WCF: Edmonton Oilers vs. Colorado Avalanche ( Avs lead 3-0 )

[Frank Drebin]

I think a 37 year old goalie stops that third one. Man Smith is just so animated and busy with even the simplest of shots.

McDavid this year is like Hasek in 99, carrying a team that has no business being there.

 

[Dr Pepper]

The problem with Smith is no matter how good he is playing, he is always good for 1 or 2 absolute stinkers to go in and always at the worst time. See the 3rd goal tonight. He is the definition of momentum killer.....

Seems like the Oilers have more than one of those, which isn't ideal when you're up against the top seed in the conference (and are nursing a one goal lead early).

Kane did the team no favours last night either.

 

[Isaac Nootin]

Oilers are a one line team with very inconsistent goaltending. Never had a chance against a complete team.

More than anything it highlights just how poor the Pacific Division was as a whole this year.

 

[Backcheckmonster3]

Soft hands from the nurse on that tip in. Sweet feed from oilers 97 to Mikko Rantanen for the dagger.

 

[Alienblood]

Had Binner not been run by Kadri, Blues likely take that series. Thats what a hot goaltender can do in the NHL playoffs.

Avs have faced NHL goaltending for 2 games this entire postseason. Whoever comes out of the East will have a massive advantage in that department.

 

[cgf]

It's the embellishing that Colorado adds to every play. It's embarrassing. Like watching a soccer team out there

Going to B fun watching the avs loose to the east and all the crying these fans will be doing, can't wait for the excuses

3 for 3

Had Binner not been run by Kadri, Blues likely take that series. Thats what a hot goaltender can do in the NHL playoffs.

Avs have faced NHL goaltending for 2 games this entire postseason. Whoever comes out of the East will have a massive advantage in that department.

Facts, if Colorado wins the cup everybody knows it really belongs to the Blues.

 

[PaulD]

They limited the Blues to 20, 30 and 20 shots in the three games JJ played. Kuemper still somehow managed to give up 10 goals.

Aves dont need Kuemper to win the Cup. They dont need Shesterkin or Vassy to win the Cup either. They are that good.
They can win it all with their back up.......or just about anybody elses back up.

 

[Alienblood]

Had Binner not been run by Kadri, Blues likely take that series. Thats what a hot goaltender can do in the NHL playoffs.

Avs have faced NHL goaltending for 2 games this entire postseason. Whoever comes out of the East will have a massive advantage in that department.

when was Binnington hot ? He was awful all year long , Husso is the better goalie.

 

[66-30-33]

Hshh, this MacFarland person you're talking about does not exist Move on, folks, nothing to see here

Many of us hope Sakic will retire upwards in the organization, so MacFarland can be the GM before he's poached away.

Well he’s done far better then anything Hextall has ever done, surprised he never became Pens GM when he tried for that gig.

 

[Alienblood]

Colorado is just better. Much better. It's wild how many dangerous chances they create. Makar is like a modern-day Bobby Orr. I've never seen anything like him and this is coming from someone who watches McDavid on a regular basis. Kane might be gone for the rest of the playoffs as well so if Edmonton were to somehow win, this would be the comeback of the century. Won't happen though of course and it looks like this one might be a sweep.

appreciate the class and honesty. Makar really is the best player in the league. Glad he is on full display for pwople who don't usually watch Avs games.

There is no player in the league you take over Makar. He is simply brilliant

 

[Hasbro]

Gotta say I really don't get the criticism of Bednar, he's a hell of a coach and one of the 5 best in the game

He’s got a few quirks that annoy us.

 

[PaulD]

Oilers have needed a goalie for so long its mind boggling.

With the additions of Hyman, Kane this year. A stud in net they would be seriously contending. They still probably wouldnt beat the Aves.........but they would have made it interesting and not be getting swept.

 

[Hasbro]

The murder capital of the United States and top 10 in the world since 2016? Who wouldn't want to live in "Saint" Louis

Anyone who likes good beer.

