Post-Game Talk: A frustrating game

[Duke74]

tbh i've been more frustrated with Drai's lack of finish this year than McDavid's. Other than last season, McDavid has never really been known as a true goal scorer. I can't count how many times this year Drai has not finished off some golden opportunities. And McDavid has made that trick shot off the goalies ears work many times in the past.. so not sure why you're ripping him on that move. The thing with McDavid though... when he has a bad game like last night (which is very rare)... he is still skating a 100 miles an hour and looks like he is trying hard. When Drai is struggling... it's the opposite... his effort level and skating look really poor.

I don't know what's wrong with him this year. Leftover physical issues from the Petrashelo slash? Another lingering injury? Lack of confidence? Past his prime? It is super frustrating to see him missing so many golden opportunities. He should probably have 35 goals easy by now.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Come on
You OF ALL PEOPLE are going to shit on McDavid? This truly might be one of the dumbest post game threads we've had.

I'm not shitting on McD, I'm asking questions about a subpar season like the whole NHL is. Who thought McD at this point in a season would be 20 pts out of pts lead and 5th place? For a next one. I don't recall this happening for Gretz. Not during his prime.

 

[RegDunlop]

And how many players have scored 64 goals in the past 30 years? Do you think it's that easy to get to that again or expect that from McDavid now every season? McDavid had a supernova goal scoring season last year where everything went right. You are comparing this season to a very big outlier, and where McDavid was injured to start this year and also eems to be focusing on his all around game more. Funny how you say Draisaitl is not a natural goal scorer. I haven't seen many non-natural goal scorers have 3 50 goal seasons.

Player of the year in 2012 in Germany with 21 goals in 35 games.
Just went over all Drais stats.
Then 21 again in the W next year in 64 games followed by 38 in 64 year after.
Didn't show much first year in big but still 19 goals in 31 games in PA in W.

Here are his totals yearly up to this year after scoring 19 in his 72 game first full year in the show -
29
25
50
43
31
55
52

I've followed Leon on and off since he was 16 years old. He has ALWAYS been a goal scorer along with his playmaker abilities.
You are absolutely correct

 

[Drivesaitl]

I don't know what's wrong with him this year. Leftover physical issues from the Petrashelo slash? Another lingering injury? Lack of confidence? Past his prime? It is super frustrating to see him missing so many golden opportunities. He should probably have 35 goals easy by now.

Because goal scoring is easy...

Drai is a full body shooter. Form on that can often go awry. Drai if hurt, any part of the mechanics of that full body shot goes off. Just like a tennis serve or golf swing. Anything that involves mechanics of full body and core can go sideways in a hurry and hard to get it back, especially if injured.

Drai is very susceptible to goals drying up. He's a rote set play scorer, not a natural goal scorer. Like I've said its a part of the game he's had to learn hard to excel in. If you look at his NHL body of work so many of his goals come from certain spots, certain set plays. In terms of actual shot he's not a natural.

Neither was Messier. Players with extreme will learn these aspects. Few players will themselves to be goal scorers the way Mess and Drai have. But neither were touted naturals scoring goals.

 

[RegDunlop]

I need a snickers bar or something. Team has been mostly crap since ASG break.

Last night wasn't anything to be pleased with and I'm no NFL fan so nothing to wash the bad taste out.

I'll go outside in sun and get over it.

Ha!

Agree
I have tried so many times to like the NFL but fail.
Still not supposed to do anything yet as recovering from heart surgery but I've been outside cleaning up and enjoying the sun. Like you said - nothing else going on!

Cheers

 

[Heavy Dee]

Did you read my post? You describe Drai as if he's some kind of natural goal scorer. He's not that, and has never been. Drai is not a guy that can fly down the wing and just blow pucks by goalies like an Ovechkin or Lafleur. He was never that player growing up, was never scouted to be that. Drai is a tactical scorer that has accomplished set play scoring tricks. He is not a natural goal scorer.

Its a complete joke that people here on the board expect more from Drai than the best player on Earth. The guy that gets a pass while all criticism lands on Drai.

