Speculation: POLE - Do the Oilers win the Cup?

[TopShelfGloveSide]

You should always think your team is winning the cup when they make the playoffs.

 

[BlackDogg]

They didn't even get home ice this year after getting to the SCF. I don't think so sadly.

 

[K1984]

I mean... There's a chance we win the cup, sure but a small one. Too many injuries and bad goaltending plaguing the team this year.

At risk of being thoroughly attacked, I think this has the potential to surprise as well.

Skinner was legitimately good from November to mid-January, then dissolved with the rest of the team just prior to and after the 4 Nations. He was such a mess down the stretch that its almost hard to believe at this point, but from November 1 - February 1 he only had two instances where he had a sub .900 sv% two games in a row.

He's a head case and horrifically inconsistent, but he is able to play well for random stretches. It's a coin flip at best whether this comes to fruition or not at the right time, but it isn't impossible.

 

[NegativeNelly]

What does pole supposed to mean?

 

[Stoneman89]

Nah. Colorado was just the better team that year. What still stings about the Winnipeg sweep is that they were immediately swept themselves once the goaltending came to earth and Montreal marched to the final, so it still feels like Edmonton beat themselves as much as Winnipeg beat them in that one.

I wouldn't have been surprised at all to see that team go on a run had they held on to the lead in Game 3.

To each his own. The Avs were better that year (not my point), but I simply don't like them. Always seems to be an arrogance about them, always whining, led by Nate-Dog, and getting the benefit of the doubt over seemingly every important call. And we've beat up Winnipeg in the past enough on our way to several cups that I won't hold it against them, beating us in one lonely series where we shit the bed ourselves and had no one else to blame.

 

[bone]

To each his own. The Avs were better that year (not my point), but I simply don't like them. Always seems to be an arrogance about them, always whining, led by Nate-Dog, and getting the benefit of the doubt over seemingly every important call. And we've beat up Winnipeg in the past enough on our way to several cups that I won't hold it against them, beating us in one lonely series where we shit the bed ourselves and had no one else to blame.

Good point about the history with Winnipeg.

 

[Satoru Gojo]

Anything is possible!!!!……

But no

 

[K1984]

To each his own. The Avs were better that year (not my point), but I simply don't like them. Always seems to be an arrogance about them, always whining, led by Nate-Dog, and getting the benefit of the doubt over seemingly every important call. And we've beat up Winnipeg in the past enough on our way to several cups that I won't hold it against them, beating us in one lonely series where we shit the bed ourselves and had no one else to blame.

Avs fans are also Nuck adjacent with their demeanour and antics.

 

[bone]

At risk of being thoroughly attacked, I think this has the potential to surprise as well.

Skinner was legitimately good from November to mid-January, then dissolved with the rest of the team just prior to and after the 4 Nations. He was such a mess down the stretch that its almost hard to believe at this point, but from November 1 - February 1 he only had two instances where he had a sub .900 sv% two games in a row.

He's a head case and horrifically inconsistent, but he is able to play well for random stretches. It's a coin flip at best whether this comes to fruition or not at the right time, but it isn't impossible.

For sure. He also had a 16 game stretch last year with no game under .850 and 13 of which over .900.

He can do it, I just don't have a lot of faith that he will do it.

 

[Wretched Oil]

What does pole supposed to mean?

It a stupid tradition

 

[K1984]

For sure. He also had a 16 game stretch last year with no game under .850 and 13 of which over .900.

He can do it, I just don't have a lot of faith that he will do it.

If we limit rush chances against far down from what they have been since Feb 1, and are very aggressive limiting the space for point shooters to make a play, I think we have a chance to make him look good.

He's horrendous against the rush and horrendous tracking point shots around screens. Limit those looks and he can mostly manage himself otherwise.

 

[Chet Manley]

The loss of Ekholm all playoffs really decreases our chances imo. Hopefully his absence is not season ending and he can play in later series. And Stu Skinner will have to prove alot of us wrong for it to happen.

I missed this diagnosis on Ekholm. It would be really surprising if the Oilers can overcome that loss for 4 rounds. He makes Bouchard a first pairing player 5v5 and knocks all of the other defence down to positions they are capable of succeeding at. But maybe Walman has it in him to replace Ekholm's role.

 

[La Bamba]

I'd substitute Colorado for Winnipeg and then it's better. We still owe those f***ers from a couple years back.

True but I’d also argue we owe the Jets for that incredibly annoying sweep as well

 

[WaitingForUser]

Nah. Colorado was just the better team that year. What still stings about the Winnipeg sweep is that they were immediately swept themselves once the goaltending came to earth and Montreal marched to the final, so it still feels like Edmonton beat themselves as much as Winnipeg beat them in that one.

I wouldn't have been surprised at all to see that team go on a run had they held on to the lead in Game 3.

The thing that hurt the most about that Winnipeg series was the Jets only lead for a combined 61 mins of the whole damn thing. The least lopsided sweep in NHL history.

 

[Messrules11]

Not with Stuart Skinner in net

Agreed, the biggest obstacle is in our own net.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

They can, but a lot of things have to go right. They need to avoid certain teams (The Avalanche would be one, and it'd be great if the Wild knocked the Knights out), they need to not lose anyone major to injury, they need special teams to hold their own, they need whoever starts in net to remain consistent...

That said I think whoever comes out of the West wins the Cup. I'm not seeing any really scary teams in the East this year.

 

[ohheyhemsky]

The playoffs are essentially a brand new season within the season. New story lines, leaders and losers, etc. So who knows?

LA is going to be tough, but we have the skill to take them. I'm just hard pressed to believe that we'll be able to outlast our goaltending in the second round.

 

[FlameChampion]

Maybe in one multiverse. Hopefully its the one I’m in.

 

[The Trash Man]

 

[Mr Positive]

Imo we are a better team than last year.

Our team is getting healthy for the first time in a long time. We fought our way to a division lead before the wheels fell off.

Ekholm might be back for the later rounds. Our divisional opponents are weaker than the other divisions. Still great teams, just not as good.

 

[Mr Positive]

I mean... There's a chance we win the cup, sure but a small one. Too many injuries and bad goaltending plaguing the team this year.

The goaltending disadvantage will be toned down when the team tightens up defensively like they did last year

 

[Bryanbryoil]

We will need some legendary performances to do it. If Connor and Leon are healthy I feel like they can give legendary performances. We'll need a legendary performance from Bouch as well. For me the x factor is a rested and healthy Kane. Kane loves the limelight and can be an absolute beast when he's healthy. Can we get 0.900 sv % in every series? If we can we have a legit shot. I think that the odds are against us, but if McDrai are healthy, anything is possible.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

What does pole supposed to mean?

 

[Shizuka]

Really need to just focus on one game at a time, one series at a time. Frankly it's not looking great with all the injuries, obviously, but they're in and have a chance. Moreso than ever, their best guys need to be at the apex, 100% in agreement with BBO's view above. I don't think Frederic makes much of an impact given his injury and the kind of timeline to heal those. I still have no idea what the injury to Walman was, is it some muscle / core thing or a virus? As per usual everyone is cagey about injury info this time of year.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

It a stupid tradition