Post-Game Talk: Oilers lose late to Vegas

[Soundwave]

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.

Oilers Pre-Sesaon Schedule

Beings Sept. 6th

Runs Until

Mid-November (maybe longer)

 

[Drivesaitl]

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'.

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.

It was 92 Podkolzin. The new NHL goal simulations feature makes it easier to see which player. It was a dumb play. As was the Nuge penalty 200ft away from net with a lead.

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.

We're so fortunate to even have a D the quality of Ekholm. Took a couple games for him to win me over. He had a quieter role in Nashville I thought but he's kingshit D here, and no doubt. Makes anybody better. That needs to be factored in with the Booch contract that without Ekholm some Jultz could occur.

 

[Heavy Dee]

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.

Another one of your posts fell flat. Own it. Cya.

 

[guymez]

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?

The Leagues worst shooting percentage and Leagues worst goal production (PP and 5x5) has nothing what so ever to do with Skinner.
This team averages 2.35 goals per game.

If the identity of this team doesnt have anything at all to do with offensive production then what the hell is their identity?

 

[CrazyJoeDavola]

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.

I can accept that. I just think it's also not doing us any favors but yeah; ultimately, it's up to these bums on the ice.

 

[Soundwave]

The Leagues worst shooting percentage and Leagues worst goal production (PP and 5x5) has nothing what so ever to do with Skinner.

If the identity of this team doesnt have anything at all to do with offensive production then what the hell is the identity?

If this was a one year thing, OK, sure.

But when it's 4/5 years with a mediocre to terrible start to a season ... it's a bigger issue.

When every playoff round for the Oilers doesn't start until game 3, that's also a freaking issue.

Thank goodness they woke up a bit earlier in that Calgary BOA series (half way through game 2) but needed to be scored on like 500 times to wake up and play.

 

[CanadasTeam99]

So awesome he checks himself into the player assistance program right after we take on his buy out penalty. Thanks Kenny.

I wonder if his boozing started in Toronto or in Edmonton when things went South

 

[Drivesaitl]

If this was a one year thing, OK, sure.

But when it's 4/5 years with a mediocre to terrible start to a season ... it's a bigger issue.

When every playoff round for the Oilers doesn't start until game 3, that's also a freaking issue.

Game 2 in a lot of instances I would say.

Superstar games can often take a bit longer to unpack. Other clubs have lunch bucket support staff digging in and helping the club until the stars get going.

Wheres our Dorofeyev with 7 goals or Howden with 6 goals. Those nature of players don't exist in our roster. They would both be behind only Drai in scoring.

Also the Knights make quiet additions. Victor Olaffson with a 14% career shooting percentage with 3 goals. We have a more expensive Victor that was supposed to be something here scoring 1 goal.

Knights have 7 players with more than 3 goals. We have one. That in itself is disgusting.

Vegas have support scoring through the lineup we can't even imagine. Their lineup isn't riddled with pretenders.

 

[Duke74]

Could throw podz in there. Not scoring but he’s going pretty much everything else right

If you're on the first or second line, scoring is part of your job.

 

[guymez]

They stayed right with Vegas for 2 periods and then got stupid in the 3rd.
I cant stand Vegas but I have to give them credit. They play a Stanley Cup calibre defensive strategy and their transition game might be the best in the NHL. Thats a big deal when the team is an offensive powerhouse like the Knights are.
They essentially just kept playing their game knowing full well that the Oilers would break down eventually. Half way through the 3rd period the Oilers started making mistakes.
It wasnt a suprise to see that happen.

Vegas is playing the exact way I would like to see this team play. Prioritize defence first.

Speaking of which...McDavid has been hot garbage all year long when it comes to defence. I cringe at the notion that he keeps being called the best player in the game. He isnt.
He is the best offensive player in the game thats it. He is all too often a defensive liability and that IMO affects the entire team.
BTW...in terms of defensive ineptness Draisaitl isnt far behind McDavid. Especially in terms of puck management which is also a part of playing smart defensive hockey. Dont risk making plays in vulnerable areas of the ice. That causes turnovers and gives the opposition opportunities off the rush.
Those 2 players lead this team and if they dont improve that area of their game (especially during this goal drought) this team isnt winning anything meaningful IMO.