That Drai HAS had those 50 goals seasons is credit to how hard he's worked to try to perfect his rote plays. He's not even got solid around the net hands. He's awful on breakaways or shootouts. Drai scores 80% on set plays. Thats it.

Again, Drai is on pace for only 11 goals below his total last year.

McD is 30 goals below his last year pace.

That seems to be a huge difference.

McD has also scored more G/G career than Drai has. So I'm not sure your premise is supported.

Dropping from 50-40 goal seasons is not outlier, and it happens to players. Going from 64 goals to 30 the next season is something I've rarely if ever seen.

Matthews went from 60-40. It's not unheard of.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Matthews went from 60-40. It's not unheard of.

But we mock Matthews for that kind of thing. Fair point anyway. But McD is on pace for 33 goals after hitting for 64. Its more extreme fall off.

Ha!

Agree
I have tried so many times to like the NFL but fail.
Still not supposed to do anything yet as recovering from heart surgery but I've been outside cleaning up and enjoying the sun. Like you said - nothing else going on!

Cheers

Sorry for being grumpy. Enjoy the day.

 

[McShogun99]

My hope is that McDavid is just trying to pace himself for playoffs. He isn't challenging dmen the way he usually does and has tries to pass the puck off much sooner than normal.

I don't know if the numbers support it but it also seems like we are seeing much less McDrai this year. McDavid isn't getting those sweet passes in full flight that he gets with Drai. Nuge hasn't offered much.

We expect so much from Mcdavid that even though he's on a 126 point pace he seems off this season.

Kucherov and Mackinnon having career seasons just make it look worse then it is.

 

[RegDunlop]

I forgot to ask this in thread last night. I'm usually late here as I PVR every game then watch an hour later.

Not sure if commented on in live game thread, but surely others heard the idiots whistling many times when Oilers were hitting blue line? I actually thought linesman did whistle play offside a couple of times. Pretty classy from the Will Farrels

 

[tardigrade81]

Flush it and go next. Please put the D pairs back to normal.

Detroit is no easy task. Ugh

 

[brentashton]

Been two years since he's scored a goal and we just keep playing him. For some reason. 60 NHL games without a goal. That would be a disaster stat even for a D except we have Ceci.

We got enough paper weights on this club along with Ryan who with due respect is just past it has little left.

if anything this stint of games is showing management we are not set.

Most orgs would have moved on from him by now either by trade dumping, waiving or at least sitting his arse in the press box and putting someone like Gagner in there for a few looks.

I understood giving him time earlier in the season though I still frustrated me as it went on and on and on , a lot was invested in him. But it’s clear now that the production is not/will not be there.

I'm not understanding the continued roster spot. Some will trot out the tripe that he’s a PK specialist, par non. That’s BS .Its a weak excuse to justify him wasting a spot in the lineup and it doesn’t wash.

I pray he’s part of a trade deadline package just to free up the roster spot.

 

[RegDunlop]

Most orgs would have moved on from him by now either by trade dumping, waiving or at least sitting his arse in the press box and putting someone like Gagner in there for a few looks.

I understood giving him time earlier in the season though I still frustrated me as it went on and on and on , a lot was invested in him. But it’s clear now that the production is not/will not be there.

I'm not understanding the continued roster spot. Some will trot out the tripe that he’s a PK specialist, par non. That’s BS .Its a weak excuse to justify him wasting a spot in the lineup and it doesn’t wash.

I pray he’s part of a trade deadline package just to free up the roster spot.

It is ridiculous.
I'm sure part of it though is that he was supposedly sought after, chose here, blah blah blah McD, and Hollands stupid bonus. Why exactly could he not 'find' his game in Bakersfield before the 10 game mark is beyond me. Easy to see he stunk. This org overthinks the Edmonton not a premier destination at times and interprets it as being satisfied that anyone is willing to come here.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

I forgot to ask this in thread last night. I'm usually late here as I PVR every game then watch an hour later.

