Post-Game Talk: Ugly way to go into a break

[94 Oil Drops]

Can't be too mad. That one was a complete shootout. Someone had to win and it was close. Time for a 2 week hockey break now. Hopefully McDavid doesn't get hurt in this stupid, pointless tournament worse than he (probably) is now.

 

[russ99]

I’ve been in Skinners court so far but damn those first two were muffins.

So yeah, not good but also nobody picking up the trailer on Makar’s goal and the D both focusing on the shooter and letting Lekkonen in on the doorstep wide open.

So maybe we do have a goalie problem but we also have a lax at the back problem as well.

is the best defense / systems the team has had in those 30 years. Surely a goalie can do better than the pile of mediocrity they get out of these two?

What part of that not picking up trailers and letting shooters have open looks in the crease untouched?

Skinner was bad, but own zone without the puck play is also not good.

 

[russ99]

Even without the former players you mentioned, the Oilers are still a top tier team.

Metrics look real good but who of you isnt concerned we won’t see similar breakdowns in coverage in the postseason when everything is tighter, forechecking more ferocious and less scoring at the other end.

 

[russ99]

Really wish someone would invent real defensive metrics, like failed entry denial or entry denial %, chances per sortie allowed, own zone time on ice, undefended chances against/60, etc.

 

[Ibanez]

Waiting for his defenders to come in the thread. Another loss mainly due to this sieve. Skinner can f*** off

His body language showed he knows how bad he was last night too

 

[Zerotonine]

Stuart Skinner is 4-4-1 in his last 10 starts (managed to escape getting credited with the loss in those one) with a .896 sv%

Rumours that he had turned his season around and it was just a bad few games to start the year dragging his numbers down are completely false.

His numbers are inflated. I've said in other threads, after he let's on the first 2 or 3 and the game is lost he seems to settle in and pad his save percentage and most times gets it around or over 900 by the end of game...

 

[Zerotonine]

IMO, Bob wouldn’t finally say this if it hasn’t reached management’s awareness. Upgrade the f***ing net.

That fact Baghdad Bob finally said something the same night knob actually pulls stu and even publicly calls him out on his performance to the media after the game is a fking. first.

like someone has said this loss might be an actual fking win long term people.

 

[CupofOil]

The Oilers need the break and, quite frankly, I (probably we) need a break as well. It's gotten stale lately with the team and it seems like that flu bug has effected them as well.
Really concerned with Skinner's performances against good teams. Management has to see the problem that's forming here, not that Skinner should be relegated to backup necessarily but they need a stronger contingency plan than Pickard. Seems like Skinner has been giving up mulitple first period goals to every good team as of late. Hard to play from behind all the time against good teams and expect good results.

Also, I do not want this Colorado team in the 1st round. This is the type of team you play in a Conference Finals, I don't care what their record is this is the scariest team in the west IMO. Chances are that it could be Minnesota anyway but the choice of Colorado/Minnesota or Vancouver/Calgary/L.A. is pretty clear to me, not saying that I don't want the Oilers winning the division but be careful what you ask for is what I'm saying.

 

[jesusbuiltmyhotrod]

Going into the playoffs with these goalies is a massive risk . Mcdavid injured? He looks like he’s aged it something

 

[BlackDogg]

Does boouchard forget which end of the ice they are attacking at times? Him and Skinner literally gave Macwhinen the art ross

 

[Fourier]

The Oilers need the break and, quite frankly, I (probably we) need a break as well. It's gotten stale lately with the team and it seems like that flu bug has effected them as well.
Really concerned with Skinner's performances against good teams. Management has to see the problem that's forming here, not that Skinner should be relegated to backup necessarily but they need a stronger contingency plan than Pickard. Seems like Skinner has been giving up mulitple first period goals to every good team as of late. Hard to play from behind all the time against good teams and expect good results.

Also, I do not want this Colorado team in the 1st round. This is the type of team you play in a Conference Finals, I don't care what their record is this is the scariest team in the west IMO. Chances are that it could be Minnesota anyway but the choice of Colorado/Minnesota or Vancouver/Calgary/L.A. is pretty clear to me, not saying that I don't want the Oilers winning the division but be careful what you ask for is what I'm saying.

This game may have been a watershed moment wrt to Skinner. I have serious concerns about how they can deal with this but the reality is they probably need to find a way and I suspect that this is becoming more clear each game for the Oiler brass.

 

[Tarus]

IMO, Bob wouldn’t finally say this if it hasn’t reached management’s awareness. Upgrade the f***ing net.

I think it's silly to think that Oiler's management wasn't always aware of Skinner's lack of reliability, the guy has gotten pulled and replaced(temporarily) as the starter in the playoffs multiple times even when the team was on the march to the cup finals. Everyone is aware, especially Oiler's management.