Maybe at some point in time Bouchard will get his head out of his ass as well.

 

[Soundwave]

Game 2 in a lot of instances I would say.

Superstar games can often take a bit longer to unpack. Other clubs have lunch bucket support staff digging in and helping the club until the stars get going.

Wheres our Dorofeyev with 7 goals or Howden with 6 goals. Those nature of players don't exist in our roster. They would both be behind only Drai in scoring.

Also the Knights make quiet additions. Victor Olaffson with a 14% career shooting percentage with 3 goals. We have a more expensive Victor that was supposed to be something here scoring 1 goal.

Knights have 7 players with more than 3 goals. We have one. That in itself is disgusting.

Vegas have support scoring through the lineup we can't even imagine. Their lineup isn't riddled with pretenders.

That will never happen here. The Oilers could acquire MacKinnon and he'd be sitting on 1 goal right now or he would have Draisaitl's numbers but only with McDavid but then Draisaitl would be in a slump and only have 1 goal.

Apparently the universe will collapse unto itself if McDavid ever gets a second scoring line to play with.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Could throw podz in there. Not scoring but he’s going pretty much everything else right

He was the one that threw the puck away with full possession, deep, in the Vegas zone. Frankly we don't lose that game in regulation, and we might even win, if he doesn't do that, if he just holds puck for something to open up.

Not trying to single him out. He had tried a lot here and played hard,. He just doesn't have much and he needs to be more in an NHL lineup, particualrly nailed in a topsix, than to be scoreless. It was a nice pass he made to Arvid who flubbed another empty net scoring chance. Drai is playing with two wingers that are finishing zilch. Not through any lack of opportunities.

 

[brentashton]

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.

The price would be right for sure. But I think it would be tougher to get him out of Washington right now. Hes had a small resurgence, even being in the chat for the 4Nations Cup roster (also a statement on the overall weakness of Canadian goaltending).

 

[Drivesaitl]

That will never happen here. The Oilers could acquire MacKinnon and he'd be sitting on 1 goal right now or he would have Draisaitl's numbers but only with McDavid but then Draisaitl would be in a slump and only have 1 goal.

Apparently the universe will collapse unto itself if McDavid ever gets a second scoring line to play with.

The new blackhole theory.

Myself I'll be a skeleton standing around waiting for Drai to ever have a one shot scoring winger. Just brush the cobwebs off me please.

The best pure passer in hockey has wingers with a collective one goal. ffs.

 

[Soundwave]

The price would be right for sure. But I think it would be tougher to get him out of Washington right now. Hes had a small resurgence, even being in the chat for the 4Nations Cup roster (also a statement on the overall weakness of Canadian goaltending).

At one point I did think he was Vegas' future starter, then Adin Hill of course came out of nowhere.

 

[Duke74]

The other funny one was RNH-Drai-Yamamoto went from the hottest line in the league to looking like they never played with each other before after the COVID break. And then never, ever got it going again.

Like how does that even happen? lol.

Tippett was an idiot and broke that line up because McDavid didn't have enough support on his line. I think it was at least two years before they tried to recreate that line and it didn't work.

 

[Soundwave]

Tippett was an idiot and broke that line up because McDavid didn't have enough support on his line. I think it was at least two years before they tried to recreate that line and it didn't work.

Nah they were trying it in the playoffs and then kept trying it like 1000 times after that to no result.

This team simply cannot have 2 defined scoring lines at once. If it happens, the universe will fold upon itself and collapse.

 

[Duke74]

Nah they were trying it in the playoffs and then kept trying it like 1000 times after that to no result.

This team simply cannot have 2 defined scoring lines at once. If it happens, the universe will fold upon itself and collapse.

