Post-Game Talk: Steelcroft: (Not) Far From Home

[gordonhught]

The only one’s who didn’t want to admit it were Holland, Matheson and Spector. Everybody else knew it before Christmas.

FMS looks like a complete ass now. Supported a shit coach over some HOF players.

 

[Cloned]

Such a breath of fresh air compared to Tippett.

 

[gordonhught]

Such a breath of fresh air compared to Tippett.

he is going to get sick of these interviews pretty quick. Most of these questions are terrible.

 

[Soundwave]

The only one’s who didn’t want to admit it were Holland, Matheson and Spector. Everybody else knew it before Christmas.

Spector is such a turd, pretty soon he will act like he always wanted a coaching change.

 

[Cloned]

he is going to get sick of these interviews pretty quick. Most of these questions are terrible.

I’m sure he won’t mind. He’s living his ultimate dream right now.

 

[Drivesaitl]

You initiated this whole dialogue wow man check your ego

You indirectly initiated, clearly referring to me. Can you not follow an exchange you were involved with?

This was you posting this inaccuracy;

"He also defended Tmac after he was fired"

Which pretty clearly lets me know what kind of poster you are

bye now

 

[bellagiobob]

I was saying McLellan was in idiot. Look, people hate the Kings here and aren't looking at it objecttively. So lets put it differently. If this was the 70's Bruins (I think you liked that club) and they were retiring Orrs Jersey or something monumental with Orr, would they defer on dressing Cheevers in that game. I don't think anybody would.

I think it was a clusterf*** decision, of the type that only McLellan makes. He seem to have trouble respecting star and core players likes and wants. This is a diss of Quick and the whole LA core. Just like Mclellan did in SJ.

A retirement game is a completely different than the 1000 game (this was actually his 1,003 game, game 1,000 was a a few weeks ago). Played Brown, and according to Kings fans it lead to their demise tonight. If it's such a big deal, why didn't a single one of their fans mention it in the GDT? Drew had a smile on his face most of the game, didn't look too crushed to me. I think you are way overthinking this, but too each his own. Playing the guy who has won 6 of 7 is smarter than playing the guy who is struggling and won 2 of 5.

 

[Bryanbryoil]

We are on a 3 game winning streak with a new coach that has the team playing hard and for each other and we are still at each other's throats? Come on guys, cool off, hit the hay and have some happy dreams like Kane bitch smacking Lemieux or of the good luck blonde if you need to wash your bedding tomorrow anyway...

 

[Drivesaitl]

A retirement game is a completely different than the 1000 game (this was actually his 1,003 game, game 1,000 was a a few weeks ago). Played Brown, and according to Kings fans it lead to their demise tonight. If it's such a big deal, why didn't a single one of their fans mention it in the GDT? Drew had a smile on his face most of the game, didn't look too crushed to me. I think you are way overthinking this, but too each his own. Playing the guy who has won 6 of 7 is smarter than playing the guy who is struggling and won 2 of 5.

Do you watch the Kings a lot. I do. In a money game Quick is the better option. But he should have played in this sort of game. Peterson gets some of the easier starts. Quick is still capable of rising to the occasion and having brilliant games. I know what Peterson looks like. Not starting your starter in a 4pt game when you have a HOF starter is the wrong move, and it cost the Kings as I predicted.

I just checked. Several Kings fans are calling out Peterson specifically and the "idiot" coaching of the Kings. Looks like the fire McLellan wagon is circling again. Only took him this long..

 

[Soundwave]

Do you watch the Kings a lot. I do. In a money game Quick is the better option. But he should have played in this sort of game. Peterson gets some of the easier starts. Quick is still capable of rising to the occasion and having brilliant games. I know what Peterson looks like. Not starting your starter in a 4pt game when you have a HOF starter is the wrong move, and it cost the Kings as I predicted.

Kopitar and Roy blew their coverage but Iafallo is at fault too for just leaving the zone because his stick broke. You want to play 5 on 4 with Draisaitl on the ice and also not cover Yamamoto at all ... you get what you deserve in that scenario.

Nice little play by Kane to get the puck to Leon too.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Kopitar and Roy blew their coverage but Iafallo is at fault too for just leaving the zone because his stick broke. You want to play 5 on 4 with Draisaitl on the ice and also not cover Yamamoto at all ... you get what you deserve in that scenario.

Nice little play by Kane to get the puck to Leon too.

