Post-Game Talk: Oilers die on the Hill

[McFlyingV]

Good, hope that means Hyman is back. Bye Drake.

Drakes fine as a 14th forward, but will be nice to get Hyman back, who I think will take off offensively when that happens.

I'm really excited to see this forward group when they're fully healthy with Kane back.

 

[Soundwave]

Hyman was hurt but he totally wasn't gonna miss the boys trip to Vegas huh, lol.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Still annoys me Knoblauch didn't play Skinner Drai Arvidsson for the trio to gain chemistry and be familiar with each other until the last shit of the preseason.

We don't just do well against Hill. It's a sad fact and why I'd want to avoid VGK in a best of 7.


I love Janny as much as the next fan, but the guy's a bottom 6 player and it should stay that way. It'd be like when they played Janmark over Holloway in a top 6 role. Dumb as shit. There's no good reasons why a guy who has scored as much as Skinner has every year to be allocated to a bottom 6 checking role with Janmark and Henrique. Doesn't do anything to help him or the team offensively, and this team needs that offensive juice.

Henrique and Janmark are better players than Skinner is. In terms of all round play and utility. These aren't terrible guys to learn from actually. Straight up as well Henrique is just a better player than Skinner and one that has been the best player on his team in a SC final. J Skinner can't even get a team in the playoffs. Sorry but I am callng this out. Maybe not intended but you make it sound like Skinner is playing with some kind of awful players. Skinner doesn't have even the most pts on that line.

I sure didn't want to see Drai with both Skinner and Arviddson. Thats like playing with two Arjen Robbens that fall down a lot. maybe on paper a line like that seems neat. It wouldn't be. Against big clubs like tonight that line would get hammered.

 

[MessierII]

But we don't desperately need goals on December 3rd.

Not the end of the world on a night like this, just saying. If Skinner continues to work he'll get his looks but he won't be getting them free of charge here. I respect that actually and it will force him to be a better player. Meanwhile every forward on this team not named McD or Drai should be looking at the example of Janmark. What a 200ft game that guy is bringing. he's our third best forward. That shouldn't be happening.

Janmark is always solid I love that guy. He’s the model of consistency. To me I just don’t see how you can keep stapling Nugent Hopkins to McDavid and have him be like .5 PPG while continuing to play a 6 time 30 goal scorer in your bottom 6. Again I get what your saying and I’m all for sending a message when you have functional scoring but we haven’t had that all year and it’s been well over 20 games now.

 

[TheNumber4]

Not concerned, Oilers continue to run every team out of the rink. Once they're firing on all cylinders they're going to be better than last year's team, and significantly. Hyman and Arvidsson back makes a big difference, Skinner will move back up the lineup too and get it going. I think they kept him with Henrique and Janmark because they were legitimately good tonight, but when healthy move him up into the top six and put Nuge with Kane and someone else.

Skinner is recovering in net, has looked good for 5 straight. Tough break tonight but Oilers will win a ton of games if he keeps playing this way.

Yeh we are still dominating possession. You’d think once execution and finishing catches up to where it needs to be we’d be a wagon.

 

[McAsuno]

Yeah, they've been doing this way too much this season and I think it's part of the reason our offense has taken a step back. Like if you're up by a few goals by all means play on the perimeter but when you need a goal it's not going to get you one.

Sometimes hard work >>>>> talent. I've rarely seen the team go for that greasy rebound type of goal by crashing the net this year. Hockey 101 basis. Get pucks deep, crash the net, and potentially reward yourself.

We know this is a team that will look to make a picasso every time in the offensive zone, teams are just scouting them more this year and looking to take away pet plays.

Knob is not making any adjustments, other than throwing McDavid and Draisaitl back together when all else fails.

He's simply not doing a good job of coaching the offensive side of the ice this year. Other teams coaches are making adjustments and are doing more homework when preparing to play us, Knob's got f*** all in response.

I've been frustrated with Knob since preseason. How it took the 2nd last preseason game for Drai to be playing with Skinner and Arvidsson was so f***ing annoying to see. Reeks of Woodcroft's negligence of not having the team ready either during preseason.

 

[nexttothemoon]

Problem (well one of them) with the team is that they lack the fire/desire to actually push hard and go to the net for greasy goals... pound the puck at the net and get deflections/tips/rebounds etc.

