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

[McJadeddog]

The timing of Kane's penalties are a bit worrisome, but at the same time we've been asking for this all year.

Yeah, we are going to get bitten on a few "dumb Kane penalties" this year, but that just comes with the territory for a player like him. If you want that element on your team, and I would argue we do, those penalties are just par for the course sometimes.

 

[CupofOil]

Just took a peak at the standings and I see the division is still in play, to my shock.

I hadn't really looked at the standings in a while because I was largely apathetic up until the Woody hiring but as good as the Flames have been, and they've been tearing up the league tbh, they're still only 5 points ahead with 1 game in hand. Vegas only 4 points ahead and the Oilers have a game in hand.
Preds also falling off a bit in the wild card race, didn't realize they were relatively close to Dallas.

Of course, the Oilers are in a dogfight just to get in but I just found it surprising that the division is still well within reach. If only Holland didn't dither for a month about replacing Tippett...

 

[Anarchism]

3 games in which we won all . Most players would take that over personal stats but hey continue to stat count and disregard the wins .

You would have to think that both Drais and Connor will have to adapt their games to the inverted funnel system and it will take some time especially for Drais. It might be another three or four practices before they start working on powerplays and special situations. Its good to win but we will need the big guns too and power plays running at a certain rate. Obviously tic tac toe is history and a more controlled breakout will be the new expectation.
the Rush, the Supreme passing plays, Drais one timers, the creativity....it was fun while it lasted but we all knew other teams would adapt.

 

[LaGu]

What a turn around this team has done, I cannot say that I am able to follow that closely anymore (or rather at the moment). Great start for Woodcroft, and despite everything I bet Tippett is happy the team is doing good.

Is this sustainable? I see goaltending has been very good, of course the team playing in front of the keeper has something to do with that. But with this kind of SV% we have never lost this season. If the keepers don't keep it up will the team still be able to get the win?

 

[LaGu]

It's almost as if Tippett was just like, "OK guys, do what you want out there. Have fun!"

I am also happy Woodcroft is in and Tippett out, it was the right time. But with regards to this I think it is a bit different, one of them has had the team for years and the players should be pretty clear on what he wants them to do, the other just came in and without practice is trying to get them to play his way.

Also in general I don't know if being active and talking a lot on the bench is correlated with good coaching in general, someone should look into that

 

[sOiled]

Also how many times did Michaels have to say the Oilers are looking for a sweep in California like this was their last game of their California road trip?

It is the last game of their road trip. They play Anaheim in Edmonton.

 

[Anarchism]

Just took a peak at the standings and I see the division is still in play, to my shock.

I hadn't really looked at the standings in a while because I was largely apathetic up until the Woody hiring but as good as the Flames have been, and they've been tearing up the league tbh, they're still only 5 points ahead with 1 game in hand. Vegas only 4 points ahead and the Oilers have a game in hand.
Preds also falling off a bit in the wild card race, didn't realize they were relatively close to Dallas.

Of course, the Oilers are in a dogfight just to get in but I just found it surprising that the division is still well within reach. If only Holland didn't dither for a month about replacing Tippett...

Certainly Holland's loyalty to tippett is a two sided blade. Your right--he carried it a bit too far.

 

[TopShelfGloveSide]

You can tell Holland really didn’t want to fire Tippett. Not a good look running a team with your feelings rather than your brain.

 

[LemmyUlanov55]

Winning after being down 1-0, doesn't sound like a big deal but I feel it kinda is.
Smith playing well and Kane punching Lemieux, solid night.

 

[ottawah]

One thing that had been perplexing me under Tippet is the time Bouchard got on the PK. Ceci has been a pretty good PK player for a lot of years, I found it odd that you would put out someone so young whose game is more aligned to an offensive D man on the PK before the veteran that is a known PK commodity. And this reduces Bouchards offensive chances. Ceci was on his way to his lowest PK time since his rookie year. It is almost like Tippet just sent out whomever was paired with Nurse. No rule says you have to do that the last tow seasons Ceci's PK time was not with his regular partner. It just seemed so odd.

