stood up in the room and took full blame for it, and likely feels worse than anybody else. Were the boys pissed at him? Absolutely? Is it a tradable offense? Absolutely not, unless there are other underlying issues with the player and the team.

This was a team collapse. Archibald's brain dead penalty was a large part of it. But we're talking about a 4-1 lead. Whole team shrunk under its biggest moment in a game they failed to lock down. Blame is everywhere and all share in the responsibility and accountability.

 

[McJadeddog]

Because Bouchard probably hasn’t given the puck away like Bear did on that one play since he was 8.

This is likely almost true. Bouchard, for the warts he has, has a remarkable break out pass. Bouchard should have been played regularly all season, but tippett is an idiot. Now we have to sit through his rookie mistakes next year, when we are going to be relying on him.

 

[Verdadplus]

Fire Holland and Tippett tonight

 

[Verdadplus]

Abject incompetents

 

[Forgot About Drai]

No one player lost this game. Failure from top to bottom.

 

[MettleMcOiler]

Puljujarvi...any props for him? Very impressed with his play. Gotta respect how hard he's fighting out there. Worthy to wear the oil tonight for sure.

 

[Verdadplus]

Just fire Holland and Tippet tonight

 

[Senor Catface]

Puljujarvi...any props for him? Very impressed with his play. Gotta respect how hard he's fighting out there. Worthy to wear the oil tonight for sure.

One of 5 or 6 players to keep.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Okay but what is he going to do? We scored 4 goals. Bear, who is also a rookie pretty much, played bad. How will inserting another rookie help?

Everybody you like is a rookie to you. How on Earth is Bear a rookie? he's played 132 games..

 

[Oilhawks]

Puljujarvi...any props for him? Very impressed with his play. Gotta respect how hard he's fighting out there. Worthy to wear the oil tonight for sure.

Puljujarvi is a bright spot on this season. I'd consider him untouchable

 

[KingKhron]

This is likely almost true. Bouchard, for the warts he has, has a remarkable break out pass. Bouchard should have been played regularly all season, but tippett is an idiot. Now we have to sit through his rookie mistakes next year, when we are going to be relying on him.

I am not convinced that the extra cap space will be used well this off season, as Holland has had some hits and some bad misses. I sadly see the team desperate for Bouchard and Holloway to help them in any success.

 

[KlefDown]

Remember when management explicitly blamed Tobi Reider

 

[Skate2Stick]

Puljujarvi is a bright spot on this season. I'd consider him untouchable

I forgot about that, that’s the only thing Holland has done right so far.

 

[Snipes45]

I been fan of the Oilers since 1980, I met Wayne and never looked back (Also a Sens fan due to relocating). Anyhow we have wasted valuable years of McJesus and Draisaitl. This team has been built horribly wrong. This should be a near cup winner right now.

The blame starts at the top with owner, GM, Coach. They assembled this mess and is time to retool and fix it the right way.

You know this is normally a convo to have when the series is over but that's now.

1. Holland needs to be put on notice, his moves have been sad honestly and nothing to brag about. He can blame the previous management but excuses are like.........

2. Tippy, one of the most over-rated coaches ever. Please tell me what he does that makes him keep his job? Nothing!

3. Core offense. The core of this team is solid but is not supported by the correct playoff style players. We lack a proper 2nd, 3rd and 4th line.

We need players who have speed, forecheck and play with energy! They need to play like each game is their last. Not floaters waiting for 1st liners to win the game for them.

2. Core Defense. The peices are in place but a serious shutdown defensive vet is needed to settle this young crew. They get frazzled way to easy under pressure.

3. Goaltending. It has been issue forever it is time to address it and stop cheaping out on it. Smith played his heart out this year and God bless him but the dude has done all he can and we need to move on to the future goaltender of this team. A true #1 is needed if they even want to try and win a SC. Smith could be backup but at his age and potential for injuries makes him a liability. Not sure if he should retire after a great season or play backup , but we need a solid backup.

4. Retool. Whoever is in charge after this season needs to cut ties with rfa's and UFA's that are not part of our core. I don't care about records or standings. Make the playoffs and a team built to go far in the playoffs should be our only goal. Think of picking up pieces from good successful teams in off-season where you can, maybe Avs, Knights, Canes and Lighting just as examples.

5. If we continue on this path the years of McDavid and Draisaitl will be wasted and they will move on. They need to be insulated by good secondary players on lines 2-4 , good defense and goaltending if we want to win a cup. Even then is not guaranteed but their are more holes in this boat right now then you can count.

I am sorry to be negative but on positive note we have the core we just need to retool fast with the right piece's.

This is our problem.

We need mcdrai to put up multiple points per game or we lose 99% if the time

Other teams can win with their top guys not going supernova

They should. Make an oil change documentary about how brutal our bottom nine is

It is so laughably bad.

