Post-Game Talk: Oilers get ducked:

[Soundwave]

I'd say Pickard only let in 1 "bad" goal tonight....that 2-1 goal

1st goal was a brutal Drai giveaway right in the slot
3rd goal was a lucky bounce
4th goal was hilariously bad defense allowing MacTavish to stand all alone in front, without anyone giving a shit about him
5th goal was piss poor backchecking from Drai
6th goal was a breakaway (again)

This team can't have a bad goal against any more. Everything after the 3rd goal was gravy, the game was already over at that point and it was just a bunch of players cheating for offense.

We're having a bad goal against at a critical time almost every game ... this league is too good to weather that forever. If you wanted to know what the breaking point is ... well you're probably seeing it.

 

[guymez]

I'd say Pickard only let in 1 "bad" goal tonight....that 2-1 goal

1st goal was a brutal Drai giveaway right in the slot
3rd goal was a lucky bounce
4th goal was hilariously bad defense allowing MacTavish to stand all alone in front, without anyone giving a shit about him
5th goal was piss poor backchecking from Drai
6th goal was a breakaway (again)

I agree...1 potentially bad goal by Pickard.
I dont know how screened he was thats why I say potentially.

The rest of the goals are on the skaters. It was mind boggling just how bad their puck management and D zone coverage was. So many WTF moments.
It was truly embarassing to watch this team get demolished in their own barn by a non playoff team.

 

[Ritchie Valens]

Woodcroft knew what cost him his job, and it wasn't the skaters. I'm sure the skaters know it as well.

It was their confusing defensive scheme that no one knew who to cover or what to do. Coffey simplified it and the d-zone got better.

The score, frankly, flattered them. They look completely checked out, with no discernible reason or explanation why, and have looked that way for almost a month. WTF is wrong in that room, I've no idea. Deficient EVERYWHERE on the ice.. in net, with the coverage, in puck battles, puck management and decision making, in their preparation to play, in their work rate and effort... There is no way this team doesn't bow out in the first, if they even make it in at this point. Completely shambolic state of affairs -- this is after they managed to make it to first place, FFS.

There is something off about this team. Every time we bring in a new coach we get some pretty darn good results for about a year before the team tunes the coach out and plays terribly. Then we bring in a new coach and we go on a tear. Rinse and Repeat. It certainly looks like the players have tuned out the coaching staff at this point. I haven’t seen them look this bad since the start of the 2023/2024 season with Woodcroft at the helm.

Not much to say about the goaltending that hasn't already been said. It's bad, it's not going to get better, and the Oilers have no interest in addressing it this year.

I am concerned with the rest of the team though, they've completely fallen apart since January. We keep hearing the common refrain that "the team is sick" or "that player is sick", but team was badly declining in January and it has only snowballed since. Goaltending is a major deflating issue, but they've been dealing with that bullshit for a decade and now suddenly they can't? They all get back from the break and start playing like a pack of mental midgets to the point the coach is calling them fragile in the media? Not that the coach is exempt in any of this, his questionable lineup choices and favoritism has been a drag on this team all year.

This keeps up, they might actually get another coach fired

Shizuka, McDrai, Taurus: I said it in the GDT, coaches here have about a 125 game shelf life before they start getting tuned out. Tippett coached 171, Woodcroft 131 (or 133, one if the two) and now Knob is at 130.

They look and play just like they did when they started tuning Tippett & Woodcroft out. They’re coach killers and yes I will die on that hill.

 

[Oilhawks]

So you try Rodrigue next game now, right? At minimum?

Nope. 0 goaltending changes allowed. It’s been declared a non-issue

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

This team can't have a bad goal against any more. Everything after the 3rd goal was gravy, the game was already over at that point and it was just a bunch of players cheating for offense.

We're having a bad goal against at a critical time almost every game ... this league is too good to weather that forever. If you wanted to know what the breaking point is ... well you're probably seeing it.

is that why they gave up a breakaway 5 minutes into the game in a 0-0 tie? that was Pickard's 1st shot of the game....a breakaway
how many breakaways did the Ducks give up tonight? 0

 

[guymez]

is that why they gave up a breakaway 5 minutes into the game in a 0-0 tie? that was Pickard's 1st shot of the game....a breakaway
how many breakaways did the Ducks give up tonight? 0

Yup.
This (uncontested 10 bell scoring chances) is such an obvious issue at this point in time its baffling to me why so many posters cant see it.
Truly baffling.

Its not like goaltending isnt an issue (it is) but to deny the lack of defensive awareness and poor puck management and pretend that goaltending will solve that is laughable.

No doubt in my mind that if Smith was still the goalie he would have peeled the paint off the dressing room wall after MacTavish was allowed to stand in front of the net (without an Oilers player within 10 feet) for 5 seconds before scoring.
What kind of a contending team does shit like that.

