Pre-Game Talk: Decisions decision decisions

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

Skinner or Picard (or Campbell???)
Split McDrai up or keep the nuclear option?
Carrick or Ryan?
Henrique ok to play or not?
Foegele or Gagner or Brown?
Ceci or Stetcher?
Kane or Hyman on the top line?

Here are my answers even though it might look like panic moves but we have only 5 players going right now - the top pair and the top line.

Picard- can’t trust Stu anymore
Split up McDrai - can’t win with one line
Carrick
Hope Henrique is good to go
Gagner
Stetcher
Hyman

RNH McDavid Hyman
Kane Draisaitl Holloway
Henrique McLoed Perry
Janmark Carrick Gagner

Ekholm Bouchard
Nurse Stetcher
Kulak VD

Picard
Campbell

Skinner gets the press box to refocus.

Click to read more...

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Im sure one of the deck chairs will score eventually.

 

[Zerotonine]

Sounds like from Knobs post game presser Skinner might be sitting on the bench for game 4 or maybe press box

 

[Oilhawks]

Skinner or Picard (or Campbell???)
Split McDrai up or keep the nuclear option?
Carrick or Ryan?
Henrique ok to play or not?
Foegele or Gagner or Brown?
Ceci or Stetcher?
Kane or Hyman on the top line?

Here are my answers even though it might look like panic moves but we have only 5 players going right now - the top pair and the top line.

Picard- can’t trust Stu anymore
Split up McDrai - can’t win with one line
Carrick
Hope Henrique is good to go
Gagner
Stetcher
Hyman

RNH McDavid Hyman
Kane Draisaitl Holloway
Henrique McLoed Perry
Janmark Carrick Gagner

Ekholm Bouchard
Nurse Stetcher
Kulak VD

Picard
Campbell

Skinner gets the press box to refocus.

They absolutely need to start Pickard at minimum so they don’t start the game a bad goal or two against down unlike with Sewer-t Skinjob in net

I’d make the other changes as well but I doubt they all happen. Maybe one or two of them

 

[Ibanez]

I’m just mentally preparing for the worst and hoping for the best

Pickard has to be in. If Knob doesn’t he can go to Woodcroft island

I would split up Mcdrai. We need to get two lines that can score. I also wonder if you put Kane up with McDavid and Hyman. Let Kane maybe get some fire going after what happened to McD. He can patrol the ice.

Was Vinny hurt? He barely played the 3rd.

Also not sure how you keep Perry in. He literally does nothing…

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

Go with this line up.


Draisaitl - McDavid - Hyman
Kane - Nuge - Gagner
Holloway - McLeod - Perry
Janmark - Ryan - Brown

Ekholm - Bouchard
Kulak - Desharnais
Broberg - Nurse

Pickard

Unless Henrique can go, he can be slotted in for Gagner.

 

[CycloneSweep]

Go with this line up.


Draisaitl - McDavid - Hyman
Kane - Nuge - Gagner
Holloway - McLeod - Perry
Janmark - Ryan - Brown

Ekholm - Bouchard
Kulak - Desharnais
Broberg - Nurse

Pickard

Unless Henrique can go, he can be slotted in for Gagner.

A one line team doesn't work. If Henrique is healthy...

Holloway - McDavid - Hyman
McLeod - Draisaitl - Kane
Henrique - Nuge - Foegele
Janmark - Gagner - Brown

 

[ThePhoenixx]

Button's take.

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/this-needs-to-be-a-suspension-button-on-soucys-cross-check-on-mc~2920504

 

[elmeroil]

If Pickard has the net and Skinner is on the bench, I'm more confident than ever being down 2-1. Down 2-1 is not a big deal honestly, also terrible luck last night so many posts and lucky plays. Oilers play with some fire tomorrow, playoffs aren't easy but Pickard in net should be refreshing for the boys!

 

[Perfect_Drug]

Skinner lost the net.
He had his chance and blew it.
It's a simple as that.


I would start Jack Campbell before giving Skinner another start.

 

[OilersaretheMcBest]

Jack hasn't played in a couple weeks, It's gotta be Pickard. Let Jack back it up honestly, keep Skinner away

 

[oil Leaks]

A one line team doesn't work. If Henrique is healthy...

Holloway - McDavid - Hyman
McLeod - Draisaitl - Kane
Henrique - Nuge - Foegele
Janmark - Gagner - Brown

If Henrique and Draisaitl is healthy. I would flip Foegele and Brown. The less icetime for Foegele, the better.

