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

[TheTechNoir]

If the Oilers won both of the first two games, I guarentee you there would be some avs fans who are not currently panicking, well, panicking. Which is silly. They lose some safety cushion, okay? They are still the same team, and expectation for them to win upcoming games hasn't radically shifted to where I think they are both completely different teams than they actually are. The world isn't over based on 2 games, and the series isn't already won based on 2 games, and the same team isn't both things depending on what the results of 2 games is.

 

[slobbergob]

It'll be interesting to see which forward matchups the Oilers chase at home. The Avs went best on best which helped Kadri and co light up the rest of the oilers line up.

The problem is if you go away from that then Mackinnon gets to feast on the Oilers bottom 9. And Bednar will take that any day of the week.

 

[Holymakinaw]

It'll be interesting to see which forward matchups the Oilers chase at home. The Avs went best on best which helped Kadri and co light up the rest of the oilers line up.

The problem is if you go away from that then Mackinnon gets to feast on the Oilers bottom 9. And Bednar will take that any day of the week.

It really won't matter.

 

[Dolemite]

The Oilers aren't checking the living crap out of the Avs scoring lines why?

 

[Alienblood]

I can't tell if this is serious. What did the avs embellish?

the score shoulda been 10 zip at least

 

[TheTechNoir]

That goes both ways. After game 1, a lot of Oilers fans here comparing this scenario to the Flames series where they lost 9-6 then proceeded to win the next 4. It’s no longer following that script now. More recently, the Avs have gone up 2-0 on Nashville, why don’t you invoke comparisons to that series? Also, against the Blues, the Avs were 1-1 after 2 games. None of it has since followed the same script that you’re alluding to. Also, the Avs haven’t lost on the road yet during these playoffs? Why do you not see that as relevant? Your focus for comparison is extremely myopic.

Of course it goes both ways. You have crazy people on both fanbases. A lot of Oilers fans allegedly transformed after game 2, compared to after game 1. That's ridiculous. It's the same damn team as they were before game 1. It's the same team that looked extremely sloppy and concerningly unsustainable in round 2. It's the same team that required 7 to beat the Kings, largely willed by 1 player.

I expect the Avs to win the series, and I want them to win the series considering I am an Avs fan. Yeah, the Oilers lost 9-6 to the Flames, then they won 4. The Avs won game 1 vs Nashville, then won the next 3. The Leafs traded wins back and forth with Tampa, until Tampa won 6 & 7, Washington were 1-1 after 2 games, and lost. Carolina was up 2-0 vs Boston, and won. So what? Different series had different outcomes, and none of them have anything whatsoever to do with this series. Lol, do you think I'm an idiot and I am implying the Avs are going to lose the next 4 games because they did that to Vegas which has absolutely nothing to do with anything that ever happened before those 4 games, and will never have anything to do with any games that ever happen again in the future? Because I'm not. I think Edmonton can win this series, just like I would if it were 1-1, or 2-0 Edm instead of 2-0 Colorado. And I think that Colorado will win this series, just like I would if it were 1-1, or 2-0 Edm instead of 2-0 Colorado.

What script is it that I am alluding to? That 2 games does not dictate how the rest of the series goes? I'm pretty sure all first 2 games of a series follow the script of not dictating how the next 2 games go. Because no first 2 games ever dictate future games. What we do and did know before the 2 games, though, were what 2 teams were playing, and who we think the better team is, which does not change based on the result of 2 games. Does it allude to the script that I am not going to panick and call the Avs a bunch of losers and say they are going to lose the series for sure if they lose, because magically the team is a totally different team if they, *gasp*, lose one or two hockey games? But yet, I am not going to have ANY panick or fear AT ALL when they are up 2-0, even though I want to blow the core up and fire Sakic if they lost those 2 instead? Because that script is accurate, I am not going to have those insane reactions to a loss or two, or a win or two. I've had no panick in these playoffs, and I haven't counted any chickens before they hatched either, despite expecting them to advance to the cup final. If a team had taken them down 3 games to 0, like Nashvhille, or the Blues, or now the Oilers, would my confidence be reduced? Yeah, the odds are stacked against you for that come back. Regardless, I'm not panicking. It is now harder to win, but it's still the same teams, and I expect the avs to win a best of 7. I also know they are capable of losing in hockey, like when they were up 2-0 on the knights and did, or when they were up 2-0 on Nashville, and didn't.