 

[Soundwave]

is that why they gave up a breakaway 5 minutes into the game in a 0-0 tie? that was Pickard's 1st shot of the game....a breakaway
how many breakaways did the Ducks give up tonight? 0

It was a wonky bounce off the boards that got past Nurse who knowing him probably has rushed himself back from injury. It happens.

This team is at the end of the rope with the tandem they have. I think the team actually needs to start looking bigger than just this season, I don't think McDavid is signing an extension in the summer if this is what he has to work with in net here.

Now I'm not saying he's gone, but I don't think he's going to commit to the team in full either. He's going to have to weigh his options and probably will want to see what else is out there if this front office can't get it done. He doesn't have to resign here and can take himself to free agency and weigh pitches from other teams in 2026 ... do the Oilers really want to push their luck here?

 

[Drivesaitl]

I mean Florida went to back to back finals. Tampa went to 3 straight. I don’t buy it. I think it’s more old roster and regressing players.

A quote I really liked in late 2019/ early 2020 was from Victor Hedman.

During a Capitals vs Bolts game he said “they have what we want” it was in answer to what motivates him everyday

In 2020 regular season Tampa played with their hearts on their sleeves.

But those teams have complete rosters and not reliant on just a few players. Guys like Barkov, Tkachuk etc they don't even have to be much to get to where they do. Tkachuk had an ordinary final still won the cup. Those teams have complete rosters, can roll lines, and have lots of guys down the bench that can get it done.

McDrai have played most of their time here with stiched up bondo filler lineups. Its not at all the same sort of thing.

Even Vegas, a deep club MISSED the PLAYOFFS after getting to cup final.

Tampa are a poor example. Team only ever won the cup in Covid years in short very atypical seasons. Asterisk stuff. The Bubble playoffs year particularly.

 

[iCanada]

Not much to say about the goaltending that hasn't already been said. It's bad, it's not going to get better, and the Oilers have no interest in addressing it this year.

I am concerned with the rest of the team though, they've completely fallen apart since January. We keep hearing the common refrain that "the team is sick" or "that player is sick", but team was badly declining in January and it has only snowballed since. Goaltending is a major deflating issue, but they've been dealing with that bullshit for a decade and now suddenly they can't? They all get back from the break and start playing like a pack of mental midgets to the point the coach is calling them fragile in the media? Not that the coach is exempt in any of this, his questionable lineup choices and favoritism has been a drag on this team all year.

This keeps up, they might actually get another coach fired

No team looks good with shit Goaltending to be frank. We also went through a murderers row of opponents.

Second worst save percentage in the league in that time frame, coincidentally...

Meanwhile Skinner in that time frame, of the 32 goaltenders that have played the most minutes is dead last in SV% and second last in GA;

 

[Drivesaitl]

is that why they gave up a breakaway 5 minutes into the game in a 0-0 tie? that was Pickard's 1st shot of the game....a breakaway
how many breakaways did the Ducks give up tonight? 0

McD scored on a breakaway.

 

[Oilhawks]

But those teams have complete rosters and not reliant on just a few players. Guys like Barkov, Tkachuk etc they don't even have to be much to get to where they do. Tkachuk had an ordinary final still won the cup. Those teams have complete rosters, can roll lines, and have lots of guys down the bench that can get it done.

McDrai have played most of their time here with stiched up bondo filler lineups. Its not at all the same sort of thing.

Even Vegas, a deep club MISSED the PLAYOFFS after getting to cup final.

Tampa are a poor example. Team only ever won the cup in Covid years in short very atypical seasons. Asterisk stuff. The Bubble playoffs year particularly.

Could mirror the bolded if they don’t figure this out, pronto, unfortunately

 

[Soundwave]

I mean Florida went to back to back finals. Tampa went to 3 straight. I don’t buy it. I think it’s more old roster and regressing players.

A quote I really liked in late 2019/ early 2020 was from Victor Hedman.

During a Capitals vs Bolts game he said “they have what we want” it was in answer to what motivates him everyday

In 2020 regular season Tampa played with their hearts on their sleeves.

Florida, Tampa, and Pittsburgh have done it, but those are all exceptionally well built teams that have multiple layers of fail safes ... solid at forward, goalie, and D.

How many teams that are poorly constructed have gone to back to back Finals? *crickets*

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

It was a wonky bounce off the boards that got past Nurse who knowing him probably has rushed himself back from injury. It happens.

This team is at the end of the rope with the tandem they have. I think the team actually needs to start looking bigger than just this season, I don't think McDavid is signing an extension in the summer if this is what he has to work with in net here.

Now I'm not saying he's gone, but I don't think he's going to commit to the team in full either. He's going to have to weigh his options and probably will want to see what else is out there if this front office can't get it done. He doesn't have to resign here and can take himself to free agency and weigh pitches from other teams in 2026 ... do the Oilers really want to push their luck here?

based on what? this team was the best in the League from Nov 7th to February 7th....did they all of a sudden wake up one day decide to quit on their goalies?
gimme a break

 

[CupofOil]

Emberson. About all I got to add to list. Several former Oilers doing quite well..