 

[NegativeNelly]

Skinner burned up all of his chances. Go with Pickard as the starter and Campbell as the backup. Skinner to the press box and learn "how to be better".

 

[Shanahanigans]

Pickard needs to start but if this organization had any ambition to win, Stecher would also get a look over Ceci. Knob seems to have one of the traits I can’t stand in coaches, which is coaching not to lose instead of to win.

 

[GMofOilers]

The best thing that could happen is announce an injury to Skinner.

 

[TopShelfGloveSide]

The best thing that could happen is announce an injury to Skinner.

LB getting hurt won Vegas a cup. Hopefully the Oilers are smart enough to try a new goalie approach without an injury.

 

[Despote]

Same things sinking this team that sunk them in the last two post seasons. Holland...

 

[TopShelfGloveSide]

If the Oilers don’t come out like a bunch of lions with rabies after their captain got abused like that it will say a lot.

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

Skinner's cooked. Knoblauch is a bad poker player and I think his post game presser waffling suggests he's moved on to Pickard for game 4. Team has a low bar asking for only average goaltending. Pickard resets the biggest weakness that has been exploited.

I'd move Nugent Hopkins back to Line 1 and reunite the most dominant line in the regular season. Give McDavid back his distributor guy that can help open ice for him. Draisaitl needs to drive Line 2 with Holloway injected to add speed, heavy forecheck game and with Kane. Can still find time, if needed for McDavid Draisaitl Stack Line in game but there's zero support scoring when this team runs its five best players as a unit.

Carrick in at 4C and Ryan shifted to wing where he can still help with his smart play but have a bigger body taking the centre ice responsibilities. Brown out and Gagner in for an energy boost and greater willingness to play in hard areas. Think Stetcher's capabilities are being overrated. Sounds like Henrique injury has him too compromised.

Nugent Hopkins - McDavid - Draisaitl
Holloway - Draisaitl - Kane
Janmark - McLeod - Gagner
Foegele - Carrick - Ryan

 

[nabob]

If Soucey isn’t suspended I would have no issue at all with someone running Hughes from behind or sticking out a knee. If the league won’t send the message that plays like that aren’t acceptable then the team needs to. Sadly I think they’ll come out passive and game 4 will be a low emotion game like has happened in previous years.

 

[scotchtapejr]

Waiting for Stuart Skinner interview this morning just to see how this freaking clown reacted to his own play. Hope Spector breaks him.

 

[Perfect_Drug]

Skinner's cooked. Knoblauch is a bad poker player and I think his post game presser waffling suggests he's moved on to Pickard for game 4. Team has a low bar asking for only average goaltending. Pickard resets the biggest weakness that has been exploited.

I'd move Nugent Hopkins back to Line 1 and reunite the most dominant line in the regular season. Give McDavid back his distributor guy that can help open ice for him. Draisaitl needs to drive Line 2 with Holloway injected to add speed, heavy forecheck game and with Kane. Can still find time, if needed for McDavid Draisaitl Stack Line in game but there's zero support scoring when this team runs its five best players as a unit.

Carrick in at 4C and Ryan shifted to wing where he can still help with his smart play but have a bigger body taking the centre ice responsibilities. Brown out and Gagner in for an energy boost and greater willingness to play in hard areas. Think Stetcher's capabilities are being overrated. Sounds like Henrique injury has him too compromised.

Nugent Hopkins - McDavid - Draisaitl
Holloway - Draisaitl - Kane
Janmark - McLeod - Gagner
Foegele - Carrick - Ryan

Don't know if we can move away from the Nuclear option just yet, until we see how Pickard holds up.


Hoping he doesn't blow 3-goal leads, or let in 4 goals on 16 shots.

 

[3IR]

I don’t even care which goalie starts at this point. The career backup/AHLer who’s only playoff game was the other night when skinner was pulled, or the guy who’s only consistency in the playoffs so far in his career is that he’s always the second best goalie on the ice.

maybe just go 3F 3D all night. We might be able to shelter Ceci and Nurse that way.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

A one line team doesn't work. If Henrique is healthy...

Holloway - McDavid - Hyman
McLeod - Draisaitl - Kane
Henrique - Nuge - Foegele
Janmark - Gagner - Brown

This doesn't work if Leon's not healthy enough to run his own line.

 

[backhandsauce]

Pickard is going to be our Roloson.

It's his net now and he will run with it.