Post-Game Talk: Smiling Stu Shutouts x 2!

[OILFAN FOREVER]

We should have a poll of who should start game 1 in the WCF. I am interested to see the results and to see if anyone would vote the other way. To me it's a no brainer and Skinner starts even if Pickard is healthy.

 

[Slats432]

They HATE us!, CAUSE THEY AIN'T US!!!

Fixed.

 

[K1984]

100%. This is a total team buy-in for Knob's gameplan, with zero egos, and a roster full of hungry vets who want the Cup as much as McDrai and are eager to play the hero.

I don't think enough focus gets put on teams that have been in the dance over a longer stretch of time and how much of an advantage that is. We have that experience and winning in that experience, and that matters a lot.

 

[Drivesaitl]

I've lived in Ontario for almost 40 years but still spend lots of time out west. I am in Edmonton right now as I write this. While there is some truth to the bolded amongst certain people, that description is not nearly so common as you might think. More accurately, the thing is that Toronto specifically sees itself as the center of Canada and does not really think much of anywhere else in the country. Frankly once you get more than 50KM from the city center people feel pretty much the same thing about TO as you suggest people out west feel. I live in a region of 640K people less that 100k from where the Leafs play that that is often completely dismissed.

What is true is that the Toronto hockey media is immensely TO focused. They are simultaneously dismissive of any other Canadian team, with the possible exception of the Habs, and also ironically often brutally critical of the Leafs once they inevitably bow out. Part of this is simply market driven. There are more people in the GTA than in all of Alberta. And almost as many in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba combined.

Gonna disagree. You know I can't go deeper than that on the board. Suffice to say we've had literal spit in face across this country. Insulted at hotel check ins due to being from Alberta, refused service in a Quebec restaurant for the same, refused entry on a Levis-Quebec city ferry by an ardent BQ nut.

But nothing ever worse than the treatment that "filthy" Westerners get in Ottawa. Its broken.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

100%. This is a total team buy-in for Knob's gameplan, with zero egos, and a roster full of hungry vets who want the Cup as much as McDrai and are eager to play the hero.

I don't think enough focus gets put on teams that have been in the dance over a longer stretch of time and how much of an advantage that is. We have that experience and winning in that experience, and that matters a lot.

The other thing this team does, it trust itself and it's stars.

They are comfortable playing a tight game and not worried about pushing too early, because they can rely on their talent to do it when it matters most. We saw this in game 3 (despite the finish) and it's good hallmark of this team that they can play that consistent style because they know they have the talent to just "get it done"

 

[McBeastMode]

The Hiller Challenge effect, when you call a horrible challenge and kickstart the opposite team into a hot-streak. Needs to be made a thing.

 

[MessierII]

I don't think enough focus gets put on teams that have been in the dance over a longer stretch of time and how much of an advantage that is. We have that experience and winning in that experience, and that matters a lot.

When you know you can come back from an 0-3 deficit in the cup finals what could possibly rattle you?

 

[Garbo Man]

Not gonna lie...I've torn Skinner apart since the playoffs started. It's time for me to eat a little bit of crow and say that the last 2 games he's been phenomenal. If he can play like he has been more consistently then we have our 1a or 1b. He looks calm and collected out there and I genuinely hope he keeps this shit up

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

When you know you can come back from an 0-3 deficit in the cup finals what could possibly rattle you?

Excellently said.

 

[TB12]

The boys want the Jug so f***ing bad this year. You can tell by their attention to detail and their buy-in. They are not to be denied.

 

[Fourier]

Gonna disagree. You know I can't go deeper than that on the board. Suffice to say we've had literal spit in face across this country. Insulted at hotel check ins due to being from Alberta, refused service in a Quebec restaurant for the same, refused entry on a Levis-Quebec city ferry by an ardent BQ nut.

But nothing ever worse than the treatment that "filthy" Westerners get in Ottawa. Its broken.

I literally never experienced anything like this. And for years when people asked where I am from I said Edmonton. I still say this more often than one would expect given the time I have spent in Ontario. But on my first sabbatical which I spent in Edmonton my wife was pulled over just because our car had Ontario plates. The point is there are idiots everywhere. But generally they are the exception.

 

[WaitingForUser]

Can set a clock to it, just like the "deeper" narrative for every team the Oilers play no matter who they are.

Every team we play is a purported juggernaught until the Oilers beat them, then at that point they aren't good anymore. A lot of people really struggle to admit the Oilers are actually good.

Don’t worry as soon as Connor and Leon hoist that silver trophy the narrative will change from they will never win in Edmonton to they should have won in Edmonton sooner. Remember when it was they can’t dominate in the playoffs?

 

[Hippasus]

Last night, the Oilers showed they can win in more than one way.

 

[MessierThanThou]

View attachment 1036579

The coach in the middle is clearly already thinking about the "private event" he's attending after the game, and getting a little bit of practice in...

I expect Hiller will soon be joining Woodcroft as a career head coach "candidate," if he even gets THAT lucky...

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

If you watch McDavid postgame you’d think the Oilers just lost the series - the captain isn’t ready to celebrate just yet. He is deadly serious. Love it

remind of Kobe "job's not finished" Bryant

 

[Slats432]

We are all Sir Charles.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Exactly.... Back when talking about Skinner's game would get people shouted down around here as "Skinner defenders" or "relatives", I argued exactly that.