All of them lol.
I suppose the playoffs will make or break these guys so maybe judgment will be better reserved for after the playoffs but, wow, the summer of JJ and Bowman could not have gone worse thus far.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Could mirror the bolded if they don’t figure this out, pronto, unfortunately

I think they get over that hurdle. But if the team doesn't find an identity and cohesion before playoffs we might even have trouble in first round.

Can't always be about only certain players getting it done. Draisaitl particularly has been around so much of the offense this year. Need some help. You'd need binoculars to spot Nuge in this game.

 

[OilersFanatics505]

Is it going to matter if the team forces Kane to rest until the playoffs if we miss it?

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

All of them lol.
I suppose the playoffs will make or break these guys so maybe judgment will be better reserved for after the playoffs but, wow, the summer of JJ and Bowman could not have gone worse thus far.

I think the writing's already on the wall. Can't score or stop other teams from scoring. Team didn't play with a purpose today and haven't for quite a while. They look like they've waved the white flag on the season.

In fact pretty much the instant they got into first place they went into coast mode.

 

[Soundwave]

based on what? this team was the best in the League from Nov 7th to February 7th....did they all of a sudden wake up one day decide to quit on their goalies?
gimme a break

Yes. Skinner has been playing like crap since about Jan. 9th (that Pittsburgh game). Team doesn't have the second/third wind from killing themselves in the Finals in late June last year.

There isn't as much gas in the tank. You need to have solid goaltending that can spell the team in stretches.

This team just wants the same shit over and over again ... "Connor and Leon take us home!" ... it's running stale. Team is hitting a wall.

The wingers the inept management added don't do shit, the goalies are both back-ups, a rebuilding team like Anaheim has far better goaltending than what is supposed to be a contender, Bouchard is up his own ass over his slipping contract extension, Hyman and Ekholm may be showing affects of aging ...

It's exhausting to put that on a team that is already tired from last year.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

Yup.
This (uncontested 10 bell scoring chances) is such an obvious issue at this point in time its baffling to me why so many posters cant see it.
Truly baffling.

Its not like goaltending isnt an issue (it is) but to deny the lack of defensive awareness and poor puck management and pretend that goaltending will solve that is laughable.

No doubt in my mind that if Smith was still the goalie he would have peeled the paint off the dressing room wall after MacTavish was allowed to stand in front of the net for 5 seconds before scoring.

the Oilers didn't get a single "grade A" chance the Ducks got tonight...no breakaways, no clean 2 on 1s, Ducks didn't leave an Oiler player uncontested in the slot like Carlsson was, no lucky bounce off a skate

now, that 2-1 goal was awful IMO, but that's 1 of 6

 

[Louis Cypher]

Gotta look at the plus, if managment doesnt pick up a goalie after that game, we deserve to lose the cup

You need a chance to win it before you can lose it.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

The one thing I notice is teams have changed how they attack the Oil.

At the start of the season, teams tried to chip past the defence and establish a forecheck, but they generally always won the race back and sent the puck back up ice. But now teams are noticing the Oil's transition defence is s**t, as the defence doesn't keep a tight gap and the forwards aren't back checking and applying pressure.

Thus teams have all the time in the world to pick the Oil apart. S**t goaltending just sinks it even more.

 

[Dieseloil]

Let’s blame Pick, cause game seven Stu is untouchable

 

[guymez]

The one thing I notice is teams have changed how they attack the Oil.

At the start of the season, teams tried to chip past the defence and establish a forecheck, but they generally always won the race back and sent the puck back up ice. But now teams are noticing the Oil's transition defence is s**t, as the defence doesn't keep a tight gap and the forwards aren't back checking and applying pressure.

Thus teams have all the time in the world to pick the Oil apart. S**t goaltending just sinks it even more.

The goaltending wasnt shit in this game....just the oilers forwards and D were.

 

[Drivesaitl]

It was their confusing defensive scheme that no one knew who to cover or what to do. Coffey simplified it and the d-zone got better.





Shizuka, McDrai, Taurus: I said it in the GDT, coaches here have about a 125 game shelf life before they start getting tuned out. Tippett coached 171, Woodcroft 131 (or 133, one if the two) and now Knob is at 130.

They look and play just like they did when they started tuning Tippett & Woodcroft out. They’re coach killers and yes I will die on that hill.

The org are coach killers. Every coach except goalie coach. This roster was extremely flawed the moment the season started. Just took time for that to get more and more evident. I don't blame McDrai for rarely having commensurate goaltending or help down the lineup. This is a sorry stiched up roster of basically old players. I said this dog wouldn't hunt beyond one or two rounds this season. Said that before season started.

Really this is where I expected we'd be. With most forwards not even fitting or doing much.

Fortunately we've even had the benefit of Nurse rediscovering some game and Emberson coming in pretty solid.

The goaltending wasnt shit in this game....just the oilers forwards and D were.

The goaltending was shit.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Also what are the odds the Oil kidnap Gibson before he leaves the arena?