Brown and Iafallo both had shitty games. This Kings club is still unbaked and has trouble with pressure. Like I said pregame keep them in their own end and they do make mistakes.

tbh teams cover off yama almost all the time. Because he rarely finishes. Ususally clubs are double teaming Mcd or Drai as we know. Yama potted today, but he usually doesn't finish those. Maybe he gets going a bit.

I like how Kane has been playing with Leon. Would really like Pulju on the line though.

 

[Throttlehead]

Doesn't matter. Its not a usual game. Its a game saluting your legend Player, Drew Doughty. You think him, Kopitar, and Brown don't want to see Quick in net? lmao. This was indescribably dumb by McLellan and I predicted after the first period that it would end up being a bonehead move by McLellan, again overthinking hijmself.

Of course in a 1000 game commemoration you play the team mate that backdropped you to two cups. only an idiot wouldn't.

Its a 4 point game, Im sure they cared more about winning than some friend stuff.

You may be the only person overthinking this, the goalie did not lose the game for them, he played good.

 

[nexttothemoon]

Kings really only scored 1 "real" goal... that absolute softie that Smith let in is probably saved 95+% of the time by an NHL goalie... just happened to squirt through because it was such a change up type of shot from Kaliyev (although Kaliyev is an underrated goal scorer around the net as he has a nose for getting into great open scoring spots going back to his Junior days).

I think the Oilers did damn well to play 2 road games back to back... and let in just 2 shots in those 2 games... and to win both games while playing pretty solid defensively overall... especially when they came back after being down after the 1st period in this one... whereas having that 1st goal against and trailing was such a dagger under Tippett... no way in hell they win this game 5-2 under Tippett.

This "might" just be that new coach bounce... but I'm hoping it is better defensive structure/system/emphasis overall... it sure appears that they have a little more structure out there and goals against may be down because everyone on the team is getting on the same page of being an actual TEAM playing together with a focused defensive system in place.

Stats from NaturalStatTrick these past 3 games:

At 5 on 5:
Scoring chances for: 72 against 51
Expected goals for: 7.26 against 4.97


The Oilers have only allowed 2 5on5 goals against over these past 3 games. At no point in this season under Tippett did the Oilers only allow 2 5on5 goals or less in any 3 consecutive combined games. Hell... in all of last season under Tippett in the North division the Oilers only managed that 1 time when they allowed only 1 5on5 goal in total in 3 consecutive combined games.


This could of course just be a coincidence... OR it could be that the team is actually applying some of that defensive structure that Woodcroft is dishing out.

Let's see how they do of course in their next 5/10/20+ games to see if this emphasis on team D sticks or not... but so far so good.

3 games... 3 wins in regulation... 2 5on5 goals against... 11 for 12 on the PK (91.7%).

Only really weak spot is the PP which has gone 1 for 10 (10%) under Woodcroft so that has to be fixed BUT if the PK stays strong... that basically equalizes the crap PP and the overall better 5on5 play makes this an overall better team.

I'll take a much better 5on5 team with better overall defensive structure any day at the cost of net "average" special teams.

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

Three men and a baby Oiler. How the centre spine ice-time broke down tonight.

Centreman	Total TOI	EV and PK TOI	Of Note
McDavid	21:11	14:61	16 secs PK
Draisaitl	23:28	16:80	3:18 min PK
Nugent Hopkins	21:03	15:49	11% faceoff
*McLeod	12:16	11:58	*Don't know splits between C and W 3:20 min PK

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[Throttlehead]

We are on a 3 game winning streak with a new coach that has the team playing hard and for each other and we are still at each other's throats? Come on guys, cool off, hit the hay and have some happy dreams like Kane bitch smacking Lemieux or of the good luck blonde if you need to wash your bedding tomorrow anyway...

You have to win perfectly while the opponent played perfectly, or it doesn't count.

Its the new standard.

 

[Throttlehead]

Kings really only scored 1 "real" goal... that absolute softie that Smith let in is probably saved 95+% of the time by an NHL goalie... just happened to squirt through because it was such a change up type of shot from Kaliyev (although Kaliyev is an underrated goal scorer around the net as he has a nose for getting into great open scoring spots going back to his Junior days).

I think the Oilers did damn well to play 2 road games back to back... and let in just 2 shots in those 2 games... and to win both games while playing pretty solid defensively overall... especially when they came back after being down after the 1st period in this one... whereas having that 1st goal against and trailing was a such dagger under Tippett... no way in hell they win this game 5-2 under Tippett.

