I put this in a different thread but will put it here as well.
Jets had a combined 7 tips or deflections in the series and bagged 2 goals from it. Not insignificant. They got fantastic return, and 2 goals just from this parameter in what were tight games decided by one goal.
The Oilers conversely had 15 tips or deflections on shots on goal and Hellbuck came up with 14 of those, letting only one in, despite not seeing several of the pucks.
Next, Jets suddenly became shot blocking legends. They blocked at a higher rate than ANY club in the playoffs achieving 101blcks in only 4 games. This is 25 a game. In playoffs. The Oilers conversely made an average 69 shot blocks.
Oilers directed 178 shots, and the Jets only 125 in 5 on 5 play. A significant disparity, amounting to the Oilers generating 14 more shots per game than the Jets. Despite all this we get swept.
A few more teasers. Schiefele drew 2 calls in this series, McD zero, Drai one, (but Drai was also called for a slash of the variety that he took 10 times in the series)
Total calls were 11 penalties to Jets, 10 to the Oilers, so a classic "even up" scenario despite McD being a speed break player that breaks constantly, is hauled down constantly, or held, impeded, interfered. Picture as well an instance of Drai beating two Jets defenders, winning the puck despite being held, who then held his stick for 5 secs. No call. It typified the series. Gaetan Haas got penalized twice in the series on ghost infractions. he hardly played. It was textbook "lets call a penalty on this guy" Larsson got called for a solid D play, just rubbing out a Jet, that happens 100X a playoff game. Yama got called for simply grinding Ehlers to the boards, and was dumbstruck that it was a penalty call. His reaction was classic. "you're f***ing kidding me"
At what point will there start to be third party review of NHL officating and game management? The Oilers at this point should be paying for analytical studies of discrepancy in calls.
Heres something interesting. were it not for Yama (drew 4 calls) the Oilers would only have had 7 PP"s in the entire series with the top line only bagging one call the whole series. I mean its absolutely amazing considering how much the top line attacks and challenges. But it suggests that the NHL is also seduced by antecedent. Yama is more likely than Leon or Connor to fall down during an infraction (sheer physics) the bigger players are stronger on their feet. I mean I don't want Leon or Connor to start milking calls but once in awhile. Schiefele milked both of the penalties he drew. Ehlers another.
Interestingly Stanley got away with a highstick to Archibald (in the face) that elicited the meltdown. No call. of course..