Post-Game Talk: Point taken

[Missing smitty]

I hear you.
Like you I am not comfortable with a Pickard / Skinner combo heading into the playoffs but that doesnt mean I am going to jump on board with the posters who seem to invent new ways to slag Skinner.

Skinners game is coming around. I think that he needs a legit 1A/1B behind him. A player that can be a #1 for a short period of time if necessary and Pickard is not that player.

At this stage of his career, Skinner is the 1B. He's not consistent enough to be a starter, but he can do it in a pinch.

It's on the organization not to be putting the kid in the position he's in, but he's not 1A in any good tandem. Maybe he will be, but he isn't yet.

 

[bucks_oil]

The media seems very impressed with how Klingberg played tonight as a starting point

Did not like him on the first goal… watched it several times. He has good positioning with an attacker skating right toward him but it looks like he’s directing a forward to come help? Maybe not, maybe he was motioning to the trailer….

Anyway, that’s beside the point.

What I didn’t like though is that he allowed the goal scorer to skate right beside/behind him without tying up his stick.

And guess what!?! That stick tipped the puck in. Holy … is that what my coach means? Who’d have thunk it?

 

[Messrules11]

To be fair...what exactly did Lyon have to deal with in the shootout?
2 very weak efforts and RNH couldnt even muster a SOG.

That to me illustrated something...one team which was very hungry for a win beared down...the other team not so much.

Lyon could have been replaced with a pylon in the shootout and we still would have lost.
Please don’t get me started on Nuge, it won’t end well

 

[SupremeTeam16]

Shows you the wagon of a team we have minus not my fault Skinner

Skinner just eats you up and I love it.

He really brings out the little bitch in you.

 

[guymez]

At this stage of his career, Skinner is the 1B. He's not consistent enough to be a starter, but he can do it in a pinch.

It's on the organization not to be putting the kid in the position he's in, but he's not 1A in any good tandem. Maybe he will be, but he isn't yet.

I think thats a fair take.
I really dont like the way this organization handled the goaltending (and more specifically Skinner) and it all goes back to the spectacularily bad decision to sign Campbell.

 

[McTonyBrar]

Did not like him on the first goal… watched it several times. He has good positioning with an attacker skating right toward him but it looks like he’s directing a forward to come help? Maybe not, maybe he was motioning to the trailer….

Anyway, that’s beside the point.

What I didn’t like though is that he allowed the goal scorer to skate right beside/behind him without tying up his stick.

And guess what!?! That stick tipped the puck in. Holy … is that what my coach means? Who’d have thunk it?

It was his first game in a year and a half..

 

[Drivesaitl]

So basically, you 100% agree with me. My original comment was that we're not getting goalied, so much as our shooters suck.

I mean, you got there eventually, soooooo...

haha. its a bit of everything. Oilers do have the best players in hockey, a team that gets a lot of D goals and a team that has some core forward depth in guys like Nuge and Hyman. Kane being out all season is definitely a hurt.

That cookie could cause a seizure...

 

[alphahelix]

Maybe it was the bad ice/ soft pucks again...
Oilers need to get on the road again

Our ice has sucked its a good thing we spent a billion dollars on it

 

[guymez]

That loser point (as frustrating as it is) means that they are still ahead of Vegas with the tie breaker.

 

[AnInjuredJasonZucker]

At this stage of his career, Skinner is the 1B. He's not consistent enough to be a starter, but he can do it in a pinch.

It's on the organization not to be putting the kid in the position he's in, but he's not 1A in any good tandem. Maybe he will be, but he isn't yet.

Yup. They need to be 1 game better than they were last year. They're up in a few areas, down in others, and the same in net.

I have know idea who the right target is, but they need to do something.

I think there are a couple of line adjustments that could generate some more scoring punch outside of the big guns, but KK seems allergic to them. Improve the scoring depth from within, and focus your trade chips between the pipes.

 

[Missing smitty]

I think thats a fair take.
I really dont like the way this organization handled the goaltending (and more specifically Skinner) and it all goes back to the spectacularily bad decision to sign Campbell.

That's been my thing all along. I think Skinner could be a good goaltender.
He's very, very good positionally. He so big that when a team like LA shows up with 0 offensive creativity, he looks great because they play into his strengths.

They f***ed him with the Campbell deal and at this point, they'll reap what they sow. He shouldn't be in the position he's in, which sucks, but it's a results business.

Like I said in the GDT, I think the oilers are almost too good defensively in front of him sometimes, he seems like a guy who is better with more work.

Yup. They need to be 1 game better than they were last year. They're up in a few areas, down in others, and the same in net.

I have know idea who the right target is, but they need to do something.

I think there are a couple of line adjustments that could generate some more scoring punch outside of the big guns, but KK seems allergic to them. Improve the scoring depth from within, and focus your trade chips between the pipes.

Knoblauch is obsessed with defense almost to a fault, unfortunately.

