Post-Game Talk: Pickard just doesn’t lose

[TopShelfGloveSide]

One goalie is 29-11 this season.

One goalie is 33-28 (would have been 33-29)

Need to win 2 out of 3 for all the marbles… which goalie are you picking?

Seems obvious to me.

 

[LiseL]

Okay, now that the fun has worn off, I hope that the boys realize that while they won a big game, what they've done is given themselves a chance. They absolutely cannot keep playing from behind all series. They need to start playing from ahead and lay into this team. They cannot come out flat in game 5. They just can't. They really need a game where they just put the boots to the Panthers and never look back.

And do so without taking penalties.

 

[iCanada]

Yeah, Stu might need to sit this one out. We thank him for his service.

Nice to have someone with credentials echo what I've been saying for over a year. Feels kind of validating, sometimes you can't help but feel like an idiot yelling into the void.

I suppose I feel that way because I am one, though, so you know. LOL.

 

[BlackDogg]

Nice to have someone with credentials echo what I've been saying for over a year. Feels kind of validating, sometimes you can't help but feel like an idiot yelling into the void.

I suppose I feel that way because I am one, though, so you know. LOL.

Visually an issue. That one save that was stellar last night, it just seemed like he was out of position and it ended up much more difficult than it should be.

 

[kevy9999]

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see a dominant game by McDavid.. but I also really don't care, as long as they win.

IMO, the relative need for him to have a dominant 4-5 point game in the finals is being overstated. These are the two best teams in what is arguably one of the best finals matchups in recent memory.

McDavid is being endlessly harassed out there.. it's also not like he hasn't had flashes of brilliance, a lot of it just hasn't been finished on (either by him or whoever he's setting up). He's also largely winning his minutes from a possession and control of play perspective.

Just as a point of comparison, here's a breakdown for Crosby in his career final's appearances:

• Games 1–3 (12 games): 3 goals, 5 assists, 8 points
• Games 4–7 (13 games): 1 goal, 11 assists, 12 points
• Total (25 games): 4 goals, 16 assists, 20 points

The superstars get played extremely hard. Is there any talk of Crosby's legacy being diminished?

All superstars are judged by what they do on biggest stage. That's what separates the greats. Crosby's legacy isn't tarnished ybecause his team won cups. if oilers win a cup this year and mcdavid doesn't have a big impact last 3 games then his legacy will not be tarnished because he would of won cup. But I don't see oilers winning cup without mcdavid seriously stepping up his play and being a key factor. Because if they lose people will say and media that mcdavid failed to perform again when it counted most. He has zero goals in finals.

 

[zoo99]

So you don't get it then. His first period wasn't "tough" like a giveaway or 2, or a bad bounce, it was horrendous, one of the main reasons the Oilers were down. He was terrible.

He and the team bounced back, but you don't have to ignore reality

Yeah I get it, he had a rough/tough/horrendous period , whole team had same on Monday, doesn’t make them a bunch of 4th liners, crap players that don’t deserve to be in the finals, what’s your point?

 

[LiseL]

Its worrying.

Fact that Pickard played 6 games in a row before he got hurt gives me some confidence that he will let Pickard start. The organization and media act so weird in regards to Skinner that you just never know.

That was the 2nd time Stu was pulled and it wasn't due to injury. Pickard didn't continue playing because he was injured. Now Stu did play well against Vegas and Dallas so he started this series. But he's been so-so against the Cats. That O/T goal in game 2 was brutal, the 2 breakaway goals, predictable. As someone posted earlier, the Cats have the book on Stu's weaknesses and have exploited them. When KK pulled Stu the first time, it was Pickard's net to lose. I don't see why it wouldn't be the same this time around.

 

[LiseL]

Has knobloch ever gone 11-7? Seems like he really doesn’t like to so I don’t see that happening.

Also, with the shorter turn-around-time between games 4-5, double-shifting McDrai could backfire. IMO, depth scoring is what got them this far, they need to continue rolling the 4 lines.

