Post-Game Talk: We have a major Oil leak now

[bone]

Lol, some of you are hilarious. Anything to not put every ounce of blame on the goalie.

This isn't a one off or a bad week. He's had 1 decent stretch of the season, that's it. They've chased game after game. He's dogshit and I bet a ton of them are sick of it.

I really hope I never have to work with or for you.

I've thrown plenty of blame at Skinner over the years, and frankly do think our goaltending is the biggest team weakness. It's actually one of my most common sources of frustration as well.

I just can't get behind the notion of giving the team a break for what is now quite a prolonged stretch of bad performances because their feelings are hurt because of the goalie. If these were a bunch of kids, I could maybe accept that excuse, but these are veteran "professionals" that fancy themselves as true cup contenders. A true veteran cup contending doesn't take a month off to pout.

 

[syz]

They were playing poorly before Skinner fell off a cliff too. Also poorly in front of Pickard when he was playing well, as you mention.

The slide started after the comeback in Colorado, and it's just gotten gradually worse as time has lapsed.

It doesn't go back that far.

1/16 - Avs comeback
1/18 - Laid an absolute egg against the Canucks on the last game of a rough road trip, McDavid suspended
1/21 - Actually kinda kicked the shit out of the Capitals without McDavid but got goalied
1/23 - Murdered the Canucks 6-2
1/25 - Another egg against the Sabres but won
1/27 - Good game against the Kraken
1/30 - Loss to Detroit despite an xGF of 6
2/1 - Loss to the Leafs despite an xGF of 5
2/4 - Pretty easily beat the Blues despite the score
2/5 - Played like shit against the Hawks (won)
2/7 - Played like shit against the Avs (lost)

Then obviously total garbage since coming back from the break. Analytically the turning point was Chicago, they have not played a "good" game since then.

 

[bone]

How much of this is due to chasing games or figuring we need 5 goals for to get beyond Skinner level goaltending as he gives up easy goals on the simplest of wraps and not even being close to making the stop. Imagine a bench groaning at the goals, again, that Skinner gave up where the team had contain. Panthers lost contain just as many times last night and were arguably worse turning pucks over in own zone.

This as well is that odd man breaks don't always end up in the net. It just appears that here.

Lastly should I point out how many times the D or Selke forwards like Drai are bailing out our goaltending breaking up plays, scoring chances, getting puck out of harm. Drai saved multiple GA alone last night.

Can't speak for others but I'm not absolving the group, but I'm understanding how tiresome it is to have had subpar netminding for the vast majority of a decade and entire timeframe of McDrai.

This I can get behind. Exhaustion from always playing from behind or in the event they do get a lead seeing it evaporate quickly can be exhausting. But the only way out of the funk is hard work and eventually it will turn.

The rest of my banter here is towards those writing it off as them pouting because of goaltending or lacking the desire to play because their goalie stinks more often than not so why bother trying. That's loser mentality.

Long story short. If the team plays well and loses anyways, I'll blame the goalie unless the team is bascially shut out by ridiculous goaltending. If the team plays like shit and loses, I'll blame the team which may or may not include the goalie. These last 4 games (arguably 6 games) the players (including the goalies) haven't been good enough.

 

[Missing smitty]

I've thrown plenty of blame at Skinner over the years, and frankly do think our goaltending is the biggest team weakness. It's actually one of my most common sources of frustration as well.

I just can't get behind the notion of giving the team a break for what is now quite a prolonged stretch of bad performances because their feelings are hurt because of the goalie. If these were a bunch of kids, I could maybe accept that excuse, but these are veteran "professionals" that fancy themselves as true cup contenders. A true veteran cup contending doesn't take a month off to pout.

I'm not giving them a break, I can just see why it's happening. It's not acceptable, but it's hard to blame them. I get that they're professionals but they're human. Real people can only take so much failure before you just stop caring.

I think the Colorado game broke them. They stomped the Avs and it was only close because Skinner completely shit the bed. They know they need better goaltending and it's not coming, so it's a completely human response. Again, they aren't robots.

