Oilers now 13-12-1: THE THREAD THAT'S FUN FOR EVERYONE

[Video Nasty]

He was a rookie in his first playoffs and Edmonton had to ride him into the dirt because Campbell was unplayable. The solution is to get another playable goaltender so they don't have to do it again.

We’ve all known what the solution to all the Oilers’ concerns has been for years now. Management has been unable to properly address them.

I’m hopeful and certainly encouraged by the play as of late, but I’ll have to see Skinner uphold his end of the bargain for longer and not be a hinderance come playoff time before I get overly excited.

 

[AnInjuredJasonZucker]

The whole team was out of synch early in the year. The thing that stood out to me most was how they couldn't make a crisp pass to save their lives. Ekholm getting back into game shape is the biggest difference in my mind, as it stabilizes the entire blueline, takes some of the pressure off of the struggling goalies, and allows the forwards to play with more confidence. The quick transitions, crisp passing, and sustained pressure are the results.

It'll still be a dogfight for them to make the playoffs, but it's worth noting that Draisaitl is also struggling mightily right now.

 

[EchoesoftheEighties]

McDavid and Ekholm were hurt.
Skinner couldn't stop a beach ball.

Now that those issues are fixed they're playing as they should be. Problem is, and I mentioned this last night in our GDT, even after a 5 game winning streak they're still 6 points back of a wildcard spot. Yes they have 3 games in hand but they have to win all 3. The hole they dug was so big that it takes an 8 game winning streak (possibly more) to get to where they are in ok position.

I don't doubt their ability to keep getting wins as the season goes on but there are definitely flaws in the roster that hopefully are addressed. I still think Woodcroft probably got the short end of the stick but ultimately SOMETHING had to be done.

Hope they keep it up.

 

[larek]

Goals are the key - they score they have a better chance of winning even with shoddy goaltending
But no goals or production from their big guys
And it's tits up!
Any bottom 6 scoring is a big bonus

 

[5 14 6 1]

McDavid and Ekholm were hurt.
Skinner couldn't stop a beach ball.

Now that those issues are fixed they're playing as they should be. Problem is, and I mentioned this last night in our GDT, even after a 5 game winning streak they're still 6 points back of a wildcard spot. Yes they have 3 games in hand but they have to win all 3. The hole they dug was so big that it takes an 8 game winning streak (possibly more) to get to where they are in ok position.

I don't doubt their ability to keep getting wins as the season goes on but there are definitely flaws in the roster that hopefully are addressed. I still think Woodcroft probably got the short end of the stick but ultimately SOMETHING had to be done.

Hope they keep it up.

60 games still to be played, but yes the hill is still large. They just have to keep winning

 

[snag]

McDavid and Ekholm were hurt.
Skinner couldn't stop a beach ball.

Now that those issues are fixed they're playing as they should be. Problem is, and I mentioned this last night in our GDT, even after a 5 game winning streak they're still 6 points back of a wildcard spot. Yes they have 3 games in hand but they have to win all 3. The hole they dug was so big that it takes an 8 game winning streak (possibly more) to get to where they are in ok position.

I don't doubt their ability to keep getting wins as the season goes on but there are definitely flaws in the roster that hopefully are addressed. I still think Woodcroft probably got the short end of the stick but ultimately SOMETHING had to be done.

Hope they keep it up.

We are now 5 points back of where we were last year after 23 games....and we finished with 109 points. If the team plays like we know they can, they will be fine.

 

[Rubi]

So nice to see all the Oilers fans come out of hiding and post on the mains again.

 

[DS7]

Petition to change the title as well as the score to "half bust" and other terms as they if they get closer to 0.500

 

[OG Eberle]

Man, some of y'all posters who were regulars the first 100 pages of this thread ended up on milk cartons REAL FAST

Why would whining to the ref be seen as a negative attribute? You have a deadly powerplay why wouldn't you use whatever skills you can to get one. I would want him to do that all the time. Eventually you get calls when you need them.

Call it negative or positive, who cares.

The one that it is regardless of either of those choices is "untrue", hence the vitrol and heavy pushback you're recieving

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

yes, as a habs fan you would know all about the hope before it gets snatched.

actually no we haven't had an impressive forward in 20 years and always ice dog meat underdog rosters so i don't know much about hope

 

[dirtydanglez]

it's ok to admit you have no clue what you're talking about

habs fans. he's an expert.

 

[McFlash97]

So nice to see all the Oilers fans come out of hiding and post on the mains again.

