Pre-Game Talk: Oil vs Rat - The Sequel

[alphahelix]

Insane that it took 10 years, their early days here were utterly bungled. I don’t even wanna utter his name… P.C. Load Letter? WTF does that man

 

[94 Oil Drops]

Met a guy at the golf course today who has been to EVERY playoff game the last 3 seasons. Unreal. Obviously the bank account has to be stacked to accomplish that. But still. EVERY game. Flying all across North America to see every game. Said the Dallas fans were pretty chill. Florida were pretty hit and miss last year. Wild stuff.

Meanwhile I haven't even gone to 1 playoff game in my entire life. Having lots of money must be nice.

 

[TB12]

NHL just killing any and all playoff momentum and excitement with this excruciatingly long break. I can honestly say that if the Oilers weren't in it I wouldn't tune in for a second. Summer is way too nice and way too f***ing short to be inside watching 2 teams I don't give a shit about. Start the season in September and hand the Cup out end of May. End of June is just f***ed.

Obvs because it's the Oil I won't miss a second and will live and die and clench and unclench 2 million times per game. But f*** sakes, let's get this series started.

 

[joestevens29]

NHL just killing any and all playoff momentum and excitement with this excruciatingly long break. I can honestly say that if the Oilers weren't in it I wouldn't tune in for a second. Summer is way too nice and way too f***ing short to be inside watching 2 teams I don't give a shit about. Start the season in September and hand the Cup out end of May. End of June is just f***ed.

Obvs because it's the Oil I won't miss a second and will live and die and clench and unclench 2 million times per game. But f*** sakes, let's get this series started.

NBA doing a good job at it too. My only guess is they are trying to play as close to the drafts as possible, to make them relevant with the viewers

 

[PaPaDee]

I don’t think the Panthers are as strong on faceoffs as Dallas? That could be helpful.

 

[MikeS24]

I don’t think the Panthers are as strong on faceoffs as Dallas? That could be helpful.

Frederic is highest, but sample size is small

Then Barkov who is almost 58% with over 300 faceoff attempts

As a team, Florida has been 3rd last 5v5 this playoffs. Edmonton was 11th, not a ton better.

PP Edmonton has been 7th Florida 14th

PK Edmonton has been 11th Florida 14th

So besides Barkov, Edmonton has been better this playoffs. Dallas ruined our stats it seems like

 

[MikeS24]

Meanwhile I haven't even gone to 1 playoff game in my entire life. Having lots of money must be nice.

Ya I moved away a couple years, but I haven't gone to a playoff game since horcoff OT against SJ 2006
My wife wanted to get me tickets last year for gathers day game 6 Florida I said no

 

[SaltNPeca]

Oilers in 5 Crew Checking IN!!!

Drop the puck, we want the CUP!

 

[PaPaDee]

Hard to justify spending $1,000’s on playoff tickets when I can watch in my basement with friends and much cheaper drinks.

 

[OilerFanInLangley]

NHL just killing any and all playoff momentum and excitement with this excruciatingly long break. I can honestly say that if the Oilers weren't in it I wouldn't tune in for a second. Summer is way too nice and way too f***ing short to be inside watching 2 teams I don't give a shit about. Start the season in September and hand the Cup out end of May. End of June is just f***ed.

Obvs because it's the Oil I won't miss a second and will live and die and clench and unclench 2 million times per game. But f*** sakes, let's get this series started.

I think it's great from the POV of having healthier, more rested teams in the finals.

This is hockey's greatest stage, it should have healthy players going at it, at 100%, not 18 guys on each team just running on fumes and hobbling across the finish line. No excuses. Let's go.

 

[CupofOil]

I think home ice can be beneficial later in the series once the teams settle into the series and figure each other out but it could be a detriment early in the series with the pressure immediately on the home team to start and all the comforts that come with the team being home. I almost wish the Oilers were starting on the road. I think this group is nature enough now to handle it but I'm a little nervous about them starting at home.

 

[MikeS24]

Need to burn them on the puck retrievals

 

[MikeS24]

 

[foshizzle]

Yeah I don't buy it either, but McDavid has looked pretty darn healthy through the playoffs actually. Why would you leave after 10 mins though, makes no sense. Especially if you leave right after talking to the trainers. Something is up for certain.