 

[K1984]

It doesn't go back that far.

1/16 - Avs comeback
1/18 - Laid an absolute egg against the Canucks on the last game of a rough road trip, McDavid suspended
1/21 - Actually kinda kicked the shit out of the Capitals without McDavid but got goalied
1/23 - Murdered the Canucks 6-2
1/25 - Another egg against the Sabres but won
1/27 - Good game against the Kraken
1/30 - Loss to Detroit despite an xGF of 6
2/1 - Loss to the Leafs despite an xGF of 5
2/4 - Pretty easily beat the Blues despite the score
2/5 - Played like shit against the Hawks (won)
2/7 - Played like shit against the Avs (lost)

Then obviously total garbage since coming back from the break.

After the break is a whole new level for sure, but the Avalanche game is a demarcation line in terms of quality of our play in the context of the season. That game was probably a season high. Just won back to backs on the road against them and the Wild, which I believe was also 3 in 4. Looked unstoppable, even when fatigued. Save for the first 3 games of the season we have been relatively consistent, and hadn't really had stretches beyond a game or two of poor play. Then this stretch happened where our game is a roller coaster and an exercise in wack a mole to see which idiotic thing would cost us the game night to night.

I bolded the games above where I felt that the effort and execution was in an acceptable range, just lost 2 of 3 of them because of Skinner. The rest were varying degrees of total garbage from an effort perspective (Nuck game, Sabre game, Blackhawk game), or mediocre to acceptable effort, but horrendous in execution and attention to detail IMO even if wins were eked out in some. For example, I think we had our legs, cared, and tried hard in the Avalanche game, we just got burned by utter incompetence all over the ice.

 

[MoontoScott]

How much of this is due to chasing games or figuring we need 5 goals for to get beyond Skinner level goaltending as he gives up easy goals on the simplest of wraps and not even being close to making the stop. Imagine a bench groaning at the goals, again, that Skinner gave up where the team had contain. Panthers lost contain just as many times last night and were arguably worse turning pucks over in own zone.

This as well is that odd man breaks don't always end up in the net. It just appears that here.

Lastly should I point out how many times the D or Selke forwards like Drai are bailing out our goaltending breaking up plays, scoring chances, getting puck out of harm. Drai saved multiple GA alone last night.

Can't speak for others but I'm not absolving the group, but I'm understanding how tiresome it is to have had subpar netminding for the vast majority of a decade and entire timeframe of McDrai.

To me, McDavid looks mentally exhausted. That doesn't entirely excuse his defensive lapses but I just get the feeling that the guy is tired of 2 guys putting the team on their backs (with a few exceptions, not many) and carrying them around.

He'll have to pick it up a notch if the boys want to get to the playoffs and I'm sure he will but it has to be tiring for him.

Without naming guys, there are a number of players who should be embarrassed at their effort levels on this road trip.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

How much of this is due to chasing games or figuring we need 5 goals for to get beyond Skinner level goaltending as he gives up easy goals on the simplest of wraps and not even being close to making the stop. Imagine a bench groaning at the goals, again, that Skinner gave up where the team had contain. Panthers lost contain just as many times last night and were arguably worse turning pucks over in own zone.

This as well is that odd man breaks don't always end up in the net. It just appears that here.

Lastly should I point out how many times the D or Selke forwards like Drai are bailing out our goaltending breaking up plays, scoring chances, getting puck out of harm. Drai saved multiple GA alone last night.

Can't speak for others but I'm not absolving the group, but I'm understanding how tiresome it is to have had subpar netminding for the vast majority of a decade and entire timeframe of McDrai.

They were tied at 2 going into the third. It's not like they were losing.

But rather the way they've been playing lately they're just waiting to lose. No intensity, no get up and go, it's like they've already accepted that the year is a formality.

 

[bone]

I'm not giving them a break, I can just see why it's happening. It's not acceptable, but it's hard to blame them. I get that they're professionals but they're human. Real people can only take so much failure before you just stop caring.

