GDT: WCSF | G4 | Oilers vs Knights | 5.10.23 | Rogers Place | 8:00PM | SN

[McBigYak]

The last game took a lot of steam out of me to add on to the Game 1 "performance", I had as much fight towards the end of that game as the team did. Definitely not apathetic as this is still a toss up series but some enthusiasm for this run was sapped out of me.

I'll be rooting for them as much as anybody tonight but I'm not particularly nervous because my expectations are a little lowered now. Something just feels "off" about the group.

Yeah, I would agree on this. The team has not played particularly well the entire playoffs, and it is hard to fathom how a team can play SO bad at this point of the playoffs.

Teams making as many errors as the Oilers are, combined with sub par goaltending, do not win championships.

Wakeup call hopefully. But it seems unlikely. Not saying they won't win this series, but I expect more games like game 3 moving forward that will eventually be their undoing.

 

[ChaoticOrange]

We've won every time Dallas has won, and they won last night.

Edmonton needs to bring their A game tonight. I think they've only done it twice all playoffs.

 

[mkatcherin00]

It's weird. I honestly have zero excitement about this game tonight. I am choosing to do something with my daughters and to miss it and just scoreboard watch. I've been really disappointed with their play this series.

Hope I see a positive PGT

Don't care who starts in net. I think the Oilers will need 4/5+ goals to win anyways

No Hyman, that sucks, but next man up. Go Shore or Holloway or whoever gets the look.

Lets Go Oilers.

One of many missed penalty calls that game. Pathetic really.

 

[mkatcherin00]

Hyman isn't doing much anyway, would be nice to see Holloway in the lineup.


Statistically the odds are not great at that point.

The odds (with Jersey and FLA) doing it this year might be between 9%-10%

It's done IMO if they lose tonight. I am shocked two teams did it in one round

I would honestly take Ceci off of that first pair man. That pair is effin dreadful. I don't care if the other guy is playing too high, it's better than the sh** we are throwing out on pair 1

 

[K1984]

Chris Rooney and Graham Skilliter tonight. I find both of these guys to be pretty Jekyll and Hyde with Rooney more consistently stupid of the two.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

More "clarity"

Doesn't matter, just go get it

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

gonna be interesting if we get a PP early on or not
they only seem to build momentum off the PP

 

[Niten Ichi Ryu]

Here we go
Both teams are going to bring their best game. Vegas is experienced in this scenario and know what's coming for them in game 4, as they just learned in game 2. I don't think this will be another blowout or blow for blow 10+ goal game. Hopefully we come out with a big lead, but this game feels like a tight nail baiter, destined for overtime

Like Friedman said, the one team you cannot count out in any deficit this post season is the Edmonton Oilers. Win or loss, we're not eliminated; and if any team can come back in a series, it's this one. We've seen some crazy comebacks all season, and it's a testament to their resiliency and drive to win

Prediction: RNH and Kostin with a couple lazers; 4-3 OT; Best of 3

 

[FlameChampion]

gonna be interesting if we get a PP early on or not
they only seem to build momentum off the PP

Its probably going to be similar to Dallas/Seattle yesterday. 2-3 PP each.

I'm always interested to see if the NHL tries to give the team thats down more opportunity to extend the series though (because they make more money the longer it goes on).

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

Too much hand wringing nervousness in here. Be confident, the Oilers have proven to be a good bounce back team. The team will be much better than the hairball they coughed up last game.

 

[guymez]

The last game took a lot of steam out of me to add on to the Game 1 "performance", I had as much fight towards the end of that game as the team did. Definitely not apathetic as this is still a toss up series but some enthusiasm for this run was sapped out of me.

I'll be rooting for them as much as anybody tonight but I'm not particularly nervous because my expectations are a little lowered now. Something just feels "off" about the group.

This sums it up for me as well.
The theory that the team just had a lack of energy due to the road trip seems totally plausible (and I sincerely hope thats the reason) but part of me feels like the team may have hit a wall in game 3.
There was just such a severe dropoff in the quality and intensity of their play.
Something shifted with this team in the last game. Cant put my finger on it but my confidence level definitely dropped. Maybe the injuries caught up with them and its now too much to overcome.
I hope thats not the case. I mean now we can add Bouchard and Hyman to the list of players (Kane, RNH, Janmark, Ceci, McDavid et al) who are clearly hurting.

