Pre-Game Talk: The Only Series We’ve Ever Known: Oilers @ Kings

[Jarvi]

Maybe Brown can get away with more in the playoffs and be more effective.

Those practice lines are brutal though, Knoblauch likely overthinking things. Why take Skinner off McDavids line? Probably because of lack of playoff experience? f*** it, it’s round 1 and that line works, so just give it a chance. If Skinner falters then make the change.

Defense is bizarre too..

Idk maybe they just stick with the regular lines and wanna keep LA guessing? It’s just weird. Anyway f*** LA lets win this

I think he's taking Skinner off that line for the same reason Skinner was "demoted" early in the season, he can provide offense all on his own. I think Skinner became "hated" by Knob when he failed at that role with Janmark/Rico early in the season, and bled chances against on top of it. I don't think the original demotion from the top 6 was really a demotion, but rather a move to spark the bottom 6 that failed at that moment in time, partly due to Skinners defensive play, partly due to him playing with two vet linemates that just came back from the finals and weren't exactly taking games seriously.

As bad as it sounds, our 3 best forwards at creating good chances, and keeping sustained offensive pressure are probably McD, Drai, then Skinner. It kinda makes sense to put Skinner with someone like Nuge who can play safe and work with talent, but has trouble creating on his own.

Skinner looked great in the top 6, and I might put him there if I were the coach. But he also looked great in the bottom 6 in the back half of the season, and Nuge is better than anyone he played with in the bottom 6 previously. This might be a move to give us 3 lines that can all score well, rather than a demotion for Skinner.

Also, while Skinner looked good with McD-Brown, Hyman has the rep to deserve a spot by Connor to start imo. Guy lead the playoffs in goals afterall. I also think the chemistry between Brown and McDavid was more apparent than Mcdavid and Skinner. Skinner just has the talent to kinda work wherever, so of course he looked good next to the best player in the world.

 

[backhandsauce]

Travelling and don’t have time to catch up.

Are Kane and TF ready to go for game 1?

 

[Bryanbryoil]

Travelling and don’t have time to catch up.

Are Kane and TF ready to go for game 1?

Practice lines today:

 

[GhostfaceWu]

Hopefully those aren't the lines because Knob needs his head wacked. Skinner on the first line has been everything you'd want from him the last week and he was playing great even before that and the line was hot why on earth would you mess that up.

 

[Bring Back Bucky]

You ever hear the song Lola, by Ray Davies and the Kinks?

I think you’d know.

I’m not the world’s most passionate guy after all.

 

[rboomercat90]

Did I hear tonight that Skinner will be the starter on Monday?

Skinner stakes claim to Edmonton Oilers net in Game 1; get ready for Kane's return

Stuart Skinner finishes strong, solidifies starting job for playoffs, as the team gets set to face the Los Angeles Kings.

edmontonjournal.com

We gotta get Stu going for the playoffs.

 

[bellagiobob]

How is gamesmanship more important than building chemistry and actually preparing with the configuration you’ll be playing with

They've practiced with umpteen different line combos all year. A 35 minute skate this morning isn't going to make much of a difference.

 

[bellagiobob]

Same, if the Oilers are out then go Jets go.

Would love to hear the last minute chant of a Canadian team Stanley Cup winner final with .....C-A-N-A-D-A.

Definitely no U-S-A, U-S-A.

You would never hear that in a Canadian rink during an NHL game, only the team name will be chanted. I've always found that weird in American sports when they break out into a USA chant, often when just a minimal number of the players are from there.

 

[Heavy Dee]

Rejoice. I don't think we have ever won a playoff game with him reffing.

 

[GhostfaceWu]

Rejoice. I don't think we have ever won a playoff game with him reffing.

Now just get rid of Maccaley.

 

[rboomercat90]

yup. This ranks up there with the “that would be a waste of 8 days” quote from Sutter.

One of my all-time favourites was Bob Pulford coaching Chicago in the playoffs against the Oilers in the 80’s. He was asked what he thought of his teams execution and he said he was in favour of it.

 

[rboomercat90]

"not close" but they're skating...ok then

I'll wait until the coach speaks before jumping to conclusions

The coach has lost all his credibility too when it comes to discussing injuries. Not only are we left with waiting to see who actually dresses and is on the bench at the start of the game but now we have to keep our fingers crossed and hope they’re still there after their first shift. Weird times here now.

 

[tiger_80]

That's not a bad lineup. If Ekholm was healthy, the Oilers would be strong favorites against the Kings. With all the turmoil and injuries, I feel the Kings have a slight advantage.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

That's not a bad lineup. If Ekholm was healthy, the Oilers would be strong favorites against the Kings. With all the turmoil and injuries, I feel the Kings have a slight advantage.

It utterly fails if Josh Brown dresses. He cannot be in the line up, period.

 

[Mr Positive]

That's not a bad lineup. If Ekholm was healthy, the Oilers would be strong favorites against the Kings. With all the turmoil and injuries, I feel the Kings have a slight advantage.

Man, Josh Brown on D though. I'd like Klingberg to be healthy or even put Dineen there. I get that Brown is physical but he doesn't bring much else

 

[AM]

The coach has lost all his credibility too when it comes to discussing injuries. Not only are we left with waiting to see who actually dresses and is on the bench at the start of the game but now we have to keep our fingers crossed and hope they’re still there after their first shift. Weird times here now.

Credibility?

Why would provide any info?

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

Man, Josh Brown on D though. I'd like Klingberg to be healthy or even put Dineen there. I get that Brown is physical but he doesn't bring much else

He doesn't bring much physicality against good teams, he's just a tall pilon. He cannot dress.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

This is in 53 games (each), I will trust McDraiChard in the playoffs, but hopefully the rest of the group holds up on their own.

McDavid putting up 1980s level numbers in the playoffs.

 

[tiger_80]

Man, Josh Brown on D though. I'd like Klingberg to be healthy or even put Dineen there. I get that Brown is physical but he doesn't bring much else

He'll play 5-10 mins.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

He'll play 5-10 mins.

He can't play that much, it's too much hockey for him at this level of competition. Dineen is a far better option.

 

[ManByng]

I see the talking marshmallows on TSN have predicted the Kings will win the series. Who couldn't see that coming from them?

 

[rboomercat90]

Credibility?

Why would provide any info?

I’m specifically referencing the day he said McDavid was a week away at morning practice only for him to play that same night. My point being he isn’t going to provide any info.

 

[AM]

I’m specifically referencing the day he said McDavid was a week away at morning practice only for him to play that same night. My point being he isn’t going to provide any info.

Maybe he stayed an extra half hour in the O2 chamber.

 

[Stealth1616]

I see the talking marshmallows on TSN have predicted the Kings will win the series. Who couldn't see that coming from them?

LA winning this series is a likely situation honestly. Team hasn’t been healthy and have not played as a full team in months.

This doesn’t even factor in the Skinner problem

 

[Tobias Kahun]

The coach has lost all his credibility too when it comes to discussing injuries. Not only are we left with waiting to see who actually dresses and is on the bench at the start of the game but now we have to keep our fingers crossed and hope they’re still there after their first shift. Weird times here now.

Yeah, why would he come out and tell everything whats going on?

That would be the dumbest thing he could do.