Where does the Hiller goalie interference challenge rank in terms of monumentally bad coaching decisions that decided a series?

[Cloned]

I posted at the time that if the Oilers came back to win the series that Hiller and his coaching staff would never live it down.

Now that it’s happened, it might even be a bigger moment than I thought. Multiple people might get fired over this.

 

[koyvoo]

Not nearly as high as him riding 9 forwards and 4 defensemen info the ground.

The guy killed his top players to get those two home wins and forgot that the series could be a long slog.

 

[Nicko999]

Has to be #1. Without that challenge most likely game 3 goes to overtime. We do not know who would have won but LA was playing better than Edmonton at that point.

I would be surprised if he is not fired by next week.

 

[ucanthanzalthetruth]

Not nearly as high as him riding 9 forwards and 4 defensemen info the ground.

The guy killed his top players to get those two home wins and forgot that the series could be a long slog.

100% for all we know their video guy was confident, but the 9+4 in round 1 was insane. Did he know there were 3 more rounds? What was he gonna do vs Vegas if they beat Edmonton lol.



Idk what to even say lol

 

[Skolman]

100% for all we know their video guy was confident, but the 9+4 in round 1 was insane. Did he know there were 3 more rounds? What was he gonna do vs Vegas if they beat Edmonton lol.



Idk what to even say lol

Eliminating the Oilers was the Kings Stanley Cup final

I can't imagine how much they hate Edmonton, 4 years in a row is wild

 

[Old Boys Club]

100% for all we know their video guy was confident, but the 9+4 in round 1 was insane. Did he know there were 3 more rounds? What was he gonna do vs Vegas if they beat Edmonton lol.



Idk what to even say lol

They weren't playing to win the cup, they were playing to beat Edmonton.

 

[fsanford]

100% for all we know their video guy was confident, but the 9+4 in round 1 was insane. Did he know there were 3 more rounds? What was he gonna do vs Vegas if they beat Edmonton lol.



Idk what to even say lol

Fire this freaking idiot

 

[PuckG]

100% for all we know their video guy was confident, but the 9+4 in round 1 was insane. Did he know there were 3 more rounds? What was he gonna do vs Vegas if they beat Edmonton lol.



Idk what to even say lol

Dude does not give a flying **** about accountability.

 

[Armourboy]

100% for all we know their video guy was confident, but the 9+4 in round 1 was insane. Did he know there were 3 more rounds? What was he gonna do vs Vegas if they beat Edmonton lol.



Idk what to even say lol

So not only is he stupid but he is delusional as well. That explains alot.

 

[Chet Manley]

This will be an unpopular take but one extra power play didn't decide the series. And even in an alternate timeline that game could have easily went Oilers without that goal. Of course, it was a horrible enough challenge to wonder if someone on that coaching staff spends a little too much time at dog tracks.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Byfield not clearing the puck in Game 4 was way worse

 

[Osprey]

It was a terrible decision, but the team could've killed off the penalty and didn't. In fact, they allowed the game-winning goal only 6 seconds later. That suggests that the Kings were stunned by losing the lead and that the Oilers had the momentum. The Oilers likely would've won the game, anyways... and it's not like it was Game 5. The series was still 2-1 in favor of the Kings. It didn't decide the series. Besides, even if it was that critical, the mental weakness that followed suggests that the Kings wouldn't have hung on to win the series, anyways. They would've just found some other way to lose, if not in 6 games, then in 7.

 

[bouncesonly]

Eliminating the Oilers was the Kings Stanley Cup final

I can't imagine how much they hate Edmonton, 4 years in a row is wild

Not as much as the coaches they've had the 4 years against Edmonton.

 

[Soundwave]

I think people forget, it was 4-4 at that point and the Oilers had all the momentum with the home crowd rocking, it's entirely probable they would have won that game any way.

Byfield blowing the clearing attempt probably stings more I would think.

