Post-Game Talk: Kucherov’s “no move” move, meet Skinner’s “no save” save

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Point is only 28 years old and is coming off back to back 90+ point seasons and currently on pace for more than 100 right now. Only Pastrnak and Matthews have more goals than him in the entire league going back to the start of the 2022-2023 season.

I agree with you on Marchand. He shouldn't be there. But not having Point? That's crazy talk. He's a stone cold mortal lock.

Also want to add that Point is one of THE most clutch players of this generation. He's scored many a big goal for Tampa.

 

[Mcnotloilersfan]

I only got to watch the 1st (yay eastern time zone) - but it's great seeing Nurse so calm with the puck in his own end, winning board battles. Right from the start, drawing that penalty.

I also noticed great communication with him and Kulak. There was one point where Nurse took the right side, the player passed it right before the check, but Kulak was right with the man in-front, making sure he couldn't connect.

 

[K1984]

Where are the trolls who said this team was thrash early on? They don’t post anymore. This is a deep team

“This team looks slow” and “we’re old” might have been the most annoying pair of dueling narratives I can ever remember on this board.

 

[The Panther]

Nice game by the Oil. I have never been happier to eat crow than now, after my horror in looking at the club's defence-core heading into the season and expecting disasters. Well, it was disastrous in the first few games, but they're currently 8th best in defense, and since October 15th (i.e., since game three) they're actually the 3rd-best defensive team in the NHL... which is stunning.

The club's overall offensive game is finally starting to round into shape, except for...

The power-play isn't quite there. I think Bouchard just isn't feeling it right now. He's often too deliberate on the PP. Sometimes, you have to either shoot or pass it along very quickly. You can't always control and skate slowly and look for options. He needs more urgency on that PP.

But, whatever, that'll come. The miracle of the season thus far is the team defense.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

Nice game by the Oil. I have never been happier to eat crow than now, after my horror in looking at the club's defence-core heading into the season and expecting disasters. Well, it was disastrous in the first few games, but they're currently 8th best in defense, and since October 15th (i.e., since game three) they're actually the 3rd-best defensive team in the NHL... which is stunning.

The club's overall offensive game is finally starting to round into shape, except for...

The power-play isn't quite there. I think Bouchard just isn't feeling it right now. He's often too deliberate on the PP. Sometimes, you have to either shoot or pass it along very quickly. You can't always control and skate slowly and look for options. He needs more urgency on that PP.

But, whatever, that'll come. The miracle of the season thus far is the team defense.

I don't know that I would call it a miracle, because they've worked really hard to hone this defensive game, however it does really bode well for a team that should become more dangerous offensively, if they can bring this level of defense.

 

[Took a pill in Sbisa]

I know the narrative around tonight is that our team defense won us the game, and it did, but

I think we've seen this team defense almost all season. The point of difference is Skinner stopping the pucks he should have, and making a great save.

If this was October Tampa wins this game 3-2 because Kucherov scores on that breakaway and lets in a softie. That's literally the difference. Not the team defense. We've had top-10 defense all year.

 

[OilerTitanFan]

Checkmate.

Tight game and Skinner outdueled Vasilevsky!

So is it time to trade Skinner now? Get max value before HF tosses him away like Dubnyk and Brossoit.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

I don't know that I would call it a miracle, because they've worked really hard to hone this defensive game, however it does really bode well for a team that should become more dangerous offensively, if they can bring this level of defense.

Need to cut out the own zone oopsies too. Bouchard needs to stop throwing it up the middle.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

Need to cut out the own zone oopsies too. Bouchard needs to stop throwing it up the middle.

Yup, no question, but it's only a few times (all teams do it too obviously), but where the overall defensive game is at, is quite something to watch, honestly.

 

[Whoshattenkirkshoes]

Don’t want to get in the middle of something. But I thought Kucherov did the phantom deke move on Skinner before already. Why wouldn’t he try it again. I know I’ve seen that move once or twice.

Skinner said this is the first time Kuch tried something like that on him

 

[nally]

View attachment 943427

Oh man, this is funnier every time. Bahahahaha

 

[brentashton]

Skinner has been great recently. Credit where it's due. He held the fort down in the 3rd period.

I agree. Most here know I’m not Stu’s biggest supporter. However his game has come around of late.

Now…I hope he can achieve the level of consistency in his play, game to game, that can elevate him to be more than just an average (at best) goaltender. Doesn’t mean he has to win every game, that’s unrealistic. But the periodic brain farts have to stop to achieve higher levels. I hope he can do it.

 

[iCanada]

I don't know that I would call it a miracle, because they've worked really hard to hone this defensive game, however it does really bode well for a team that should become more dangerous offensively, if they can bring this level of defense.

They've brought this defense prowess for like literally 100 games now including the playoffs, basically arrive knob has been here.

Basically the only difference between a night like last night and the nights we were having earlier in the year is that Skinner stepped up to the plate so we win 2-1 instead of losing 3-2 or going to OT.

Look at the lightning - they've had "good" defense for a long time. No one criticizes them for it, theyre a veteran team that plays the right way - but really they've never had near the team D metrics we've had since Knob got here - Vasi is just consistently amazing.

Even last night - by GSAx Skinner was the second best on the ice.

 

[jesusbuiltmyhotrod]

“This team looks slow” and “we’re old” might have been the most annoying pair of dueling narratives I can ever remember on this board.