I think the Colorado game broke them. They stomped the Avs and it was only close because Skinner completely shit the bed. They know they need better goaltending and it's not coming, so it's a completely human response. Again, they aren't robots.

I don't know about that. The team tied it back up and were even going into the third period. In the third period Colorado ended up completely owning them and eventually got the game winner.

Personally, I think the whole team came out of the break fat and satisfied (goalies included) from the great run they had up until the break costing them the first game, then they ran into 3 great teams that they just weren't up to the task to compete with because they came into those games behind the level they need to be..

Hopefully they had a simliar conversation in that dressing room post game as they did Game 2, and come ready to play vs Carolina and hopefully take at least a point out there, then they have a relatively soft stretch of games to make up for this mess. Unfortunately they have to make good on almost every possible point in that stretch now.

 

[RegDunlop]

Hyman work rate and consistency unquestionable. Despite less goals this year he's playing hard through his minutes. My own take is its a backhand to get some bottomsix or mid players going. To some extent there were moments. It was KK shaking things up, it wasn't demoting Hyman, it was utilizing his consummate work rate to hope it rubs off on some others. I could mention names.

Yeah I get that but just seems to me when in trouble KK goes to McDrai but dosent or hasent brought Hymen up. It's strange to me.

As others said - hello again you old coggy bast**d! I've been away a bit too!

 

[syz]

After the break is a whole new level for sure, but the Avalanche game is a demarcation line in terms of quality of our play in the context of the season. That game was probably a season high. Just won back to backs on the road against them and the Wild, which I believe was also 3 in 4. Looked unstoppable, even when fatigued. Save for the first 3 games of the season we have been relatively consistent, and hadn't really had stretches beyond a game or two of poor play. Then this stretch happened where our game is a roller coaster and an exercise in wack a mole to see which idiotic thing would cost us the game night to night.

I bolded the games above where I felt that the effort and execution was in an acceptable range, just lost 2 of 3 of them because of Skinner. The rest were varying degrees of total garbage from an effort perspective (Nuck game, Sabre game, Blackhawk game), or mediocre to acceptable effort, but horrendous in execution and attention to detail IMO even if wins were eked out in some. For example, I think we had our legs, cared, and tried hard in the Avalanche game, we just got burned by utter incompetence all over the ice.

I'll also say that during that stretch before the break the team had multiple players missing games and/or practices due to illness, which was unsurprising coming off a road trip like that, so some of those efforts at the time didn't really surprise me... but ultimately may not have been the problem considering how everything has persisted even after 2 weeks off. Unless everybody has long covid or something, idk.

 

[Missing smitty]

I don't know about that. The team tied it back up and were even going into the third period. In the third period Colorado ended up completely owning them and eventually got the game winner.

Personally, I think the whole team came out of the break fat and satisfied (goalies included) from the great run they had up until the break costing them the first game, then they ran into 3 great teams that they just weren't up to the task to compete with because they came into those games behind the level they need to be..

Hopefully they had a simliar conversation in that dressing room post game as they did Game 2, and come ready to play vs Carolina and hopefully take at least a point out there, then they have a relatively soft stretch of games to make up for this mess. Unfortunately now they have to make good on every possible point in that stretch now.

It hasn't mattered if they come to play. Skinner and Pickard aren't playing well enough right now for it to matter.

They're issues begin in net due to a management group that hasn't cared about goaltending. They skimped on the most important position in the sport. At some point, it destroys people's confidence. They didn't play particularly poorly in Florida. They absolutely cratered after that 3rd goal.

 

[Mr Positive]

Why would they try when the guy is letting in unscreened muffins from the top of the circles.

The biggest issue with this team is a lack of skill and effort from goaltender out. Skinner is bad and looks like he's barely trying. Why would they bust their asses when he isn't?

I think it's more like that if your goalie isn't cutting it, you play with more tension and other bad habits creep in

 

[Mr Positive]

Please enough with the "defensive numbers". Wheres the odd man breaks against/60 metric? the uncontested chances against/60 metric?

