[4-2 WIN] Oilers Viktor; Knock Ducks Off Hiller Fasth

[Aceboogie]

Hopkins is looking so much better lately. He's skating really well, looking for his own shot, and also playing real chippy. He's thrown a number of dirty chops at guys legs and crosschecks to arms the last few games, he's earning his space out there. Keep that up and he'll have a big season next year.

Really hope his off year was just due to taking longer than usual to recover from shoulder sugery. Guy needs a big offseason

 

[Oiltankjob Fail]

The Ducks kinda destroyed us, great game by Fasth and ultimately win anyways.

Thought Hall, RNH, Pinizzotto, Eberle, Hendricks had good games

OK games for Schultz (nice game winner), Gordon, Klefbom, Marincin, Smyth

Petry wasnt too bad but struggled a bit, Perron took more penalties but was OK, Gagner struggled a bit today

Larsen had another game where he got a point, but that was the only time I noticed him
Tough games for Fraser, Belov, Acton and a really tough game for Lander

I noticed him trying to land a big hit on DSP but maybe you were studying corsi at that time

 

[Brokenhead]

The thing I liked about this game was that the Oilers actually BEAT the Ducks in this game.

The Ducks were a determined, chippy team and they got thumped on the ice. They have actual cuts and bruises after this outing (I'm sure the Oilers have a few also) and they know they were in a true blue, honest to goodness "tough game" and the Ducks came out on the losing side.

How many times could we say that this season about the Oilers handing that type of loss to a quality opponent?

If they play like that game in and game out... win or lose, I'll honestly enjoy every game AND I think they will be much closer to a playoff team with consistent efforts like this.

This was a hard game... both teams played with an edge and the Ducks certainly weren't floating and resting... they wanted those 2 points and the Oilers denied them.

Solid effort. Was it perfect? Of course not... they were outshot and there were some defensive errors BUT they played with some real grit and determination and held their own with a physical, talented division rival and I'm giving them full credit for this win... they fought hard for it and they deserved it.

Same here, I loved the push back. This team is a lot tougher than they have been the last few years and it really showed tonight.
All 3 fights where clear Oiler wins.

 

[McMozesmadness]

Just finished watching the game on my PVR. Very good effort from the Oilers again tonight.

They didn't look intimidated at all, didn't back down from the physical play, and at some points taking it to the Ducks especially in those fights.

Good Win

 

[Quality Oil]

Passing looked slick tonight. Glad the boys are having some fun and getting a few wins.

 

[alanschu]

Some fans care more about the team than other fans. Some fans are much easier to please than other fans.

Its all good.

Yes well, call me when you care as much about the team as I do then?

 

[Klimando Kostani]

How many times did Taylor Hall backcheck the puck away from Getzlaf and in the process throw him to the ice? I saw it twice.

Did other people notice Marincin using his body very well? For a guy that supposedly weighs less than 190 pounds he's been able to throw people around along the boards and behind the net more effectively than some of the heavier players we have.

Hopefully Klefbom and him both get sent to crossfit camp over the summer.

 

[OilerFan4Life]

Minnesota over Anaheim is easy money right now.

The advanced stats tell us Anaheim is vastly overrated, just like last year....put Suter and Brodin on the ice 30 minutes a night with the way Bryzgalov is playing right now and it's lights out for the Ducks.

 

[guymez]

Yes well, call me when you care as much about the team as I do then?

I will if I ever reach that level of commitment.

 

[Crobby]

Really liked the effort last night.

It was nice to see Hall backchecking and even Eberle came back to break up some plays. We will need this from our top line if we are going to do anything next year.

I also like Marincin's game. As pointed out above, he plays like a "big man" even though he will need to pack on some weight.

He's not super nasty or anything but uses his size effectively to angle guys off the puck and get body position. While he may never take someones head off, its nice to have a dman with size that doesn't play like he is 5'10. He battles, and will only get better when he bulks up.

 

[Valic]

Aside from the obvious from this game, you know, I like the last few games Larssen has put together.

Gimme Pinzinotto and Hendricks on the 4th line over Gazdic any day.

 

[CupofOil]

More inspired play by the team when the games mean absolutely nothing.

Just like last season...and the season before that...and the season before that....and the season before that...and....

The sooner this season ends the better.

The Oilers absolutely stunk down the stretch last season, the last 2 games were fools gold (got vastly outplayed by the Wild despite winning and played the AHL Canucks).
I don't remember them playing that well down the stretch of the Renney years either.