My dad is a Wings fan and he texted me and said I don't understand why your team can't understand that it's best defensive weapon is it's offensive zone time.

 

[guymez]

That's been my thing all along. I think Skinner could be a good goaltender.
He's very, very good positionally. He so big that when a team like LA shows up with 0 offensive creativity, he looks great because they play into his strengths.

They f***ed him with the Campbell deal and at this point, they'll reap what they sow. He shouldn't be in the position he's in, which sucks, but it's a results business.

Like I said in the GDT, I think the oilers are almost too good defensively in front of him sometimes, he seems like a guy who is better with more work.

I agree 100% with the bolded. IMO that Campbell deal ultimately cost this team a Stanley Cup.

 

[GhostfaceWu]

Lyons a ufa to be Id hope the oilers would atleast inquire about him come deadline would be a much better in case needed goalie for the playoffs over Pickard.

 

[CROTT]

I hear you.
Like you I am not comfortable with a Pickard / Skinner combo heading into the playoffs but that doesnt mean I am going to jump on board with the posters who seem to invent new ways to slag Skinner.

Skinners game is coming around. I think that he needs a legit 1A/1B behind him. A player that can be a #1 for a short period of time if necessary and Pickard is not that player.

The thing is they rarely give him any credit for anything, and jump on every opportunity to put him down. I don't understand it for people that are supposedly Oilers fans. Skinner is now .921 over the last nine weeks (goalies with over ten starts), thats sixth best in that time frame and the guys ahead of him will not be traded as their teams starters. And at 2.6 million what more can you ask from a guy that gives the Oilers a chance to win on most nights with average to above average goaltending?

This teams frequent desire to take games and periods off is more of a problem than the goaltending, cause with this team as good as its playing like crap and expecting any goalie to continually save their bacon is asking for trouble.

 

[Missing smitty]

I agree 100% with the bolded. IMO that Campbell deal ultimately cost this team a Stanley Cup.

I think that's where the frustration is for most rational posters. There's always the idiots who go way overboard, on both sides. But I think it's more annoyance that the organization just won't act.

 

[bucks_oil]

C'mon. For a not big goalie that was still hard to get to. We're using after the fact here and its McD and he can bring the puck wherever he likes or shoot. The goalie played him reasonably well and McD made his choice but with nothing obvious being available. McD tucked it just inside the post. I've seen lots of those go in during shootouts and you have to. Credit goalie at least for not biting on any feint on the play. He read the play and came over, and just in time.

But the stop in regulation on the McD wrap? That was 5 bells. about the quickest wrap I've seen. Somehow he got skate to it.

IF it was executed properly. It was not.

When a skater comes from that angle on their forehand, there’s four things he could reasonably do:
1) beat you across with speed
2) make a quick move and snipe you far post (which Raymond executed perfectly, PERFECTLY, on Skinner,
3) Come with enough speed and dirty dangles to get you to bite on #1 but then drop it back to your backhand and Forsberg you.
4) dirty mit the heck out of you and slide it five hole when the goalie bites on #1

Watch it again… McD came with no speed so #1 was never going to work unless he gets the goalie to bite on 3 or 4.

And he didn’t actually stick handle… like barely at all… so 3&4 were not sold. There was nothing to bite on.

And he didn’t shoot so there goes 2.

All Lyon had to do was not bite on the non-moves McD threw at him and follow him across at a pretty leisurely pace. It was absolutely a routine save.

I get that he’s the best in the world, but that was as halfhearted/lack of execution/completely up his own in frustration as it gets.

In short he’s human, and Lyon was thanking his stars McD had an off night.

 

[Missing smitty]

The thing is they rarely give him any credit for anything, and jump on every opportunity to put him down. I don't understand it for people that are supposedly Oilers fans. Skinner is now .921 over the last nine weeks (goalies with over ten starts), thats sixth best in that time frame and the guys ahead of him will not be traded as their teams starters. And at 2.6 million what more can you ask from a guy that gives the Oilers a chance to win on most nights with average to above average goaltending?

This teams frequent desire to take games and periods off is more of a problem than the goaltending, cause with this team as good as its playing like crap and expecting any goalie to continually save their bacon is asking for trouble.

The Wings were worse than the Oilers in this game. Basically all the numbers point that out. They expected their goalie to save their bacon and he did.

Do you think most goalies aren't going to try their best to be dialed in playing against the 2 best players in the league? They absolutely don't want to be embarrassed.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

take the undeserved point and move on and be better against the Leafs

I will say, McLellan has that Wings team looking good...great coach

 

[guymez]

The thing is they rarely give him any credit for anything, and jump on every opportunity to put him down. I don't understand it for people that are supposedly Oilers fans. Skinner is now .921 over the last nine weeks (goalies with over ten starts), thats sixth best in that time frame and the guys ahead of him will not be traded as their teams starters. And at 2.6 million what more can you ask from a guy that gives the Oilers a chance to win on most nights with average to above average goaltending?

