WCSF: Vegas Golden Knights (P1) vs. Edmonton Oilers (P2) (VGK Lead 3-2)

[Faryn]

Pretty sure those defending the Oilers targeting Stone's back are the same ones who cried about the Flames targeting Draisaitl's ankle last season in the playoffs. Gotta love the double standards

And the opposite is probably true as well.

The main difference I see is that not a single one of the cross checks today were called penalties and think the refs were right in letting them go. Maybe I am remembering incorrectly but I seem to recall at least a couple of the slashes targeting Dri last year were hard enough to get called.

In saying that, I don’t love the extra stuff and the Oilers were definitely tip toeing that line getting damn close to crossing it.

I will say… It was refreshing to see a hard fought game with very little embellishment which was a nice change from the LA series.

 

[FlyingPhi]

Vegas was head and shoulders the better team through periods 1 and 2. I thought Edmonton was better in the 3rd, but Vegas was also sitting back more. Either way it was an entertaining game.

Edmonton has to figure out the Desharnais problem though. You can't give a guy 8 mins of ice time and have him be -2. Broberg isn't really ideal in that spot either, but at least with him there's enough potential skill there for him to figure it out as the series goes on and he can skate. The experiment worked at the end of the season, but it's getting exposed against good teams.

Agreed. Was a game with the puck bouncing all through the neutral zone. Excited to see both teams play crisp and smart hockey.

Edit: not the head and shoulders part. I think the Oilers carried the play for more minutes. The eye test is subjective though, so maybe I watched wrong.

 

[thaman8765678]

I don't think it is a surprise the Oilers are targeting Stone.

That being said, I find it ironic Sportsnet was crying last year about teams targeting McDavid. And now suddenly they think it's completely acceptable to target star players lol.

 

[HanSolo]

The reality is that every single team that could potentially face Vegas, or will face Vegas, are going to give him the same treatment. I don't believe there's any special treatment on Mark Stone. It's playoff hockey, it's physical. If they weren't playing him physical, someone would be in here complaining that they're playing soft.

You may call it classless, but there's no Lady Byng for gentlemanly conduct in the playoffs.

Who said anything about special treatment? I understand ordinary course physicality but the targeted physical contact to an area he had to have two surgeries on is shitty. You wanna say it's a smart advantage? Fine. I call it callous and conscious disregard for a player's long term health in the name of a tactical advantage in a game.

I understand just fine why they're doing it. It doesn't make it any less shitty. And frankly, I find the apologism for it...barbaric is too strong a word but something south of barbaric. A few too many are way too cool with identifying it like "it is what it is"

 

[Coffee]

Oily boys in 6

Don’t call them oily boys

 

[Dust]

Who said anything about special treatment? I understand ordinary course physicality but the targeted physical contact to an area he had to have two surgeries on is shitty. You wanna say it's a smart advantage? Fine. I call it callous and conscious disregard for a player's long term health in the name of a tactical advantage in a game.

I understand just fine why they're doing it. It doesn't make it any less shitty. And frankly, I find the apologism for it...barbaric is too strong a word but something south of barbaric. A few too many are way too cool with identifying it like "it is what it is"

Every player on both teams that go to the front of the net is getting the same treatment. It's not a callous and conscious disregard for a players health, it's just the normal play of playoff hockey. If the officials want to start calling cross checking penalties, both teams are going to be sent off. The same punishment is being dealt out to any Oiler who is near the blue paint.

If a player had a bad ankle or a bad wrist and someone was clearly taking slashes at it I'd totally be on board with calling that shithousery out, as those aren't things that happen in the normal run of play.

 

[snag]

Aside from the others who pointed out how ridiculous this ongoing narrative about the cap is, it's not about being "that bad."

Anyone having surgery to any part of the body risks serious long term complications when exposed to repeated trauma to that area of the body. Just because it makes strategic sense for the Oilers to target Stone's back doesn't make it any less classless.

It is a physical sport. A demanding sport. Nobody is gonna prance around you cause you had surgery and nor should they.

If it is an issue.... Gtfo the ice.

 

[Hanswurst]

Leon Draisaitl has the highest ppg in playoff games of anyone not number 99 and atleast 10 games played.

Deutschland‘s finest! Nickname should be Leopard Just like the best tank in the world. He‘s destroying defenses.

 

[McIce Whole]

Oilers seem to shoot themselves in the foot every damn time they lose. Vegas way better than people expected and even though we didn’t play our best, you can tell Vegas didn’t either. Hopefully the Oilers big boys (outside of Drai) wake up and take it to them.

And Skinner stops sucking ass. God what a terrible playoffs he’s had. At some point you just have to consider riding Campbell.

 

[winnipegger]

Oilers need some goaltending. By far biggest weakness

 

[Bank Shot]

Disgusting behavior from one of the most unlikable teams in the league.

None of those "targeted crosschecks" were anything more than normal play. If you stand in front of the net you will eat a few crosschecks.

Keep up the quality jokes though.

 

[hangman005]

I accidentally fall asleep for like 12 hours and I come back to disagreement.

Right if we can score more goals than the Oilers in the next 3 I like our chances, also if we can continue to only allow one oiler to score per game, that'd be funny too.

 

[HanSolo]

I accidentally fall asleep for like 12 hours and I come back to disagreement.

Right if we can score more goals than the Oilers in the next 3 I like our chances, also if we can continue to only allow one oiler to score per game, that'd be funny too.

I'd honestly just accept it without complaint if we lost this series and Leon Draisaitl was the only one to score goals for the Oilers. Like how could you be mad about something so unbelievable?

