Oilers are good at hockey again: Back in the plofs

[Soundwave]

Yet somehow the Oilers had the best 5v5 numbers in the league. He can only do so much - if the shooters and goaltenders are going through a rough patch, and their confidence drops, the team is going to have some really ugly looking games where guys stop trusting each other and things look terrible. But he can only keep pushing them to continue outplaying their opponent.

Woodcroft was fine at coaching run n' gun offense, but his defensive coaching always kind of sucked.

 

[McFlyingV]

Scary team they actually have depth under Mcdavid for the first time.

Will be interesting to see what they add at the deadline. This is the best depth I've seen on this team since the 06 cup run, and that team didn't have a McDavid or Draisaitl (although they did have a Pronger). Still a few areas they should probably try to upgrade on with their 1st and/or 2nd rounder and a prospect or 2 heading the other way.

 

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Cheers

 

[TheNumber4]

Bet you $10 PK Subban wasn't watching

In fairness, it takes alot of time to pick out his ugly outfits. He doesn’t have time to watch the Oilers game.

Scary team they actually have depth under Mcdavid for the first time.

Depth was like last year. It’s defence that’s the true scary part.

 

[Mathew Barzal]

The world’s a better place when McDavid is on a good team. Hope I get to see my Canucks take him on this year in the playoffs!

 

[Zenos]

The world’s a better place when McDavid is on a good team. Hope I get to see my Canucks take him on this year in the playoffs!

That would be a really fun series.

For whatever reason, the two teams don‘t have a ton of playoff history. Vancouver vs Calgary had some great matchups and of course there‘s the battle of Alberta… but rarely Oilers vs Canucks. That should change

 

[Cloned]

Yet somehow the Oilers had the best 5v5 numbers in the league. He can only do so much - if the shooters and goaltenders are going through a rough patch, and their confidence drops, the team is going to have some really ugly looking games where guys stop trusting each other and things look terrible. But he can only keep pushing them to continue outplaying their opponent.

Knob and Coffey have been a far better coaching duo for the Oilers than Woodcroft/Manson.

Coffey has done wonders for the defensemen, giving them confidence to make plays through the middle whereas Woodcroft/Manson had them forcing pucks along the boards.

Knob’s in-game adjustments have also been on point nearly every time. In the Toronto game he put McLeod out with McDrai and he scored the GWG. In tonight’s game he tweaked 3 of the lines entering the third period and each of those lines scored.

 

[syz]

I don't disagree that the Oilers were playing well despite their terrible record to start the season and some of it was just terrible goaltending and terrible finishing. But there was without a doubt way more catastrophic defensive mistakes that advanced stats can't account for. They give you a general idea of what happened in a game, but they can't tell you the drastic difference that exists between high danger chances, and Edmonton was creating some very bad high danger chances against for themselves.

The Oilers were getting plenty of those opportunities themselves but the opposing goalies were making the saves. If they hadn't been shooting at such low percentages they'd probably at least have won some more early season games 5-4 or whatever like before.

 

[Fishy McScales]

Scary team they actually have depth under Mcdavid for the first time.

Their depth isn't too different from a couple of years ago but it was neutered.

We now have a coach that doesn't run McDrai into the ground at the first sign of adversity and it's paying dividends.

 

[Czechboy]

It's getting to the point of ridiculous at this point.

Shitty first period
Low scoring games
Stingy D
Never lose

WTF is happening?

 

[Czechboy]

The low scoring games and not relying on McDrai to get a hat trick each is nice.

What I'm enjoying the most is that we have really strong periods afte really lousy ones. Several of the latest wins we've looked terrible. Then we come back and eventually look good. I assume that has to be coaching (and I was critical of firing Woodcroft)

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

Really makes you feel bad for Jay Woodcroft. The Oilers were the best 5v5 team in the league under him, they just couldn't finish and couldn't get the saves. Their poor puck luck cost him his job.

I'll disagree here...Woodcroft new system he implemented (zone D) that caused WAY too many High Danger chances and system breakdowns...thus the goalie's save % cratered

he's a good coach, but should have just stuck to the system he had last year

 

[Czechboy]

I would like to think this would end the 'one man team' and 'power play merchants' stuff'

However!

I fear this will just open up a new stream of McD sucks and isn't a top 10 player instead. Generational my ass.lol

 

[snag]

I would like to think this would end the 'one man team' and 'power play merchants' stuff'

However!

I fear this will just open up a new stream of McD sucks and isn't a top 10 player instead. Generational my ass.lol

They could finish with a 53 game winning streak carrying it through with a complete 16 game playoff sweep and ppl would still have negative to say about him and the Oilers.

That's life.

 

[Coffey]

They could finish with a 53 game winning streak carrying it through with a complete 16 game playoff sweep and ppl would still have negative to say about him and the Oilers.

That's life.

"heh yea let's see how they do in the 2024 pre-season games" - some Canuck fan

 

[Mav3rick07]

22-3-0 in our last 25 games. Those are video game numbers.

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

I checked the standings and they're #10 in the NHL. That's very impressive.

The coaching change saved their season.

 

[Czechboy]

 

[tfwnogf]

if I were Brown I wouldn't even want to score anymore, might release some bad voodoo on the team if he does

 

[Czechboy]

if I were Brown I wouldn't even want to score anymore, might release some bad voodoo on the team if he does

Yup, we get Perry and Brown starts scoring and we lose ten in a row. At least we'll know who to blame when this streak comes crashing down.

 

[Czechboy]

I like it.. maybe a coincidence but glad they didn't play Perry in Chicago.

I get it's McDrai but I feel like Knob is testing out combos and hope it's a temporary thing as I'm not a fan of McDrai together unless it's the end of a period or we are down. It's a great Nuclear Option.

 

[Hockeyholic]

Never seen a team do a 180 like this. Not even that Blues squad.

McDavid is on pace for his worst season. Yet, they are better as a team.

 

[CornKicker]

blackhawks fans, tonight is a good night to take your kids out for ice cream, clean the garage, get groceries whatever it is just dont watch this game its gonna get ugly

 

[PULSATING]

Honestly love the way McDavid is playing. Physical, good defensively, and still creating chances offensively. Rubs off on the whole team when your best player does that. Creates a more cohesive team as well when half the team isn't playing a different way.

Love his 1st period against Toronto a few weeks ago. Was just trucking them lol.

Guy's got a little Messier in him, let's hope it leads to more playoff success.

 

[Czechboy]

blackhawks fans, tonight is a good night to take your kids out for ice cream, clean the garage, get groceries whatever it is just dont watch this game its gonna get ugly

We are more than due for a loss... this run is stupid and not sustainable. Check the score after 2 periods and put the ice cream down if it's close.lol