Pretty sure that was the season COVID disrupted and they lost to Chicago in the play-ins. Tippett put McDavid with RNH and Kassian and Draisaitl played with a combination of Yamamoto, Ennis, and Athanasiou. The next season, the shortened season, they ran a line of Draisaitl with Kahun and Yamamoto. I don't think they tried reuniting the DRY line until some point in the next season or even the season after.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Nah they were trying it in the playoffs and then kept trying it like 1000 times after that to no result.

This team simply cannot have 2 defined scoring lines at once. If it happens, the universe will fold upon itself and collapse.

A bit pessimistic.

 

[Soundwave]

A bit pessimistic.

After almost 10 years in the McDavid era (and even prior to that), I would say it's probably more realistic at this point. It ain't happening. Ever. Not least of all with these front office groups.

 

[CycloneSweep]

He was the one that threw the puck away with full possession, deep, in the Vegas zone. Frankly we don't lose that game in regulation, and we might even win, if he doesn't do that, if he just holds puck for something to open up.

Not trying to single him out. He had tried a lot here and played hard,. He just doesn't have much and he needs to be more in an NHL lineup, particualrly nailed in a topsix, than to be scoreless. It was a nice pass he made to Arvid who flubbed another empty net scoring chance. Drai is playing with two wingers that are finishing zilch. Not through any lack of opportunities.

Podkolzin is better than I expected but he really shouldn't be in the top 6.
At this point he should be the Kane place holder on line 3.

 

[guymez]

Podkolzin is better than I expected but he really shouldn't be in the top 6.
At this point he should be the Kane place holder on line 3.

The problem is though that part of Podkolzins skillset is badly required on the 2nd line. He is very good at digging the puck out of the corners and he is also very adept at passing the puck.
Those 2 skillsets alone are top 6 quality IMO.

To bad he has stones for hands.

 

[Soundwave]

Podkolzin is better than I expected but he really shouldn't be in the top 6.
At this point he should be the Kane place holder on line 3.

He's created some goals for (the first goal against Nashville and Calgary respectively), so even if he hasn't scored himself, he's probably earned a top 6 spot just based on that.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Podkolzin is better than I expected but he really shouldn't be in the top 6.
At this point he should be the Kane place holder on line 3.

One of the surreal looks again last night which I can't wash out of my eyes is seeing Arvid yet again with his stick back floating around expecting a pass while Drai and Pods are mucking on boards for pucks. Its as if Arvid thinks he's Ovechkin. Yeah, sorry ARvid, you're here to be digging for pucks. Its hilarious this guy has one goal considering how much he's setting up and letting others do the work. He also taps his stick for a pass more than anybody I've seen. Pass, pass, pass, I'll score before Christmas.

 

[CycloneSweep]

The problem is though that part of Podkolzins skillset is badly required on the 2nd line. He is very good at digging the puck out of the corners and he is also very adept at passing the puck.
Those 2 skillsets alone are top 6 quality IMO.

To bad he has stones for hands.

He's created some goals for (the first goal against Nashville and Calgary respectively), so even if he hasn't scored himself, he's probably earned a top 6 spot just based on that.

Hes done some good things and we arguably SHOULD have guys who can do that in the top 6 already but so many guys are underperforming that he has been there out of necessity.

A guy like Podkolzin IS good for the top 6 he just doesn't have the scoring ability or high end level you'd want in a top 6 guy.

It's why this team honestly should have kept Holloway, he is Podkolzin with more skill and potentail.

One of the surreal looks again last night which I can't wash out of my eyes is seeing Arvid yet again with his stick back floating around expecting a pass while Drai and Pods are mucking on boards for pucks. Its as if Arvid thinks he's Ovechkin. Yeah, sorry ARvid, you're here to be digging for pucks. Its hilarious this guy has one goal considering how much he's setting up and letting others do the work. He also taps his stick for a pass more than anybody I've seen. Pass, pass, pass, I'll score before Christmas.

Arvidsson is annoying because you can see why he WAS skilled and used to be an offensive threat. He is still doing the same things but 2 things have changed. He doesn't seem to be working in the areas he used to and is kind of looking for openings...which would be fine but his scoring ability seems gone. It's strange.
Skinner also seems worse than I expected too. He has flashes but its easy to see why his offensive dropped heavily last year.