 

[LiseL]

What does this even mean?
-We are not the Leafs
-we didn’t blow a 2-0 series lead

And don't forget, they were up 3-1 in the 3rd game. As many of their fans like to say, they did the leafiest thing ever.

 

[Hippasus]

To have a player as strong as Draisaitl is is such an asset. First, he battles along the boards, and protects the puck with possession like he's today's version of Jagr. Then he can make a 15 foot one-handed shot through the defender's as well as the goaltender's legs become dangerous. In Stanley Cup overtime, no less. Just a beast.

 

[McDrai]

Terry not optimistic

What a defeatist attitude Jones has. Must be due to all of the years he has wasted watching our sad sack football team.

 

[ManOfSteelI]

All superstars are judged by what they do on biggest stage. That's what separates the greats. Crosby's legacy isn't tarnished ybecause his team won cups. if oilers win a cup this year and mcdavid doesn't have a big impact last 3 games then his legacy will not be tarnished because he would of won cup. But I don't see oilers winning cup without mcdavid seriously stepping up his play and being a key factor. Because if they lose people will say and media that mcdavid failed to perform again when it counted most. He has zero goals in finals.

You seem to be entirely missing the point of my post. OF COURSE it hinges on him actually winning the cup hence why I said "I don't care, as long as they win".

The whole point of my post was to highlight that star players who have won cups have largely been similar to McDavid. Meaning that they don't exactly have crazy 4-5 point, blowout performances in the finals. Crosby was just one obvious, and noteworthy example.

Pretty much any star player you look into (who has won a cup) since the cap era started falls into the same boat. They're still impactful and obvious an integral part of their team winning, but it's so incredibly tight in these games that they simply don't have the space to blow the doors off.

You seem to be running under the assumption that we won't win the cup if McDavid doesn't have a crazy, blowout performance. I'm just here to tell you that recent history doesn't support that being a necessity. You also seem to have glossed over the part where I touched on him largely controlling play - yet you say he needs to step it up. I get it, it's all about results. But, chances are that if he keeps driving play like he has, things will start to go his way. Linked are a couple of examples from Jonathan Willis from prior to last game:




This team absolutely can win even if he doesn't have one of those performances. Would it help? Of course. Hopefully he does it next game and puts this to rest.

 

[Throttlehead]

The Panthers are very clearly built and coached under the philosophy of "they can't call everything." Credit where it's due, they've found a way to take advantage of Gary's parity league where the refs are instructed to keep the calls close.

What you don't see anymore is Bennett in the crease pretending to getting pushed into the goalie, they know the people are on to it and the refs know they would have to call it that way. That was happening in game 1. Then in game 2 the whole team became floppers, if they felt a slight touch/push on the back, down they went, if a stick was anywhere near their head they almost got whiplash from throwing their head back. So for 2 games they got away with a lot of cheap bullshit, a lot of their players play cheap hockey. So we get to game 3 and things blow up, now the Kitties know the refs will be watching everything and in game 4 it seems we were starting to playing hockey. I agree with you, they knew what they were doing.

 

[kevy9999]

You seem to be entirely missing the point of my post. OF COURSE it hinges on him actually winning the cup hence why I said "I don't care, as long as they win".

The whole point of my post was to highlight that star players who have won cups have largely been similar to McDavid. Meaning that they don't exactly have crazy 4-5 point, blowout performances in the finals. Crosby was just one obvious, and noteworthy example.

Pretty much any star player you look into (who has won a cup) since the cap era started falls into the same boat. They're still impactful and obvious an integral part of their team winning, but it's so incredibly tight in these games that they simply don't have the space to blow the doors off.

