Post-Game Talk: Literally shooting yourself in the foot

[iCanada]

skinner still has a lot of supporters. None of them are oilers fans

Yeah, no idea how anyone who wants the oilers to win would possibly support Skinner starting over literally any other option at this point.

 

[Canovin]

Are you sure the puck was going wide? It looks like it was going in even if Drai didn't touch it

 

[McFlyingV]

Are you sure the puck was going wide? It looks like it was going in even if Drai didn't touch it

It’s definitely going wide, but there’s no way for Draisaitl to know that in that split second

 

[Canovin]

It’s definitely going wide, but there’s no way for Draisaitl to know that in that split second

It looks like it could have gone inside post and in

 

[Jarvi]

Your issue is McD and Drai the best players on this club and the only reason to watch while absolving Skinner who is a clown. You tie this in with something blame old people.

This is the apparent quality of poster you are.

I stated Drai didn't have a good game several times in the thread. You must be wrong on that about us old guys as well.

My own take, and its reasonable, is that McDrai are both somewhat fatigued and probably battling some injuries. They get nailed lots and especially in playoffs. Yeah they can't be perfect robots all the time. Sorry.

Must have missed your posts criticizing Drai. I have better things to do in life than read through 42 pages trying to find some geezers opinion on things as he screams at the clouds.

Where did I absolve Skinner? I plainly stated I wanted an upgrade at the TDL, but fact is we have him and the team constructed around cheap tending, and our big guns haven't performed up to snuff for stretches in the last couple games. I guess if anything I'm absolving Skinner because it's management's fault for not getting an upgrade. But we can't change it now, can only play the games with what we have.

When the team spends 20 million on 2 fwds, or 9.25 on a Dman, those guys get held to a higher standard than the cheapest goaltending duo in the playoffs. I don't harp on every mistake they make, but stuff like not capitalizing on a 5 minute PP in overtime, Connor not having a shot through 2 periods, Draisaitl giving the puck away needlessly all game and blowing a shift change leading to a GA, the whole team going limp with 15 seconds left AGAIN. All things that you just can't have considering their roles on this team, and if they didnt happen, the final 15 seconds might not even matter. You expect a 2.6 million dollar goaltender to let in some weak ones, or to not play a complete defensive breakdown properly. You don't expect a 12+ million dollar forward to give the puck away all night and be a part of the problem for multiple goals against.

At the very least, one of those 2 guys needs to look like the most dangerous guy on the ice every night. Can we say that for this series? I don't think so. I don't expect perfect robots, I expect the play they have shown us they are capable of.

I like how your "reasonable" take is absolving McDrai, the leaders of this team, of any responsibility for poor showings the last 2 games, yet if anyone says anything besides "Skinner is a clown" you have a hissy fit.

 

[oobga]

There are 2 players horribly overrated by oilers media that Oilers fans, that pay attention even to a casual degree, have been wise about for many years now. Can you name them?

 

[oobga]

Fancy Stats say Nurse was bad, but that wasn’t properly accounting for Twerks/60

 

[McDNicks17]

There are 2 players horribly overrated by oilers media that Oilers fans, that pay attention even to a casual degree, have been wise about for many years now. Can you name them?

Making mistakes and a goalie that let's every mistake in isn't a great mix.

All three GAs for Nurse probably would have been stopped by a peewee goalie.

 

[harpoon]

Smith had no other option but to shoot from a bad angle, based on where he was and the time remaining. All Skinner had to do was hold the net and cover the angle. But instead, he loses his mind and charges wildly out, with no concept of time and space.

I think Skinner (despite what he says in post game media availabilities) realizes he keeps letting in bad angle goals. He lets them in short side. He lets them in far side. And he lets them in even when they hit him - like the first goal last night. I suppose deep down he knows that first goal was just a dreadful failure on his part. So when he sees a Vegas player coming at him in the dying seconds, on a bad angle, he realizes that he can’t let this one get by him and he panics. I may be reaching, but I think ‘just hug the post’ didn’t even occur to him. And frankly, given his track record, why would he have any confidence in his own ability to make a save by hugging the post? The shot would probably have whizzed by his ear and gone in far side. Or squeaked under his arm. Or dribbled through his five hole. We’ve seen it a hundred times. He unplayable at this point. Jack Campbell territory.

 

[oobga]

Making mistakes and a goalie that let's every mistake in isn't a great mix.

All three GAs for Nurse probably would have been stopped by a peewee goalie.

They combined to sabotaged the start of our 2nd round series too last year. Leading to damage to our forwards that caught up to us in the finals.

Having to always win in spite of the goalie our org stubbornly sticks with, and our highest paid D is never ending pain.

 

[Mr Positive]

But isn’t this the issue? The guy doesn’t think there’s anything to clean up. At least that hasn’t been evident in any interview I’ve ever seen him give.

