GDT: WCSF | G5 | Oilers @ Knights | 5.12.23 | T-Mobile Arena | 8:00PM | SN

[Paralyzer008]

Despite Theodore literally winning Edmonton the game, Theodore-McNabb would make for a stronger shutdown pair vs McDavid than Pietrangelo anyways. Maybe Cassidy adjusts.

I expect Nuge to continue the good play into this one - it feels like at some point, McDavid will have a take-over game. Maybe here.

 

[duul]

This is the opportunity young guys need. Imagine how fired up Broberg is now knowing he is going to get some actual minutes. Must be exciting. This is the opportunity players get to make a mark and solidify their spot on the roster. If he plays well in bigger minutes he will be able to be relied upon regularly. Make or break moment for the kid.

 

[Mez]

Just play in the o zone all game.. .ezpz

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

Situation isn't ideal, but just go get it and bring that physical game so they know the score. Let's Go Oilers.

 

[TameYew]

Just don't play angry. Play motivated. Settle the score next year during the regular season when you can accept the lengthy suspensions.

 

[rickysusedsht]

Broberg will play lights out tonight i have faith in him....win this and put them on the ropes

 

[Da McBomb]

I believe in you Broberg. I believe in you Oilers. Oilers have been great later in series. Let's get this done.

 

[Zerotonine]

We won last year in LA with out nurse, we will do it again in Vegas. Definitely big minutes are gone. But I think vegas has a bigger hole with petro gone. Forwards are gonna feast on them tonight

 

[MoontoScott]

The important thing here is discipline.

The league wasn't going to suspend the slasher for more than 1 game because they are essentially incompetent and incoherent. There is always a lack of clarity. Look at the officiating thru these playoffs (across the league) if you want more evidence.

The response to incompetence is to stay on the path and ignore the noise. Bring the "A" game like they have in games #2 and #4 and the result is clear because the Oilers are the more talented team.

The boys win tonight in a tight one and come home to finish the series.

 

[nabob]

Dump, chase and crash all game long. Relentless pressure will break the Knights. They’re soft.

 

[Arty Spooners Bsmnt]

Basically because Vegas have been running 6 D considerable minutes, just rotating through pairings whereas Oilers have run primarily 4D getting big minutes and 3 other D getting whats leftover. So that now we have 3D left that have been carrying minutes. Vegas have 5 left. It isn't really just a Nurse vs Pietrangelo. Its that Vegas have better D depth.

Last game the top minute Vegas defender was on the ice longer than the top Oiler D and the lowest Vegas D was on the ice for less time than the lowest minute Oiler D.

btw, Broberg has done surprisingly well in limited minutes. He's +3 in the playoffs; so, unlike Desharnais, he has not be a sieve. Maybe he could shoulder some extra responsibility for one game and not drown.

VD played 16:38 last game and was +1.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

Pietrangelo is the better defenseman but Nurse is more important to the Oilers...it's a wash IMO

Vegas is surprisingly not very good on home ice this season and even in the playoffs...will tonight be the first close game? I think so

 

[ohheyhemsky]

Do you know who doesn't take into account NHL playoff schedules? Girls basketball tournaments. Going to be cheering on my niece during the game.

I'll tell her about how much I resent her afterward.

GO OIL.

 

[Canovin]

Bring in Niemo for the bone crushing questionable hits and wear the Knights down in game 5. If we win the cup, his name gets added to the Stanley Cup.

Pietrangelo is the better defenseman but Nurse is more important to the Oilers...it's a wash IMO

Vegas is surprisingly not very good on home ice this season and even in the playoffs...will tonight be the first close game? I think so

Knights best Dman got suspended. Our best Dman is still playing

 

[AM]

Anyone know a good hockey bar downtown Ottawa?

 

[3IR]

Really hope they come out fired up and rally around the league once again f***ing them at a crucial time.

I have no doubt the dirty Vegas will be out in full force now that it’s open season on attempts to injure. Gotta stay disciplined just long enough to get a healthy lead, then start making every single golden knight have nightmares about being within stick distance of an oiler in game 6.

 

[FlameChampion]

Hell yeah. Play some new Zelda all day and then watch the Oilers take it to these guys.

It's gonna be spice. It's gonna be good.

Hopefully it will be Tears of the Golden Knights later tonight

 

[AnInjuredJasonZucker]

Kulak was able to elevate in the playoffs last year when leaned on for more minutes. He has looked great in these playoffs, so I'm hoping that for one game he can do it again.

 

[FlameChampion]

Nurse was pretty good last game (outside of the one incident). He usually follows up a good game with a head scratching game. Good opportunity for Broberg. Hopefully this galvanizes the team.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Hopefully it will be Tears of the Golden Knights later tonight

Tears of the Knightdom.

Sadly I don't think my copy is arriving for another week.

 

[McShogun99]

Nurse has been altering good and bad games all playoffs. He played great last game which means he would have been horrible tonight and then great in game 6. Hopefully my theory checks out.

 

[McShogun99]

Pietrangelo is the better defenseman but Nurse is more important to the Oilers...it's a wash IMO

Vegas is surprisingly not very good on home ice this season and even in the playoffs...will tonight be the first close game? I think so

Pietrangelo seems to get considerably more minutes then anyone else on the Knights, kind of like Nurse before we got Ekholm. It's a big loss for them because Theodore now moves up to the top spot and isn't as good defensively and can't take as much punishment.

 

[Louis Cypher]

Work that right side defense hard.

Dump, chase and crush them! Drive to the net and hear the lamentations of their women.

 

[McBeastMode]

Enjoy some pre-game activities with the family...

 

[Drivesaitl]

That's simply not true. Only Nurse was playing what can be called big minutes. Bouchard, if you factor in all the juidy PP minutes. As to the rest, even Ekholm, who's arguably a top pairing d-man plays less than 20 mins, which basically is a benchmark for a top 4 d-men on most teams. Running 7 d-men allows them to reduce minutes significantly.

Well heres the numbers. 6 Knights D have averaged over 18mins a game.

NHL Stats

The official source for NHL Stats including skaters, goalies, teams stats and more.

www.nhl.com

Whereas only 4 oilers D have been seeing as much as 18mins a game.

NHL Stats

The official source for NHL Stats including skaters, goalies, teams stats and more.

www.nhl.com

The numbers were even more pronounced earlier in playoffs as Desharnais was not getting as many minutes but lately Woody has been using him more, but not to great effect.

Essentially the Oilers are reduced to Ekholm, Booch, Kulak as being reliable. I don't think Ceci has even been good this season or playoffs.