Last night Ceci saw ~ 7minutes, Bouchard none on the PK. This would seem to be the proper deployment based on the players strengths.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

One thing that had been perplexing me under Tippet is the time Bouchard got on the PK. Ceci has been a pretty good PK player for a lot of years, I found it odd that you would put out someone so young whose game is more aligned to an offensive D man on the PK before the veteran that is a known PK commodity. And this reduces Bouchards offensive chances. Ceci was on his way to his lowest PK time since his rookie year. It is almost like Tippet just sent out whomever was paired with Nurse. No rule says you have to do that the last tow seasons Ceci's PK time was not with his regular partner. It just seemed so odd.

Last night Ceci saw ~ 7minutes, Bouchard none on the PK. This would seem to be the proper deployment based on the players strengths.

It's almost like Tippett had no plan or understanding of his roster.

It's why I was, basically, screaming after the Washington win that it's not a personnel thing, it was clearly coaching. So far that's bared out.

 

[Bryanbryoil]

What a turn around this team has done, I cannot say that I am able to follow that closely anymore (or rather at the moment). Great start for Woodcroft, and despite everything I bet Tippett is happy the team is doing good.

Is this sustainable? I see goaltending has been very good, of course the team playing in front of the keeper has something to do with that. But with this kind of SV% we have never lost this season. If the keepers don't keep it up will the team still be able to get the win?

Yes, provided that we don't get very poor goaltending. We can win games with average goaltending against lesser teams, the playoffs however are a different animal. It would be interesting for those big into stats to tell us the quality of shots that we've been giving up with Tippett vs. with Woodcroft.

 

[Aerchon]

I dont think Broberg is quite ready. Hes been decent but I dont think hes quite there. Neimo/Lagesson should be playing though. They are both playing well. Woodcroft may just keep rolling 7 D.

Keith's experience down the stretch and in the post season (if we get there) will be huge. I don't regret us getting him one bit. Once he's back, Broberg can go back down and get more PP time and keep building up his game. It will benefit him in the long term.

That’s kind of a crazy thing to say honestly. Niemo should stay I agree but what your going to give him tough minutes and a top 4 role like Keith has? He’s going to break down and that’s a ridiculous position to put a rookie in. Broberg should go back to the AHL he’s making way too many mistakes still including some big ones tonight. Lagesson is what he is not a bad depth option but nothing more.

Keith over Broberg is an improvement. Broberg has been the weak link. But... I can't help but think Broberg will get more out of being in the #7 role than Keith. I think Lags and Niemelainen have been relatively as good as Keith. Better in some worse in others but likely better within Woody systems.

Keith at his best has been our #4. No reason to be paying 5.5 cap hit when it appears Lags and or Niem can replace him.

Not to mention Samorukov might be able to work his way back into the picture as well.

Keith just isn't needed imo. He makes the most mistakes outside of Broberg and really hasn't shown he greatly offsets those mistakes regularly enough. I certainly don't see him helping us make the playoffs or doing anything worth while in them if we make it.

Small sample size. And as others mention maybe Keith works well in Woods systems... But right now imo Keith just isn't needed.

 

[Bryanbryoil]

One thing that had been perplexing me under Tippet is the time Bouchard got on the PK. Ceci has been a pretty good PK player for a lot of years, I found it odd that you would put out someone so young whose game is more aligned to an offensive D man on the PK before the veteran that is a known PK commodity. And this reduces Bouchards offensive chances. Ceci was on his way to his lowest PK time since his rookie year. It is almost like Tippet just sent out whomever was paired with Nurse. No rule says you have to do that the last tow seasons Ceci's PK time was not with his regular partner. It just seemed so odd.

Last night Ceci saw ~ 7minutes, Bouchard none on the PK. This would seem to be the proper deployment based on the players strengths.

Supposedly that was Playfair's department, but between that and not using Ryan McLeod on the PK it really makes you wonder what he was thinking?

 

[TopShelfGloveSide]

Keith over Broberg is an improvement. Broberg has been the weak link. But... I can't help but think Broberg will get more out of being in the #7 role than Keith. I think Lags and Niemelainen have been relatively as good as Keith. Better in some worse in others but likely better within Woody systems.

Keith at his best has been our #4. No reason to be paying 5.5 cap hit when it appears Lags and or Niem can replace him.

Not to mention Samorukov might be able to work his way back into the picture as well.

