Post-Game Talk: Well we knew it would be a slog

[guymez]

Why is he getting, another, breakaway? The Panthers had like three or four ten bell chances in OT that Skinner saved due to turnovers and breakdowns, Reinhart also had a breakaway. The Oilers were terrible defensively. Nurse and Kulak were an adventure all game and Klingberg was terrible as well.

Sure Skinner could have saved the last one but Marchand fanning actually made it a tougher save in a way.

Regardless, I don't think goaltending was the primary issue tonight. It was two great teams trading blows and the series is appropriately tied as a result. This series was never going to be easy, this is a far cry from L.A., Vegas and Dallas.

Not only did Marchand fan on the shot his stick hit Skinners stick which helped the puck to slip under.

Completey agree with you about goaltending not being the primary issue tonight.
Way too many passengers in this game.

It actually looked to me like Florida wore them down.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

We've been through this so many times. NOBODY is making the argument that we need Bobo in net. The argument always is that we could use a goalie that is decent to good. Really midrange skills even would do.

Pickard would do.

Pickard was fine but the teams offense also came to life in most of the games he played.

That and LA was just trash.

 

[CupofOil]

We've been through this so many times. NOBODY is making the argument that we need Bobo in net. The argument always is that we could use a goalie that is decent to good. Really midrange skills even would do.

Pickard would do.

Skinner has been good to great just about every game since Pickard went down, I just don't get the criticism tbh. He has a terrible season, he was excellent against Vegas and Dallas and pretty good in these games against Florida also Game 1 in particular. Florida has had tons of chances, tons, which isn't unexpected because they do this to everybody.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

When I remember that Florida shoots on Stuart Skinner, I remember that they aren't actually as good as everyone thinks.

You’re right, the three time EC champions aren’t that good.

 

[Kinibo]

Even if he stops it they still have to go and score another one which they had ample opportunity to do and didn’t.

We both know that’s how it goes sometimes. Sometimes you need a few extra chances. Which you get unless your goalie lets in a softie like that was. Game over.

 

[guymez]

The second periods need to be cleaned up. So far they have destroyed us in the second both games. Last game we were lucky Bob gave up a softy and we came out even. Not so lucky this time.

100%
I dont know if its the long change or what the reason is but this team has been terrible in the 2nd period so far in this series.
Watching this game I kept thinking that the team looked like it ran out of gas.
Mental mistakes all over the place.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

We both know that’s how it goes sometimes. Sometimes you need a few extra chances. Which you get unless your goalie lets in a softie like that was. Game over.

Did they need a third overtime to score? Maybe a fourth?

 

[MessierThanThou]

Pickard was fine but the teams offense also came to life in most of the games he played.

That and LA was just trash.

Pickard was undefeated and made clutch saves.

The offense came alive against LA in Game one...still wasn't enough. Stu was terrible and gave up a total backbreaker. How can you guys still not admit that he was terrible and has since improved?

Again, I don't want to shit on Stu, he was definitely good in game one and has mostly gotten his shit together, but he didn't have a good night and the goal he let in to lose us the game was f***ing embarrassing for any goalie in any league, anywhere in the world.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Why is he getting, another, breakaway? The Panthers had like three or four ten bell chances in OT that Skinner saved due to turnovers and breakdowns, Reinhart also had a breakaway. The Oilers were terrible defensively. Nurse and Kulak were an adventure all game and Klingberg was terrible as well.

Sure Skinner could have saved the last one but Marchand fanning actually made it a tougher save in a way.

Regardless, I don't think goaltending was the primary issue tonight. It was two great teams trading blows and the series is appropriately tied as a result. This series was never going to be easy, this is a far cry from L.A., Vegas and Dallas.

Reinhard missed the net by two feet. Just for clarity. The Oilers had the same amount of odd man rushes the Panthers did.

The Oilers were not "terrible" defensively. They're playing a Championship club that was throwing the whole wagon at them tonight. credit the Panthers for a decent game. They were pressuring heavily for miscues and got some. They made massive game to game system changes and got them. its a pretty cerebral game the Panthers play. It ain't easy.