He may be feeling a bit under the weather. He didn’t look injured the last game and none of talking heads said anything happened at practice.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

Barkov win the Selke

hopefully Drai takes that personally

 

[MikeS24]

Barkov win the Selke

hopefully Drai takes that personally

Such a lazy award to give out. Reputation based. Reinhart voted #2

 

[KCC]

Florida’s third line is pretty stacked. What do you think edm will counter with?

 

[K1984]

Need to burn them on the puck retrievals

This is the Achilles heel for them that is a pretty big one and goes mostly unrecognized/not discussed.

If they don't win a vast majority of those races and puck battles low on their dumps, they don't really have a lot of other ways to generate offence or possession 5v5. If they start losing this battle (as they did decisively in Games 4-6 last year), they are forced to revert into a shell and try to win 2-1 like they did in Game 7. Is it possible to win this way? 100% it is, but its very, very difficult to do that over 7 games especially when we can burn you on the PP even if closed down 5v5.

When you look at last year's series, I feel like we lost all of the first 3 games for no reason other than we just weren't ready for the stage and basically had nails starting to go into the coffin before we figured it out. Once we actually settled ourselves down we won 3 games and they won 1. If we don't allow ourselves to fall into a hole again (and I would be stunned if we did), it is going to be very difficult for them to win 4 games.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

I think home ice can be beneficial later in the series once the teams settle into the series and figure each other out but it could be a detriment early in the series with the pressure immediately on the home team to start and all the comforts that come with the team being home. I almost wish the Oilers were starting on the road. I think this group is nature enough now to handle it but I'm a little nervous about them starting at home.

I think getting off to a good start is imperative in the SCF, can't get out to a 2-0 or 3-0 hole like they have in the past
despite Florida being a good road team, home ice gives us the best chance at doing that

 

[1981 Oilers]

That’s pretty cool.

can u imagine how heavy those pads got when they got wet

 

[1981 Oilers]

Hard to justify spending $1,000’s on playoff tickets when I can watch in my basement with friends and much cheaper drinks.

I hear ya. Id love to go as well but I have to factor in flights and hotel as well

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

Say what you will, this should make a big difference. Leon didn't start the playoffs healthy, but he's healthier than starting last year's final.

 

[bucks_oil]

This is the Achilles heel for them that is a pretty big one and goes mostly unrecognized/not discussed.

If they don't win a vast majority of those races and puck battles low on their dumps, they don't really have a lot of other ways to generate offence or possession 5v5. If they start losing this battle (as they did decisively in Games 4-6 last year), they are forced to revert into a shell and try to win 2-1 like they did in Game 7. Is it possible to win this way? 100% it is, but its very, very difficult to do that over 7 games especially when we can burn you on the PP even if closed down 5v5.

When you look at last year's series, I feel like we lost all of the first 3 games for no reason other than we just weren't ready for the stage and basically had nails starting to go into the coffin before we figured it out. Once we actually settled ourselves down we won 3 games and they won 1. If we don't allow ourselves to fall into a hole again (and I would be stunned if we did), it is going to be very difficult for them to win 4 games.

Not to mention... Walman and Klingberg are generally speed and puck-movement upgrades over the guys they are replacing vs the finals last year (Ceci, Broberg).

It should be difficult for them to hem us in on dump ins unless they get a clean recovery, the puck will be moving the other direction more quickly this year.

 

[iCanada]

NHL just killing any and all playoff momentum and excitement with this excruciatingly long break. I can honestly say that if the Oilers weren't in it I wouldn't tune in for a second. Summer is way too nice and way too f***ing short to be inside watching 2 teams I don't give a shit about. Start the season in September and hand the Cup out end of May. End of June is just f***ed.

Obvs because it's the Oil I won't miss a second and will live and die and clench and unclench 2 million times per game. But f*** sakes, let's get this series started.

I think it's a US TV thing, tbh.

Hard to sell and market a matchup to non fans with a quick turn around. Takes a little bit of time to close deals on advertising, etc.

 

[Bumblebee Man]

Say what you will, this should make a big difference. Leon didn't start the playoffs healthy, but he's healthier than starting last year's final.

Got blasted early on saying McDavid coasted alot this year.

Dude complained of fatigue 2 years running. It was pretty evident he picked and chose his battles carefully throughout the season, especially late.

Even at 4N it was clear. He came out flying but once he got popped twice, he dialed it down looking for the break pass and stayed with the play instead of infront. His style and rushes changed