I'm not saying that this will carry over into next season but there has been a distinct uptick in their play ever since the Scrivens trade (I believe they are over .500 since then). They have still had a few stinkers like the Buffalo and Calgary debacles but this is the most organized that i've seen the team against high quality opposition in a long while. There's still some missed defensive assignments, cheating on offense and poor passing at times but the team has clearly been tougher to play against over this last while.

It would be nice if they came out of the gate strong next season and set the tone that it will not be another lost season and they still have a long ways to go obviously, but it does look like slowly but surely that they are starting to come together a bit.

 

[McDNicks17]

How many times did Taylor Hall backcheck the puck away from Getzlaf and in the process throw him to the ice? I saw it twice.

Did other people notice Marincin using his body very well? For a guy that supposedly weighs less than 190 pounds he's been able to throw people around along the boards and behind the net more effectively than some of the heavier players we have.

Hopefully Klefbom and him both get sent to crossfit camp over the summer.

I saw that too. Loved it.

Hall can be absolutely dominant when he plays a 200 foot game.

 

[McDrai]

I believe we are about 10-10-3 since the start of February. If we can be a .500 team next season, I would consider that a victory lol

 

[fuswald]

Better that they be winning these 'pointless' games than losing them. Don't forget this game was key for Anaheim as they try to lock up top spot in their division.

I don't think anyone is seeing wins like tonight and saying "Playoffs 2015 here we come!" That said the Oilers need to get better at playing the tough physical teams like Anaheim and finding ways to succeed. Every time they do that they are putting a step forward in the development of the squad.

23rd spot here we come! Beats the heck out of where weve been.

Win a game is excellent we get so few. Hall is freakin awesome and still getting better. RNH looks to be back on his game. Eberle finally giving his all.

 

[trent_vinyl]

I don't mind Pinizzotto at all, has decent skating to keep up with a hard checking bottom 6 ideally and possesses enough IQ to not be a heavy defensive liability given what we've seen. I liked his fight naturally, pretty tough customer by the looks of it. Hope he manages to stick on the 4th line for next season.

Lander is a serviceable NHLer... but completely nondescript, someone who frankly doesn't stand out with what he does and could be easily replaced by the likes of Pinizzotto. He really, really needs to push harder to stick I think because he hasn't done enough to warrant a cemented roster spot for next season (at least to my view).

Pretty much my thoughts on Lander too. He's been given quite a few chances now and he really hasn't ever delivered. The offence just doesn't seem to be there in the big leagues, and I don't know if he brings enough grit to be all that effective in the bottom six.

 

[OilerTyler]

It's a common theme for AHLers to get called up and play well on the Oilers for a week or two before falling back down to Earth.

I wouldn't get too excited about Pinizzotto yet.

 

[McSuper]

Hall now 7th alone in scoring 77 points. Needs one more point for best production from Oiler in well over a decade. If he had not missed 7 games he would have around 84 for 2nd or 3rd, in Nhl.

Well it not just the 7 games he missed , it took him time to get going after he came back .

 

[dustrock]

Hard to be anything but positive after beating the Ducks in regulation, something we hadn't done since 2006 I believe (something like 14 games).

It's not that the huge problems with this roster have disappeared, it's more that they seem less fragile to me, and far less "going through the motions".

People talk about the Calgary game being embarrassing, and it was, but to me, there were far worse games earlier in the season, when they really were just mailing it. Much better body language.

They're still almost always being drastically outshot though.

 

[CupofOil]

They're still almost always being drastically outshot though.

Not in the last 5 games against top level competition which is perhaps the most encouraging aspect of this recent stretch. They aren't relying on their goaltending nearly as much as they were previous to the last 5 games.

 

[dustrock]

Not in the last 5 games against top level competition which is perhaps the most encouraging aspect of this recent stretch. They aren't relying on their goaltending nearly as much as they were previous to the last 5 games.

Yeah I guess it's not as drastic as some of the earlier games:

Shots For/Against

SJ 5-2 L 30/34
Ana 4-3 W OT 23/51
NYR 5-0 L 26/32
SJ 5-4 L 33/29
Ana 3-2 L 26/32
Phx 3-2 W 26/26
Ana 4-2 W 27/36

 

[Aerchon]

Gagner: One of his better games but especially early was terrible defensively, seemed to actually make a few decent defensive plays as the game wore on tho.

Lander: Trying to hard I think. After his performance this year gotta say still I am unsure if there is an NHL player there. At some point you gotta find the net.

Klefbom: One of his worst games and looked terrible in the first period.

 

[OiledUp]

Pretty much my thoughts on Lander too. He's been given quite a few chances now and he really hasn't ever delivered. The offence just doesn't seem to be there in the big leagues, and I don't know if he brings enough grit to be all that effective in the bottom six.