Watch the Jones goal, watch it again and how inept Skinner is on that play. he's 10 feet away from where he should be on that play. he didn't read the play at all didn't read the pass across at all. The Panthers look at plays like that and they wet themselves.

Skinner was the reason we lost the final last season. I don't want round 2 of that and if Pickard is healthy I'd prefer him in the cage. The Panthers are ABLE to exploit Skinners movement weakness. Thats the difference.

 

[CupofOil]

It's 1-1. Remember during the DOD when we dreamt of this and it didn't seem possible to ever be in this position? We literally have 2 of the top 3 players in the world and we are in the Cup final. These are the salad days. This team has faced more adversity than any team and has always responded. They WILL get it done. I am f***ing sure of it. LFG Oil.

Honestly, this is a fantastic series filled with everything you'd want in a playoff series. It sucked not to win tonight but this has been some incredible hockey played by the best two teams in the league one of which is our team so let's enjoy the ride. I have faith in these boys until there's no reason to have faith anymore.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Pickard was undefeated and made clutch saves.

The offense came alive against LA in Game one...still wasn't enough. Stu was terrible and gave up a total backbreaker. How can you guys still not admit that he was terrible and has since improved?

Again, I don't want to shit on Stu, he was definitely good in game one and has mostly gotten his shit together, but he didn't have a good night and the goal he let in to lose us the game was f***ing embarrassing for any goalie in any league, anywhere in the world.

Goals given up by Pickard per game: 4, 3, 1, 4, 2, 4.

Like I said, he was fine against teams that honestly were not all that amazing in hindsight.

 

[guymez]

Honestly, this is a fantastic series filled with everything you'd want in a playoff series. It sucked not to win tonight but this has been some incredible hockey played by the best two teams in the league one of which is our team so let's enjoy the ride. I have faith in these boys until there's no reason to have faith anymore.

Couldnt agree more.
Great post to end the night on.

 

[CupofOil]

Couldnt agree more.
Great post to end the night on.

Thanks and it's 2:30am here after just getting home so it needs to be the end of the night for me lol. Goodnight HFOil, keep the faith guys.

 

[Kinibo]

Did they need a third overtime to score? Maybe a fourth?

Maybe. But Florida sure didn’t.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Skinner has been good to great just about every game since Pickard went down, I just don't get the criticism tbh. He has a terrible season, he was excellent against Vegas and Dallas and pretty good in these games against Florida also Game 1 in particular. Florida has had tons of chances, tons, which isn't unexpected because they do this to everybody.

Dallas are simply AWFUL scoring goals in playoffs. Almost invariably. they were stoned one year by the Calgary Flames. They were pad stuffing all series.

Far as Vegas NONE of their top 5 scorers got going in that series. They were so snakebit they'd miss open nets,

Sometimes you get that kind of fortune where a team just doesn't have it from a scoring pov. The Knights were destroyed after game 1 giving up that game. I felt they wouldn't come back from that, it was a gut punch. Then the heart of the club, Stone, got injured again.

Skinner was unmasked in the LA series and its starting to occur again. His movement liability is a huge problem in this matchup with the Panthers. Quicker KK realizes that the better.

Sorry that I don't agree with your Skinner "pretty great" and "excellent" descriptions. C'mon. Watch the actual goalie performance not just the stats.

 

[MessierThanThou]

Goals given up by Pickard per game: 4, 3, 1, 4, 2, 4.

Like I said, he was fine against teams that honestly were not all that amazing in hindsight.

Goals given up by Skinner tonight: 5

 

[avocadosmoothie]

You’re right, the three time EC champions aren’t that good.

I didn't say that. I said that they aren't as good as people (like you) think

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Goals given up by Skinner tonight: 5

Against the defending champs. Not the first round afterthoughts and the team that got shut out by Skinner twice in a row.

The Panthers eviscerated Andersen after he put up some very strong numbers. They’re not the champs by accident, you know. Heck they even flat out embarrassed Vasilevsky.