Not enough willingness to go into dirty areas and muck it up.

You could feel that Vegas was going to be able to lock this down from early on in the game because the Oilers don't get determined and push hard until it's too late... and sure enough with a few minutes left the Oilers push hard and get some decent pressure on Vegas... but too little too late.

Oilers are suffering from a lack of players that will get dirty and hopefully Arvidsson/Kane/Hyman can bring that back into the lineup when they return as they are really missing that element right now.

It's hard to beat NHL goalies cleanly without getting dirty and getting some junk goals off deflections/tips etc... and that's one of the biggest problems with this Oilers team this year.

Hyman having a massive regression year (predictable after everything went in for him last season).. Kane out with injuries (which we knew would make a big hole on the roster in terms of grit/swagger and someone who can and will get dirty when needed) and ineffective additions in Skinner/Arvidsson/Henrique has left this team in a very average position overall this year... far from the #1 contender that this team is supposed to be.

Goaltending has been weak to average... offense has been below average and the only bright spot overall is team D. Special teams are improving somewhat but still below average overall as well which doesn't help.

This Oilers team is really well scouted by opposing teams/coaches and there's no freebies out there and the team as comprised isn't as good overall as last season offensively BUT the defense is as good or better... which at least gives some hope that they can get back to at least a slightly above average team eventually.

 

[TheNumber4]

Also the way they started that first period ... some of the boys defo were out "enjoying" Vegas last yesterday, lol.

Looked like a hangover start to me. Considering they came off a 3 game win streak…. Very likely. Wonder if McD had to get the beers….

 

[Soundwave]

Henrique and Janmark are better players than Skinner is. In terms of all round play and utility. These aren't terrible guys to learn from actually. Straight up as well Henrique is just a better player than Skinner and one that has been the best player on his team in a SC final. J Skinner can't even get a team in the playoffs. Sorry but I am callng this out. Maybe not intended but you make it sound like Skinner is playing with some kind of awful players. Skinner has the least pts on that line. Inconvenient truth.

I sure didn't want to see Drai with both Skinner and Arviddson. Thats like playing with two Arjen Robbens that fall down a lot. maybe on paper a line like that seems neat. It wouldn't be. Against big clubs like tonight that line would get hammered.

I mean I'm sorry but this is just stupid. Your GM signs those guys, none of those three players have played together in their careers, and you don't give them any time in the pre-season to get any chemistry going.

It's bad coaching, plain and simple. Knob could've just f***ed off and let some random superfan run training camp and they probably would've made no difference and/or they'd have come into the season more prepared.

 

[Cloned]

Hyman was hurt but he totally wasn't gonna miss the boys trip to Vegas huh, lol.

Hyman is the least likely on the team to partake in any shenanigans lol.

 

[McAsuno]

Henrique and Janmark are better players than Skinner is. In terms of all round play and utility. These aren't terrible guys to learn from actually. Straight up as well Henrique is just a better player than Skinner and one that has been the best player on his team in a SC final. J Skinner can't even get a team in the playoffs. Sorry but I am callng this out. Maybe not intended but you make it sound like Skinner is playing with some kind of awful players.

I sure didn't want to see Drai with both Skinner and Arviddson. Thats like playing with two Arjen Robbens that fall down a lot. maybe on paper a line like that seems neat. It wouldn't be. Against big clubs like tonight that line would get hammered.

I'm not saying Henrique or Janmark are awful players. All 3 have their warts and goods. However, you don't put somebody like Skinner who's known to put the puck in a net in his career to be neutered in a bottom 6 checking role with two other checkers. Just like how Connor Brown shouldn't be in a top 6 role but is relatively fine in a bottom 6 where his game fits in a bottom 6 role.

 

[TheNumber4]

Hyman was hurt but he totally wasn't gonna miss the boys trip to Vegas huh, lol.

Can you blame him?

But we don't desperately need goals on December 3rd.

Not the end of the world on a night like this, just saying. If Skinner continues to work he'll get his looks but he won't be getting them free of charge here. I respect that actually and it will force him to be a better player. Meanwhile every forward on this team not named McD or Drai should be looking at the example of Janmark. What a 200ft game that guy is bringing. he's our third best forward. That shouldn't be happening.

Janny hitting another level for sure. Confidence brimming in his game. Maybe he really like that NHL fastest skater stat. Should be proud of that, it’s a fast league.

