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

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

Great story here.

https://x.com/i/web/status/1798846594206548421

Aw f*** not Kozari.

 

[Captain Fantastic]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1798846594206548421

From the article. I'm glad Sutherland didn't make the cut. Not a fan of his.

• Jean Hebert #15 – 13 seasons, 96 playoff games, 2nd Cup Final
• Steve Kozari #40 – 18 seasons, 148 playoff games, 5th Cup Final
• Dan O’Rourke #9 – 23 seasons, 199 playoff games, 7th Cup Final
• Chris Rooney #5 – 22 seasons, 167 playoff games, 7th Cup Final

 

[WaitingForUser]

From the article. I'm glad Sutherland didn't make the cut. Not a fan of his.

• Jean Hebert #15 – 13 seasons, 96 playoff games, 2nd Cup Final
• Steve Kozari #40 – 18 seasons, 148 playoff games, 5th Cup Final
• Dan O’Rourke #9 – 23 seasons, 199 playoff games, 7th Cup Final
• Chris Rooney #5 – 22 seasons, 167 playoff games, 7th Cup Final

Kozari and Rooney fk my life

 

[ThePhoenixx]

 

[foshizzle]

Based on all of the media predictions, wouldn’t be surprised if they already have him on a float waiting for the parade to start.

Barkov’s metrics are very pedestrian this playoffs.

 

[Paralyzer]

 

[Ibanez]

I'm far from Skinner's biggest fan on these boards, but I think it's okay to give him the benefit of the doubt since he was good to great all but one game in the Dallas series and sublime in the series clincher. He was also good vs LA, so it could be he's actually improved these playoffs and the Canucks series was an outlier (a series which the entire team was in their own head vs that team since puck drop game 1 of the regular season).

At this point I’m still not a skinner fan. But the guy is who we have. He got us here. We ride or die at this moment .

There is nothing else to even hope for or talk about at this point. He’s our guy!! I’m in full on “believe” mode

In moustache we trust. Lfg

 

[brentashton]

At this point I’m still not a skinner fan. But the guy is who we have. He got us here. We ride or die at this moment .

There is nothing else to even hope for or talk about at this point. He’s our guy!! I’m in full on “believe” mode

In moustache we trust. Lfg

I can’t like this enough. My sentiments exactly. Ride or die.

 

[Pavel10]

Everyone worried were going to get bullied by the Panthers needs to remember 2022.

Lucic, gubrandson, Ritchie, Lucic, Zadorov.

The narrative is its a bad tradeoff for Kane to be in the box 5 minutes with Lucic.

What happened after the first game? Kane press conference. You go after our best players we'll go after yours.

Gentlemen's sweep follows that first game. Those "muscle" look slow and clumsy.

Chicago, Pittsburgh best these "tough" teams in the finals will pure skill.

 

[JeffSkinner53]

Apparently this was posted by the league. Hmmm...

View attachment 879930

NHL apparently can't hire proof readers lol. Stars ain't the oilers, sorry Buttman.

 

[JeffSkinner53]

Everybody- funny cat avatars for the series vs the Panthers. It's puurfect!

 

[Drivesaitl]

I get the whole quality of competition narrative about the Panthers having an apparent harder path to the Cup Final.

However interesting enough when you add up regular season points of their respective playoff opponents Panther opposition had 321 total regular season points and Oiler opponents had 321 total regular season points.

The narrative that does make some sense however is that the Panthers have been in 8 playoff rounds in last two postseasons in a row and that is hard to do, a road to climb, and most teams don't manage that. I think Oilers fans for the first time since 2006 have sensed how long the post season actually is, months, and how hard that is on players and teams that go all the way.

Panthers have played a shitload of playoffs last couple years.

Usually teams are one and done in cap era. Get to final one year, struggle the next.

 

[iCanada]

Everybody- funny cat avatars for the series vs the Panthers. It's puurfect!

Counter offer - we go full bad guys from the lion king.

You know - Skar with an Oilers jersey.

NHL apparently can't hire proof readers lol. Stars ain't the oilers, sorry Buttman.

They did hire proof readers, they got a great resume from one of their officials brothers.

