Post-Game Talk: Oilers lose late to Vegas

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Fair point. Hill is struggling a bit this year but a hot offence is masking that. Funny enough our offence is usually like the golden knights which covers up Skinners garbage numbers.

No doubt offence is an huge issue right now but your refusal to admit that our starting goalie having a bottom of the league GSAE also is a significant issue is hilarious.

The offence will turn it on and then you will start blaming Holland again.

Okay? So score some goals then. Aren't we supposed to be an offensive juggernaut? When is the offense supposed to "turn it on"? Why didn't they do it last night? You score less than 3 goals in any given game you're likely to lose. In fact they've lost every single game this year where they didn't score at least three times. Skinner gave them a chance to win the game after two periods. He held a high powered offense to a single goal. Did you think that the second highest scoring team in the league was just not going to score?

No team can win consistently when they score so little, especially at home. <2GF/G at home isn't going to get it done regardless of who you have between the pipes.

 

[Oilslick941611]

Good post but I disagree with this...all we do with throw low quality pucks on net

it's why our fancy stats look so good and routinely outshoot the opposition then hear "the goals will come!"

I’m coming around to believe that goals may not come without adjustments, we are getting to the point where the sample size isn’t so small and nothing changes with the way the team plays. They look disinterested out there making the same low IQ plays over and over again.

The team has the skill to overcome, but it’s looking like they might not have the will. Im questioning everything about the team, even down to the locker room and if there are any issues there, they dont seem tight and Conner came back and Leon went being a pumpkin last night and Connor looks so bad last night.

 

[TopShelfGloveSide]

Okay? So score some goals then. Aren't we supposed to be an offensive juggernaut? When is the offense supposed to "turn it on"? Why didn't they do it last night? You score less than 3 goals in any given game you're likely to lose. In fact they've lost every single game this year where they didn't score at least three times. Skinner gave them a chance to win the game after two periods. He held a high powered offense to a single goal. Did you think that the second highest scoring team in the league was just not going to score?

No team can win consistently when they score so little, especially at home. <2GF/G at home isn't going to get it done regardless of who you have between the pipes.

Sigh* I give up. Sure Keith.

You dont win many games when you only score 2 or less goals.

Yes. You also don’t win many games when your starting goalie is pretty much last in the league in GSAE. Both can be true.

 

[Soundwave]

Okay? So score some goals then. Aren't we supposed to be an offensive juggernaut? When is the offense supposed to "turn it on"? Why didn't they do it last night? You score less than 3 goals in any given game you're likely to lose. In fact they've lost every single game this year where they didn't score at least three times. Skinner gave them a chance to win the game after two periods. He held a high powered offense to a single goal. Did you think that the second highest scoring team in the league was just not going to score?

No team can win consistently when they score so little, especially at home. <2GF/G at home isn't going to get it done regardless of who you have between the pipes.

Clearly the team is offensively wild out of sync when even things like the PP aren't working.

But in general, shit starts are just what this team does.

Probably an overall byproduct of having no stable franchise goaltending (a good goalie can stabilize a team that's sluggish for a stretch or two), poor management, talented players upfront but all with quiet personalities, and two back to back inexperienced coaches who also have small personalities.

You can sorta see why we miss an Evander Kane, it's not just the scoring punch, the emotional lift from physical player clearly has an impact, but his personality is also unlike most players on the team, he has a swagger that clearly helps.

 

[Oilslick941611]

Sigh* I give up. Sure Keith.


Yes. You also don’t win many games when your starting goalie is pretty much last in the league in GSAE. Both can be true.

Sure, but one is more of a problem than the other.

You need to score.

Fixing the goalie wont score more goals.

So we’d be losing 3-1 instead of 4-2

That’s not any better at the end of the day.

 

[McDNicks17]

Sure, but one is more of a problem than the other.

You need to score.

Fixing the goalie wont score more goals.

So we’d be losing 3-1 instead of 4-2

That’s not any better at the end of the day.

In a way it does. Saves turn into rush chances the other way. How many times do you see a save at one end turn into a goal at the other?

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Clearly the team is offensively wild out of sync when even things like the PP aren't working.

But in general, shit starts are just what this team does.

Probably an overall byproduct of having no stable franchise goaltending (a good goalie can stabilize a team that's sluggish for a stretch or two), poor management, talented players upfront but all with quiet personalities, and two back to back inexperienced coaches who also have small personalities.

You can sorta see why we miss an Evander Kane, it's not just the scoring punch, the emotional lift from physical player clearly has an impact, but his personality is also unlike most players on the team, he has a swagger that clearly helps.

