Post-Game Talk: Oilers score 5 goals and an ENG without McDrai

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Ryan and Jones are a given.

Kapanen should be the 3rd guy out.

After that I'd personally go Janmark

Skinner-McDavid-Hyman
Frederik-Draisaitl-Kane
Podkolzin-RNH-Arvidsson
Brown-Henrique-Perry
No chance. Janmark is a key PKer, he's starting to play better and he was a key playoff performer last year. Assuming Kane is back to being Kane (which I think is a big assumoption), it's likely to be Perry or, lol, Jeff Skinner because....Knoblauch.
 
A lot of players elevated with McDrai out of the lineup. Also, this is indication that we have some players who have either been pushed down the lineup or were playing the wrong position and deserve more opportunities (Skinner, Henrique, RNH, etc).

As a side note, I knew we would have to score around 5 with Skinner in net. Will need to be the case in the playoffs as well if we want to win games (which will be way more difficult as it tightens up defensively). How he ever landed a starting job in the NHL for this long is beyond me. I don’t think I’ve seen such bad goaltending since Ty Conklin (Campbell was downright putrid as well)
 
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Watched the game back, and although the Skinner hate is largely warranted, 3 of those goals fall squarely on our defense and our defense only.

Kakko's second goal, what a surprise, Bouchard flubs it on the blue line with a 0/100 effort play trying to force the puck into the middle without support, Kakko is sprung.

3rd goal against, it's 5v5 and they're rolling us with a cycle, Ekholm is caught in no man's land having completely missed his assignment, and stops dead in front of Skinner for a full screen.

Last goal against, what the actual f*** is our whole team doing here? But, Nurse decides to go down on one knee, with a man to his right, trailing his back leg - which would only effectively take a pass away into the slot where another Oiler is also rushing back (so, a useless decision) and stops skating. There are two forwards sitting at the opposite side of the net waiting for that cross crease pass, no Oiler is behind that line. Nurse doesn't take away the man, and blows the assignment.

I get it. Skinner isn't it, but holy shit, our D is making absolutely bone headed plays every single game and are getting off because the goalie can't stop a puck either.
I largely agree with this but he just watched that cross ice pass go right in front of him on the 4th goal. That's an easy poke check, he has no instinct and feel for the net whatsoever. Skinner is best when he just plays big and lets pucks hit him but if there's a scramble in front of the net or he has to move laterally, it's an absolute adventure every time.
With that said, you're right about the defensive miscues. Bouchard with his patented inexcusable giveaway, I swear these seem to happen at least once or twice a game this year, Ekholm was in lala land on the 3rd goal (although Skinner was playing small in net) and I really have no idea whatsoever what Nurse was doing on the 4th goal so, yeah, not a defensive gem by any means but, still, make a big save please.
 
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I think this is our best lineup as well but I don't think Knoblauch is going to scratch Janmark. He's been committed to Nuge, Henrique, Brown and Janmark being our main PKers for the entire season (despite the bad results) and I can't see that changing now. The only other forward in that lineup with somewhat notable PK time is Podkolzin at 41 seconds per game. Even with Janmark in the lineup we'd probably have to add someone new to the PK to replace Kapanen's PK minutes and there aren't a lot of attractive options there.

I still think we're going to see Skinner in the press box in the playoffs (if Kane is healthy) and I think people are going to be mad. It's not like Knob has been hiding his cards this season.
I agree that's what he'll do, and I think it's stupid. I would almost guarantee we see Jeff Skinner as a 60+pt guy next year elsewhere, leaving half the fanbase here wondering why he wasn't that guy for the Oil, when he probably would have been if we didn't have a knobhead running things all year.

Nuge-Brown
Henrique-Podkolzin
Frederic
Arvidsson
Hyman
Philp
Savoie

Those guys could all be PKers for us and offer more than Janmark can overall. Keeping a dedicated PKer who can't do anything else is like dressing a goon, it hurts more than it helps.
 
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With how good the roster played today without Connor and Leon why not load up the top line when they come back? Takes pressure off the big 2 amend they are less likely to get hurt. The wingers that play with the big two will not defer and can just play their own game.

It sounds like Knobs wouldn't mind doing it, but management says no.
 
Watched the game back, and although the Skinner hate is largely warranted, 3 of those goals fall squarely on our defense and our defense only.

Kakko's second goal, what a surprise, Bouchard flubs it on the blue line with a 0/100 effort play trying to force the puck into the middle without support, Kakko is sprung.

3rd goal against, it's 5v5 and they're rolling us with a cycle, Ekholm is caught in no man's land having completely missed his assignment, and stops dead in front of Skinner for a full screen.

Last goal against, what the actual f*** is our whole team doing here? But, Nurse decides to go down on one knee, with a man to his right, trailing his back leg - which would only effectively take a pass away into the slot where another Oiler is also rushing back (so, a useless decision) and stops skating. There are two forwards sitting at the opposite side of the net waiting for that cross crease pass, no Oiler is behind that line. Nurse doesn't take away the man, and blows the assignment.