 

[McAsuno]

Also good on Doc. I've crapped on him a lot, but his game's been great lately. Keep it up.

 

[Yuke]

You didn't even watch the game did you? Vegas were terrible with the puck, nervous half the night like it was a hand grenade. Refusal to go to the dirty areas? They did. Vegas contain decently and Hill is really good at boxing out. Not a new thing. But on one play alone McD carves through 4 Vegas players tight to their net in a box and gets a scoring chance.

Lost to so you as usual is the opponent had 2 scoring chances all night. Oilers dominated the whole game.

Hill said in his post game interview that was the Knights best defensive game this year

 

[Drivesaitl]

I'm not saying Henrique or Janmark are awful players. All 3 have their warts and goods. However, you don't put somebody like Skinner who's known to put the puck in a net in his career to be neutered in a bottom 6 checking role with two other checkers. Just like how Connor Brown shouldn't be in a top 6 role but is relatively fine in a bottom 6 where he's fine.

Somebody like Skinner is overestimated. I would straight up have a player like Toffoli 10/10 because that player has been a warrior and strong and opportunistic and can score more from range. Thing is on the whole Skinner has never been a great player. He's a guy that scores some goals while cheating for offense. On bad teams that are played lightly. This is nothing like the look here.

Its harder for players with middling strength to score on a contender. This is what Eberle showed here too. Soon as the team got good, and was being played hard things dried up for him. He's the same kind of stature and strength and player Skinner is.

Anybody that thought Skinner was going to be getting 30 here, I was dispelling that kind of thinking before season started. Skinner has never been on a team, ever, that opponents take seriously. Anywhere he's been he see's loose checking and coverage to get all those goals. Not what life is like here.

Its strange too we're talking about this in a game in which Skinner was manhandled on 3 scoring chances. Just not strong enough to get clean shots off.

 

[harpoon]

Also amazes me that VGK is once again full of Lady Byng worthy players. Officials kept their whistles in the whole f***ing night lol. Same old shit from this league when it comes to the golden child of bettman.

Usually I’d agree, but the mustard clowns didn’t get a PP either. And I saw a few plays that could have easily been called against the Oilers on another night.

 

[McAsuno]

Hill said in his post game interview that was the Knights best defensive game this year

Truth be told: the Oilers made it easy for the knights and him by playing perimeter hockey until the last few minutes.
Maybe one day, the coaches will review tapes of games against VGK and realize playing perimeter will not work against a defensive-minded hockey club in VGK

 

[Drivesaitl]

Hill said in his post game interview that was the Knights best defensive game this year

I can't agree. I doubt the coach would see it that way. In own zone yes, Vegas were collapsing as is their plan. But their NZ game tonight was horrible and good defensive clubs should never be that bad in NZ. We owned the NZ. We were getting clean rushes, clean gains of the blueline. We weren't giving the Knights that all night.

 

[Old Boys Club]

Usually I’d agree, but the mustard clowns didn’t get a PP either. And I saw a few plays that could have easily been called against the Oilers on another night.

This just seemed like one of the predetermined 'put the whistle away' games.

 

[Yuke]

Bit confused on why Podkolzin was taken off the 1st line, especially since he had the hot hand lately

I can't agree. I doubt the coach would see it that way. In own zone yes, Vegas were collapsing as is their plan. But their NZ game tonight was horrible and good defensive clubs should never be that bad in NZ. We owned the NZ. We were getting clean rushes, clean gains of the blueline. We weren't giving the Knights that all night.

But very few clean shots. They jammed the shooting lanes like most teams do to us now

 

[Soundwave]

Somebody like Skinner is overestimated. I would straight up have a player like Toffoli 10/10 because that player has been a warrior and strong and opportunistic and can score more from range. Thing is on the whole Skinner has never been a great player. He's a guy that scores some goals while cheating for offense. On bad teams that are played lightly. This is nothing like the look here.

Its harder for players with middling strength to score on a contender. This is what Eberle showed here too. Soon as the team got good, and was being played hard things dried up for him. He's the same kind of stature and strength and player Skinner is.

Anybody that thought Skinner was going to be getting 30 here, I was dispelling that kind of thinking before season started. Skinner has never been on a team, ever, that opponents take seriously. Anywhere he's been he see's loose checking and coverage to get all those goals. Not what life is like here.

