Post-Game Talk: The biggest game of the McDrai era

[ujju2]

Watching Broberg last night reminded me why I hate seeing LHD on the right side (or vice versa). Seemed like he was in tough positions quite often, whether it was an inability to seal the boards in the offensive zone or difficulty moving the puck up from the defensive zone. I was overall quite impressed with his play, looked poised and steady, I just wish we had another RHD we could play, with Broberg being the #7 and Desharnais scratched. Calling up Demers wouldn't be a bad idea imo.

 

[bone]

The playoffs last year and games again in the playoffs this year is why I laugh when people say Draisaitl is only good because of McDavid. If we are being honest, he's been worst case even the last 2 playoffs but most will say better than him. Draisaitl is a bonafide superstar and elevates his game when it matters. Such a pleasure to have him on our team.

I'm hoping the boys play their best game of the series in game 5. It's a massive game and we have the team to take it. We just have to execute. Super proud of Soupy for coming in. We don't win that game without his performance. Happy for Kane and Hyman to get goals as well. We need them as well in game 5. Hopefully RNH can pick it up a little offensively as well. What a massive win, they could have quit at 3-0 and been down 3 games to 1 but that was the most important win of the year and they didn't quit.

Even in the first playoff run of the McDrai era, Draisaitl was a much bigger force. He almost single handedly beat Anaheim if not for the officiating after an average first round where it was clear that he was very sick as he was hacking non-stop in any of the interviews.

Last year was McDavid's only really major impactful playoff run so far once he snapped in Game 5 vs LA and he's looking close to going off this year as well.

 

[PULSATING]

The GDT on the mains was quite funny to read through.

-After we made the goalie change a whole bunch of Leafs' fans came in and started supporting the Oilers (Campbell must have been well liked over there)

-The weak Arvi on Drai call was the reason they lost (it was a weak call but they did squander a 3 goal lead and couldn't kill a penalty)

-Avs fans really hate the Oilers (are they insecure about the possibility of having to face us later on?)

-Bouchard 'dove' into the boards in OT (what?)

I actually found the Leafs fans rooting for Campbell really endearing. Made me want to root for their guys a lil... just a lil.

 

[guymez]

Hands down. The first 3 were a farce, but that was finally an evenly called game



I think he’s scared to play his game because of the officiating. The refs spent 3 games looking for excuses to call anything they could on us. He got a couple weak calls that burned us, so now the whole team is having to avoid physical play

That makes sense.
He is just not playing his game and looks lost.
Without the physicality he isnt an NHL dman.

Hopefully the NHL keeps the same officials for the remainder of the series.

 

[ujju2]

delete

 

[LucaBrasil]

If you were one of the many posters calling the season over and done, time to blow it up, say goodbye to McD, Woody can’t coach etc etc at the end of the first period, be a good sport and ban yourself for the rest of the playoffs.

Can't stand those guys, f.cking 12 year old morons.

 

[guymez]

Maybe I am talking out my ass but it's a fast game out there and desharnais seems to be struggling with it. Kings being a counter attacking team I think it just doesn't suit his style. He would be much more valuable in another situation butni think broberg is a better option given he is a much better skater and can get himself out of trouble more easily. Kings aren't spending a ton of time cycling around the offensive zone so desharnais skills are lessened.

I think @The Nuge made an important point. With the reffing being as brutal as it has been in the first 3 games it appears to have made Desharnais tentative.
Especially in terms of his physicality.

 

[Arpeggio]

Can't stand those guys, f.cking 12 year old morons.

Meh, gameday thread is where that stuff's supposed to go. If you can't admit that you were wrong after the fact, then yes, it's annoying.

You absolutely cannot call up Demers, he couldn't handle the San Jose Sharks without screwing up lol. Broberg on his offside is still a better even strength dman than Desharnais, just give him the minutes.

 

[PULSATING]

I think @The Nuge made an important point. With the reffing being as brutal as it has been in the first 3 games it appears to have made Desharnais tentative.
Especially in terms of his physicality.

He's also slow and just getting burned all the time. It's beyond physicality it's the speed and intensity of playoff hockey that he's struggling with. He's still a rookie though, this is expected for D in their first playoffs, especially bottom pairing guys.

 

[Arpeggio]

I think @The Nuge made an important point. With the reffing being as brutal as it has been in the first 3 games it appears to have made Desharnais tentative.
Especially in terms of his physicality.

He's tentative but he's also being exposed for being a below-average skater. It's definitely a weakness for him, and the Kings are aware of that. Broberg is so poised, the Kings won't be able to go after his side like they have been with Desharnais.

 

[voxel]

Watching Broberg last night reminded me why I hate seeing LHD on the right side (or vice versa). Seemed like he was in tough positions quite often, whether it was an inability to seal the boards in the offensive zone or difficulty moving the puck up from the defensive zone. I was overall quite impressed with his play, looked poised and steady, I just wish we had another RHD we could play, with Broberg being the #7 and Desharnais scratched. Calling up Demers wouldn't be a bad idea imo.

Demers is awful. He's done.

I like the fight in this team and the lack of cockiness because it's a battle to win every game. I remember fans here after game 3 were proclaiming we'd stomp the Kings in 5... This is why the games are played.

He's tentative but he's also being exposed for being a below-average skater. It's definitely a weakness for him, and the Kings are aware of that. Broberg is so poised, the Kings won't be able to go after his side like they have been with Desharnais.

Broberg is a vastly better skater and a very underrated passer but he's prone to high risk plays. Maybe he's fixed that in the past season or two (haven't followed Condors at all this season).

 

[Arpeggio]

Demers is awful. He's done.

I like the fight in this team and the lack of cockiness because it's a battle to win every game. I remember fans here after game 3 were proclaiming we'd stomp the Kings in 5... This is why the games are played.