Well Skinner is the goalie for the long haul regardless of how much people around here like it. There's no magic trade or callup that's going to fix that.

In a way it does. Saves turn into rush chances the other way. How many times do you see a save at one end turn into a goal at the other?

Skinner made a bunch of key saves at the end of the second period to preserve the lead. They had an entire period to add insurance and couldn't get it done. This team isn't built to win games 2-1, especially against a high powered offense like Vegas'.

 

[TopShelfGloveSide]

Sure, but one is more of a problem than the other.

You need to score.

Fixing the goalie wont score more goals.

So we’d be losing 3-1 instead of 4-2

That’s not any better at the end of the day.

Ehhh I don’t agree one is a bigger problem than the other. For example the goaltender being historically bad on the PK means the Oilers can’t be nasty. On the other side teams can push us around because our PP is garbage.

It’s almost a perfect storm of shit.

 

[Fixed to Ruin]

I watched the 2nd Vegas goal again in super slow motion in YouTube and it appears like the puck gets deflected twice before beating Skinner 5-hole.

However, i really dislike how open Skinner looked on a point shot from the blueline.

He basically played that shot like it was going to hit him directly in the crest.

 

[Soundwave]

Well Skinner is the goalie for the long haul regardless of how much people around here like it. There's no magic trade or callup that's going to fix that.


Skinner made a bunch of key saves at the end of the second period to preserve the lead. They had an entire period to add insurance and couldn't get it done. This team isn't built to win games 2-1, especially against a high powered offense like Vegas'.

Well then the team simply has to accept these stretches and the fact that they will get out goalied in many playoff rounds.

At the very least the org should at least try the Vegas model they had in their Cup win year where they just had like 3-4 cheap options and one of them caught fire in the playoffs (Hill) and that basically won them a Stanley Cup.

We should have a 3rd goalie by the deadline, because we know more or less what Skinner/Pickard bring and they're just back up goalies. At least play the numbers game, where maybe you can hit gold for a stretch on someone else.

Blackwood, Vejelmeka, would love Dostal (probably not happening because of his great play), Woll, Ingram, Nedeljkovic, Blomqvist, Ersson, Talbot, Lyon, Lindgren, etc. etc. ... at some point just take a chance on someone else.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Well then the team simply has to accept these stretches and the fact that they will get out goalied in many playoff rounds.

At the very least the org should at least try the Vegas model they had in their Cup win year where they just had like 3-4 cheap options and one of them caught fire in the playoffs (Hill) and that basically won them a Stanley Cup.

We should have a 3rd goalie by the deadline, because we know more or less what Skinner/Pickard bring and they're just back up goalies. At least play the numbers game, where maybe you can hit gold for a stretch on someone else.

Blackwood, Vejelmeka, would love Dostal (probably not happening because of his great play), Woll, Ingram, Nedeljkovic, Blomqvist, Ersson, Talbot, Lyon, etc. etc. ... at some point just take a chance on someone else.

Bring in Connor Hellybuick and Dustin Schwartz will turn him into Jeff Drouin Deslauries.

 

[Soundwave]

Going from a historically good PK to historically bad (like 20% worse than the worst PK team ever currently, lol) is also something that's so Oilers and borderline hilarious.

It's like being able to play basketball like Michael Jordan and then a few months later not even being able to dribble the ball properly.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

The most nauseating thing last night was how completely lifeless the team was for about half of the game.

Maybe, I thought it was just a tight game between 2 good teams, but the Oilers do need to assert their will more. Like we saw last year. The defense is what it is, but this team is still good enough to assert itself.

 

[brentashton]

Blackwood,

I’ve suggested this player a few times know. Probably can be made available and be had relatively cheap and has potential.

 

[bucks_oil]

Who was it that gave up the puck along the wall in the ozone that lead to Hanifin’s second goal? Have some awareness of the clock and the relative position of your teammates on the ice. That was terrible.

I don't know who gave up the puck, but my biggest problem is the coverage in our own zone.... Ekholm is trying to win a battle on the boards, but WTF is Bouchard doing? And two other forwards on their way back just looking at the puck. That makes THREE Oilers failing to see Hanifin and only realizing there was a passing lane to close down when the pass was already being telegraphed.

Heads on swivels boys! Ever heard of that?

 

[Soundwave]

Oilers PK Last Spring

Oilers PK A Few Months Later

 

[TopShelfGloveSide]

Nuge looking like he gives no f***s all game is starting to grind my gears.

(I also have him in fantasy)

 

[CupofOil]

This is directly due to knobby, who proclaimed during playoffs that physicality wasn't important to him as it was a sign of not having the puck and that he'd rather his players "check with their legs".