I think the Avs probably win in 5 or 6 games. A sweep is a realistic possibility. Oilers winning the series is a realistic possibility, too. That stance changes only if a game 6 or game 7 becomes necessesary, and then it is Avs in 6 or 7 games. Not the Avs are a bunch of pathetic losers, who I thought were amazing a few days ago, but changed my mind from an hour or two of hockey.

 

[Eltuna]

It'll be interesting to see which forward matchups the Oilers chase at home. The Avs went best on best which helped Kadri and co light up the rest of the oilers line up.

The problem is if you go away from that then Mackinnon gets to feast on the Oilers bottom 9. And Bednar will take that any day of the week.

I think Woodcroft will do everything in his power to get McDavid as far away from Mackinnon and Makar as humanly possible.

Through the first two games, he has a CF% of 42.5% a xGF% of 35.6%, a SCF% of 33.3%, and a HDCF% of 40.9%.

In his entire career he has never been shutdown like that through 2 games against anyone. The poor goaltending in game 1 makes his counting stat total look good for the series so far but make no mistake, he’s getting completely dominated so far this series.

 

[BlueBaron]

Not sure what this has to do with me pointing out that the silliness that people would be acting differently, and in extremes, when it is the same two teams playing each other, and that the future games won't be decided by the past games, has anything to do with if your aunt had balls.

If the Oilers won both of the first two games, I guarentee you there would be some avs fans who are not currently panicking, well, panicking. Which is silly. They lose some safety cushion, okay? They are still the same team, and expectation for them to win upcoming games hasn't radically shifted to where I think they are both completely different teams than they actually are. The world isn't over based on 2 games, and the series isn't already won based on 2 games, and the same team isn't both things depending on what the results of 2 games is.

So you don't know why you are being mocked.

Your premise is: If reality was different reality would be different. So why are you making such a bid deal about reality?

Regular season match up records can be great indicators but ultimately don't translate reliably due to pressure and officiating differences, not to mention late season roster changes and player deployment adjustments. It's a small game sample vs 82.

The Oil are the best offensive team in the league but Colorado is a consistently better team that is more seasoned and established.

This Oiler team has been the best story of the playoffs and I personally want them to go all the way but it cannot be ignored that this is a flawed team with a blueline and goaltending among the worst in the post season.

McDavid may yet will them to the Cup but make no mistake who the underdog is for the rest of the playoffs.

This result is not a surprise The reverse would be. I think that is why the conversation is going as it is.

For now I'd focus on the next game. It could change the conversation but for now the Oil appear to be on the ropes.

 

[LaCarriere]

This series is over and its not even close. Avs in 3. Oilers concede the 4th game out of embarrassment

 

[TheTechNoir]

So you don't know why you are being mocked.

Your premise is: If reality was different reality would be different. So why are you making such a bid deal about reality?

Regular season match up records can be great indicators but ultimately don't translate reliably due to pressure and officiating differences, not to mention late season roster changes and player deployment adjustments.

The Oil are the best offensive team in the league but Colorado is a consistently better team that is more seasoned and established.

This Oiler team has been the best story of the playoffs and I personally want them to go all the way but it cannot be ignored that this is a flawed team with a blueline and goaltending among the worst in the post season.

McDavid may yet will them to the Cup but make no mistake who the underdog is for the rest of the playoffs.

This result is not surprise The reverse would be. I think that is why the conversation is going as it is.

For now I'd focus on the next game. It could change the conversation but for now the Oil appear to be on the ropes.

No, that is why he posted that to try to mock me, and I think someone else, did, too; because he thought I was making an assinine comment about how if reality were different, reality would be different. I am absolutely not saying that, and I am not talking about the two hockey teams, or the outcome of the series when I say if the oilers won the first 2 games, the comments would be radically different. I am exclusively commenting on posters and their reactivity.

Re: regular season match up record - I agree 100%.