Its strange too we're talking about this in a game in which Skinner was manhandled on 3 scoring chances. Just not strong enough to get clean shots off.

I'd like to have a prime Wayne Gretzky while we're wishing and dreaming of things, a coach's job is to utilize the players he's got and put them in the best positions to succeed. Jeff Skinner may not be good at 500 different things but he can score the puck if given a fair chance.

Petr Klima was in the Oilers dog house too, but all it takes is 15 seconds for a goal scoring winner to dramatically alter say a Stanley Cup Finals. It's a scorer's touch. When Knob actually wins a Cup, he can act like he's Tortorella with player accountability, until then he might want to not enjoy the smell of his farts too much.

You're a young coach, you can be fired so fast it'll make your head spin (go ask the last guy). Don't be stupid, start coaching the offensive of the game and stop with playing freaking Connor Brown in the top 6 over Skinner and Corey Perry on the PP over Skinner. You're just being an idiot of a coach doing that.

 

[Drivesaitl]

This just seemed like one of the predetermined 'put the whistle away' games.

The refs were in vegas too. Read how you will. heh. They were probably hammered or getting hammered and taking the night off. They may as well not even have been on the ice. Call the game from the third row with brewskies.

 

[TheNumber4]

Since Nov 9th or something because the game before was probably repulsive lol

I can see the Oiler braindead braintrust calling intot he SNET truck

"Quick! SHow a graphic of how Skinner is trending up! "

SN takes every chance it gets to shit on Oilers. I doubt they care about the GMs narrative shaping or whatever.

 

[McAsuno]

Somebody like Skinner is overestimated. I would straight up have a player like Toffoli 10/10 because that player has been a warrior and strong and opportunistic and can score more from range. Thing is on the whole Skinner has never been a great player. He's a guy that scores some goals while cheating for offense. On bad teams that are played lightly. This is nothing like the look here.

Its harder for players with middling strength to score on a contender. This is what Eberle showed here too. Soon as the team got good, and was being played hard things dried up for him. He's the same kind of stature and strength and player Skinner is.

Anybody that thought Skinner was going to be getting 30 here, I was dispelling that kind of thinking before season started. Skinner has never been on a team, ever, that opponents take seriously. Anywhere he's been he see's loose checking and coverage to get all those goals. Not what life is like here.

Its strange too we're talking about this in a game in which Skinner was manhandled on 3 scoring chances. Just not strong enough to get clean shots off.

Don't think I can agree with the Eberle statement. Yes, his playoffs here was awful, but he's been relatively fine after with other teams. Was a damn mistake trading him after one bad playoffs season.

Whether or not you think Skinner would pot 30 goals here or not doesn't still justify him playing him in a bottom 6 role IMO. If I'm gonna have a one-dimensional player who's primarily known to play offensively and score, I'd put him in that spot to succeed especially with the likes of McDavid or Draisaitl as the center on his line. Him being put in a bottom 6 role doesn't do shit to help the team in any way offensively whatsoever. I already had to watch Connor Brown put pucks on goalie chest pads or firing pucks and missing the net completely last regular season. Do we have to stomach that again?

 

[Drivesaitl]

I'd like to have a prime Wayne Gretzky while we're wishing and dreaming of things, a coach's job is to utilize the players he's got and put them in the best positions to succeed. Jeff Skinner may not be good at 500 different things but he can score the puck if given a fair chance.

Petr Klima was in the Oilers dog house too, but all it takes is 15 seconds for a goal scoring winner to dramatically alter say a Stanley Cup Finals. It's a scorer's touch. When Knob actually wins a Cup, he can act like he's Tortorella with player accountability, until then he might want to not enjoy the smell of his farts too much.

You're a young coach, you can be fired so fast it'll make your head spin (go ask the last guy). Don't be stupid, start coaching the offensive of the game and stop with playing freaking Connor Brown in the top 6 over Skinner and Corey Perry on the PP over Skinner. You're just being an idiot of a coach doing that.

The Oilers are well coached for the most part and outplaying and outshooting clubs almost every game. Theres some roster problems on the team and also injury problems. But we were 5-1-1 coming into the game and playing pretty well. The game in Colorado was a master class. Oilers played well tonight too and didn't give Vegas anything.