Issues with talent have never been personal with me until Stu came along. I can tolerate and even respect a guy who sucks at hockey and will at least admit he has areas he needs to work on. Stu never does that. How telling is it that he refers to the rest of the team as “them”, when he says he gave them a chance to win? That’s not a misspoken word or an issue of semantics, that’s a guy who is clearly laying the blame on his teammates while taking no issue with his own play. When has McD or Drai or Pickard or anyone else ever not spoken of the team as a collective?

He’s untouchable and beyond criticism, both in his own mind and in the eyes of the local press, and it drives people up the wall. A positive attitude is important for sure, but you also have to be honest with yourself. That’s what missing here. He’ll never improve because he’s too arrogant to see any of his own weaknesses.

That implies that what he gives to the media is his whole reaction. We know that all players go through video and stats. Skinner is aware of when he's good and bad. My impression of his interviews and pressers are not about him dodging responsibility. It's mostly just vanilla stock responses. I get the impression that he avoids listening to what the fans say, which I'm glad about.

 

[foshizzle]

Must have missed your posts criticizing Drai. I have better things to do in life than read through 42 pages trying to find some geezers opinion on things as he screams at the clouds.

Where did I absolve Skinner? I plainly stated I wanted an upgrade at the TDL, but fact is we have him and the team constructed around cheap tending, and our big guns haven't performed up to snuff for stretches in the last couple games. I guess if anything I'm absolving Skinner because it's management's fault for not getting an upgrade. But we can't change it now, can only play the games with what we have.

When the team spends 20 million on 2 fwds, or 9.25 on a Dman, those guys get held to a higher standard than the cheapest goaltending duo in the playoffs. I don't harp on every mistake they make, but stuff like not capitalizing on a 5 minute PP in overtime, Connor not having a shot through 2 periods, Draisaitl giving the puck away needlessly all game and blowing a shift change leading to a GA, the whole team going limp with 15 seconds left AGAIN. All things that you just can't have considering their roles on this team, and if they didnt happen, the final 15 seconds might not even matter. You expect a 2.6 million dollar goaltender to let in some weak ones, or to not play a complete defensive breakdown properly. You don't expect a 12+ million dollar forward to give the puck away all night and be a part of the problem for multiple goals against.

At the very least, one of those 2 guys needs to look like the most dangerous guy on the ice every night. Can we say that for this series? I don't think so. I don't expect perfect robots, I expect the play they have shown us they are capable of.

I like how your "reasonable" take is absolving McDrai, the leaders of this team, of any responsibility for poor showings the last 2 games, yet if anyone says anything besides "Skinner is a clown" you have a hissy fit.

So, your take is that you want to blame the two players that have carried this franchise for a decade, setting records along the way, including playoff scoring- for two mediocre games- rather than the goalie who has posted an .888 save % through 38 playoff games (for reference- Jack Campbell had a .888 save % in 2023/24 when he was deemed unplayable) and is the worst goalie in the cap era. Is that really the hill you’re going to die on?

 

[Bumblebee Man]

Steve Smith own goal was also a .....split second decision.

 

[frag2]

This remains on Bowman.

I said at TDL we not only had the worst goaltending of any playoff off team, but we were an injury away from being in major trouble and here we are.

The sad thing is that it’s an injury to our back up that is hurting us

 

[Jarvi]

So, your take is that you want to blame the two players that have carried this franchise for a decade, setting records along the way, including playoff scoring- for two mediocre games- rather than the goalie who has posted an .888 save % through 38 playoff games (for reference- Jack Campbell had a .888 save % in 2023/24 when he was deemed unplayable) and is the worst goalie in the cap era. Is that really the hill you’re going to die on?

No, the hill I'm dying on is being critical of the players who have underperformed the last 2 games relative to their usual otherworldly play and high pay, and not just crying about the goaltender like everyone does here every f***ing game. Never once did I say Stu was fine, but he gave us what you would expect from a goalie making peanuts compared to those guys or most starters.

I'm keeping the discussion on the most recent games played, I don't see the relevance of any past games.

 

[Stoneman89]

I think Skinner (despite what he says in post game media availabilities) realizes he keeps letting in bad angle goals. He lets them in short side. He lets them in far side. And he lets them in even when they hit him - like the first goal last night. I suppose deep down he knows that first goal was just a dreadful failure on his part. So when he sees a Vegas player coming at him in the dying seconds, on a bad angle, he realizes that he can’t let this one get by him and he panics. I may be reaching, but I think ‘just hug the post’ didn’t even occur to him. And frankly, given his track record, why would he have any confidence in his own ability to make a save by hugging the post? The shot would probably have whizzed by his ear and gone in far side. Or squeaked under his arm. Or dribbled through his five hole. We’ve seen it a hundred times. He unplayable at this point. Jack Campbell territory.

Probably the best explanation I've seen yet regarding his thinking on that play. The first one was so baffling. A shot fromthe corner into his crest that he bobbles and then he falls over and flips around like a turtle, completely clued out as to where the puck is.