I don't know if I agree that the oilers are the best offensive team in the league (definitely they can be for sustained stretches, though, but overall? I'm not convinced). I agree though about Colorado being consistently better and more seasoned/established. I think the whole franchise in general is much better run.

I've found the oilers fun to watch in these playoffs, but man if I were a fan of them, I would be hoping the needed changes happen, because they have not been very good, and the ways they are winning, well, if you just look at the result, it is masking a lot, and there is a lot of very questionably sustainable things at play here. The Avs have flaws and weaknesses, and they were sloppy in game 1 vs Edm. But yikes, EDM is worse in those departments.

Indeed, McDavid could possibly manage to pull that off, and hell yeah, the Oilers were even the underdog to beat the Kings for me, and I considered the Kings nearly a cinderella playoff appearance.

Indeed, it would be a surprise if the Oilers won the first 2. But, I would still certainly expect the Avs to win the series, all the same. Why in the world wouldn't I? Yeah, the conversation is going in a way that leads you to believe people expect the Avs are going to win the series, like they did before the series started. That makes sense. It doesn't make much sense that the conversation would not still be going that way, had the oilers won the first 2 games, however. And it would be, much more so than it is now, by both fanbases. That is what I was saying.

I am indeed focused on the next game, the first 2 don't matter now for Colorado. They matter for Edmonton in so far as, Edmonton can now only lose 1 game, instead of 3 games, but they don't change or alter the coming games beyond that. It could change the conversation, but shouldn't. That is ridiculous.

Here, okay, fine, instead of saying if the oilers won the first 2 games, the conversation would be radically different, since that isn't what happened, using a hypothetical to try to highlight a ridiculous behaviour by contrasting how it would be reacted to, when there is no fundamental basis for a different reaction, how about I don't use a hypothetical for something that already happened.

If the Oilers win the next 2 games, there are going to be people talking radically different, then they are right now. In fact, they would talk radically different than they did when the series was also tied, 0-0, before it started. Why? That's foolish. I'm not talking about if half the avs core gets injured and they are on their 7th goalie or some crazy shit, I am talking about if it is the same team roughly, vs the same team. If the oilers win the next 2, it doesn't make me change my expectation for the avs to win, doesn't make the oilers not be the underdogs, doesn't make the result not a surprise (it would be a surprise for edmonton to string together wins, even though they absolutely could).

Look no further than the supreme confidence in the post above. If the oilers won the first 2, that post would have a different tune. It should not. And if that post had a different tune before the series, it shouldn't be so hyper-confident now. It's been 2 games. The whole world doesn't transform after a game and players become different players and teams go from being incredible to being full of losers overnight, and back. I know the oilers didn't win the first 2. That doesn't mean I am wrong about how the reactions would be, and that my opinion is it is ridiculous. If the avs do lose the next 2 games, it's going to be some pretty shameful avs bashing going on that is not happening right now, but was just last week or so.

 

[BlueBaron]

No, that is why he posted that to try to mock me, and I think someone else, did, too; because he thought I was making an assinine comment about how if reality were different, reality would be different. I am absolutely not saying that, and I am not talking about the two hockey teams, or the outcome of the series when I say if the oilers won the first 2 games, the comments would be radically different. I am exclusively commenting on posters and their reactivity.

Re: regular season match up record - I agree 100%.

I don't know if I agree that the oilers are the best offensive team in the league (definitely they can be for sustained stretches, though, but overall? I'm not convinced). I agree though about Colorado being consistently better and more seasoned/established. I think the whole franchise in general is much better run.

I've found the oilers fun to watch in these playoffs, but man if I were a fan of them, I would be hoping the needed changes happen, because they have not been very good, and the ways they are winning, well, if you just look at the result, it is masking a lot, and there is a lot of very questionably sustainable things at play here. The Avs have flaws and weaknesses, and they were sloppy in game 1 vs Edm. But yikes, EDM is worse in those departments.

Indeed, McDavid could possibly manage to pull that off, and hell yeah, the Oilers were even the underdog to beat the Kings for me, and I considered the Kings nearly a cinderella playoff appearance.

