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

[Drivesaitl]

I don't know if anyone posted this, but this is a decent sound bite from Ekblad.

Thanks for this. Hate him or not its an honest assessment and undisguised praise of an opponent that is a feature of hockey and not all other sports. "Walk on water McJesus"

But Ekblad knows too that any amount of praise won't wipe the resolve and determination off McJesus face.

All of McD, Drai, and Booch have made spectacular plays in these two games of the Final. All of them have got into production in the final immediately, and instantly, and so much different than last years final.

Fwiw and who knows the OIlers first best game last year was in game 3 and we were the better team even in losing that game. We'll see what transpires in game 3 today.

 

[BobbytheBrain]

Other than the Winner I'm not even breaking down the goals individually. Meaning once again your response is a strawman.

What I am noting is the continual shift in expectation of our scoring. So many comments after game 2 were "we should have scored more" "Bouchard shouldn't make that play" etc. There were a lot of posts suggesting we lost because we didn't score more goals and that "its not Skinners fault for that"

Interestingly these comments occurring in a game that we scored 4 regulation time goals which is above what should be required on home ice.

But unabated by that some were going into the same mode that they did for some games last SC final "Oilers not scoring goals, reason why we lost" which is at least a valid argument in last years final. In this years final we've plowed 8G's into the net over two games which is pretty exceptional in SC finals. We're also generally playing impeccable defensively and have all playoffs. So where fault lies is more up for debate. But in a game where the winner in OT was a stinker theres of course going to be comments that ultimately we lost the game due to that one.

Well it's pretty simple logic imo

They tied the game. At this point it doesn't matter whatsoever how many goals were scored.

Then in OT the Oilers flat out gift them 4 guaranteed goals and Skinner comes up huge to bail them out.

Again, it doesn't matter how many goals have been scored to this point, but they have to respond to those saves.

It's hilarious when you see ppl focus on only 1 goal and completely ignore everything else to suit there narrative.

I can guarantee you ppl who actually understand hockey like the coaches and players aren't sittting there blaming Stu for that goal. The players are feeling downright guilty they didn't bail him out when he did it sooo many times for them

 

[Drivesaitl]

Well it's pretty simple logic imo

They tied the game. At this point it doesn't matter whatsoever how many goals were scored.

Then in OT the Oilers flat out gift them 4 guaranteed goals and Skinner comes up huge to bail them out.

Again, it doesn't matter how many goals have been scored to this point, but they have to respond to those saves.

It's hilarious when you see ppl focus on only 1 goal and completely ignore everything else to suit there narrative.

I can guarantee you ppl who actually understand hockey like the coaches and players aren't sittting there blaming Stu for that goal. The players are feeling downright guilty they didn't bail him out when he did it sooo many times for them

"4 guaranteed goals" lmfao.

 

[BobbytheBrain]

"4 guaranteed goals" lmfao.

Vehage and Reinhart.

There was also an exceptional save thru a screen and wait for it......wait for it.....

You know what happened on both Perry and Bouchards goals? A block then rebound.

You know who actually made that save in OT? Skinner.

So ya, 4 grade F'in A chances...stopped by Skinner.

Again, what game were you watching?

 

[MessierThanThou]

Then in OT the Oilers flat out gift them 4 guaranteed goals and Skinner comes up huge to bail them out.

Nobody remotely intelligent who paid any attention to the game agrees with this. No stats suggest this at all. Certainly wasn't anything anyone else on here saw. To borrow a quote from a certain somebody...

I honestly wonder on what planet you watch hockey sometimes?

 

[Drivesaitl]

Vehage and Reinhart.

There was also an exceptional save thru a screen and wait for it......wait for it.....

You know what happened on both Perry and Bouchards goals? A block then rebound.

You know who actually made that save in OT? Skinner.

So ya, 4 grade F'in A chances...stopped by Skinner.

Again, what game were you watching?

Your "guaranteed goals" lol comment. In convenience to your never ending argument to absolve Skinner you're now calling scoring chances "guaranteed goals" as if Skinner is god in net erasing inevitability and wrath. lol

Skinner had 12 shots to deal with in OT. 2 of them were dump ins, about 3-4 were scoring chances. The rest pad and logo stuffers. On one of your "guaranteed goals" Reinhard missed the net by 2-3ft. I guess we should kneel down before the might of Skinnergod and praise him for that miracle too.

 

[MessierThanThou]

Your "guaranteed goals" lol comment. In convenience to your never ending argument to absolve Skinner you're now calling scoring chances "guaranteed goals" as if Skinner is god in net erasing inevitability and wrath. lol

Skinner had 12 shots to deal with in OT. 2 of them were dump ins, about 3-4 were scoring chances. The rest pad and logo stuffers. On one of your "guaranteed goals" Reinhard missed the net by 2-3ft. I guess we should kneel down before the might of Skinnergod and praise him for that miracle too.