Keith just isn't needed imo. He makes the most mistakes outside of Broberg and really hasn't shown he greatly offsets those mistakes regularly enough. I certainly don't see him helping us make the playoffs or doing anything worth while in them if we make it.

Small sample size. And as others mention maybe Keith works well in Woods systems... But right now imo Keith just isn't needed.

What a load of shit.

 

[McBooya42]

No more separating McDavid and Pulju. They are meant to be linemates.

The analytics back that up too.

 

[Bryanbryoil]

Keith over Broberg is an improvement. Broberg has been the weak link. But... I can't help but think Broberg will get more out of being in the #7 role than Keith. I think Lags and Niemelainen have been relatively as good as Keith. Better in some worse in others but likely better within Woody systems.

Keith at his best has been our #4. No reason to be paying 5.5 cap hit when it appears Lags and or Niem can replace him.

Not to mention Samorukov might be able to work his way back into the picture as well.

Keith just isn't needed imo. He makes the most mistakes outside of Broberg and really hasn't shown he greatly offsets those mistakes regularly enough. I certainly don't see him helping us make the playoffs or doing anything worth while in them if we make it.

Small sample size. And as others mention maybe Keith works well in Woods systems... But right now imo Keith just isn't needed.

Niemelainen is my 3LD given all available options. Keith bar none is our 2LD. Unless he has significant set backs from his injury there is no way that any of Lagesson, Russell or Broberg (at this point in time) can replace him.

 

[longtimeoilfan]

I only watched the highlights, and I liked seeing Kane punch Lemieux. I loved seeing Nurse and Kane shoulder to shoulder in the scrum when it happened. They got each other's back.

 

[Bryanbryoil]

No more separating McDavid and Pulju. They are meant to be linemates.

We just need to get Jesse going a bit offensively. They definitely work well together, kind of like the NHL's Odd Couple.

 

[CupofOil]

I'm not really understanding this post.

I view games differently than some do. This was not a well played game by the Oilers. We won despite being outplayed and because Peterson made a stupid play on the winning goal.

This was a game the Oilers had to have that went down the wire and could have gone either way. I'm just not buying the "wow this team is playing so great" narrative in post game when people were saying anything but DURING the game. get it?

The two bolded statements kind of contradict each other. They got outplayed but the game could have gone either way?

It was as evenly played as it gets. The Kings made some strong pushes each time after the Oilers scored but it was largely a hard fought game where chances for both teams were at a premium.
The Oilers lose games like this 90% of the time so they deserve credit for gutting it out despite wilting a bit at the end when the tired legs were showing. That building is ALWAYS tough to play in regardless of how good the Kings are. Something about that building combined with the Kings style of play grinds these games down which usually plays into the Oilers weaknesses but they held strong in this one.

This thing wasn't going to go from the shitfest that was being put out there under Tippett to perfect overnight but they are definitely showing signs of getting it together. Just look at hard they are on pucks and even more importantly, at pressuring the points under Woodcroft. Even the Kings announcers made mention of how the Oilers look different now. Still some rough spots but the improvements in system play are pretty obvious IMO.

 

[MoontoScott]

Niemelainen is my 3LD given all available options. Keith bar none is our 2LD. Unless he has significant set backs from his injury there is no way that any of Lagesson, Russell or Broberg (at this point in time) can replace him.

Lagesson has been a pleasant surprise of late.

 

[Tobias Kahun]

How is Woodcroft the first coach ever to start 3-0 on the Oilers?

Also how many times did Michaels have to say the Oilers are looking for a sweep in California like this was their last game of their California road trip?

The oilers next game is in Edmonton.

that’s probably why, it was the last game of their road trip

 

[TopShelfGloveSide]

I only watched the highlights, and I liked seeing Kane punch Lemieux. I loved seeing Nurse and Kane shoulder to shoulder in the scrum when it happened. They got each other's back.

Two tough boys.

 

[Bryanbryoil]

Lagesson has been a pleasant surprise of late.

He has been solid. I still like Niemelainen's physicality over Lagesson's game. Lagesson maybe takes over Russel's spot as our #7 D next season?

 

[Bryanbryoil]

Two tough boys.

If Woodcroft could somehow get Kassian going too along with Niemelainen's crushing hits, All of a sudden we are no longer a soft team.