You can say that Skinner has been streaky at best and has not made saves he should have made, and we should look for an upgrade, but let's not absolve the skater group for their lackidasical play in our end by propping them up with shot derived metrics.

I will agree that the group has its weaknesses but not so much that the goalie numbers should be this bad. I'm not talking about the recent play, which is objectively wrong all around, but the season in general.

All teams have defensive breakdowns. All teams allow odd man breaks. Most goalies for playoff team save most "impossible" shots

 

[McDNicks17]

The team's 5v5 scoring in the last 25 games looks pretty hilarious.

Imagine if someone told you McDavid would have 1 more 5v5 point than Brett Kulak in a 25 game stretch haha.

 

[Stoneman89]

Knob said he thought the effort was pretty good last night but there were 2 or 3 passengers. I guess we'll probably find out who at least one or maybe two of them were by the lineup tomorrow.

 

[McDNicks17]

Knob said he thought the effort was pretty good last night but there were 2 or 3 passengers. I guess we'll probably find out who at least one or maybe two of them were by the lineup tomorrow.

Lines at today's practice were the same as last game.

 

[Soundwave]

The team's 5v5 scoring in the last 25 games looks pretty hilarious.

View attachment 984530

Imagine if someone told you McDavid would have 1 more 5v5 point than Brett Kulak in a 25 game stretch haha.

Jeff Skinner is 2nd in 5v5 ppg in that stretch, interesting.

 

[Drivesaitl]

To me, McDavid looks mentally exhausted. That doesn't entirely excuse his defensive lapses but I just get the feeling that the guy is tired of 2 guys putting the team on their backs (with a few exceptions, not many) and carrying them around.

He'll have to pick it up a notch if the boys want to get to the playoffs and I'm sure he will but it has to be tiring for him.

Without naming guys, there are a number of players who should be embarrassed at their effort levels on this road trip.

This comes closer to it and nobody knows what its like having to be the marquee guy and he's played something like 130games over the last calendar year. Added the immense pressure of being one of the faces of the NHL, watched everywhere, appearance expectations everywhere. Not many people realize it but the stars in pro sports get little mental rest or breaks. Add in that McD is a type A burn burn burn personality and he doesn't give himself breaks either, even when he obviously should. Theres precious few players in any sport that are expected to be a magician and to stupendous tricks and pull rabbits out of hats nearly every night.

I've seen even the best in worlds, the Messi's of the world have complete no show games and lukewarm tournaments. Thats the human level it comes down to. Sometimes you just don't have the energy, wellness, and magic.

Absolutely theres been a longstanding feeling of others not pulling weight. Pretty sure the McD "not f***ing good enough" rant was about that too.

It would break me too to see some of the awchucks personalities on this club and how they go through the motions. its striking that even a bust player thats here, Podkolzin, isn't even working for his reclamation anymore. Its like he's just giving up. The signpost is he can't score to save his life and for Russians particularly when the offense isn't there the rest of the game will inevitably fold. Just a matter of time.

 

[harpoon]

its striking that even a bust player thats here, Podkolzin, isn't even working for his reclamation anymore. It’s like he's just giving up.

Poskolzin has not given up. I saw him with a heavy forecheck and a strip to feed Kulak for a goal just the other day. It was a good hard-working play that you’d like to see guys like Hyman and RNH making, hell even Janmark and Brown should be coming up with plays like that once in awhile.

A link was just posted above showing Podkolzin 5v5 points. Not too shabby really considering he takes up 1.14% of the cap. A lot of other names to focus on before we get to Podkolzin. You’ve been hard on this kid since he was acquired. I really hope he comes on here down the stretch and serves some crow.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

I wonder if Skinner will again point out after Saturday’s game that the players skated with their legs.

He’s not playing so he can get extra high and plow back a few hot dogs while sitting on the bench when he gets the munchies.

