Post-Game Talk: Welcome to the Skinner Circus

[TopShelfGloveSide]

Not many serious contenders make mistakes like the Oilers do. Bouchard gave up two freebie goals.

If the Oilers make so many mistakes compared to contenders then why doesn’t our HD chances against reflect that?

 

[guymez]

You are right but it’s been happening all season. Allow a shot and it’s going in.

A little bit of hyperbole but I get why.

 

[Tobias Kahun]

15 pages and no one dared to call out another shitty performer.
McDavid was on every TML goal against and did his share of screw ups.

Should've given Brown Janmark, Henrique line should've been given more TOI.

Yeah, I dont think im going to blame McDavid on the last 2 goals against.

First one definitely.

 

[Cloned]

Honestly people should be watching this Canucks - Hawks game and look at how many chances both teams give up.

Yet it’s still 1-0.

If Skinner was in both nets it’d be 6-6.

 

[McFlyingV]

Yup. Not all the time but sometimes for sure.

Skinner isnt the only player playing with little to no conficdence right now but his mistakes stand out a lot more.


I cant recall where the other Leaf forward was positioned on the O/T goal. Just looking for clarification.

Oh ok. He was opposite circle, but Bouchard was already flat on his belly and had angled Marner out of the pass option. He would have had to saucer it over Bouchard's body with about 2 feet of ice between Bouchard and himself with Bouchard sliding into him.

 

[TopShelfGloveSide]

15 pages and no one dared to call out another shitty performer.
McDavid was on every TML goal against and did his share of screw ups.

Brown Janmark, Henrique line should've been given more TOI.

Didn’t Bouchard hit McDavid in the ass and that caused a goal? Hard to put that on him.

 

[guymez]

Yeah, I dont think im going to blame McDavid on the last 2 goals against.

First one definitely.

Yup was a very weak play by McDavid on the first goal.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

If the Oilers make so many mistakes compared to contenders then why doesn’t our HD chances against reflect that?

Again, the problem with this is assuming that every single HDSC is equal.

Also according to NTS the Leafs had 7 to our 6.

 

[McFlyingV]

15 pages and no one dared to call out another shitty performer.
McDavid was on every TML goal against and did his share of screw ups.

Brown Janmark, Henrique line should've been given more TOI.

In what world were any of the 2nd, 3rd or 4th goal in any part McDavid's fault? You'd have to do some serious mental gymnastics to spin that. I can't remember if he had any part in the first one.

 

[Oilhawks]

Yup. Not all the time but sometimes for sure.

Skinner isnt the only player playing with little to no conficdence right now but his mistakes stand out a lot more.


I cant recall where the other Leaf forward was positioned on the O/T goal. Just looking for clarification.

The problem is Skinner almost never makes “unstoppable” saves, and lets in a host of poor shots all the time

 

[guymez]

Oh ok. He was opposite circle, but Bouchard was already flat on his belly and had angled Marner out of the pass option. He would have had to saucer it over Bouchard's body with about 2 feet of ice between Bouchard and himself with Bouchard sliding into him.

So its entirely possible that Skinner was overthinking that play and over compensating.

The more I consider what we have seen from Skinner so far this season the more I think your point about a lack of confidecen is spot on.

 

[TopShelfGloveSide]

Again, the problem with this is assuming that every single HDSC is equal.

Also according to NTS the Leafs had 7 to our 6.

I mean no stat is perfect but it tells a story.

 

[rboomercat90]

Wasn’t it only a couple weeks ago that our own broadcast crew was suggesting Skinner should be getting Swayman money? Good times.

 

[booyakasha]

at least we got a point.
thats a good thing

 

[Trafalgar Sadge Law]

Stuart Skinner is looking like Jack Campbell this season. I've defended him a lot in the past and he's had turnarounds after bad starts before, but my patience is running thin.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

I mean no stat is perfect but it tells a story.

