McFlyingV
Registered User
He's the perfect 12/13th forward when this team is healthy. A guy you can cycle in and out of the lineup to keep depth guys fresh and not banged up during playoffs.
Post-Game Talk: Oilers beat the Knights
- Thread starter tardigrade81
- Start date
TheNumber4
Registered User
- Nov 11, 2011
- 46,214
- 57,531
Bonus Attribute: He teaches our guys gamesmanship in the playoffs too. Like a bonus Assistant Coach.
McFlyingV
Registered User
Leafs have got there on excellent goaltending as well. The Oilers are at that mark with essentially average goaltending. I'm not sure how likely Stolarz/Woll are to keep this up over a full season. I guess we'll see.
TopShelfGloveSide
Registered User
- Dec 10, 2018
- 20,527
- 29,996
guymez
The Seldom Seen Kid
- Mar 3, 2004
- 34,833
- 15,462
I agree.
The Oilers went through stretches of poor puck management and sloppy coverage.
Bouchard for example was bad against Minnesota and he was bad defensively again in this game.
I dont really want to critique a win too much (especially against Vegas) but the score in this game was not a reflection of the game at all.
Far be it for me to cirticize McDavids and Draisaitls offensive game but these passes (into the the centre of the ice) to no one in particular have to stop. They are just so damaging in terms of creating chances for the opposition. Also didnt like McDavids half assed back checking in this game.
Obviously there was some good though...seeing the team pump 6 goals past Hill was very satisifying.
The boys were getting the boucnes in this game.
Liked Hymans game as well...same with Brown and Kapanen.
Laser shot by Nuge as well.
Nurse looked good in this game.
Aside from his puck handling gaffe Skinner was very good in this game.
I liked their game in Minnesota better than their game tonight but beating Vegas 6-3 feels pretty damn good.
TheNumber4
Registered User
- Nov 11, 2011
- 46,214
- 57,531
guymez
The Seldom Seen Kid
- Mar 3, 2004
- 34,833
- 15,462
Completely agree...especially with the bolded.
I posted after the last time they played Vegasthat they needed to exploit them off the rush because of how good Vegas is in their own zone once they get set up.
TheNumber4
Registered User
- Nov 11, 2011
- 46,214
- 57,531
Yup. Avoid their strengths, target their weaknesses. Panthers were stifling us in zone too in games 1-3. We broke through when we started exploiting them off the rush in Game 4.
McFlyingV
Registered User
I'm still confused how he didn't get a penalty. I was at the game so I didn't see the broadcast, but he skated over and sat in the penalty box for a minute and then they just randomly let him out and said no penalty? Lmao.
McFlyingV
Registered User
It's more than just a philosophy tbh. It was getting out from those anchors Ceci and Vinny who had terrible lateral mobility, handled the puck like a grenade, and couldn't make a breakout pass to save their life. Every D on this blue line can skate and move the puck. That is the philosophy I always wanted when building this roster and they finally seem to get it.
TheNumber4
Registered User
- Nov 11, 2011
- 46,214
- 57,531
On TV. He went into the box. Cut to commercials. And he was back on the bench lol. Post game, Knob said he didn’t like the call, and he said the refs gave the reasoning “it wasn’t a penalty”. Which was a complete non answer and shows what a joke this League is.
During the ensuing play too after a whistle, they showed Ekholm with a mouth full for the Ref, and the ref replying with a one word answer, barely acknowledging him. Can’t read lips but looked like the refs just blew him off.
bobbythebrain
Registered User
- Jul 30, 2016
- 14,202
- 14,068
Go watch the last 15 games last year. It's lazy posting to say it was Ceci. Nurse LITRALLY defaulted to Ceci. From the reverse passes to the breakout...he RELIED on Ceci waaaaaaay too much.
The difference right now is NOT his d partner...it's him.
What you're NOT seeing is .....
Needless reverses
Needless up the boards icing
Needless screen the goalie with a tutor shooter stance
Needless skate low goal line forced pass
Blaming Ceci is such a cop out. Nurse was a tire fire last year. His current success is b/c he literally doing opposite now
Like all analytics folks were saying- he needed to be unchained from Ceci. His numbers with and away from Ceci were mind boggling
McFlyingV
Registered User
Trading Ceci was the best thing to ever happen to this team. Puck retrieval and zone exit black hole.
He was pretty consistently at the bottom of these charts the last couple years, but now he’s usually near the top.
Unbelievable how much he’s turned his game around. Been playing better than Ekholm for a solid run of 10 games or so, which is something I never thought I would say. Kudos to him for stepping up, because I didn’t think he had it in him.
CanadasTeam99
Registered User
- Jul 22, 2024
- 2,736
- 2,938
Yes. The leafs actually don't have good metrics. They are higher in the standings than they should be. They have not looked good for weeks but fluked out some wins
Goaltending has been very good as a whole.
Nobody can really generate offense besides 4/5 guys tops
It makes no sense
I know they review for high sticking now
If it wasn't a penalty, why did you send him to the box?
Like, what happened? Did they just keep bitching and the refs changed their minds.
Absolutely atrocious there. Why would ekholm just flop and maybe injure himself in a 5-0 game
McFlyingV
Registered User
Oilers top 4 has been excellent recently. It has taken a lot of pressure off them rushing to find the perfect D fit. I like Stetcher as our #7, but I still think one more rangy puck mover on the backend would put this group over the top. Bonus if they can find that guy with a bit of size and physicality to his game. I think there are multiple options out there that would fit in well. I mean right now Kulak is playing like the player they had planned to go out and get at the deadline. If you add that player your depth on the blue line just becomes that much stronger if Kulak keeps this up.
The Panther
Registered User
Weird game. When it was 5 - 0, it should have been about 3 - 2. Then, suddenly, it was 5 - 3.
Anyway, take the win, but it was a little disappointing that the Oilers' defensive game went out the window in the second period. They've been so strong in that area.
McDavid was not himself in this one. He seemed mentally engaged, but physically he just wasn't all there -- lots of flubbed passes and so on. We need some hapless club to gift Connor a six-point game or whatever, so he can get back to the top of scoring.
Speaking of scoring, how long can Drai keep up this torrid pace?
That pass by Nurse to Leon was some sweet sauce.
Anyway, take the win, but it was a little disappointing that the Oilers' defensive game went out the window in the second period. They've been so strong in that area.
McDavid was not himself in this one. He seemed mentally engaged, but physically he just wasn't all there -- lots of flubbed passes and so on. We need some hapless club to gift Connor a six-point game or whatever, so he can get back to the top of scoring.
Speaking of scoring, how long can Drai keep up this torrid pace?
That pass by Nurse to Leon was some sweet sauce.
yukoner88
Registered User
TheNumber4
Registered User
- Nov 11, 2011
- 46,214
- 57,531
Nurse is taking ownership and responsibilities of his job now knowing he has to be the guy when he is out there. If Ekholm goes down, Nurse can play 30 minutes on the top pair. Hope that doesnt happen. I think he has grown and learned a lot from ekholm.
If he keeps this up, he would outplay his 9mill contract and would be a bargain at 9mill. That is the only way we win the cup, both draisaitl and Nurse playing above what they are worth and draisaitl is already doing exactly that!
Sorry man but you're delusional if you don't think that Ceci was a bad match for Nurse. I'm not entirely blaming Ceci, some of Nurse's issues were definitely on Nurse, but Nurse's numbers away from Ceci have always been better. The proof is in the pudding.