 

[brentashton]

No, the hill I'm dying on is being critical of the players who have underperformed the last 2 games relative to their usual otherworldly play and high pay, and not just crying about the goaltender like everyone does here every f***ing game. Never once did I say Stu was fine, but he gave us what you would expect from a goalie making peanuts compared to those guys or most starters.

I'm keeping the discussion on the most recent games played, I don't see the relevance of any past games.

and yet you’re suggesting players aren’t playing to their (otherworldly) standard.

Wouldn’t that standard be set by or based on performance in previously played/past games?

 

[Stoneman89]

He's too much of a dope to even realize the semantics of what he's saying. Thats giving him more credit than one should that he even thought about it.

But it was my read. If you say you gave your team a chance to win, and that you were comfortable with your own game then doesn't it logically follow you are blaming something else?

Although Skinner did blame bad luck, bad bounces and astrology as well. (I'm being sarcastic)

On the surface it seems Skinner is blaming others rather than himself. But his level of analysis is bereft of tertiary thoughts on what he's saying.

A proper reply and acknowledgment would have been something like, " I don't think we played very well, and made too many mistakes , including myself."

 

[Stoneman89]

and yet you’re suggesting players aren’t playing to their (otherworldly) standard.

Wouldn’t that standard be set by or based on performance in previously played/past games?

Outside of a couple fantastic skill plays, I think I'd be satisfied with Drai approaching Rico or Janmark level of play, let alone otherworldy. He's been pretty brutal last couple games, and the big problem is the heavy boots. He needs to shake the cement off and get back even 80 % to what he can be and what we have (selfishly) expect him to be. The way things are going with the goaltending, we're going to need every bit of "elite" Draisaitl to help score our way out of this and limit mistakes until our #1 gets back.

 

[foshizzle]

No, the hill I'm dying on is being critical of the players who have underperformed the last 2 games relative to their usual otherworldly play and high pay, and not just crying about the goaltender like everyone does here every f***ing game. Never once did I say Stu was fine, but he gave us what you would expect from a goalie making peanuts compared to those guys or most starters.

I'm keeping the discussion on the most recent games played, I don't see the relevance of any past games.

No, you are quite clearly putting the blame on 2 players who have earned some leash based on their past performance vs looking at the core issue- Skinner.

 

[rboomercat90]

Does anybody have stats on what Skinner’s save percentage is in games (playoffs and regular season) when the Oilers are leading or tied in a game vs when they are trailing and how that compares with other goalies?

 

[Drivesaitl]

Must have missed your posts criticizing Drai. I have better things to do in life than read through 42 pages trying to find some geezers opinion on things as he screams at the clouds.

Where did I absolve Skinner? I plainly stated I wanted an upgrade at the TDL, but fact is we have him and the team constructed around cheap tending, and our big guns haven't performed up to snuff for stretches in the last couple games. I guess if anything I'm absolving Skinner because it's management's fault for not getting an upgrade. But we can't change it now, can only play the games with what we have.

When the team spends 20 million on 2 fwds, or 9.25 on a Dman, those guys get held to a higher standard than the cheapest goaltending duo in the playoffs. I don't harp on every mistake they make, but stuff like not capitalizing on a 5 minute PP in overtime, Connor not having a shot through 2 periods, Draisaitl giving the puck away needlessly all game and blowing a shift change leading to a GA, the whole team going limp with 15 seconds left AGAIN. All things that you just can't have considering their roles on this team, and if they didnt happen, the final 15 seconds might not even matter. You expect a 2.6 million dollar goaltender to let in some weak ones, or to not play a complete defensive breakdown properly. You don't expect a 12+ million dollar forward to give the puck away all night and be a part of the problem for multiple goals against.

At the very least, one of those 2 guys needs to look like the most dangerous guy on the ice every night. Can we say that for this series? I don't think so. I don't expect perfect robots, I expect the play they have shown us they are capable of.

I like how your "reasonable" take is absolving McDrai, the leaders of this team, of any responsibility for poor showings the last 2 games, yet if anyone says anything besides "Skinner is a clown" you have a hissy fit.

Another for the ignore bin.

 

[BlackDogg]

Would if we crash the hard drive and reset it??

 

[Jarvi]

and yet you’re suggesting players aren’t playing to their (otherworldly) standard.

Wouldn’t that standard be set by or based on performance in previously played/past games?

Sure, if you wanna be intentionally daft that's the same thing.

You are just saying because Skinner has bad numbers previously, he has to be at fault for this game too. Everyone in the world knows Stu isn't good enough, due to his past play that you noted, but there is nothing that can be done about that now. Thing is, we also know how good McDrai can be, which they haven't been at that level for long stretches the past couple games. That can be changed, certainly also played a part in the loss before just the final moments, and is a more interesting discussion than just crying about Skinner for the 1000th time.

 

[Jarvi]

Another for the ignore bin.

Need your safe space eh?