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

On another note, Spector's calling this team out instead of the pablum excuse making apparently tossed up by the team media fartcatcher: Oilers' promising season a fading, cruel mirage after Game 3 collapse

All in all the Oilers get a pretty soft ride from team friendly local media. This is a game and situation that should be rightfully called out and follows the absurdity of the not-so-great Chicago fadeout that was excused too easily by some media. There are hard questions to ask about this team's character and make up. It's stalled as a entry level playoff team that's wilting in trying to be more.

 

[Oilhawks]

Remember when management explicitly blamed Tobi Reider

Bob Nicholson, ladies and gents

I went to the 'hot stove' they had for season ticket holders and power pack buyers (I was the latter) after Holland and Tippett were hired. They both had some interesting things to say. Meanwhile, Bobby went and introduced them and bumbled off to go do more important things, I'm sure.

Drunken baffoon

 

[Forgot About Drai]

Seems super weird to pin this loss on bear

 

[Oilhawks]

On another note, Spector's calling this team instead of the pablum excuse making apparently tossed up by the team media fartcatcher: Oilers' promising season a fading, cruel mirage after Game 3 collapse

All in all the Oilers get a pretty soft ride from team friendly local media. This is a game and situation that should be rightfully called out and follows the absurdity of the not-so-great Chicago fadeout that was excused too easily by some media. There are hard questions to ask about this team's character and make up. It's stalled as a entry level playoff team that's wilting in trying to be more.

That's great, but Spector seems to be pretty bipolar (like many of us fans), extends extreme praise and extreme displeasure when he feels it's warranted. It'll have to be more than him calling out the org.

Still hopeful that Katz is furious enough to shit can Bobby. That's not going to happen though

 

[Verdadplus]

Seems super weird to pin this loss on bear

A shit defenceman
No place on this team

 

[McJadeddog]

I am not convinced that the extra cap space will be used well this off season, as Holland has had some hits and some bad misses. I sadly see the team desperate for Bouchard and Holloway to help them in any success.

The reality is we can't fix this team with UFA signings. We have to hope against all common sense that Holloway can step right in as a solid middle six winger, and Bouchard can QB the PP. Even if Holland hits it out of the park, which he likely won't, he will be able to roughly replace RNH, and maybe a good third liner. Two moves like that won't do jack shit. We need to roll the dice and hope the young guys can play big parts early. It's highly unlikely that this will work out, but it is what it is.

The only other way we have real help coming would be through trades. But Holland isn't exactly known for swinging for the fences, so I don't expect anything on that front. Holland is too in love with the idea of developing young guys, rather than realizing he only has McDrai for 4 more years

 

[The Bored Man]

That outcome was not ideal.

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

That's great, but Spector seems to be pretty bipolar (like many of us fans), extends extreme praise and extreme displeasure when he feels it's warranted. It'll have to be more than him calling out the org.

Still hopeful that Katz is furious enough to shit can Bobby. That's not going to happen though

He's totally erratic. Writes with the highs and lows of this team. Loudly picked the Oilers to roll over Winnipeg in 4 (or maybe 5). He should be embarrassed by the pump job he so brashly did against a very solid and deep opponent. But he doesn't shy from delivering strong criticism which I think is good with a pretty sanitized media.

If Katz was going to fire Nicholson it would have/should have been with Chiarelli's scorched earth era debacle. I don't see any management or coaching going - nor should they imo - but this is a critical off-season with substantial work to build up this team's threadbare talent level and depth. Way more farther away than I personally thought.

 

[subnet]

I haven’t read through all the pgt, but I think I know what I would have seen. Fire the coach and GM usual crap.

We can’t get a break. We dominated them and proceeded to shit the bed for 3 minutes.
Apparently it’s ok to hit a guy in the numbers and not get a penalty (see Pulj and Haas). Apparently its ok to shove your stick in a guys face and not call a penalty (Archi). Apparently it’s ok to have your stick slashed out of your hands too.

Of course we find a way to lose the game we deserved to win. Ugly 4th goal by Smith.
We were up 4-1 and had the PP and didn’t bear down because ‘the game was over’. Well guess not.

For the majority of the game, this one was fun. Pulj had a good game and man he passes hard but accurately. Thought McDrai really came around.
Of course it was all for not. Do we even win one game?

 

[MessierII]

Mcdavid was straddled with a struggling Bear the whole 3rd period and OT. Bear made that line look like trash all by himself. That’s the hard truth, turn over after turn over in his end left that line looking lost.

Yeah it’s bear the 8th or 9th most important players fault we’re down 3-0

 

[MessierII]

You're the same guy who also thinks it was Hall's fault we sucked right?

Par for the course then...

We don’t suck we just choked. Big difference. Not for the first time either.