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

[Drivesaitl]

Yes individuals make mistakes. Nurse isn't good enough, that's a separate issue. Ironically I think Nurse is one mentally resilient SOB.

Over and over again we've seen this team bounce back. They're pro athletes in the highest echelon of their sport.

You are nervous because you don't have that mentality; it's all right, neither have I, neither have most of us.

You are projecting your own uncertainties onto the team because you can't control the outcome.

Its a good post here. As fans all we can have is hope, superstition, our own filters and our own selective memories. Everything you said about the team is indelibly true and I'm here for it.

Sure we project, its what humans do. Its tied to our memory and fairly hardwired in our perception. I'll cop the joke here that the worst court witnesses are humans.

That said both clubs have championship resolve. Lately in finals you don't see that, usually its one team dominating each game.

 

[foshizzle]

Yeah I know. Believe me I know. haha

You know exactly in games where I'm watching rolling my eyes brother. heh

lol- 100% because I’m doing the same

 

[WaitingForUser]

The days of our lives. We're so into all the minutiae of the game as a fanbase. But thats the passion.

I think for some its not that we are 1-1 and have lost home ice advantage. Its that the Oilers came out in this final with all kinds of resolve to beat the Panthers, to want to avenge, all that, and yet the Panthers have been in both games and both going to OT on our home ice. Fact of the matter is thats an extremely successful roadtrip for any club, to ge both in OT and win one is accomplishment. For the Oilers its not even holding serve.

People can still thnk the Oil win the series and still be bummed out a bit how its gone. That said I agree completely with Bieksa that the series deserves to be 1-1 on basis of play.

I can see this point of view. However both games have been probably the closest in my memory in the finals in a very long time. These are two absolute powerhouses that both want it with everything in them. There are going to momentum swings all series long. Either team could easily have a 2-0 series lead right now. I still say the ot winner last night was a lucky bounce that normally would be either Bouchard collecting the puck around the boards or his own zone. This team has no quit and will bounce back from anything. One thing I will say is Nurse has to stop trying to stretch it up the boards. We almost got burned 3 times on that this series already. All in all though I am still feeling very confident. Win one game in Florida where they have been awful this playoffs and it’s game on again.

 

[Drivesaitl]

I can see this point of view. However both games have been probably the closest in my memory in the finals in a very long time. These are two absolute powerhouses that both want it with everything in them. There are going to momentum swings all series long. Either team could easily have a 2-0 series lead right now. I still say the ot winner last night was a lucky bounce that normally would be either Bouchard collecting the puck around the boards or his own zone. This team has no quit and will bounce back from anything. One thing I will say is Nurse has to stop trying to stretch it up the boards. We almost got burned 3 times on that this series already. All in all though I am still feeling very confident. Win one game in Florida where they have been awful this playoffs and it’s game on again.

Heres the way I am. The best accomplishments in life are persevering through something hard and difficult. The best beings we are is when we are challenged to the nth degree. Thats the beauty in a series like this that is rare, and its a classic, and it has been since puck drop.

Are we not entertained?

 

[PitkanensGitch]

Do you guys scratch Nurse to let Kulak play his correct side? Stetcher in.

 

[MessierThanThou]

Do you guys scratch Nurse to let Kulak play his correct side? Stetcher in.

I mean I would any day of the week, but we all know Nurse will never, ever be scratched.

 

[CycloneSweep]

sorry, I don’t buy Florida hasn’t played well BS. Ekblad looks gassed on the bench, Bob is sweating buckets and is showing signs of fatigue. Barkov having issues with McDavid like he did last year. Saying Florida hasn’t played well is just ridiculous. Is it that hard to give the Oilers credit?

I give them credit when they play well. Which i said outside of the seconds they played well. Which they have. Florida hasn’t. Just cause they look gassed doesn’t mean they played well. Means they are gassed.

Edmonton has been the better team outside of 2 periods and had to come back with heroics twice, won game 1 due to a dumb penalty. So Edmonton playing well at home could barely handle a Florida team with Barkov struggling. How is that a positive?

 

[McBigYak]

sorry, I don’t buy Florida hasn’t played well BS. Ekblad looks gassed on the bench, Bob is sweating buckets and is showing signs of fatigue. Barkov having issues with McDavid like he did last year. Saying Florida hasn’t played well is just ridiculous. Is it that hard to give the Oilers credit?

If the Oilers win the cup this guy will complain about how they should have won it in fewer games.

I'm not sure how someone can commit so much time and effort to something they clearly don't enjoy. Or, they just enjoy consistently being negative. I can't imagine watching games and having this big of a doomsday attitude.

I'd rather just watch something else.

 

[CycloneSweep]

Do you guys scratch Nurse to let Kulak play his correct side? Stetcher in.

Everyone but the people in charge would.