 

[PaulD]

Sakic has done a masetrful job.

appreciate the class and honesty. Makar really is the best player in the league. Glad he is on full display for pwople who don't usually watch Avs games.

There is no player in the league you take over Makar. He is simply brilliant

You maybe right.

 

[NYSPORTS]

Sakic has done a masetrful job.

the Sakic, Yzerman GM’s are so good. The Rangers Gordon did a really nice job, they were too patient or Dolan was impatient with adding brawn. Honestly, it was wrong to have so many kids out there without a policeman or protection.

Avs, Det and a growing power in LA too.

 

[Alienblood]

Blues fans love finding excuses. Colorado won this game without Girard, Kadri or Kuemper. That's their 2C, top 4 defenseman and their starter. What's St Louis' excuse?

I am trying to figure out how he Blues are even relevant.

 

[Hasbro]

Kadri& Girard are fair but to be honest Kuemper hasn’t been impressive at all.

He took the stick to the face in the 3rd game of the playoffs.

 

[not a troll]

The problem with Smith is no matter how good he is playing, he is always good for 1 or 2 absolute stinkers to go in and always at the worst time. See the 3rd goal tonight. He is the definition of momentum killer.....

If you want to talk about momentum killer it was your skaters in the first period and their bone headed penalties. Smith kept you in it on those kills.

Instead of feeding off of the high from McDavid’s goal and early game crowd, you spent essentially the rest of the period on a kill.

 

[Bender]

I guess you never played hockey.

It's tough to play hockey when you have front row season tickets to WWE (yeah, you read that right...following them around is very time consuming)

Bad bounces in Game 3 for Edmonton, but Smith made a nice blocker save near the end.
However, Edmonton needs better goaltending. Without better goaltending, they can't win.

If thats your takeaway, I'm gonna go out on a limb and suggest that you haven't watched a single game.

I mean no question a better goaltender would help but that's certainly not the main reason they are down 3-0 in this series.

 

[Alienblood]

I’m sure he watched the games too

eye test matters

 

[tucker3434]

The Oilers really need McDrai to outperform MacKinnon/Makar, and for the most part, they’ve just cancelled each other out. It’s been guys like Nichushkin and Compher that have been the difference. That’s always been in the scouting report on how to beat the Oilers, but easier said than done. I though Calgary had the depth to challenge them, but they did not.

Hope somebody throws Kane’s clothes in the shower. There’s a reason that guy has been run out of two different cities. He’s trash on and off the ice. I doubt MCDavid was too thrilled with him mocking the Avs from the bench in game 2. But we shouldn’t have to worry about it for the rest of this series.

 

[cgf]

when was Binnington hot ? He was awful all year long , Husso is the better goalie.

Binnington was on fire against the Avs. He’s the only reason game 1 wasn’t a blowout

 

[PaulD]

the Sakic, Yzerman GM’s are so good. The Rangers Gordon did a really nice job, they were too patient or Dolan was impatient with adding brawn. Honestly, it was wrong to have so many kids out there without a policeman or protection.

Avs, Det and a growing power in LA too.

Bang on.

 

[tucker3434]

when was Binnington hot ? He was awful all year long , Husso is the better goalie.

That’s definitely what the Blues fans were telling us a couple months ago. Husso was ‘19 Binnington and about to backstop them to a cup. And pointing out the insanity in that logic just made you a hater. It wasn’t until they had to actually rely on him in the playoffs that he became an excuse for their defeat.

 

[Sentinel]

Actually, the game was fairly close. Both goalies let in a softie. The Oilers hit a couple of posts.

Two things killing the Oilers: bad defense and injury to Draisaitl. It really hurts to even watch him skate. I remember wincing every time Yzerman stepped on the ice in 2002 but he was carried by Fedorov and he still managed to produce and lead. Draisaitl is a liability and can get REALLY injured out there.

When Draisaitl returned to the bench last night, the commentators proclaimed "that's a sight for sore eyes." I felt exactly the opposite: "he looks horrible."