 

[JeffSkinner53]

Waiting for Saturday

 

[BlackDogg]

What's funny about Vancouver cheering for Florida, is they would be another team off the list to win a cup before the Canucks.

 

[BlackDogg]

The starting lineups are out

 

[TheNumber4]

I get the whole quality of competition narrative about the Panthers having an apparent harder path to the Cup Final.

However interesting enough when you add up regular season points of their respective playoff opponents Panther opposition had 321 total regular season points and Oiler opponents had 321 total regular season points.

Yeah, it's kind of a false narrative based solely on the fact that the Panthers likely have faced better goaltending than Edmonton has, but in terms of the quality of teams and those team's ability to win games it's a coin toss.

It is a false narrative. The quality of competition by points is the same for both sides. I really don’t understand how anyone can have the argument that the Eastern path was harder. It’d only be based on reputation and not anything backed by facts.

Everyone worried were going to get bullied by the Panthers needs to remember 2022.

Lucic, gubrandson, Ritchie, Lucic, Zadorov.

The narrative is its a bad tradeoff for Kane to be in the box 5 minutes with Lucic.

What happened after the first game? Kane press conference. You go after our best players we'll go after yours.

Gentlemen's sweep follows that first game. Those "muscle" look slow and clumsy.

Chicago, Pittsburgh best these "tough" teams in the finals will pure skill.

The Oilers have been forged in fire to take on this Panthers challenge. Years of playing the dirtiest team in hockey the Calgary Flames has us more than ready for whatever dirt the Cats can sling.

 

[Duke74]

The starting lineups are out

View attachment 880174

A trip down nightmare lane.

 

[Shizuka]

I have to admit I don't really see the mean, aggressive lineup everyone says FLA has. I saw a comparison of the average size of their lineup and the Oilers.. it was almost the same. So where is that coming from?

They do have their rat quotient filled right up, with the likes of Cousins (who hasn't played all the games, not sure if he's injured or HS'ed for a few) and Tkachuk. Bennett hits, Gadjovich is a knuckle dragging face puncher and a zero factor in the playoffs, and.. who else?

They do have fairly evenly distributed scoring throughout their lineup, so the Oilers' bottom 6 will need to contribute more than they have on the scoresheet. I've also always liked Maurice, and he's clearly got them running a very good game. Saturday can't arrive fast enough.

 

[Runner77]

What you don't want to drop $120 for something that looks like it was a feebie at the Jiffy Lube Staff Annual Golf Tournament?

What’s with the stripper nipple pasties on that sweater?

Only things missing are red sparkly tassels and an illuminated dancing pole.

 

[TheNumber4]

I have to admit I don't really see the mean, aggressive lineup everyone says FLA has. I saw a comparison of the average size of their lineup and the Oilers.. it was almost the same. So where is that coming from?

They do have their rat quotient filled right up, with the likes of Cousins (who hasn't played all the games, not sure if he's injured or HS'ed for a few) and Tkachuk. Bennett hits, Gadjovich is a knuckle dragging face puncher and a zero factor in the playoffs, and.. who else?

They do have fairly evenly distributed scoring throughout their lineup, so the Oilers' bottom 6 will need to contribute more than they have on the scoresheet. I've also always liked Maurice, and he's clearly got them running a very good game. Saturday can't arrive fast enough.

I’m thinking In terms of rats and physicality they would have Tkachuk, Bennet, Cousins of course.
But also Kulikov can lay some pretty big hits. Ekblad plays a hard game I think, lays the lumber. Lomberg hits to hurt and can do it dirty.
Then there’s a lot of functional toughness through the line up with Barkov and their 3rd line.

 

[Oilhawks]

The starting lineups are out

View attachment 880174

Holland's team has some holes...but what he inherited was absolute junk

 

[iCanada]

View attachment 880170

Waiting for Saturday

Someone needs to Photoshop an Oilers jersey on that Pablo Escobar waiting meme gif.

 

[Ibanez]

Holland's team has some holes...but what he inherited was absolute junk

I laughed when I looked at that lineup. And not funny “haha”. Funny “sad”

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

Everybody- funny cat avatars for the series vs the Panthers. It's puurfect!

Cat avatars got us bounced from the playoffs last year!!! NOOOOOOOOOO CATS!