When the Oilers play low-event hockey, Skinner is solid, composed and it suits his game perfectly by not exposing his weaknesses. He is a structured goalie who excels in a structured game. A 2-1 victory is a Skinner calling card (well except for that important one last year that went the other way).

Pickard on the other hand is the guy you want in net if the game is going to turn into fire wagon hockey. He's more agile, better anticipation/improvisation and a battler. He's the guy you want if it's gonna be a 6-5 game with our talent coming out on top.

It's great to have two such different profiles. (I still secretly wish Campbell hadn't washed out, very similar to Pickard, but a bit more big-save talented)

While there is a lot of truth to this the Vegas finishing on the other hand was in outerspace. You don't score when you wire pucks wide on scoring chances or stuff pads or logos. Last night Vegas had 5 real shots through the first 30mins. (credited with 7 but two were dumps) for Clarity Skinner only had to make one decent stop in that frame. Vegas then got busy for the only 5mins in the game that they were, in last 5mins of 2nd period. Skinner was required to make some stops, and quality stops at times but there were maybe 2 that were really challenging. One was the Eichel shot that Skinner made the blocker save on.

In my mind the only way to get a handle on what we're seeing is to see what other goalies are doing, or requied to do. For example in first period alone last night Bobroski made 5 highway robbery stops last night. Stupendous stops. Even Woll was quite good for around 25mins keeping the Leafs in the game.

I'm not completely prepared to say Skinner has found his way or anything like that. In playoff hockey you can only be completely structured and shutting down everything if the opponent whimpers and allows it. Sure Skinner was good, sure Vegas the way they are playing wouldn't be scoring on pretty much anybody.

When your top 5 goal scorers get zero goals in a series you ain't beating anybody and you sure ain't scoring much. Our goaltending benefitted from a complete lack of shooter confidence by Vegas. In shortest terms they had nobody going. Nobody feeling it. Barbie on a clear breakaway with time shot into Skinner right pad. Right into pad. Eichel passed off chances from the slot. Doro shot wide or shanked shots. Stone, Saad got injured, Hertl never scored, Eichel never scored, so it went.

On the goalie profile, in general, the Oilers are still limited. Sure if they completely shut the opponent down its airtight. Will every opponent allow that or will some "storm the tower".

 

[Da McBomb]

When is the next round most likely to start?

 

[Drivesaitl]

I literally never experienced anything like this. And for years when people asked where I am from I said Edmonton. I still say this more often than one would expect given the time I have spent in Ontario. But on my first sabbatical which I spent in Edmonton my wife was pulled over just because our car had Ontario plates. The point is there are idiots everywhere. But generally they are the exception.

1993 man. You can look up the zeitgeist. It was a particular time of foment directed at Alberta. We hadn't expected it either. I would never visit Quebec or Ottawa again which is a shame. I like Quebec. I'll never like Ottawa again. You think our experience was unique. I'll say one word. Truckers.

We made he mistake of visiting during an election when tensions were extremely high. Around the time Chretien was strangling a protester.

I thought it would be interesting to travel the country at that specific time. I was naïve.

its not about idiots. Its people saying not welcome. Something is broken. Thats what its about.

 

[McShogun99]

We should have a poll of who should start game 1 in the WCF. I am interested to see the results and to see if anyone would vote the other way. To me it's a no brainer and Skinner starts even if Pickard is healthy.

Pickard for games 1 to 3 then Skinner in game 4 to complete the sweep.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

Vegas was a good team. I don’t like this narrative forming that they were some Minnesota Wild-esque patsy.

Wild could've and should've beat them...a lucky offside call saved Vegas in Game 5 and a couple of OT wins

 

[iCanada]

"The leafs are incredibly successful in one respect - they've got to be the only animal shelter in the world with no dogs left." - Steve Dangle



Straight fire.

 

[Salvaged Ship]

Not gonna lie...I've torn Skinner apart since the playoffs started. It's time for me to eat a little bit of crow and say that the last 2 games he's been phenomenal. If he can play like he has been more consistently then we have our 1a or 1b. He looks calm and collected out there and I genuinely hope he keeps this shit up

I am happy to eat crow as well but let’s face it, he was completely deserving of the criticism and there was nothing at all to suggest he would rebound like this the last 2 games. Do I trust him? No, he could easily revert back to the Stu we have seen most of this season. He does deserve the net next game even if Pickard is fit, you don’t pull a guy with 2 consecutive shutouts who may have played the 2 best games of his career. Hopefully it continues, against Dallas we will need the same. Dallas is better than last season with Rantanen

 

[iCanada]

When you know you can come back from an 0-3 deficit in the cup finals what could possibly rattle you?

This edition of the Oilers is a straight zombie. You can shoot them in the chest 30 times and they'll still get back up.

Unshakable belief mixed with rock solid depth and elite top end game breaking talent.

This group, particularly given that hockey is a grueling 7 game series, has got to be one of the hardest outs I can ever really recall in sports.

 

[MessierII]

This edition of the Oilers is a straight zombie. You can shoot them in the chest 30 times and they'll still get back up.

Unshakable belief mixed with rock solid depth and elite top end game breaking talent.

This group, particularly given that hockey is a grueling 7 game series, has got to be one of the hardest outs I can ever really recall in sports.

Yeah like we’ve lost 3 games so far and 2 were absolute miracles in the last 30 seconds. That’s what it’s taken to beat us. Game 2 vs LA is the only game we’ve been cleanly beat.