Skinner made Reinhart miss the net by using the power of positive thinking.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Skinner made Reinhart miss the net by using the power of positive thinking.

Skinner farted.

Its the patented skunk defense.

Also well known in Chess. Intimidate your opponent.

 

[MessierThanThou]

Maybe you have defended him in the past but in this situation the analysis has to be much more expansive than the way you presented it.
The goal is what it is (very unlucky with Marchands fanning and a defensive breakdown to start it) and picking low hanging fruit (ie,...its Skinner fault) is a very low resolution perspective.

It's not "picking low-hanging fruit" to suggest that the simplest, most obvious answer is the correct one. Hate to be the one to tell you, but you're performing mental gymnastics to fool yourself and others into believing what you wish to be true.

 

[MessierThanThou]

Again though...Bouchard has eyes on 2 things...the missed shot and the fleeing Boston forward.
He also has the max amount of time to react appropriately to a situation which had danger written all over it.
He has to be dynamic enough in that situation to realize he has to readjust.
He didnt do that at all.

This is exhibit A of Bouchard Derangement Syndrome.

No blame for Ekholm.

No blame for Skinner.

All the blame to Bouchard by virtue of being on the ice when it happened and not being Superman.

 

[guymez]

It's not "picking low-hanging fruit" to suggest that the simplest, most obvious answer is the correct one. Hate to be the one to tell you, but you're performing mental gymnastics to fool yourself and others into believing what you wish to be true.

Well...as I already pointed out thats a low resolution persepctive.
You're entitled to it though.

The stick bump from Marchand is very clear watching it in slow motion but you clearly dont want to admit the reailty of what happened.
Does that qualify as Skinner Derangement Syndrome?

 

[guymez]

This is exhibit A of Bouchard Derangement Syndrome.

No blame for Ekholm.

No blame for Skinner.

All the blame to Bouchard by virtue of being on the ice when it happened and not being Superman.

We have already discussed your (IMO a) low resolution take on Skinner.
Fair to say we see that differently.

In terms of Bouchard...just watch the play.
Watch Bouchard make the wrong decision. He has been playing great but that doesnt mean every decision he makes is the right one.

In any event...so Ekholm is partially at fault for missing the net from the point.
Something that happens at least 20 times a game but we can throw some blame his way

Im genuinely curious...in your opinion what responsibility did Bouchard have on that play?

 

[MessierThanThou]

We have already discussed your low resolution take on Skinner.
Fair to say we see that differently.

In terms of Bouchard...just watch the play.
Watch Bouchard make the wrong decision. He has been playing great but that doesnt mean every decision he makes is the right one.

In any event...so Ekholm is partially at fault for missing the net from the point.
Something that happens at least 20 times a game but we can throw some blame his way

Im genuinely curious... what responsibility did Bouchard have on that play?

You know with this reply you’re tacitly admitting that you’re allotting zero percent of the blame to Skinner. How I can take anything you’re saying remotely seriously after that? Hilarious that you can say Bouchard made the wrong decision while suggesting Skinner made the correct one.

The breakaway was neutralized by Drai. A trickling puck isn’t supposed to get past a goalie at a snail’s pace.

And was Bouchard supposed to suddenly attain superhuman speed? Your argument sounds like simply because he’s a defenseman he’s responsible for the defensive play of everyone else on the ice.

 

[sepHF]

how are you guys still arguing about this lmao

Game 3 starts in an hour boys, forget about it!

 

[guymez]

You know with this reply you’re tacitly admitting that you’re allotting zero percent of the blame to Skinner. How I can take anything you’re saying remotely seriously after that? Hilarious that you can say Bouchard made the wrong decision while suggesting Skinner made the correct one.

The breakaway was neutralized by Drai. A trickling puck isn’t supposed to get past a goalie at a snail’s pace.

And was Bouchard supposed to suddenly attain superhuman speed? Your argument sounds like simply because he’s a defenseman he’s responsible for the defensive play of everyone else on the ice.

If I really thought that there was something that Skinner could have done differently then I would post it. It was a very unlucky play and if Marchand didnt hit Skinners stick he would have made the save.

So the fact that you couldnt even bother to watch the reality of the play (through a neutral lens) that pretty much ends the discussion on Skinner.

So that leaves us with the play that caused the breakaway in the first place.
Thast were the discussion on Bouchard comes in.

So thing that you seem to misfire on time and time again is that you think this is about liking a certain player or not liking a certain player.

Quite a few posters on here play that game...I dont.
I call the play as I see it and I dont care who the player is that may have caused the problem. I dont pick favorites. My focus is on the team and what will ultimately help the team.

So I like Bouchard just fine but I am not a Bouchard groupie. So I have no problem being critical of him (or any other player including McDavid) when its warranted.

In any event @sepHF is right...game 3 is starting...Im moving on!