Broberg is a vastly better skater and a very underrated passer but he's prone to high risk plays. Maybe he's fixed that in the past season or two (haven't followed Condors at all this season).

I don't know, I haven't seen it from him this season. I mean he did play nearly 50 NHL games this year and for the most part was pretty quiet. I'm a big Broberg fan though, and I actually think he could afford to be more aggressive offensively, which I think is something he will start to do next season when he has a more solid spot in the lineup. But to me the way he's played this year is exactly what they need on the bottom pairing right now. Good skater, gets the puck out of the zone quickly.

 

[bone]

I don't know, I haven't seen it from him this season. I mean he did play nearly 50 NHL games this year and for the most part was pretty quiet. I'm a big Broberg fan though, and I actually think he could afford to be more aggressive offensively, which I think is something he will start to do next season when he has a more solid spot in the lineup. But to me the way he's played this year is exactly what they need on the bottom pairing right now. Good skater, gets the puck out of the zone quickly.

The biggest challenge for Broberg in terms of long term deployment is now that Ekholm is here, we have 3 solid NHL defenders occupying the left side locked in until 2026. So his path to long term deployment may require him moving to the right side unless they eventually move Bouchard to Nurse's right side and move Ekholm onto the right side to help Broberg leaving Ceci, and Desharnais to split time on the right side with Kulak.

 

[voxel]

I don't know, I haven't seen it from him this season. I mean he did play nearly 50 NHL games this year and for the most part was pretty quiet. I'm a big Broberg fan though, and I actually think he could afford to be more aggressive offensively, which I think is something he will start to do next season when he has a more solid spot in the lineup. But to me the way he's played this year is exactly what they need on the bottom pairing right now. Good skater, gets the puck out of the zone quickly.

He's very much like Nurse... skates into the O-zone and has no idea what to do with the puck. But he's a vastly better passer than Nurse IMO.

He's an excellent PP quarterback (in AHL - better than Bouchard was on the PP on the Condors) that will never play that role on the Oilers. Honestly, if we could get another Ekholm then Broberg would be the perfect D-man trade chip.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

 

[The Nuge]

That makes sense.
He is just not playing his game and looks lost.
Without the physicality he isnt an NHL dman.

Hopefully the NHL keeps the same officials for the remainder of the series.

Ya the reason he’s been able to keep up at the NHL level is his size and intensity. If he has to rely on skating, we may as well go back to 12/6 and use Broberg. But that’s probably more of a game 6 decision depending on how next game is called

He's also slow and just getting burned all the time. It's beyond physicality it's the speed and intensity of playoff hockey that he's struggling with. He's still a rookie though, this is expected for D in their first playoffs, especially bottom pairing guys.

Disagree. Yes, he’s slow, but he’s kept up fine when he’s been assertive. If he’s not allowed to be physical he’s going to get burned

 

[Arpeggio]

He's very much like Nurse... skates into the O-zone and has no idea what to do with the puck. But he's a vastly better passer than Nurse IMO.

He's an excellent PP quarterback (in AHL - better than Bouchard was on the PP on the Condors) that will never play that role on the Oilers. Honestly, if we could get another Ekholm then Broberg would be the perfect D-man trade chip.

Man I disagree, I think we'll see them make room for him next season on the left side. I mean maybe Kulak can play on the right, he's a very talented skater too. I just see too much upside in Broberg, and he's going to be cheap as hell given the lack of PP time.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

People who complain about the refs should look at some of the stuff that's happened in other series. That Foligno "tripping" penalty was ridiculous.

Reffing has been garbage throughout the playoffs, not just our series. Incredible what they are calling.

 

[ujju2]

Demers is awful. He's done.

I like the fight in this team and the lack of cockiness because it's a battle to win every game. I remember fans here after game 3 were proclaiming we'd stomp the Kings in 5... This is why the games are played.



Broberg is a vastly better skater and a very underrated passer but he's prone to high risk plays. Maybe he's fixed that in the past season or two (haven't followed Condors at all this season).

Outside of that brutal turnover in his first shift, I though he looked pretty solid in the one game he played for us. Granted, that was against San Jose, but I think calling him up and seeing how he looks in practice could be a good idea.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

I was quoted as well. I reported him/her since it is considered trolling to quote ones post made in HFOil in another board (i.e., an attempt to draw one into an opposing teams board with a direct quote). To the mods credit, they deleted the post quickly.

That happened to me with Leafs board, yet I got infracted for trolling by the glorious Leaf mods. Jackasses.

 

[McDanglez]

I've been cheering for Yamo to find his game this year, but he's been an obvious weak link so far these playoffs. Need to find a way to improve that 2nd line in the off-season.

XB

 

[guymez]

He's also slow and just getting burned all the time. It's beyond physicality it's the speed and intensity of playoff hockey that he's struggling with. He's still a rookie though, this is expected for D in their first playoffs, especially bottom pairing guys.

To be fair...when you hesitate and play tentatively...you look slow.
Its a big deal.

He's tentative but he's also being exposed for being a below-average skater. It's definitely a weakness for him, and the Kings are aware of that. Broberg is so poised, the Kings won't be able to go after his side like they have been with Desharnais.

Skating definitely isnt his strong point but when you hesitate and you're not a strong skater...you're done.

 

[oXo Cube]

My favorite storyline from last night is how Nurse played the worst game I've seen from him in years and he was somehow still only the third worst defenseman on the ice.

 

[Zguy370]

Nice to see we pulled it off this morning, didn't watch, question; How was the officiating, Lee / Kozari?

 

[iCanada]

Nice to see we pulled it off this morning, didn't watch, question; How was the officiating, Lee / Kozari?

IMO it was good.