 

[CupofOil]

Dallas are simply AWFUL scoring goals in playoffs. Almost invariably. they were stoned one year by the Calgary Flames. They were pad stuffing all series.

Far as Vegas NONE of their top 5 scorers got going in that series. They were so snakebit they'd miss open nets,

Sometimes you get that kind of fortune where a team just doesn't have it from a scoring pov. The Knights were destroyed after game 1 giving up that game. I felt they wouldn't come back from that, it was a gut punch. Then the heart of the club, Stone, got injured again.

Skinner was unmasked in the LA series and its starting to occur again. His movement liability is a huge problem in this matchup with the Panthers. Quicker KK realizes that the better.

One more post before I hit the sheets. Bobrovsky has given up the same amount of goals and nobody is questioning him. It's two great teams that create a lot of offense so it's going to be a tough series for the goalies..Skinner is the guy they're rolling with and he's earned it with his play quite frankly IMO.

 

[avocadosmoothie]

One more post before I hit the sheets. Bobrovsky has given up the same amount of goals and nobody is questioning him. It's two great teams that create a lot of offense so it's going to be a tough series for the goalies..Skinner is the guy they're rolling with and he's earned it with his play quite frankly IMO.

imagine if McDrai had the absolute pleasure of shooting on a Skinner-like goalie

 

[MessierThanThou]

Against the defending champs. Not the first round afterthoughts and the team that got shut out by Skinner twice in a row.

The Panthers eviscerated Andersen after he put up some very strong numbers. They’re not the champs by accident, you know.

You're criticizing a goalie who has only one less win than Skinner and zero losses.

And the first round afterthoughts chased Stu out of the net and did a bigger number on him than Florida. So, maybe, just maybe, Stu actually has bad games sometimes and everything isn't 100% the fault of the defense or McDrai or Bouchard?

 

[Lay Z Boy GM]

I’m one of the people that called Oilers in 5, so they’re gonna have to bang out 2 wins in Florida and try to finish it at home.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

You're criticizing a goalie who has only one less win than Skinner and zero losses.

And the first round afterthoughts chased Stu out of the net and did a bigger number on him than Florida. So, maybe, just maybe, Stu actually has bad games sometimes and everything isn't 100% the fault of the defense or McDrai or Bouchard?

I’m not criticizing Pickard. He did well in his role but the teams offense also did their job. You win as a team and you lose as a team. They didn’t play well enough to win. Simple as that.

 

[Drivesaitl]

I didn't say that. I said that they aren't as good as people (like you) think

Nah. they're pretty good. The style of play reminds me a bit of the Islanders who the Oilers had to dethrone in the 80's. It was the mountain to climb. There was no other NHL club that good at the time except NYI/Oilers.

Now we find ourselves in a similar situation.

The coaching, the team play, the lack of obvious weaknesses and structure. its reminiscent. Of course in a capped league it would be impossible to assemble an 80's Oilers team or 80's Islanders team but this is as close as it comes now.

These are the two best teams that have been battling in any recent SC finals. This is the best. Higher level, both clubs, than Colorado or Vegas, and maybe Tampa.

This is the best SC series in ages, already, and its been only two games and all we have to do is enjoy it.

As a purist this is the best hockey I'm seeing in years.

 

[avocadosmoothie]

Nah. they're pretty good. The style of play reminds me a bit of the Islanders who the Oilers had to dethrone in the 80's. It was the mountain to climb. There was no other NHL club that good at the time except NYI/Oilers.

Now we find ourselves in a similar situation.

The coaching, the team play, the lack of obvious weaknesses and structure. its reminiscent. Of course in a capped league it would be impossible to assemble an 80's Oilers team or 80's Islanders team but this is as close as it comes now.

These are the two best teams that have been battling in any recent SC finals. This is the best. Higher level, both clubs, than Colorado or Vegas, and maybe Tampa.

This is the best SC series in ages, already, and its been only two games and all we have to do is enjoy it.

As a purist this is the best hockey I'm seeing in years.

they're very good, but they'd look a lot different with a Skinner between the pipes every year