Pre-Game Talk: Return of the Rat - Stanley Cup Finals '24: Edmonton vs. Florida

[Coffey]

Penguins fans on HF are as deranged as the CalgaryPuck psychos.

"In my mind Florida is nearly as above Edmonton as the Rangers were vs the Caps. Not that bad, but this should be an easy series win for the Panthers."

 

[Tarus]

I definitely don't keep up on out of town hockey teams all that much, but I remember being pretty high on OEL in the past.

I see he's 32 now and his stats are definitely in decline, but have things fallen off that much?

He fell off a long time ago

His buyout will haunt the nucks until 2031, and it was absolutely the right move at the time. Arizona retained on the trade to Vancouver, so even they have to pay out part of the buyout

 

[Broberg Speed]

Eastern media has lost their minds imo. Talking about Chucky and Bennet like they are the broad street bullies. Get real. They are the second most penalized team in the league and will be forced to adjust their game before the puck even drops.

Who are Florida's heaviest players? You named them. Bennett and Tachuck.

Nurse has handled Bennett and Kane has handled Tkachuk. They knocked those fools around before and they'll do it again.

Let the media spin their narratives. Doesn't mean anyone has to buy into them.

 

[McJadeddog]

Eastern media has lost their minds imo. Talking about Chucky and Bennet like they are the broad street bullies. Get real. They are the second most penalized team in the league and will be forced to adjust their game before the puck even drops.

Or, and hear me out here, this bush league reffing will continue and Florida will be allowed to take great liberties with our team. The league isn't all of a sudden going to actually enforce their own rulebook. Expect to get 2 PPs a game if we are lucky, whilst having Florida commit 6-8 egregious fouls per game.

 

[Heavy Dee]

4C hasn't been a hole for us since the playoffs started more or less. We have two of them that are both playing great hockey when called upon.

Derek Ryan has been a liability.

 

[K1984]

Derek Ryan has been a liability.

No he hasn't.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

Totally agree. Oilers match up very well vs FLA

 

[Broberg Speed]

Or, and hear me out here, this bush league reffing will continue and Florida will be allowed to take great liberties with our team. The league isn't all of a sudden going to actually enforce their own rulebook. Expect to get 2 PPs a game if we are lucky, whilst having Florida commit 6-8 egregious fouls per game.

Kane can take advantage of that. So can Nurse.

We all have opinions. Mine is that Kane and Nurse can be more devastating than Bennett and Tachuck.

 

[gretzkyoilers]

In the Stanley Cup Finals last year Vegas dominated the Panthers in all but one game. In an interview with Marchessault he stated the Oilers were their toughest opponent by far: Jonathan Marchessault: The Golden Knights were “lucky” Darnell Nurse was suspended for pivotal Game 5

Bissonette: “You guys must have been nervous because that was a pivotal point in the series. Was that the hardest matchup you guys faced?”
Marchessault: “That had to be the hardest matchup we had. You would have a two-goal lead but you were never safe. That was just an elite team.

I know that the Oilers and perhaps Florida are different than last year but pundits stating that the Panthers will steam roll the Oilers is not based on anything. Before the Stars series I called the Oilers in 7 and was laughed at by non-Oiler fans. For this series I say the Oilers in 6.

 

[Paralyzer]

LOL Gazdic letting the Canucks fans on Twitter have it. He's so right

 

[HamiltonNHL]

I figure the winner of game 1 wins the series.

Oilers need special teams to keep rolling.

29 straight PKs. (#1) 93.9% PK
37% PP (#1)

 

[JordanGalhanth]

View attachment 879268


WTF. Dudes built different.

He spells different too...

But when you're the best hockey player on the planet, go ahead and spell however you wont too /s

 

[alanschu]

He fell off a long time ago

His buyout will haunt the nucks until 2031, and it was absolutely the right move at the time. Arizona retained on the trade to Vancouver, so even they have to pay out part of the buyout

Fascinating! Thanks for the info.

 

[iCanada]

Eastern media has lost their minds imo. Talking about Chucky and Bennet like they are the broad street bullies. Get real. They are the second most penalized team in the league and will be forced to adjust their game before the puck even drops.

Lol like they're aware we've already beat a team with them as the center pieces in the playoffs, right?

 

[bone]

Lol like they're aware we've already beat a team with them as the center pieces in the playoffs, right?

Well Bennett wasn't on that team, but yeah.

 

[Tarus]

Eastern media has lost their minds imo. Talking about Chucky and Bennet like they are the broad street bullies. Get real. They are the second most penalized team in the league and will be forced to adjust their game before the puck even drops.

They don't watch the west. Part of Edmonton's success under Knoblauch is that he has instilled more discipline, Oilers were so busy running around trying to cause havoc under Woodcroft that they would routinely hurt themselves on the ice.

The Oilers aren't going to be scared of a couple of former flamers, especially not Tkachuk who was straight up playing scared by the end of the 2022 Edmonton/Calgary matchup.

 

[Heavy Dee]

No he hasn't.

Has some the worst advanced metrics in the playoffs. Matches the eye test. You clearly don't watch. Carry on.

 

[Lay Z Boy GM]

WE WANT TITS
WE WANT TITS


…ahem. I mean

WE WANT THE CUP

 

[Paralyzer]

LOL

 

[Oilhawks]

Penguins fans on HF are as deranged as the CalgaryPuck psychos.

"In my mind Florida is nearly as above Edmonton as the Rangers were vs the Caps. Not that bad, but this should be an easy series win for the Panthers."

Yeah, saw that post and almost shit myself laughing

 

[bone]

WE WANT TITS
WE WANT TITS


…ahem. I mean

WE WANT THE CUP

Maybe we misheard the chant and it was actually WE WANT D CUPS.

 

[bellagiobob]

LOL Gazdic letting the Canucks fans on Twitter have it. He's so right

That was awesome. Interesting that after the Cucks choked away their series to us, their fans gave their usual response, 'there is so much more to do in Vancouver than just watch hockey, we will instantly move onto one of our other 53 favorite pasttimes', and yet here they are, weeks later, spending their days and nights glued to their TV's watching a real team advance to the SC finals and talking about it nonstop.

 

[ThePhoenixx]

Seeing how classic video games are on the menu...

There is an ancient game that gives clues as to how our heroes can vanquish the evil foes led by this new Ruler of Rats.



The "Rise of the Ratmen" is one of the submissions to the Tome. Much recommended.

 

[Oilhawks]

Seeing how classic video games are on the menu...

There is an ancient game that gives clues as to how our heroes can vanquish the evil foes led by this new Ruler of Rats.



The "Rise of the Ratmen" is one of the submissions to the Tome. Much recommended.

I played this as a kid, couldn't remember the name and it's haunted me here and there for years. Thank you so much for posting this, going to track it down!

 

[bellagiobob]

Last year at this time, The Panthers were coming off an impressive EC Final win over the Canes. Bob was the favorite to win the Conn Smythe trophy at the time, coming off a brilliant performance against the Canes. He then imploded against Vegas the next series. Hoping history repeats itself.