We will find out in a few hours but I wouldnt at all be surprised if they lost a close one tonight.

 

[Porkleaker]

just f***ing win, this is a must win!

 

[Lacaar]

The last game took a lot of steam out of me to add on to the Game 1 "performance", I had as much fight towards the end of that game as the team did. Definitely not apathetic as this is still a toss up series but some enthusiasm for this run was sapped out of me.

I'll be rooting for them as much as anybody tonight but I'm not particularly nervous because my expectations are a little lowered now. Something just feels "off" about the group.

This is honestly probably how a lot of us feel. Well myself for sure.
They played such fantastic hockey down the stretch. L.A played us hard but I think Edmonton was up to the challenge and played really well with the exception of 1 period. Sure they made boneheaded errors costing goals. But it wasn't really due to their play in general.

This series in game 1 and game 3 they looked cooked. Injured and tired. Losing battles and last to pucks. Not something I've seen from them in a long time. Now Hyman is out. Which isn't the end of the world because he wasn't doing much to be honest. RNH is so far behind the play it isn't funny. Same with Evander. It just seems after watching them lose so many battles last game that this team just isn't healthy enough to be itself. They're going to have to find another way to win.

Maybe they have a Mr Miyagi that can come in and heal them. Because most of the team looks hurt.
Or better yet.. hey maybe they just didn't have it those games for the road reasons and first game back reasons and we see the team I believed in coming out of round 1.

 

[GMofOilers]

Def not going tonight missing my first of the playoffs. Not wasting my time to watch Skinner shit the bed

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Def not going tonight missing my first of the playoffs. Not wasting my time to watch Skinner shit the bed

Imagine letting your hatred of the goalie override your love of the team.

Some fan you are.

 

[guymez]

This is honestly probably how a lot of us feel. Well myself for sure.
They played such fantastic hockey down the stretch. L.A played us hard but I think Edmonton was up to the challenge and played really well with the exception of 1 period. Sure they made boneheaded errors costing goals. But it wasn't really due to their play in general.

This series in game 1 and game 3 they looked cooked. Injured and tired. Losing battles and last to pucks. Not something I've seen from them in a long time. Now Hyman is out. Which isn't the end of the world because he wasn't doing much to be honest. RNH is so far behind the play it isn't funny. Same with Evander. It just seems after watching them lose so many battles last game that this team just isn't healthy enough to be itself. They're going to have to find another way to win.

Maybe they have a Mr Miyagi that can come in and heal them. Because most of the team looks hurt.
Or better yet.. hey maybe they just didn't have it those games for the road reasons and first game back reasons and we see the team I believed in coming out of round 1.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

This sums it up for me as well.
The theory that the team just had a lack of energy due to the road trip seems totally plausible (and I sincerely hope thats the reason) but part of me feels like the team may have hit a wall in game 3.
There was just such a severe dropoff in the quality and intensity of their play.
Something shifted with this team in the last game. Cant put my finger on it but my confidence level definitely dropped. Maybe the injuries caught up with them and its now too much to overcome.
I hope thats not the case. I mean now we can add Bouchard and Hyman to the list of players (Kane, RNH, Janmark, Ceci, McDavid et al) who are clearly hurting.

We will find out in a few hours but I wouldnt at all be surprised if they lost a close one tonight.

they laid a huge egg after being on the road for 13 days...this happens all the time in the regular season with this club

it was probably their worst effort at home since they lost 6-2 to Dallas in early November

I have no doubt they'll be a lot better tonight and have no doubt they can beat this Vegas team

 

[CupofOil]

This is honestly probably how a lot of us feel. Well myself for sure.
They played such fantastic hockey down the stretch. L.A played us hard but I think Edmonton was up to the challenge and played really well with the exception of 1 period. Sure they made boneheaded errors costing goals. But it wasn't really due to their play in general.

This series in game 1 and game 3 they looked cooked. Injured and tired. Losing battles and last to pucks. Not something I've seen from them in a long time. Now Hyman is out. Which isn't the end of the world because he wasn't doing much to be honest. RNH is so far behind the play it isn't funny. Same with Evander. It just seems after watching them lose so many battles last game that this team just isn't healthy enough to be itself. They're going to have to find another way to win.