The problem is what to do about it. I wouldn't be surprised if similar discussions and arguments go on in the Oiler's head offices about whether to stick with the home grown guy or take the risk of going with an outside option. It is a big risk too as the goaltending market has become extremely volatile in the last 5 years. No one wants to become LA or Pittsburgh where they're perpetually on the lookout for stopgap signings because the reliability of the majority of modern goaltenders has gone into the trash since the NHL finally dealt with the oversized equipment issues(aka, the start of the new higher scoring era of the NHL).

 

[LevelingSolo]

Is McDavid injured?

 

[DarksideGhost]

It just has to be a league average goalie and we'll be fine. But f'n Skinner sewers the team within the first 5 shots. If the forwards aren't scoring in bunches, this team is doomed

1000% this, Oilers org need to wake up and see this! At this point I might keep Pickard and trade Skinner to Nash/UAT/Ana for their goalie.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Players will always turn pucks over. I mean they handle the puck all the time. A goalie is expected to make a save or 2....or 3.

Skinner can barely do that

Bouch was trash. McD was trash.

But Skinner was an even bigger piece of trash.

Also, time to F off with the Arvidsson on top line experiment. He's not a top 6 player at the moment - he's no better than Yamo was after his head got knocked off. And his positioning on the ice is eerily similar to Yakupov

Weird, I can’t say I saw the Avs hand the puck to the Oilers while breaking up the ice on a power play. Classifying every single turnover as exactly the same is absolving the players of their mistakes. Bouchard has single-handedly caused a few GA this year with awful decision making.

The Avs’ best players clowned ours. You want to know why people take Makar over Bouchard? That game is a prime reason why.

 

[soothsayer]

This game may have been a watershed moment wrt to Skinner. I have serious concerns about how they can deal with this but the reality is they probably need to find a way and I suspect that this is becoming more clear each game for the Oiler brass.

This post was where I was last season. (Not implying you were a Skinner fan up until just now or anything.) But then you listen to guys like Ryan Rishaug and get a sense of how the organization justifies its position in goal. (Or just read some of the absurd defences from the usual people on this board.) I feel like I'm taking crazy pills listening to Rishaug talk about Skinner, but I think he represents how the organization feels about the situation.

In short, wake me up when this team does anything in goal.

 

[Whoshattenkirkshoes]

If anyone is wondering why the cross-eyed f*** didn’t make Team Canada at 4 Nations, tonight’s game is your answer

but...... his analytics

 

[Stoneman89]

Missed the game but looked at the highlites. Not a big surprise. This shit has been going on for about 3 weeks now. They have not played well for some time now, and this rest either gets them going or they need a shakeup. Goaltending has been inconsistent to bad, massive defensive errors every game (got away with them against inferior teams, but the good ones always make you pay), and just a whole lot of meh from some individuals (mostly McDavid, but also Arvidsson, Hyman, Bouchard, Nuge). Really thought McDavid would get up for this game, but it seems like he's just coasting. And they need to do something about Skinner. The goaltending one.

Do oilers fans have drasaitl as the better player? I know mcdavid is universally labelled the best, but just curious I would like to get opinion from someone who watches them game in and game out

McDavid is without question the better player, but Drai is having an unbelievable year, and McDavid seems to be sleepwalking through this one. So Drai with a bullet this year.

 

[Stoneman89]

This game also showed/emphasized a couple things.

Makar showed (as Hughes has shown) that Bouchard is nowhere near their stratosphere as top ranked dmen. He's good but are a good level above him.

Skinner, Bouch, and yes, Hyman (the guy everyone said they would regret not taking) have all shown why they were overlooked this year for making team Canada.

 

[Whoshattenkirkshoes]

I feel like the trip to game 7 of the finals took a lot out of our top players. Mcdavid, Hyman, and Ekholm have looked tired this season. Draisaitl was injured the last 2 rounds so that’s an extra month of him not going 100% , allowing more recovery for him. But those 3 were heavily leaned on last playoffs and look just gassed this year compared to last. Which is another reason we should’ve kept our younger guys and not made this an old ass team.

Here is the thing. Another long run this year and the future starts looking bleak. Sometimes you don't recover from these things. Mentally and physically.

Hence it's time to GO ALL IN.

I'll be PISSED if we just add a bottom 6 guy and a number 7 LHD

 

[Stoneman89]

Sportsnet Central had a stat posted and it had Skinner with one of the worst save % in the league in the first period! This screams to get a goalie by the trade deadline

And the big issue is that even though he can be solid after that, the damage is done and the team is always expending extra energy trying to come back. Just not a recipe for success.

 

[elmeroil]

4 of 6 points in a 3 in 4 stretch is fine. If they're serious about winning the cup they will find a way to get rid of Skinner by the deadline. Yeah they could still win a cup with him, but the chances are a lot less I'd say.

 

[Whoshattenkirkshoes]

In one of bouchards worst games of the year, Klingberg was worse.

Are you all there?

 

[BIeucheeseWithWings]

Skinner not speaking to the media once again after losing is not surprising.

 

[VeteranPresence]

Skinner not speaking to the media once again after losing is not surprising.

He’s such a tool. Likes to talk up a big game and is quick to criticize his teammates after giveaways but then hides from the media.