This "might" just be that new coach bounce... but I'm hoping it is better defensive structure/system/emphasis overall... it sure appears that they have a little more structure out there and goals against may be down because everyone on the team is getting on the same page of being an actual TEAM playing together with a focused defensive system in place.

Stats from NaturalStatTrick these past 3 games:

At 5 on 5:
Scoring chances for: 72 against 51
Expected goals for: 7.26 against 4.97


The Oilers have only allowed 2 5on5 goals against over these past 3 games. At no point in this season under Tippett did the Oilers only allow 2 5on5 goals or less in any 3 consecutive combined games. Hell... in all of last season under Tippett in the North division the Oilers only managed that 1 time when they allowed only 1 5on5 goal in total in 3 consecutive combined games.


This could of course just be a coincidence... OR it could be that the team is actually applying some of that defensive structure that Woodcroft is dishing out.

Let's see how they do of course in their next 5/10/20+ games to see if this emphasis on team D sticks or not... but so far so good.

3 games... 3 wins in regulation... 2 5on5 goals against... 11 for 12 on the PK (91.7%).

Only really weak spot is the PP which has gone 1 for 10 (10%) under Woodcroft so that has to be fixed BUT if the PK stays strong... that basically equalizes the crap PP and the overall better 5on5 play makes this an overall better team.

I'll take a much better 5on5 team with better overall defensive structure any day at the cost of net "average" special teams.

Neutral zone play is way different, and very noticeable, opponents used to fly through the neutral zone.

 

[Del Preston]

lol, Nurse yelled "BOOM" when Kane punched Lemieux.

There was zero reaction from LA's bench when he went down too.

 

[nexttothemoon]

I also noticed every single Oiler player had PP and/or PK time tonight which I think is a solid way for everyone to get involved in the special teams and makes players feel that they are even more a part of the "TEAM" out there.

 

[Cloned]

Neutral zone play is way different, and very noticeable, opponents used to fly through the neutral zone.

What we're seeing now is how 80%+ of hockey games are played in the league between two teams with competent coaching, whereas before it would be a free-for-all in the neutral zone and defensive zone against the Oilers. It really underlines how poorly Tippett was coaching. How the Oilers are playing now isn't groundbreaking or revolutionary; it's just how any good, competent coach would have them play.

 

[Cloned]

I've rewatched that first McDavid goal a few times and there is no way Pulju is in that position to pick off the board pass in the neutral zone leading up to that goal if Tippett was still coaching here.

Positionally he just wouldn't have been there and it would've been a easy board pass out for the Kings.

 

[Rengorlex]

I've rewatched that first McDavid goal a few times and there is no way Pulju is in that position to pick off the board pass in the neutral zone leading up to that goal if Tippett was still coaching here.

To think that it''s just a lucky coincidence that we got Woodcroft.

If Holland made the change in summer, guarantee it's some dinosaur that likely has no idea how to coach in 2020s NHL.

 

[nexttothemoon]

I also hope they stick with the 11F7D format and spread the minutes around more evenly like they've done the past few games.. as that's going to result in fewer burnt out key players when it comes time for the playoffs.

I'm 90% sure those huge minutes affects Drai/McD both mentally and physically so getting their minutes down even a few minutes less per game will pay dividends when games mean so much more down the stretch and in the playoffs.

Honestly I'd like to see both Drai and McD playing ~20 minutes and increase the minutes of everyone else to the 10-20 minute range. Tippett had too much of a top heavy structure and too many 3rd/4th liners couldn't get into any real game flow because of such reduced usage which made them nearly useless.

 

[Cloned]

To think that it''s just a lucky coincidence that we got Woodcroft.

If Holland made the change in summer, guarantee it's some dinosaur that likely has no idea how to coach in 2020s NHL.

I'd say a lot of the vet coaches would still be better than Tippett, even if they aren't as good as Woodcroft. He's our guy now, so let's see how far he can take us.

 

[harpoon]

A poster told you to F off in the GDT. It was probably deleted. Just saying.

It’s still there. And for the record, it was an inappropriate comment by a usually level headed poster who, for whatever reason, was struggling with the push back he was taking on some ridiculous comments about Kane.

 

[Gregsky99]

Wait, hold on... Are we in an actual playoff spot for the moment? I like it.

With a game in hand even