When Lander came over I said the player he projected to be was Sammy PÃ¥hlsson, and that the Zetterberg comparisons that somehow got thrown around were just plain stupid, I stick to my earlier projections. Lander is Samuel PÃ¥hlsson in the making.
His AHL numbers to me says he's got slightly more offense to untap than PÃ¥hlsson, but his offensive production will never be his calling card. Never. He's a good defensive player who will get even better once his, and his coaches, focus shifts into trying and become elite in this regard instead of trying to make him a top six player. He's strong on the PK. He's still not close to PÃ¥hlsson on the dot, but PÃ¥hlsson wasn't as good as PÃ¥hlsson on faceoffs when he was Landers age. While not extremely gritty he does win quite a few board battles and he's an ok possession player who knows how to cycle.

Lander will likely never hit 35 points in the NHL, neither did PÃ¥hlsson, he never even hit 30, but the thing is, Samuel PÃ¥hlsson in his prime would be money on this team. He was crucial when the Ducks won the cup and in pretty much all their deep playoff runs. For all the talk of this team lacking good defensive players people are very quick to throw away one of our better defensive forward prospects because he's not scoring enough. I do realize he has to score at a higher pace than the 0,09 ppg he's sporting in the NHL as of now, defensive forward or not, but he's shown he's not a complete black hole offensively in the AHL so I sure would be prepared to give him at least two seasons to see that he can score at a good enough level to be a great asset as a defensive specialist.
To me it seems he's forcing things out there. I'd say stick him in the bottom six, he's looked his best on the third line in these last few games, and tell him to focus on being elite defensively. Ofc he should still try to create offense but he need to let it come to him instead of him chasing his offensive game, took him three years to find his offensive game in the AHL. He's a guy who really wants to be a good player and sometimes his ambitions seem to get the best of him.
Lander is also fairly versatile meaning he's a great roster player. And he'll be cheap. To me it's an obvious decision to keep him.

 

[Aceboogie]

I think Lander can be a solid bottom 6 guy, but wont ever surpass 25-30 points. In reality, he is a good 4th liner and ok 3rd liner currently

 

[trent_vinyl]

When Lander came over I said the player he projected to be was Sammy PÃ¥hlsson, and that the Zetterberg comparisons that somehow got thrown around were just plain stupid, I stick to my earlier projections. Lander is Samuel PÃ¥hlsson in the making.
His AHL numbers to me says he's got slightly more offense to untap than PÃ¥hlsson, but his offensive production will never be his calling card. Never. He's a good defensive player who will get even better once his, and his coaches, focus shifts into trying and become elite in this regard instead of trying to make him a top six player. He's strong on the PK. He's still not close to PÃ¥hlsson on the dot, but PÃ¥hlsson wasn't as good as PÃ¥hlsson on faceoffs when he was Landers age. While not extremely gritty he does win quite a few board battles and he's an ok possession player who knows how to cycle.

Lander will likely never hit 35 points in the NHL, neither did PÃ¥hlsson, he never even hit 30, but the thing is, Samuel PÃ¥hlsson in his prime would be money on this team. He was crucial when the Ducks won the cup and in pretty much all their deep playoff runs. For all the talk of this team lacking good defensive players people are very quick to throw away one of our better defensive forward prospects because he's not scoring enough. I do realize he has to score at a higher pace than the 0,09 ppg he's sporting in the NHL as of now, defensive forward or not, but he's shown he's not a complete black hole offensively in the AHL so I sure would be prepared to give him at least two seasons to see that he can score at a good enough level to be a great asset as a defensive specialist.
To me it seems he's forcing things out there. I'd say stick him in the bottom six, he's looked his best on the third line in these last few games, and tell him to focus on being elite defensively. Ofc he should still try to create offense but he need to let it come to him instead of him chasing his offensive game, took him three years to find his offensive game in the AHL. He's a guy who really wants to be a good player and sometimes his ambitions seem to get the best of him.
Lander is also fairly versatile meaning he's a great roster player. And he'll be cheap. To me it's an obvious decision to keep him.

Don't get me wrong, I'm pullng for Lander and realize his defensive game is probably what's going to keep him in the NHL (although I've never really focused on his game extensively to see how good his defensive game really is. So far, I've never "sensed" he's the shutdown guy that Pahlsson or Malhotra are). That being said, he's played 24 NHL games this season and has 1 assist, and has 8pts in 92 career games. Even as a 3rd/4th liner, you've got to be able to produce a bit.