Not sure if commented on in live game thread, but surely others heard the idiots whistling many times when Oilers were hitting blue line? I actually thought linesman did whistle play offside a couple of times. Pretty classy from the Will Farrels

It’s common in LA to hear this I’ve noticed. I don’t think it’s whistles per se but the rink mikes picking up something whistle-like? Or maybe it’s just Will Farrell blowing his plastic whistle attached to his toy cowboy hat I don’t know exactly.

 

[RegDunlop]

It’s common in LA to hear this I’ve noticed. I don’t think it’s whistles per se but the rink mikes picking up something whistle-like? Or maybe it’s just Will Farrell blowing his plastic whistle attached to his toy cowboy hat I don’t know exactly.

It was actually one or two whistling at times when a two or three man Oiler rush came to blue line to try to get an offside. I have it on PVR and went over a few. Unreal.

And Will can swallow a damn whistle!

 

[Bryanbryoil]

Perry has been fantastic but I don't think he's a top six forward on a contender. We need to trade for a scoring winger and then Perry can help improve our bottom six.

I think that he can do it in stretches. Asking him to do it game in and game out is probably asking too much of a 38 year old that plays his style of game.

 

[Bryanbryoil]

My hope is that McDavid is just trying to pace himself for playoffs. He isn't challenging dmen the way he usually does and has tries to pass the puck off much sooner than normal.

I don't know if the numbers support it but it also seems like we are seeing much less McDrai this year. McDavid isn't getting those sweet passes in full flight that he gets with Drai. Nuge hasn't offered much.

Something has been clearly off for both him and Draisaitl almost from the word go. I appreciate Connor's defensive efforts, but unless we add more scoring we need (fairly or unfairly) him to play like a 130+ point player if we are going anywhere.

 

[VainGretzky]

It was actually one or two whistling at times when a two or three man Oiler rush came to blue line to try to get an offside. I have it on PVR and went over a few. Unreal.

And Will can swallow a damn whistle!

Ya I heard that as well some fan trying to throw Oilers off entering zone

 

[Bryanbryoil]

Ya I heard that as well some fan trying to throw Oilers off entering zone

These days you don't even need to blow into the whistle, you can just get an electronic one and hide it.

 

[jesusbuiltmyhotrod]

Sure, but this didn't have a lot to do with things. The Oilers were getting worked off pucks around the rink. Its debatable that the D were better in this game than the forwards were and Nurse particularly made multiple plays to save goals.

We had McD being a giveaway machine on the topline. Skating right into checks, even doing it on the PP. We had Nuge giving puck away constantly just getting beat off it. So many pucks coming back and thats the forwards fault. We had one good line last night and 3 bad ones. Thats how we lost. Kings forward group was much better than ours. That can't happen.

Is it concerning to anybody else that McD's most dangerous chance of the night was his trickshot trying to bounce it in off the goalies ears....

Really McD? All that perimeter skating and ragging the puck and thats the best chance you had?. What happened to McD's inside moves, turning D out, faking at speed and getting clear to net. Its not happening a lot.

How does the best player in the world go from 64 goal season to 21, and on pace for only HALF the goals he scored just last season?

Drai is down too but on pace Drai is 12 goals down from last season. McD is on pace for 30 goals down.

This isn't something I would bring up over short sample, or during a bad spell. This is McD suddenly not being able to score much after lighting the lamp constantly last season. Doesn't seem anything wrong with him either. Flying all over the rink, the jets are there.

Here I are again. If Anyobe said this about drai your bat signal would go off and you would post 10 posts about it. Yes he is not scoring or shooting seems to be a team wide issue this season.

Did you read my post? You describe Drai as if he's some kind of natural goal scorer. He's not that, and has never been. Drai is not a guy that can fly down the wing and just blow pucks by goalies like an Ovechkin or Lafleur. He was never that player growing up, was never scouted to be that. Drai is a tactical scorer that has accomplished set play scoring tricks. He is not a natural goal scorer.