But really I mean if you need everything to go your way to beat another team and you need to get all your wins in before the other team wakes up ... the real truth is you're not the better team. You're just trying to get a jump on a team and ride that to a quick victory, but that always ends up fizzling for the Kings. The longer any one of these series' has gone along, it's become more evident that the Oilers are simply the better club.

No shame in that, Kings are a good team, this is just a bad match up for them, they push the Oilers hard at least.

 

[Fixed to Ruin]

I think just sitting back with 5 guys skating backwards through the neutral zone with no forecheck for most of the series was idiotic considering the opponent is McDavid and Draisaitl.

 

[Fenway]

100% for all we know their video guy was confident, but the 9+4 in round 1 was insane. Did he know there were 3 more rounds? What was he gonna do vs Vegas if they beat Edmonton lol.



Idk what to even say lol

Hiller could get fired depending on what players say during the exit interviews.

Kings ownership can't be thrilled that Crypto.com Arena is now dark as their tenant the Lakers are gone too.

 

[kingsholygrail]

Hiller tried to blitz the Oilers and win in four by keeping the bench short early. He exhausted his players and there was no recovery after that.

 

[ijuka]

I don't think that that decided the series nearly as much as him practically playing only 9 forwards and 4 defensemen did. That's just not sustainable in the long run. They consistently were gassed after the first two periods. Not only that, but his tutle strategy as well, causing his team to constantly fail to maintain a lead.

 

[vippe]

It was definitely the moment where the Kings got deflated, if it was the decision that decided the series maybe. Terrible decision no matter.

Not the NHL but I'll just add it to the conversation anyway because it's still hilariously dumb - back in the WC 2010 I believe Sweden was leading 2-1 against the Czechs in the semis with 15 or so seconds to go and ices the puck. BÅG (Bengt Åke Gustavsson) takes a timeout, gives the czechs some time to recoup and they score to win the game in the shoot out.

He got a lot of shit by media and fans from this and in the bronze game which Sweden won he took a time out with 0.7 seconds to when they were leading. Against Germany, in germany.

Just to give the finger to the Swedish media.

The absolute disrespect lol.

 

[Jumptheshark]

It change the series and for the next couple playoffs it will be talked about. The series was never the same

 

[kingsholygrail]

I think just sitting back with 5 guys skating backwards through the neutral zone with no forecheck for most of the series was idiotic considering the opponent is McDavid and Draisaitl.

I think what pisses me off most is we all saw it happening and Hiller pretends in the post games that it was just "The Oilers are good" and "it's easy to get pressure when you're behind." It wasn't the Kings getting pressed, it was the Kings letting themselves get pressed by not engaging offensively. Clear as day they completely changed their approach to the game with the lead in the 3rd. You even had Draisaitl saying in the pressers the Kings were sitting back. Not using your depths players and giving them a chance to contribute. That's all coaching.

 

[Little Psycho]

Got rid of 1-3-1 only to bring it back during the playoffs. Now that and shortening the bench was where he f***ed up.

 

[zar]

I would say It’s not as much the Kings playing exhausted as it was the Oilers started clicking and the numerous players with long layoffs getting their game legs.

 

[snag]

the challenge was bad in 2 ways.

1. it was clearly one that would be lost. And...
2. it showed a complete disdain for the competition.

You don't openly show your lack of respect for your competition...that will only spur then on.

 

[kingsholygrail]

the challenge was bad in 2 ways.

1. it was clearly one that would be lost. And...
2. it showed a complete disdain for the competition.

You don't openly show your lack of respect for your competition...that will only spur then on.

I think it's less a disrespect than it is a lack of awareness for the conditions of the game. Limiting the Oilers PP opportunities is top priority and the goal was only a game tying goal. It's 4-4 center ice face off with only 6:00 left. Basically next score is probably going to win. The worst case scenario happened, lose the challenge and now the Oilers get a PP at home late in the game with the game tied and the face off in your own end. Maybe the Kings kill it off, but obviously they didn't and it's a 2-goal swing in a relatively short amount of time. Hard to regroup at that point. I think the challenge is less offensive if you're already down. Not risking as much at that point.