 

[CycloneSweep]

It’s crazy being in the cup final while spending close to 1/4 of the cap on Nurse, Arvidsson, Skinner and Henrique

 

[WaitingForUser]

Do you guys scratch Nurse to let Kulak play his correct side? Stetcher in.

No yes he makes mistakes but if anything we just need to switch the pairings up so the Panthers can’t attack Kulaks side like they have been doing so far.
Ekholm Nurse
Kulak Bouchard
Walman Klingberg.

Between Nurse and Ekholm our two most veteran guys one of them should be able to play the Right side for the rest of the series IMO. It’s clear that Kulak struggles on the right so try someone else.

 

[PitkanensGitch]

I mean I would any day of the week, but we all know Nurse will never, ever be scratched.

 

[MessierThanThou]

I'd almost put in Pickard just because you know he'll be less fatigued than Bob. If that was made clear to Skinner and the media and it was only for one game, I think it could avoid any controversy or confidence issues.

 

[tiger_80]

Lost 1st game and let in 4 second game. Nothing special about his play. Oilers just need to bare down more. You're talking conn smythe already after a close series is tied 1-1 lol

Yeah, he did not look a world beater. I don't he's ever been in the truly elite tier (Price, Vasilevski, Helleybuck), maybe top ten in his prime.

 

[BlackDogg]

Yes individuals make mistakes. Nurse isn't good enough, that's a separate issue. Ironically I think Nurse is one mentally resilient SOB.

Over and over again we've seen this team bounce back. They're pro athletes in the highest echelon of their sport.

You are nervous because you don't have that mentality; it's all right, neither have I, neither have most of us.

You are projecting your own uncertainties onto the team because you can't control the outcome.

I've thought about this a bit. It can feel hopeless being down a mere goal because we have no control over anything. The players don't think about it in the same way.

 

[Drivesaitl]

WTF does his regular season stats have to do with these playoffs?

After Pickard got injured, he came back and provided above average to borderline excellent goaltending in both the Dallas and Vegas series.

This is the definition of vendetta. One that has not been justified in his play over the last two series until the squeaker tonight.

The original poster gave Skinner absolutely zero credit for how well he played previously. In fact, he just downplayed it, stating it wasnt Skinner but the other teams inability to score being the reason Skinner played well.

You see how ridiculous that is? He gives zero credit when credit is due, but rips him to shreds when he lets in a bad goal.

No one is ever going to put any sort of weight on a person's opinion when it is this biased.

Yet you read every one of my posts and some others look at my posts as well. Given that you know that I did give Skinner credit in several games and even did in the fist game in this series.

So that your vendetta then is obvious, and its inaccurate too.

Even micdingding who rings my bell from time to time knows I credit Skinner on occasion and when its deserved.

 

[McHelpus]

sorry, I don’t buy Florida hasn’t played well BS. Ekblad looks gassed on the bench, Bob is sweating buckets and is showing signs of fatigue. Barkov having issues with McDavid like he did last year. Saying Florida hasn’t played well is just ridiculous. Is it that hard to give the Oilers credit?

That is why Oilers should have won yesterday. McDavid has played 66 minutes in 2 games, this is just not sustainable. If he gets hurts or crashes out the Oilers are losing.

 

[TB12]

The over reaction here about a team that has lost a combined 5 games all playoffs is asinine

We have some fans that have the mental strength of a toddler, never played sports at any level, have never dealt successfully with any adversity in their life and are some of the biggest whiners in the world. It's 1-1 in the Cup finals and some of the takes are so over the top and ridiculous that it's akin to trolling. f***ing grow up. These 2 teams are GOOD and it will be a war. Was never going to be easy and you don't just run over teams in the f***ing Cup final.

There used to be comments on here about how "the Oil could win the Cup in 5 and there's posters who would be mad it wasn't a sweep". I used to laugh at those but that is actually the types of comments we are getting from some posters now. Seriously, grow up. As always, very VERY glad that the players are coaching staff are a hell of a lot mentally tougher than some on this board.

 

[Drivesaitl]

"Don't Panic" in the immortal words of Douglas Adams. We are mostly healthy and in a best 3 out of 5 situation for the Stanley Cup. I like our chances, and believe we can do this.

Whatever happened to Douglas Adams? I don't remember seeing much after the Dirk Gently series. Although I think Hitchhiker was never really matched again.

 

[Drivesaitl]

sorry, I don’t buy Florida hasn’t played well BS. Ekblad looks gassed on the bench, Bob is sweating buckets and is showing signs of fatigue. Barkov having issues with McDavid like he did last year. Saying Florida hasn’t played well is just ridiculous. Is it that hard to give the Oilers credit?

Maybe it was hyperbole on my part but I even compared Panthers to the 80's Islanders. Kind of an Islanders lite. You can't have a packed talent team like that in cap era. Goes for both Panthers and Oilers. but this is close as it gets.