 

[Vasilevskiy]

This was probably the worst Edmonton played defensively in 2 months. First regulation loss since March 11. This still was a close game. This series isn’t even close to over. 7 of the 8 teams that lost game 1 won the series went on to win the series last round.

Two things that are sustainable of course.

 

[MrvJets]

As an Oiler fan, I am more confident after tonight's game than I was heading into it.

Scoresheet watchers are only that. They'll come after this post with shots for, %this, %that, etc. Rose-coloured glasses aside, the Oilers were the better team tonight, they carried the play and the ice was mostly slanted towards the Knights zone. It was a sloppy game, for both clubs. This could have been a lopsided score for either club.

Lots of overreaction on both sides here, but I think the better team will win over the length of the series. Still think that's Oilers in 6.

You might want to book an appointment with an optometrist and get those eyes checked. Vegas completely dominated that game and didn’t even play they best. This is going to be a sweep for Vegas.

 

[Hanswurst]

You might want to book an appointment with an optometrist and get those eyes checked. Vegas completely dominated that game and didn’t even play they best. This is going to be a sweep for Vegas.

Imagine being the better and getting 6 GA. What happens, when they are the worse Team?

 

[MrvJets]

This was probably the worst Edmonton played defensively in 2 months. First regulation loss since March 11. This still was a close game. This series isn’t even close to over. 7 of the 8 teams that lost game 1 won the series went on to win the series last round.

This series has sweep all over if like the Jets vs Oilers. Vegas will easily go to the Cup they are just too good. Tonight was not a great game for them and they still dominated that game. Vegas get stronger as the series goes along just look what they did to the Jets who defensively are better than Edmonton. People are really sleeping on this team. There tenacious forechecking and speed in transition along with Edmonton’s weak D and goaltending will be too much for Edmonton to overcome. I am pulling for you guys but not confident you can handle this beast.

 

[DearDiary]

Vegas was great today but this wasn't close to the Oilers best effort. I reckon we'll see a more inspired Oilers team next game.

But it wasn't close to the Knights best effort either, I thought they played poorly

 

[FlyingPhi]

You might want to book an appointment with an optometrist and get those eyes checked. Vegas completely dominated that game and didn’t even play they best. This is going to be a sweep for Vegas.

See, you suck at watching hockey or you are just a troll. I understand disagreeing, but Vegas completely dominating is an impossible conclusion. I'm betting just another loser HF troll.

 

[MrvJets]

Did you watch the game? Serious question. Like I said in my first post, scoresheet watchers are just that. It was sloppy on both ends, but I see the Oilers having carried the play.

And where did I say Edmonton domination?

Edmonton carried the play in the 3rd because Vegas sit back with leads that’s what they do. Didn’t you watch them against the Jets? They are always in control and a beast of a team to play against. They dominated Edmonton that game and didn’t even play their best.

 

[MrvJets]

See, you suck at watching hockey or you are just a troll. I understand disagreeing, but Vegas completely dominating is an impossible conclusion. I'm betting just another loser HF troll.

You didn’t watch Vegas vs Jets. If you understand hockey you would know that Vegas plays this style when they get the lead. They sit back, and if you really think that Edmonton dominated them in the 3rd then your going to be in for a surprise in this series.

 

[HanSolo]

I thought Vegas played very well in the first. Solid in the second but with less focus. Sat on the lead in the third after they went up by two and we're sort of just doing enough to keep Edmonton away. They didn't play their best for a full 60 and definitely dropped the ball on suppressing Draisaitl in their focus on suffocating McDavid. But I wouldn't say they played poorly either. Surely not Edmonton's best, but also not the capacity of what Vegas can do either. I'm not expecting either team to be an easy out.

 

[Chips]

Vegas outplayed the Oilers at 5 on 5 today. The only reason it was as close as it ended up being was because of Draisaitl and Stu.

And besides, if starting Stu is a fireable offence, someone starting Campbell - after 1 start in the playoffs for 2 periods - should be shot to the moon.

Seriously, like what is their alternative after the season Cambell had. He’s a mixed bag at best under pressure. Stu is a kid so he’s doing to get inconsistent but he’s probably a safer bet long term as well as short term. This experience win or lose will be good

 

[FlyingPhi]

You didn’t watch Vegas vs Jets. If you understand hockey you would know that Vegas plays this style when they get the lead. They sit back, and if you really think that Edmonton dominated them in the 3rd then your going to be in for a surprise in this series.

See, but saying VGK dominated makes it seem like you're not a genuine poster, but, instead, a troll.

Neither team dominated. It was sloppy AF. VGK got better results in the neutral zone, leading to their goals (2 tips. One on a weird bounce TO, off a shin pad, in front, goal. A softy on a crest hitting one timer that SS thought was going far side).

I didn't watch all of the Jets series, I'd say 12 of the 17 periods. What I say after watching that series was the same: VGK isn't very good. A healthy Jets with CH playing average probably beats that team. The Jets were a much lower seeds compared to their ability. Although, I don't know what that locker room is like, and I don't want to speculate. The whole Bowness comments and Wheelers response is weird, but I won't pretend to know who works hard, who floats, if RB has lost the dressing room or not.

Edit: PS - if you're just some Oiler hating Jets fan, I respect that. Hating other Canadian teams is fun. I hate a couple myself. I'm 38, so I'm not old enough to remember, but with how the Oil ended the Jets season so many times.. if you're older than me, that would be a good reason to hate the Oilers. But F that, you don't need a reason. Lol

All I'm saying is that there was no dominant team tonight. It was a shit sloppy game. Oilers goals and shot creation seemed more repeatable though.

Nice chatting with you man

 

[GreytWun]

Vegas 6
Draisaitl 4

Drai you only needed a couple more goals.