I get it. Skinner isn't it, but holy shit, our D is making absolutely bone headed plays every single game and are getting off because the goalie can't stop a puck either.
While I appreciate your comments, here is the problem I have with goal by goal analysis. If you only look at goals scored, all over the league there is most often some sort of significant breakdown that means you can credibly blame the goal on someone other than the goalie. Were that not the case for an individual goalie, there is no way they would still be in the league. But in the end some goalies just stop more of these breakdowns than others. This is the missing part of this analysis. Its not just the ones that go in but also the ones that don't that matter. In the case of the Oilers they generate more breakdowns than they give up and often by a fair amount. Unfortunately, too many times this year Skinner is simply stopping a lower proportion of shots of all varieties than the guy on the other end of the ice.
 
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I thought the Oilers played better than the shot clock indicated, they carried a lot of the play.
I have to ask one question though, does Skinner know how to poke at a puck? That cross ice pass on the 4th goal could have easily been sticked away by him? Just ugh with that.

Anyway, good to get the 2 points without the big guns. Team worked really hard to get them.
He’d probably try and end up scoring on himself.
 
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Maybe I'm remembering wrong. I thought they took them apart because Kulak wasn't comfortable on the right side and the game 1 vs FLA played them together and it was a mess?
I think your partially right. I think Kulaks discomfort playing on the right came out during the Van series when they were trying to put out the Nurse fire, managed a win so it was brushed aside. They won in Dallas the first game, but after dropping 2 needed to make a change and Broberg was in for the final 3 wins, who played a lot of RS with Nurse.

I think Knob tried to pair Nurse-Kulak back together in the finals at some point, but can't remember for sure. I think it was going to Nurse-Ceci in game 1 that sunk us though. I thought he tried that pair again at some point, and they were both a -2 in a 3-0 loss that game.
 
With how good the roster played today without Connor and Leon why not load up the top line when they come back? Takes pressure off the big 2 amend they are less likely to get hurt. The wingers that play with the big two will not defer and can just play their own game.

It sounds like Knobs wouldn't mind doing it, but management says no.
This would only work if this 'loaded' line plays as a 2nd/ 3rd line and chips in as part of the team and not get 90% of offensive zone starts.

Others stepped up because they were given the ice time and responsibilities to play as a team and attack in waves. McDrai will still get 90% of PP time.

Team Canada got it right when they started McDavid/McKinnon on the 3rd/4th lines in finals instead of running the game through them.
 
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While I appreciate your comments, here is the problem I have with goal by goal analysis. If you only look at goals scored all over the league, there is most often some sort of significant breakdown that means you can credibly blame the goal on someone other than the goalie. Were that not the case for an individual goalie, there is no way they would still be in the league. But in the end some goalies just stop more of these breakdowns than others. This is the missing part of this analysis. Its not just the ones that go in but also the ones that don't that matter. In the case of the Oilers they generate more breakdowns than they give up and often by a fair amount. Unfortunately, too many times this year Skinner is simply stopping a lower proportion of shots of all varieties than the guy on the other end of the ice.
Should Daccord be a goalie in NHL after all that he leaked through last night? As you said defensive breakdowns happen all the time but goalies being the last line of D get the most blame. Skinner wasn't good but atleast he didn't let in muffins last night. I don't see a point in bashing Skinner anymore now that he be will a starter for us in playoffs. Take him for the below avg goalie he is and work the game around him.
It's similar to accepting what we have in Bouchard and just work around his brain farts instead of hoping Emberson or Klingberg will replace him in playoffs
 
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No chance. Janmark is a key PKer, he's starting to play better and he was a key playoff performer last year. Assuming Kane is back to being Kane (which I think is a big assumoption), it's likely to be Perry or, lol, Jeff Skinner because....Knoblauch.
Brown should be the guy to sit. But we know he won't be
 
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I agree that's what he'll do, and I think it's stupid. I would almost guarantee we see Jeff Skinner as a 60+pt guy next year elsewhere, leaving half the fanbase here wondering why he wasn't that guy for the Oil, when he probably would have been if we didn't have a knobhead running things all year.

Nuge-Brown
Henrique-Podkolzin
Frederic
Arvidsson
Hyman
Philp
Savoie

Those guys could all be PKers for us and offer more than Janmark can overall. Keeping a dedicated PKer who can't do anything else is like dressing a goon, it hurts more than it helps.
I don't disagree with this but Frederic has never been a PKer, Arvidsson hasn't PKed since he was in Nashville and Hyman hasn't PKed for us since they started running him and McDrai together after every successful kill. Philp and Savoie won't even be in the lineup.

I don't think our coaching staff is flexible enough to start trying out new guys at this point in the season anyway. They seem pretty stuck in their ways with both special teams units (PP and PK).
 
No chance. Janmark is a key PKer, he's starting to play better and he was a key playoff performer last year. Assuming Kane is back to being Kane (which I think is a big assumoption), it's likely to be Perry or, lol, Jeff Skinner because....Knoblauch.

I think you’re right but honestly Janmark has been disappointing this year offensively and defensively.

I can’t see Janmark, Brown or Perry sitting. KK too stuck in his ways at this point.

Which mean Skinner will most likely sitting assuming we ever get fully healthy.

I actually wonder how many goals JS would have this year if KK has used properly. 20+ I am guessing.
 
I wonder what our lines will be once McDrai, Frederic and Kane return.

Was thinking something like this:

Draisaitl-McDavid-Arvidsson
Skinner-RNH-Hyman
Kane-Frederic-Podkolzin
Janmark-Henrique-Brown/Perry

The emergence of RNH at the Center position affords us the luxury of playing McDrai together. Skinner should also be in the top 6 based on recent play. Third line would would run opponents out of the rink physically
 

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