Right but the Oilers had a lot of opportunities to win the game and just did nothing with it. They threw that game away.

 

[guymez]

The problem is Skinner almost never makes “unstoppable” saves, and lets in a host of poor shots all the time

Well...he actually does but I totally understand why that sentiment exists after what we have seen this season so far. Skinner has to find his confidence and be better and at least be reliable more oftent when the team breaks down. On that note the team simply cant make bonehead plays like Bouchard did on the 2nd goal.

I think a more valid question is...does Skinner make enough big saves for a goalie who is paid like he is expected to be an average NHL goalie?
He is what he is and he is never going to be a top tier goalie and so IMO there is no point in epxeting him to be one.
One problem with this team is that they dont have the cap space for a top 10 goalie.

 

[TopShelfGloveSide]

Nuge also can get a pulse any time. He just seems content being terrible right now.

 

[McFlyingV]

So its entirely possible that Skinner was overthinking that play and over compensating.

The more I consider what we have seen from Skinner so far this season the more I think your point about a lack of confidecen is spot on.

That's just my opinion on it from playing the position for 20 years at a decently high level. When you lose your confidence you start trying to guess and close up the "easy spots" so that you don't let a bad goal in, but that's not at all how a professional goalie should be approaching shots. The second you start guessing and moving prematurely instead of reading the play and reacting is the second you become an absolute sieve in net that can't stop anything even remotely challenging. I've done it myself.

Here's to hoping he breaks out of it, but unfortunately this goalie has lost all my confidence in him. This needed to be a statement year for him to show he could be more consistent and be the goalie this team could trust, but instead he has be an inconsistent mess with zero confidence. He may get it back, but I'd be finding another goalie asap if I was Oilers management and having Skinner as a plan B at this point.

 

[Stauf4Prez]

Devan Dubnyk on Got Yer Bag with Reshaug and Brown torching Skinner. Woof.

 

[McFlyingV]

Well...he actually does but I totally understand why that sentiment exists after what we have seen this season so far. Skinner has to find his confidence and be better and at least be reliable more oftent when the team breaks down. On that note the team simply cant make bonehead plays like Bouchard did on the 2nd goal.

I think a more valid question is...does Skinner make enough big saves for a goalie who is paid like he is expected to be an average NHL goalie?
He is what he is and he is never going to be a top tier goalie and so IMO there is no point in epxeting him to be one.
One problem with this team is that they dont have the cap space for a top 10 goalie.

You're correct and that's why I think their best option is a gamble pick up like Blackwood. This team would benefit greatly from an athletic goalie who can make some of these game breaking incredible saves and Blackwood definitely fits that.

 

[guymez]

That's just my opinion on it from playing the position for 20 years at a decently high level. When you lose your confidence you start trying to guess and close up the "easy spots" so that you don't let a bad goal in, but that's not at all how a professional goalie should be approaching shots. The second you start guessing and moving prematurely instead of reading the play and reacting is the second you become an absolute sieve in net that can't stop anything even remotely challenging. I've done it myself.

Here's to hoping he breaks out of it, but unfortunately this goalie has lost all my confidence in him. This needed to be a statement year for him to show he could be more consistent and be the goalie this team could trust, but instead he has be an inconsistent mess with zero confidence. He may get it back, but I'd be finding another goalie asap if I was Oilers management and having Skinner as a plan B at this point.

Good post and I agree.
Much appreciate your level headed insight immediatly after a loss.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Devan Dubnyk on Got Yer Bag with Reshaug and Brown torching Skinner. Woof.

No word about Schwartz though I assume.

 

[TopShelfGloveSide]

Right but the Oilers had a lot of opportunities to win the game and just did nothing with it. They threw that game away.

Sure you could argue they threw it away as a team. Goaltending didn’t make the stops, PP didn’t score on a 5 minuter and Bouchard served up a pizza.

 

[McDrai]

My early Christmas present is Skinner being sent down