This thread is going to age so well. It will be glorious in just over a month from today. Fully expect the Oilers to be hot on the heels of the division leaders by then.

 

[PeE eL DuBoiS]

W5, baby. I think it's clear that Edmonton is now the cup favourite. I expect Campbell will be recalled here shortly and go on a Vezina-calibre tear. 1st in Pacific isn't in dispute.

 

[Coffey]

So nice to see all the Oilers fans come out of hiding and post on the mains again.

And alternately, so nice to see all the detractors from the start of this thread suddenly disappear.

Funny how that works.

 

[jcs0218]

The Oilers have woken up with 5 straight wins.

I fully expect them to make the playoffs now.

They are only a few points back from the teams ahead of them, and they have games at-hand on all the teams ahead of them.

 

[KlefDown]

actually no we haven't had an impressive forward in 20 years and always ice dog meat underdog rosters so i don't know much about hope

I don't believe that for a second. You guys had Price, Subban and top prospects such as Galchenyuk, Suzuki, Slaf, Caufield and many more!

 

[Czechboy]

It's going very poorly.lol We are getting smoked and cannot defend.

Fix the D first and then hope and prey the G's look better with a stronger D in front of them.

One good Top 4 guy should be enough to right the ship.

A lot are say Campbell was great last night and he made some beauty saves but some of those goals weren't good either.

I have this theory that shitty goalies make amazing saves. The great goalie is in position and just 'swallows it up'. The shitty one is way out of position and sticks out a glove/paddle/blocker and makes the Play of the Night! They also usually let in a few stinkers per game.

View attachment 757760

OR, since that is a small sample size...

View attachment 757763

Almost 40 games averaging below .890

I still say fix the D first.

Had to check. Yup was here on day one of the thread. Since all us Oiler fans only showed up recently.lol

 

[Tad Mikowsky]

Had to check. Yup was here on day one of the thread. Since all us Oiler fans only showed up recently.lol

To be fair, you were slagging McDavid a lot, so acting like you’ve been a believer the entire time isn’t right.

 

[Czechboy]

To be fair, you were slagging McDavid a lot, so acting like you’ve been a believer the entire time isn’t right.

Lol.. I was on the kucherov thread when he wasn't in top 30 saying he'd win the scoring title. Only thing I've trashed is Holland and the management.

 

[The Nuge]

All top players talk to the ref and if he isn't he should be. He isn't diving and he should be using his advantages to get his team advantages. Crosby talks to the refs all the time and I don't blame any top player when they got plugs hanging all over them. Its a skill as much as skating talking to the refs and something any player like him should be utilizing.

There’s a massive difference between having a conversation with the refs and whining

 

[ijuka]

Even during the poor streak, Oilers had pretty fantastic analytics. Their goalie just was at like .870.

Now, Skinner's improved up to... Well, .889. Still absolutely terrible, but if he gets to even .905 or something, Oilers should be fine.

I think that Oilers desperately need their goalie coach replaced, though. The place is a goalie graveyard.

 

[WestCoast CyberG]

Oilers are not making the playoffs just because they had a 5 game win streak.

They have already lost 12 games this year, there is no more room for error and they still have to play Boston, LA, Col, Vegas, Calgary, etc..

 

[Coffey]

Oilers are not making the playoffs just because they had a 5 game win streak.

They have already lost 12 games this year, there is no more room for error and they still have to play Boston, LA, Col, Vegas, Calgary, etc..

lol Calgary

Pretty cute of you to throw them in there.
And we just beat Vegas a few days ago.

 

[The Panther]

The difference in defensive competence since Knob and Decaf took over is kind of stunning. I mean, don't get me wrong, it's the resurgence of McDavid and Eckholm (and more recently, Skinner) that is the main factor, but the utter 360-change from defensively incompetent to defensively competent in about two weeks is amazing.

McDavid was incredible last night. He was 4/5 offensively by his standards (three points, two of them goals he basically created, although still several stickhandling flubs here and there) but he was 5/5 defensively. He blocked two dangerous-looking slapshots in the 2nd period, was all over attacking Hurricanes on the back-check, and did a lot of possession retrievals.

 

[snag]

Oilers are not making the playoffs just because they had a 5 game win streak.

They have already lost 12 games this year, there is no more room for error and they still have to play Boston, LA, Col, Vegas, Calgary, etc..

As I said above, we are now 5 points back of where we were last year after 23 games....and we finished with 109 points.

And you're right....a 5 game winning streak won't get them in the playoffs. Getting their shit together will. And it looks like, hopefully, they have done just that.