Indeed, it would be a surprise if the Oilers won the first 2. But, I would still certainly expect the Avs to win the series, all the same. Why in the world wouldn't I? Yeah, the conversation is going in a way that leads you to believe people expect the Avs are going to win the series, like they did before the series started. That makes sense. It doesn't make much sense that the conversation would not still be going that way, had the oilers won the first 2 games, however. And it would be, much more so than it is now, by both fanbases. That is what I was saying.

I am indeed focused on the next game, the first 2 don't matter now for Colorado. They matter for Edmonton in so far as, Edmonton can now only lose 1 game, instead of 3 games, but they don't change or alter the coming games beyond that. It could change the conversation, but shouldn't. That is ridiculous.

Here, okay, fine, instead of saying if the oilers won the first 2 games, the conversation would be radically different, since that isn't what happened, using a hypothetical to try to highlight a ridiculous behaviour by contrasting how it would be reacted to, when there is no fundamental basis for a different reaction, how about I don't use a hypothetical for something that already happened.

If the Oilers win the next 2 games, there are going to be people talking radically different, then they are right now. In fact, they would talk radically different than they did when the series was also tied, 0-0, before it started. Why? That's foolish. I'm not talking about if half the avs core gets injured and they are on their 7th goalie or some crazy shit, I am talking about if it is the same team roughly, vs the same team. If the oilers win the next 2, it doesn't make me change my expectation for the avs to win, doesn't make the oilers not be the underdogs, doesn't make the result not a surprise (it would be a surprise for edmonton to string together wins, even though they absolutely could).

Look no further than the supreme confidence in the post above. If the oilers won the first 2, that post would have a different tune. It should not. And if that post had a different tune before the series, it shouldn't be so hyper-confident now. It's been 2 games. The whole world doesn't transform after a game and players become different players and teams go from being incredible to being full of losers overnight, and back. I know the oilers didn't win the first 2. That doesn't mean I am wrong about how the reactions would be, and that my opinion is it is ridiculous. If the avs do lose the next 2 games, it's going to be some pretty shameful avs bashing going on that is not happening right now, but was just last week or so.

Nice post. Sorry if I misunderstood. Seems we agree on a lot of things.

 

[Three On Zero]

Edmonton is still a top 6 forward, 2 bottom 6 forwards, 2 good defenceman and a #1 goalie away from being a threat. And that’s if they can re-sign Kane, if they can’t they need to go out and find 2 top 6 forwards.

You can’t rely on a single forward to sustain unrealistic numbers to carry a team

 

[tucker3434]

A lot of people were mocking the Avs defense after game 1. Game 2 showed why you shouldn’t rush to judgement over 1 game. Maybe those same people think Vasilevskiy is a bad goalie now too.

McDrai are gonna get theirs. You can’t shut them down every night, but the Avs having multiple ways to counter them is why I liked them in this series. The Avs aren't reliant on any one thing to win.

That said, it’ll probably be 9-1 oilers in game 3, because that’s just how playoff hockey works sometimes.

 

[NotCommitted]

Why is everyone thinking Francouz is a bad goalie? .921 career sv% (reg season) - only 50 something games spread over 3 seasons, but numbers are good. Legit question, I haven't watched him play much at all, but on the surface it just seems like "backup -> must be bad"?

 

[Crossfire Hurricane]

Why is everyone thinking Francouz is a bad goalie? .921 career sv% (reg season) - only 50 something games spread over 3 seasons, but numbers are good. Legit question, I haven't watched him play much at all, but on the surface it just seems like "backup -> must be bad"?

I think most non-Avs fans exposure to Francouz comes from the Dallas series in 2020. He played injured and was really bad.

 

[John Mandalorian]

Why is everyone thinking Francouz is a bad goalie? .921 career sv% (reg season) - only 50 something games spread over 3 seasons, but numbers are good. Legit question, I haven't watched him play much at all, but on the surface it just seems like "backup -> must be bad"?

It's partly that. But there's also a little bit of history going back to the Dallas series two years ago. In the first 3 minutes (?), of game 1, Grubauer goes down with an injury - out for the series. Francouz stepped in and struggled. It turns out he was also injured and ended up shutting it down. At the time he was struggline, it wasn't known he was injured and negative perceptions don't always go away. The Avs were left with a third string goalie in Hutchinson at that point.