I'm sorry, but this is the knobby system and unless we were to, for whatever reason, get rid of him, we will continue to be coached like that. Not saying a Kane isn't going to come in here and just smack someone, but we have forces internally playing against physicality, which is also translating to lack of intensity.

But does that even surprise you given how little emotion and timid Knobby is on the bench and off the ice?

Yet the team was within 1 goal of winning a Stanley Cup without Kane and with Knoblauch's passive approach, it's time to stop scapegoating the coaches.

The team does need more bite but not scoring goals and not getting timely saves on the PK in particular in sinking this team. If the PP and PK was even average, they would be near the top of the division standings. Those are the biggest issues plaguing the team right now which is why I'm not too concerned because they're correctable.

 

[timekeep]

They do but it’ll require some uncomfortable moves.

RNH, Savoie, Akey, they should all be in play for the right asset.

Savoie and Akey aren't getting you much, on their own. Trade Nuge and Bouchard. Get some real dmen in here.

 

[Heavy Dee]

Don’t be obtuse. I never said anything of the sort. You need to be mindful of not putting words in peoples’ mouths.

It goes back to the old adage that it’s easier to change the coach than the players but be clear. However, changing coaches is not creating the results they desire for the core of this team. Clearly the players own the majority of the lack of consistency in play and results. If they fire Knoblauch (and that would be asinine) and replace him mid season with Hakstol, Gallant , or, oh I don’t know, Quennevhlle should we expect all of their individual failings to suddenly be overcome?

Ya, not happening.

Your original post was obtuse. That's why I asked for clarification.

The fact that none of those coaches ever got another HC job, save for MacLellan who was recently fired again, suggests they weren't the answer and a replacement was the right decision, evident by the teams improved results. Get it?

 

[Drivesaitl]

Ekholm’s postgame comments really cheese me off, I’m so sick about every other game talking about how to “clean things up”. If you’re a competitor you have to loathe losing a game like that. Do something about it, not lax lip service in the media.

HUH? He's been awesome for us and isn't wrong in any way. he's not been the one responsible getting caught up ice or giving up scoring chance and the guy jumps up into plays impeccably. Multiple times last night he erased Vegas rush attempts by jumping up to line and taking pucks away. Anticipating plays so well. At times he's been poor mans Pronger.

Could care less what he states with what he brings on the ice, still.

 

[brentashton]

Your original post was obtuse. That's why I asked for clarification.

The fact that none of those coaches ever got another HC job, save for MacLellan who was recently fired again, suggests they weren't the answer and a replacement was the right decision, evident by the teams improved results. Get it?

It wasn’t obtuse. I can’t help if you have comprehension issues.

This isn’t a coaching issue. It’s on the players.

I regret taking you off ignore. Back you go.

 

[Drivesaitl]

I think the team misses Kane more than we think.

Lots of guys on this team play better when they get dragged into the fight and they just don't have anyone doing that right now.

They miss Kane tons. He's an alpha on a bench. He communicates that to the other bench too. Everybodies night is easier when Kane is on shift. Aside from his skill and scoring its the intangible enforcement he brings. There were a few hits last night that might not occur with Kane around. Noticing that on a lot of nights this season its open season on Oilers. So injuries will be a thing. Knights hammered so many of our players last night and sparred with them too. Some opponents are trying to back us off and for players like Nuge, Skinner, Brown, it works. They disappear at that point.

I still think the Oilers make playoffs this season but a 7 game series against Knights could be very tough. They;re letting us know it every game too.

 

[Soundwave]

I’ve suggested this player a few times know. Probably can be made available and be had relatively cheap and has potential.

View attachment 927349

Logan Thompson might not be a bad option either.

12th best GSAA this year, was OK in that category last season too (better than Skinner, Pickard).

Could be hyper motivated to play against the Golden Knights his former team too, so that doesn't hurt.

 

[FlameChampion]

HUH? He's been awesome for us and isn't wrong in any way. he's not been the one responsible getting caught up ice or giving up scoring chance and the guy jumps up into plays impeccably. Multiple times last night he erased Vegas rush attempts by jumping up to line and taking pucks away. Anticipating plays so well. At times he's been poor mans Pronger.

Could care less what he states with what he brings on the ice, still.

I went to the Seattle preseason game. I think they basically iced their full roster. Just from watching the players, interactions etc the two guys who stood out who played hard, honest and non mickey mouse hockey were Ekholm and Podkolzin. Its really not surprising that half the roster is still in preseason mode even after 10 games.