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

[Jimmi McJenkins]

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.

Like I've been frustrated with his consistency too, but he was the best goalie last night. He only allowed one that was on a sloppy puck management and he a number of key saves throughout the game.

Like, they fundamentally do not win that game if he doesn't play as well as he did.

 

[McFlash97]

What the f happened to Nurse ? Ever since the hit, guy has turned into a 2 way monster from the backend. If he played this way the whole season it would be prongeresque.

 

[bobbythebrain]

Fire Shwartz!!

 

[Frank the Tank]

What the f happened to Nurse ? Ever since the hit, guy has turned into a 2 way monster from the backend. If he played this way the whole season it would be prongeresque.

Nurse was playing better before the Reaves hit. In fact, losing him for a few games likely cost the Oilers points. The turning point in Nurse's game was Knoblauch and Coffey deploying him with Stecher to start games and then moving up Kulak to the 2nd pair in key moments later in the game.

 

[TopShelfGloveSide]

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.

And you will defend him when he’s ass.

 

[TopShelfGloveSide]

Fire Shwartz!!

 

[oXo Cube]

There are plenty of us who aren't really surprised that Nurse looks way better now that he isn't stapled to noted black hole Cody Ceci.

But even then his play of late has been above and beyond that expectation.

 

[iCanada]

Nurse was playing better before the Reaves hit. In fact, losing him for a few games likely cost the Oilers points. The turning point in Nurse's game was Knoblauch and Coffey deploying him with Stecher to start games and then moving up Kulak to the 2nd pair in key moments later in the game.

Nurse has been this good according to the underlying numbers every time he's been away from Ceci for like forever. If not better, tbh.

Ceci is just a boat anchor.

Them with or without their entire tenure together here;

Ceci this year;

Nurse this year;

Ceci is like the worst defenseman in the league at supporting a breakout, he basically jail breaks up ice like a winger and forces his partner to make rushed plays through contesting opponents. They were sheltered as a pair, now Nurse is logging hard minutes against elites and treading water while having the biggest Dzone start bias on the team and having the lowest HDCA/60 on the team aside from Bouchard who gets an insane ozone push.

 

[Soundwave]

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

It's impossible to play like that every night, other teams are good too. The Oilers put on a clinic defensively last night against the 2nd best offense in the league.

And sure any goalie would look pretty good behind that, Ben Scrivens would look great, maybe even Ty Conklin (lol).

 

[Slats432]

Since coaches and management believe in Stu, we ride and die with him. I am certainly happy with the bounce back. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come.

 

[iCanada]

It's impossible to play like that every night, other teams are good too. The Oilers put on a clinic defensively last night against the 2nd best offense in the league.

And sure any goalie would look pretty good behind that, Ben Scrivens would look great, maybe even Ty Conklin (lol).

We pretty much do play like that every night though is the thing. We're a stingy club.

We don't give up many expected goals at all, we're 4th in the league in xGA;

...and the ones we do are largely low danger chances that you expect a goaltender to be able to step up and make saves on - we're first in HDCA by a standard deviation on an island alone;

We're the team that's the easiest to play goal for in the entire league.

 

[oobga]

Are Louie and Jack still trying to figure out if that puck that was hit with a super high stick crossed the goal line?

 

[Canovin]

Nurse is like a Saiyan. Comes back better after a KO

 

[BlackDogg]

Jack babbling about Glendenning being the only right hand shot … barely recovers before the puck is in the net. The situation with Oilers broadcasting is tragic.

Lol was thinking about that as well. They totally missed the goal of the night.

Great story.

 

[Soundwave]

The Oilers also have the 5th best record in the NHL (2nd best in the West after Minny) since the 3rd game of the season (full blame on us, we were hung over for the first 2 games especially and then threw the 3rd game away out of frustration with multiple goals being disallowed).

NHL Best Record Since October 14th | StatMuse

Since October 14, 2024, the Washington Capitals have the best record by a team, with a record of 19-5-2.

www.statmuse.com

As has been stated, in that span they have the 3rd best defense (well goals against) in the NHL also.

Considering that we've carelessly thrown away a couple of games at least (the first Vegas game, the Toronto game), had some injuries (McDavid, Hyman, Arvidsson, Kane, Nurse have missed time), dealt with a terrible PK for a while, and had poor goaltending overall along with a super low shooting percentage and poor PP ... lol, that's not too bad.

We'll see how they do in this coming stretch though.

 

[BlackDogg]

Gary after the offside review.

 

[CrazyJoeDavola]

GG EZ. Nurse is elite again after being bonked on the head. Skinner is playing his best hockey as an Oiler the last 3 weeks. Once we get the rest of our fwds back, watch out.

 

[FlameChampion]

Gotta give Skinner credit. I am often critical of him but he’s playing well lately.

Too bad the Ekholm goal came off. Was a nasty goal/shot. I don’t know if it was just the angle or what, it looked like it was ramping into outer space but somehow went in the net.

 

[Mr Kot]

What the f happened to Nurse ? Ever since the hit, guy has turned into a 2 way monster from the backend. If he played this way the whole season it would be prongeresque.

Needs to get hit in the head every time he starts to revert back to his bonehead play. Have a mallet ready in the locker room.

 

[frag2]

All this Kucherov talk...any one notice the guy is never in his own zone? Lol

Like Hyman is pretty bad at that but Kucherov, I dont think I've seen him in his own zone entire game. Guy is always at the opp blue line waiting to cherry pick. All world talent but damn

 

[iCanada]

There are plenty of us who aren't really surprised that Nurse looks way better now that he isn't stapled to noted black hole Cody Ceci.

But even then his play of late has been above and beyond that expectation.

Yeah, I've been beating the drum that he'd look great once you get rid of Ceci for years at this point.

Ceci is currently the worst analytical player in the league aside from his partner in San Jose, but like... His partner gets better away from him and he makes his other partners bad there too.

Great guy, clutch goal scoring in playoffs, I'm sure a great teammate... But man he's a bad NHL player.

Gotta give Skinner credit. I am often critical of him but he’s playing well lately.

Too bad the Ekholm goal came off. Was a nasty goal/shot. I don’t know if it was just the angle or what, it looked like it was ramping into outer space but somehow went in the net.

To this day - I think off side calls calling of goals after minutes of zone time are cheesy and not the spirit of the rule.

Should be a possession time or number of won puck battles where it doesn't matter anymore.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

All this Kucherov talk...any one notice the guy is never in his own zone? Lol

Like Hyman is pretty bad at that but Kucherov, I dont think I've seen him in his own zone entire game. Guy is always at the opp blue line waiting to cherry pick. All world talent but damn

Nothing is better than seeing Kucherov take a loss. Cant stand the guy and you nailed it, saw him at the Oilers blue line while the puck was in his zone the entire game. Empty net goal merchant as well, stat padder.

 

[Soundwave]

Needs to get hit in the head every time he starts to revert back to his bonehead play. Have a mallet ready in the locker room.

He was playing well before that, Ceci was always the problem.

 

[Slats432]

What the f happened to Nurse ? Ever since the hit, guy has turned into a 2 way monster from the backend. If he played this way the whole season it would be prongeresque.

It was before the hit that he was playing well.

 

[Mr Kot]

He was playing well before that, Ceci was always the problem.

I know but no harm in having a mallet around just in case