This teams frequent desire to take games and periods off is more of a problem than the goaltending, cause with this team as good as its playing like crap and expecting any goalie to continually save their bacon is asking for trouble.

I totally agree.
I think its lost on many posters that the Oilers spend bargain basement pricing on their goaltending. When you look at things through that lens then there really isnt an argument that the Oilers arent getting good value for their money.

As I mentioned with @Missing smitty (who I agree with completely) my frustration goes back to the Campbell signing and how that disaster of a move ultimately forced them to rush Skinner into the #1 spot long before he was ready.
He has been trying to get his feet under him ever since and thats in large part why he can be so inconsistent at times. I think thats him growing into the mental part of being a #1.
Skinner is improving though and I think he can be a legit starter in time.
Until that happens the team needs a solid veteran tandem goalie who can be a part time #1 if necessary.
I think that will help make Skinner a better goalie as well.

The Wings were worse than the Oilers in this game. Basically all the numbers point that out. They expected their goalie to save their bacon and he did.

Do you think most goalies aren't going to try their best to be dialed in playing against the 2 best players in the league? They absolutely don't want to be embarrassed.

I think though that if this team was really dialed in for this game then it wouldnt have been close.

 

[Morpheus]

Klingberg logged 16:39 TOI tonite.
1 shot, 0 hits, 0 blocks. -1

 

[Drivesaitl]

IF it was executed properly. It was not.

When a skater comes from that angle on their forehand, there’s four things he could reasonably do:
1) beat you across with speed
2) make a quick move and snipe you far post (which Raymond executed perfectly, PERFECTLY, on Skinner,
3) Come with enough speed and dirty dangles to get you to bite on #1 but then drop it back to your backhand and Forsberg you.
4) dirty mit the heck out of you and slide it five hole when the goalie bites on #1

Watch it again… McD came with no speed so #1 was never going to work unless he gets the goalie to bite on 3 or 4.

And he didn’t actually stick handle… like barely at all… so 3&4 were not sold. There was nothing to bite on.

And he didn’t shoot so there goes 2.

All Lyon had to do was not bite on the non-moves McD threw at him and follow him across at a pretty leisurely pace. It was absolutely a routine save.

I get that he’s the best in the world, but that was as halfhearted/lack of execution/completely up his own in frustration as it gets.

In short he’s human, and Lyon was thanking his stars McD had an off night.

But this is after the fact analysis. In realtime I didn't know what McD was going to do there and neither did Lyon and even a "hafhearted" lack of execution or speed by McD is more than most players are bringing in a shootout. I didn't think McD was going to go where he did. He sold me, he didn't sell you? Thats fair. Different reads on the same play. I thought I saw a feint to tuck it other side. McD also has a quick shot when using it.

Just that Lyon was composed with the best player in the world walking in on him on shootout with game on line.

Sure what Raymond id is execute. its made easier because do that on Skinner and its a goal. He's not gonna rob you on many breakaways. Pick a spot and put it there.

Entirely disagree that McD came in with no speed. They were just as fast as the Wings attempts.

 

[foshizzle]

Get a goalie

I’m not a fan of Skinner- but that chart also screams “get a finisher”

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

Shows you the wagon of a team we have minus not my fault Skinner

did Skinner f*** your gf/sister/mother or something? I've never seen a player get in the head of a poster like Skinner owns yours

 

[iCanada]

The thing is they rarely give him any credit for anything, and jump on every opportunity to put him down. I don't understand it for people that are supposedly Oilers fans. Skinner is now .921 over the last nine weeks (goalies with over ten starts), thats sixth best in that time frame and the guys ahead of him will not be traded as their teams starters. And at 2.6 million what more can you ask from a guy that gives the Oilers a chance to win on most nights with average to above average goaltending?

This teams frequent desire to take games and periods off is more of a problem than the goaltending, cause with this team as good as its playing like crap and expecting any goalie to continually save their bacon is asking for trouble.

The thing is that save percentage is a flawed metric though, Crott. The reality is - by every metric in existence this iteration of the Oilers is an elite defensive team. We generally always have the puck and thus don't give up many chances, and the chances we do give up are generally lower quality.

Statistically - we allow the least amount of shots in the league.

Statistically - we allow the 4th least amount of scoring chances against in the league.

Statistically - we have the lowest rate of High Danger Scoring Chances surrendered in the league by almost a standard deviation.

In fact - that 9.23 HDCA/60 is the lowest rate of HDCA of any team since they've started recording the star with this methodology. The second lowest being Sutter's King's in 2012 at around 9.5 and Third being Sutter's King's in 2014 at around 9.6.

So tell me - why are we 8th in GA/60 and not atleast top 5?

 

[foshizzle]

I never thought I’d say this, but McDavid looked disinterested tonight. No compete, didn’t look like he cared if they won or lost.