Part of the negative about him is being injury prone. Part of it is bad frustration from the Dallas series - fair or not. And part of it is what you're alluding to (but his role as backup goes hand-in-hand with being injury prone).

But you're right. He's good enough where, if Kuemper struggles, putting Francouz in shouldn't be dismissed out of hand. But you know how it is too. The Avs paid a 1st and a player for Kuemper and that makes a lot of Avs fans assume, that the Avs are all in on Kuemper.

 

[TheRarestDangles]

Quiet by his standards. Created a lot in the 1st period but it seemed he and the team lost all their life after they allowed those 3 goals in 2-ish minutes.

Credit to the Avs, they played an outstanding game today.

Does he usually bounce back from quiet games? I know the Avs stars can get frustrated and disappear once they get completely shut down offensively (at least in some other playoff series).

 

[MrvJets]

Oilers will win both in Edmonton. You heard it here first. And they'll win them easily too

Sure they will. Lol Avs are not Calgary or the Kings. They might win one but series will be over for them if they lose 1 game.

 

[MrvJets]

Oiler fans saying Nurse is seriously hurt. Okay he is playing 20+ minutes. The truth is Nurse ain’t a top defencemen and never was. On a better defensive team this guy would be on the third pair.

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

My goodness Makar is absolutely unbelievable. Unfortunately for the Oilers they are matched up against an absolutely insane team - I would be surprised to not see this Avalanche team win the cup. So many transition options from their defense, speed from all 4 fwd lines. Gramcouz just has to show up.

Edmonton on the other hand - pretty dislikable team. Nurse, Kassian, Kane and their coach that looks like a failed sex change. McDavid and Draisaitl will be 1st ballot hall of famers. And there is just not enough there for them even during this world class performance they are putting on so long as Ken Holland is the GM. The comparisons to the Crosby/Malkin duo that dominated the league isn't apt. Not because of the ability from McDavid and Draisaitl but because the Penguins built good hockey teams around those guys. Puljujarvi, Kassian anywhere near a Stanley Cup roster...nope.

Lol I’m almost certain that Jay Woodcroft wears makeup and mascara. He just needs fake eyelashes

 

[Eltuna]

Quiet by his standards. Created a lot in the 1st period but it seemed he and the team lost all their life after they allowed those 3 goals in 2-ish minutes.

Credit to the Avs, they played an outstanding game today.

He’s been really quiet all series for his standards. The points in game 1 were nice but were also very fortunate based on his play, he’s been getting completely caved in from a possession standpoint.

I checked through his game logs and I don’t think he’s ever had a two game sample size where his advanced metrics look as bad as they do the last two games. He’s having a really rough time sustaining any kind of prolonged offensive zone pressure.

 

[MomoSissokko]

Avs seem to be able to close this serie in 5 games (first I was meaning 6 games). Some of Oilers D are not up to par, maybe hurt ? Avs forwards are literally too fast for them.

Sakic did a fantastic job with Lehkonen and Manson.

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

Francouz was really impressive. There were a few moments last night where I thought the game could have easily been 3-2 or 3-1.

Honestly, it's fun to watch the insane level of talent out there but I will admit I haven't found the games super engaging yet.

Kadri has been very good, Rantanen just ok. Hyman has been fantastic. Love Nuke's game.

 

[dmac7719]

He has taken off Smith's mask and gloves so far this series ..
He is a skilled Kassian.. dirty little prick is the definition of Kadri.

Apparently now, Kadri just being in the vicinity of a play means that he was the one that knocked off the glove. It defiantely had nothing to due with Smith swiping his glove and hitting Keith

https://i.gyazo.com/a8e7a5293386a75eaa56fe5aba99db0f.mp4
Have also provided a link to a video format of the gif, so that you can slow down the moment to see that it is Keith that knocks the glove off. Cause all the bias against Kadri is going to come out when people think it's Kadri's stick that knocks the glove off

 

[Ararana]

I can't wait until we're in Edmonton and we get to watch the Oilers desperately trying to get "the best player in the world" away from the actual best player in the world.