You seem to be running under the assumption that we won't win the cup if McDavid doesn't have a crazy, blowout performance. I'm just here to tell you that recent history doesn't support that being a necessity. You also seem to have glossed over the part where I touched on him largely controlling play - yet you say he needs to step it up. I get it, it's all about results. But, chances are that if he keeps driving play like he has, things will start to go his way. Linked are a couple of examples from Jonathan Willis from prior to last game:




This team absolutely can win even if he doesn't have one of those performances. Would it help? Of course. Hopefully he does it next game and puts this to rest.

Nobody expects him to get 4 or 5 points lol this isn't regular season and even then he rarely gets that. This is the playoffs where much less room. I think you're missing my point. He hasn't not got 1 goal all finals, that is not acceptable . And no we won't win 2 more games without him picking up his play and baring down when he gets his chances. Have you seen the shots he does get off? They are weak and right at goalie and when he is in close he never raises puck. It's like he gets nervous at the biggest stage, not that he doesn't want to win bad. Remember overtime in game 1 of Dallas series last year where he had a wide open net with lots of time and took his time and couldn't raise puck into net. He ended up scoring in the second overtime on a deflection. My point is he gets nervous at the biggest stage. 4 nations I thought would help him alot. Listen I want him to win more than anything. I just want to say that drive and desire drai has. I do believe he needs to score eventually for us to win 2 more games .

 

[McBeastMode]

Could you imagine if that was game 7, seconds away from hoisting the cup and they tie it up..

 

[Shibumi]

I was listening to an interview Pickard had with the ESPN panel after the game and he mentioned playing in Edmonton on Saturday. I have a good feeling the net is his again.

Or he is just banking on Skinner getting pulled half way through the first.

 

[ManOfSteelI]

Nobody expects him to get 4 or 5 points lol this isn't regular season and even then he rarely gets that. This is the playoffs where much less room. I think you're missing my point. He hasn't not got 1 goal all finals, that is not acceptable . And no we won't win 2 more games without him picking up his play and baring down when he gets his chances. Have you seen the shots he does get off? They are weak and right at goalie and when he is in close he never raises puck. It's like he gets nervous at the biggest stage, not that he doesn't want to win bad. Remember overtime in game 1 of Dallas series last year where he had a wide open net with lots of time and took his time and couldn't raise puck into net. He ended up scoring in the second overtime on a deflection. My point is he gets nervous at the biggest stage. 4 nations I thought would help him alot. Listen I want him to win more than anything. I just want to say that drive and desire drai has. I do believe he needs to score eventually for us to win 2 more games .

I mean, this is objectively untrue. Countless posters have been calling for a McDavid blowout performance.... including in this very thread. What do you think prompted my original post in the first place my guy???

Nice shifting of goalposts. You've gone from "I don't see oilers winning cup without mcdavid seriously stepping up his play and being a key factor". To "I do believe he needs to score eventually for us to win 2 more games".

So, what is it? He needs to "seriously step up his play" or "he needs to score eventually". Those are very different things.

Again, you seem to just brush aside anything I've said away and carried on with random anecdotes about how you feel like he's nervous.

This is going nowhere, let's call it a day and enjoy the game later.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

Oilers just need to stop taking stupid penalties.

This cannot be emphasized enough.

The Panthers have the advantage over the Oilers when special teams are involved.

If Kane can't control his stick again, that could be the deciding factor.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

Pickard 7-0.

I take it that it is his net to lose now.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

I take it that it is his net to lose now.

I think it’s a case of win and your in.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

I think it’s a case of win SEVEN TIMES and your in.

FTFY

 

[Wreckus]

Glad that Pickard is in net tonight. Boys need to stay out the damn box in the early stages of the game.

now to go back to figure out an email domain to buy...any ideas would be helpful.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

an email domain to buy

for what ?

 

[Wreckus]

for what ?

want to get away from outlook or gmail (free) email. With iCloud+ I can buy (via cloudflare) a domain to use for email. LIke @icloud.com (which, obviously, isn't available).

More privacy, and it's my own email address, etc.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

my own email address

wreckus.com is available