This Panthers performance is the best any team has played us in our whole last few seasons. As a team game Panthers are playing very well, very focused. Both teams are legitimately playing the best hockey seen. Pundits everywere saying this is the best series and finals they've seen. its only 2 games.

The sad thing would be missing this exceptional hockey.

 

[foshizzle]

I give them credit when they play well. Which i said outside of the seconds they played well. Which they have. Florida hasn’t. Just cause they look gassed doesn’t mean they played well. Means they are gassed.

Edmonton has been the better team outside of 2 periods and had to come back with heroics twice, won game 1 due to a dumb penalty. So Edmonton playing well at home could barely handle a Florida team with Barkov struggling. How is that a positive?

I have no idea what game you are watching. McDavid had 11 points in the finals last year. So, based on your post- you think if the Panthers aren’t dominating they arent playing well? Do you think Panther players get gassed from not trying and playing poorly? Again, not sure what game you are watching

 

[MessierThanThou]

Here is a great example of the eye test matching the numbers. It's obvious to all of us just from watching the games that Nurse consistently panics with the puck and coughs up possession like he's smoking ten packs a game: whether it's with his idiotic icings, or his weak shot attempts that consistently lead to the opposition getting the puck.

It's almost like this team would rather lose the Stanley Cup than admit that they signed the guy to the worst contract in the league...even though they can 100% pin the blame on the Holland-Chiarelli one-two punch to the sack. I mean, sure, sitting him would reduce his trade value (if he even has any with that deal), but who gives a shit if he sits if it means we win the Cup? Hell, they should do the crazy thing so many have already proposed and try Nurse as a forward. Maybe in place of Frederic. At least he's not hurt like Frederic is.

Also, for someone who is supposedly a leader, what a great example he set by taking the least team-friendly deal I've ever seen. Zach Werenski and Seth Jones were far more deserving of their deals, but Nurse played well against six teams in what barely qualifies as an NHL season and that's enough to pay him like he's Victor Hedman?

 

[Drivesaitl]

We have some fans that have the mental strength of a toddler, never played sports at any level, have never dealt successfully with any adversity in their life and are some of the biggest whiners in the world. It's 1-1 in the Cup finals and some of the takes are so over the top and ridiculous that it's akin to trolling. f***ing grow up. These 2 teams are GOOD and it will be a war. Was never going to be easy and you don't just run over teams in the f***ing Cup final.

There used to be comments on here about how "the Oil could win the Cup in 5 and there's posters who would be mad it wasn't a sweep". I used to laugh at those but that is actually the types of comments we are getting from some posters now. Seriously, grow up. As always, very VERY glad that the players are coaching staff are a hell of a lot mentally tougher than some on this board.

This is the reason for so much of the present problems we see in Western Society. Goes far beyond just the demonstrations we tend to see here or online.

I picked Oilers in 6 and remain there. McD and Drai and Booch have been on a redhot mission and with others like Kane, Perry, Walman, Ekholm etc sure part of that party.

It doesn't escape me for a moment that I've never seen an Oiler team play with more resolve. This is the gravy people. The best Oiler team you're ever going to see.

 

[CycloneSweep]

I have no idea what game you are watching. McDavid had 11 points in the finals last year. So, based on your post- you think if the Panthers aren’t dominating they arent playing well? Do you think Panther players get gassed from not trying and playing poorly? Again, not sure what game you are watching

guys play bad and get gassed all the time. Have you never seen Nurse play? You are usually getting gassed when you get hemmed in. And if you are playing well you aren’t getting hemmed in.

What does McDavid having 11 points last year mean to anything. He had 11 points and they lost.

 

[redgrant]

Here is a great example of the eye test matching the numbers. It's obvious to all of us just from watching the games that Nurse consistently panics with the puck and coughs up possession like he's smoking ten packs a game: whether it's with his idiotic icings, or his weak shot attempts that consistently lead to the opposition getting the puck.

It's almost like this team would rather lose the Stanley Cup than admit that they signed the guy to the worst contract in the league...even though they can 100% pin the blame on the Holland-Chiarelli one-two punch to the sack. I mean, sure, sitting him would reduce his trade value (if he even has any with that deal), but who gives a shit if he sits if it means we win the Cup? Hell, they should do the crazy thing so many have already proposed and try Nurse as a forward. Maybe in place of Frederic. At least he's not hurt like Frederic is.

Also, for someone who is supposedly a leader, what a great example he set by taking the least team-friendly deal I've ever seen. Zach Werenski and Seth Jones were far more deserving of their deals, but Nurse played well against six teams in what barely qualifies as an NHL season and that's enough to pay him like he's Victor Hedman?

A huge positive by product of winning a cup is making it more tenable to convince nurse to accept a trade. I believe he has a 10 team list after 2026 season.