 

[Zguy370]

I wonder if Skinner will again point out after Saturday’s game that the players skated with their legs.

He’s not playing so he can get extra high and plow back a few hot dogs while sitting on the bench when he gets the munchies.

Still can't stop laughing at that quote with all due respect, he's not playing with a full deck apart from his piss poor goaltending

 

[Stoneman89]

Lines at today's practice were the same as last game.

Changed the goalie

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

This comes closer to it and nobody knows what its like having to be the marquee guy and he's played something like 130games over the last calendar year. Added the immense pressure of being one of the faces of the NHL, watched everywhere, appearance expectations everywhere. Not many people realize it but the stars in pro sports get little mental rest or breaks. Add in that McD is a type A burn burn burn personality and he doesn't give himself breaks either, even when he obviously should. Theres precious few players in any sport that are expected to be a magician and to stupendous tricks and pull rabbits out of hats nearly every night.

I've seen even the best in worlds, the Messi's of the world have complete no show games and lukewarm tournaments. Thats the human level it comes down to. Sometimes you just don't have the energy, wellness, and magic.

Absolutely theres been a longstanding feeling of others not pulling weight. Pretty sure the McD "not f***ing good enough" rant was about that too.

It would break me too to see some of the awchucks personalities on this club and how they go through the motions. its striking that even a bust player thats here, Podkolzin, isn't even working for his reclamation anymore. Its like he's just giving up. The signpost is he can't score to save his life and for Russians particularly when the offense isn't there the rest of the game will inevitably fold. Just a matter of time.

Absolutely.

The league game plans to stop Connor McDavid. He gets no games off with team schemes and game plans to slow him down, top lines and top d-corp opposition every night, and expectation to drive this team's success nightly as it has been for years. He is also a centre piece of league figureheads who has his off time reduced to support the greater good of building the league's visibility.

He's coming off a highly charged physical and emotionally fully invested national team top line run at Four Nations tournament. All coming off his deep playoff devastating but masterful Cup run with a legendary Conn Smythe trophy win. But not the team trophy this guy literally burns to win.

I have a fair number of doubts about this Summer of Jeff diminished team. But I will just never doubt Connor McDavid.

 

[bone]

The team's 5v5 scoring in the last 25 games looks pretty hilarious.

View attachment 984530

Imagine if someone told you McDavid would have 1 more 5v5 point than Brett Kulak in a 25 game stretch haha.

Someone should tell McDavid this as that would have light a fire under his ass.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Poskolzin has not given up. I saw him with a heavy forecheck and a strip to feed Kulak for a goal just the other day. It was a good hard-working play that you’d like to see guys like Hyman and RNH making, hell even Janmark and Brown should be coming up with plays like that once in awhile.

A link was just posted above showing Podkolzin 5v5 points. Not too shabby really considering he takes up 1.14% of the cap. A lot of other names to focus on before we get to Podkolzin. You’ve been hard on this kid since he was acquired. I really hope he comes on here down the stretch and serves some crow.

This is the kulak goal.

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Not at all what you describe. Pods simply gets a good feed on the wing with space, stops up, and slots to Kulak for a goal that Bobo would probably want back. The key play on that rush sequence was Klingberg taking the hit to make the play to the boards and tumbling with two Panthers who fell down thus creating open ice and space for the play and shot.

The only other point Podz has in last dozen games is a 2nd assist against Chicago where Podz simply makes a behind the net pass across to Drai on the other side who finds Skinner in front of net.

In a dozen games thats the production. After a segment where it seemed like Podz was maybe finding something.

In anycase he's played much of his time with Draisaitl and has a pathetic one goal every 10Games average. Thats a nonstarter playing with one of the best pure passers in the world. Really playing with Drai even as a third on a line I'd say a .500ppg is around a starting point and even punters like Yams were managing something like that. Interesting as well all the players we gave up for nothing, Holloway, McLeod, Foegele all did better with the limited minutes they had with Draisaitl.

Yeah I'm about done with Podkolzin botching every scoring chance that falls on his stick.