Same nonsense from the usual folks. Drivesaitl was one of them now he is singing a diff tune lol

 

[BertMcDrai]

Great win....
And what a turnaround from Stu and Nurse... nobody has seen this coming especially both of them.
Now win 2 out of the next 3 and I will be happy Oilers fan.

 

[Perfect_Drug]

I can't see the post you are replying to but if anyone thinks that move by Kucherov wasn't intentional they haven't watched him throughout his career. It's one of his signature moves.

NGL I freakin love that move.

So cheeky, and confidence-crushing for the goalie. It reminds me of the kind of shit Mario used to do. He would do shit like tie the puck in Ray Bourques skates, or the no-touch Assist to Kariya in Salt Lake City.

 

[Juxta Position]

Over under on how much the Canadian media mentions Draisaitl leading the league in goals set at 0.5 times before our next game.

the actual Over/Under should be how many times the Canadian media mentions how many goals Matthews would have if he wasn't injured earlier. I'm gonna set the Over/Under at:

 

[CupofOil]

Vasy was on his game tonight as well. Huge that we came out with the win. We are so back.

The Oilers have been playing good hockey most of the season, it's just that the goaltending/PK have stabilized, the PP is normalizing and McDavid is McDavid again. I kept saying when some panic set in earlier in the season that these guys will starting winning again, it was inevitable with all the bad luck insanely low shooting percentages that they started the season with, not to mention goaltending that couldn't be worse leading to the unsustainably bad PK.

I don't remember the last bad game the Oilers played, against Montreal I believe? This could have easily been a 6 game winning streak if it wasn't for that bad luck loss to Vegas. They're revving up the engine like they always do around the holidays. The Oilers might be the most predictable team in the NHL, it's been the same pattern over the last 4 years but at least the start to this season wasn't as bad.

 

[jesusbuiltmyhotrod]

The Oilers have been playing good hockey most of the season, it's just that the goaltending/PK have stabilized, the PP is normalizing and McDavid is McDavid again. I kept saying when some panic set in earlier in the season that these guys will starting winning again, it was inevitable with all the bad luck insanely low shooting percentages that they started the season with, not to mention goaltending that couldn't be worse leading to the unsustainably bad PK.

I don't remember the last bad game the Oilers played, against Montreal I believe? This could have easily been a 6 game winning streak if it wasn't for that bad luck loss to Vegas. They're revving up the engine like they always do around the holidays. The Oilers might be the most predictable team in the NHL, it's been the same pattern over the last 4 years but at least the start to this season wasn't as bad.

It was obvious things would stabilize. The panic and overreacting here is an epidemic lol

 

[Bobieque]

Very mature, solid game by the Oilers. Stu has been outstanding lately.

To clarify the high stick, it’s not blown down immediately because just touching the puck with a high stick doesn’t call for an immediate whistle. If a Tampa player touched the puck after the high stick, then it gets blown down. No Tampa player touched the puck after the high stick.

In this case, it actually makes no difference if the puck was in the net or not. Nurse never had full possession of the puck so the “goal” doesn’t count. That’s why the review was so fast and why the ref announced that it was a high stick so there’s no goal. There’s no point in wasting time and reviewing whether the puck was in if it doesn’t matter. The quote from the rule book is below:

According to Rule 80.3, “When an attacking player causes the puck to enter the opponent's goal by contacting the puck above the height of the crossbar, either directly or deflected off any player or official, the goal shall not be allowed.”

So high stick puck + go off of Nurse or Skinner and in is still no goal. An Oiler would need to have full possession of the puck and then put it into their own net for it to count.

A simple "like" is not adequate enough. Thank you for this clear, easy to understand explanation. Much appreciated, Cheers!

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

They've brought this defense prowess for like literally 100 games now including the playoffs, basically arrive knob has been here.

Basically the only difference between a night like last night and the nights we were having earlier in the year is that Skinner stepped up to the plate so we win 2-1 instead of losing 3-2 or going to OT.

Look at the lightning - they've had "good" defense for a long time. No one criticizes them for it, theyre a veteran team that plays the right way - but really they've never had near the team D metrics we've had since Knob got here - Vasi is just consistently amazing.

Even last night - by GSAx Skinner was the second best on the ice.

For f*** sakes, Skinner was #1 on GA and the other guy is a HHOFer who's still in his prime, and Skinner out dueled him. To pretend otherwise is stupid.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

For f*** sakes, Skinner was #1 on GA and the other guy is a HHOFer who's still in his prime, and Skinner out dueled him. To pretend otherwise is stupid.

Unless Skinner gets a shutout people will always criticize him. And even then there will probably be some BS about how he made the saves he made or whatever.

 

[Juxta Position]

You wouldn’t know what to do on a breakaway. Go back to your garden you turnip

View attachment 943548

 

[TB12]

It was obvious things would stabilize. The panic and overreacting here is an epidemic lol

It will restart all over again if they lose to Minny.

The panic and whining here has been way too much. This is a good team. Full stop.

 

[fireantz]

I agree. Most here know I’m not Stu’s biggest supporter. However his game has come around of late.

Now…I hope he can achieve the level of consistency in his play, game to game, that can elevate him to be more than just an average (at best) goaltender. Doesn’t mean he has to win every game, that’s unrealistic. But the periodic brain farts have to stop to achieve higher levels. I hope he can do it.

It’s amazing how a goaltenders confidence and proficiency improves when the team in front of him plays a better defensive game. No back door opportunities, lots of blocked shots and cross seam interceptions. Finally playing like a team of contenders