Maybe they have a Mr Miyagi that can come in and heal them. Because most of the team looks hurt.
Or better yet.. hey maybe they just didn't have it those games for the road reasons and first game back reasons and we see the team I believed in coming out of round 1.

I would add on to that, I thought L.A. just about skated them out of the rink in Games 4 and 6 as well.
I know they won those games but L.A. controlled so much of the play in those games.

I've mentioned this before but I thought they played great in Games 1-3 against L.A. even though they were down 2-1 in the series but something happened since then whether it's guys getting banged up or McDrai being on the same line that has turned this team into an inconsistent mess. I know that the playoffs are full of highs and lows but the Oilers lows are extremely low and have occurred with more frequency lately. Hard to envision a real Cup run playing like this.

 

[ThePhoenixx]

Pretty much the series deciding game tonight... No way we come back after going down 3-1.

McDrai better bring their A game tonight or it's curtains.

Everybody better bring their A game tonight.

RNH needs to slam some Red Bulls or something.

 

[Oilers in NS]

Yeah This summer is worrisome


Me and Bert Long were at game six.

I was driving home from Edmonton for that one and watched in Thunder Bay. I then got up in the morning and drove straight to NS to make sure I could see GM 7. Thought cup was ours

 

[McFlyingV]

Man the negativity in here is kind of sad. I understood it when the Oilers were missing the playoffs and things looked bleak, but you're watching a team with 2 future HHOFers in the middle of the 2nd round. They're not down and out, but also even the best teams who have won in the salary cap era don't win every year and often lose out in early rounds. Just enjoy the ride for a change because you're going to look back on this in 10 years when McDavid and Drai are nearing the end of their careers and realize just how blessed we are to even be in the position as fans. This is supposed to be fun and enjoyable, not a constant doomsday every time the team loses a game. You're basically making this a terrible experience for yourselves when it should be the exact opposite.

 

[Oilers in NS]

Yeah This summer is worrisome


Me and Bert Long were at game six.

should have brought Loehnes with ya . Girls in Edmonton would have loved him

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

Def not going tonight missing my first of the playoffs. Not wasting my time to watch Skinner shit the bed

Watch him pitch a shutout combined with a RNH Hattie!

Man the negativity in here is kind of sad. I understood it when the Oilers were missing the playoffs and things looked bleak, but you're watching a team with 2 future HHOFers in the middle of the 2nd round. They're not down and out, but also even the best teams who have won in the salary cap era don't win every year and often lose out in early rounds. Just enjoy the ride for a change because you're going to look back on this in 10 years when McDavid and Drai are nearing the end of their careers and realize just how blessed we are to even be in the position as fans. This is supposed to be fun and enjoyable, not a constant doomsday every time the team loses a game. You're basically making this a terrible experience for yourselves when it should be the exact opposite.

 

[Fixed to Ruin]

3-0 Oilers.

Kane, McDavid, Ceci
Skinner with 40 saves.

 

[K1984]

I would add on to that, I thought L.A. just about skated them out of the rink in Games 4 and 6 as well.
I know they won those games but L.A. controlled so much of the play in those games.

I've mentioned this before but I thought they played great in Games 1-3 against L.A. even though they were down 2-1 in the series but something happened since then whether it's guys getting banged up or McDrai being on the same line that has turned this team into an inconsistent mess. I know that the playoffs are full of highs and lows but the Oilers lows are extremely low and have occurred with more frequency lately. Hard to envision a real Cup run playing like this.

It's a combination of both. Kane and Hyman are confirmed banged up and Nuge is either banged up or effectively useless. Add Yamo to that camp as well.

Combining McDavid and Leon for a sustained amount of time works ONLY if we can piece together a 2nd line that can saw off. Our only options in that regard are currently either injured or playing like absolute shit.

Honestly, it really isn't much of a mystery why we stunk 5v5 in Game 1 and 3. Game 1 we were pretty much down to 10 forwards to start the game. Still didn't split Connor and Leon, so the 2nd line got naturally caved and the third line was useless without Ryan. Fast forward to Game 3 and the 2nd line got brutalized as always, except this time McDavid and Drai weren't producing anything either to pick up the slack. Wasn't an issue in Game 2 because we were up 3-0 off of special teams before the Knights had a chance to breathe.

Playing Connor and Leon together again in this series will single handedly lose us this series. It's black and white to me, that obvious IMO.