Its a complete joke that people here on the board expect more from Drai than the best player on Earth. The guy that gets a pass while all criticism lands on Drai.

That Drai HAS had those 50 goals seasons is credit to how hard he's worked to try to perfect his rote plays. He's not even got solid around the net hands. He's awful on breakaways or shootouts. Drai scores 80% on set plays. Thats it.

Again, Drai is on pace for only 11 goals below his total last year.

McD is 30 goals below his last year pace.

That seems to be a huge difference.

McD has also scored more G/G career than Drai has. So I'm not sure your premise is supported.

Dropping from 50-40 goal seasons is not outlier, and it happens to players. Going from 64 goals to 30 the next season is something I've rarely if ever seen.

Lmao say something about drai and you lose it, thanks for proving my point you are massively biased. Yet you shit on 97 who has carried this franchise

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Re-watching the highlights, I feel like the Desharnais penalty in the 1st is a prime example of why you need a good skater with Nurse.

Nurse is going to be aggressive, and that's fine, that's his game; But that means he's his partner is often going to be responsible for a lot of open ice. A guy like Ekholm is going to be stressed covering that, let alone talents like Ceci or Vinny. It just magnifies their lack of skating far too much.

I feel like Kulak or even Broberg are the only guys within the organisation that will look comfortable there.

 

[Took a pill in Sbisa]

I’ve not watched a game for several weeks now but listening to Stauffer and Rishaugs pod and a few others it seems the team is in need of a bit of a reset as the offence has dried up a bit. Got a tough road trip coming up to Dallas & StL where we always struggle.

Just one of those games where things were out of sync. Players making uncharacteristic plays and nothing really working. LA played hard and a very good game. It's OK to lose to good teams throughout the year, this is one of those losses.

I'm not going to overreact with knee jerk proclamations. The only feedback I have is that the honeymoon phase is over for me and Holloway and 3 points in 20 games is not good enough for any forward anywhere in the lineup regardless of experience. He's got to start contributing offensively if he's going to be a fixture in the top-9.

 

[Dorian2]

Geez. I just came by to see what people thought of the game. I think the Oil have to figure out that defensive posture that both LA and Vegas showed. I know it's a pretty basic hockey idea, but they need a way around the clogging o up the middle.

*My hockey thought of the day*

 

[K1984]

Nuge has been “meh” this year for sure. It’s tough to watch.

That line was good for awhile but he’s been dragging it down. Time to put McLeod or Holloway up there for a few games to give nuge a kick in the ass.

The real kicker is that nuges dumb penalty is the reason we got down by one and we had nothing after that…

A week ago I would have been begging to flip Nuge and Kane to give each of those guys a different look to get out of their funks. However, right at the moment the top line starts to play like absolute ass, Kane starts to come alive on the second line. So now you don't want to mess with it again.

Nuge has to get the pace back in his game. He's been incredibly deferential and isn't going to the middle of the ice at all. On the power play game winner against the Ducks he was finally playing an assertive style, cutting hard to the middle of the ice, not delaying, making plays quickly. I had almost forgotten what that looked like. Tonight he was right back to holding the puck on the high wall and softly turning it over.

 

[K1984]

Just one of those games where things were out of sync. Players making uncharacteristic plays and nothing really working. LA played hard and a very good game. It's OK to lose to good teams throughout the year, this is one of those losses.

I'm not going to overreact with knee jerk proclamations. The only feedback I have is that the honeymoon phase is over for me and Holloway and 3 points in 20 games is not good enough for any forward anywhere in the lineup regardless of experience. He's got to start contributing offensively if he's going to be a fixture in the top-9.

I like Holloway in concept, but I haven't at any point been able to understand a lot of people's insistence he be in the top 6. He's scoring at Brown and Janmark rates, two guys that everyone is trying to chase out of the lineup.

 

[jesusbuiltmyhotrod]

He is on pace for his 3rd best year statistically and his best plus-minus year

Not to mention his defense has gotten to another level this year, he is a drai fanboy and biased.