Pre-Game Talk: Let's Pageau For It

[oilcountry17]

Didn’t even realize Koskinen has started more games than Smith this year. How has he been in net?

Koskinen has started less games but played more as he has came in relief of Smith twice. Koski should be starting more but tippet knows best...

 

[tardigrade81]

Koskinen has started less games but played more as he has came in relief of Smith twice. Koski should be starting more but tippet knows best...

Weird. Well hopefully he starts more from here on out.

 

[McDraekke]

Weird. Well hopefully he starts more from here on out.

Tippett stated at the start of the season that he was going to go Smith 2 game, Koskinen 2 games and has only veered off that course for back-to-back games thus far. The concern is the belief that Koskinen struggled in the second half last year because we played him too much, which he hasn’t been used to yet. Way I see it, if we have to endure a streaky/inconsistent Smith who usually gives you one decent-to-good game and one dicey-to-bad game, in order to keep Koskinen from getting exhausted, I’m ok with that, since he seems to give us good-to great games consistently. Once Kosko, goalie coach, and Tipp are comfortable with him taking on more of the load, then hopefully they move to a Kosko 3 games, Smith 1 game (with exceptions for back-to-back games, or a slide from Kosko).

I do worry about Smith being backup and not playing consistently, since I think he tends to play better in his second of two games, and I attribute that to his personality of wanting to be involved as much as possible (which is how he plays). Even a 3-2 split could see benefits of having more Kosko, but not limiting Smith to only the odd cold start.

 

[McBeastMode]

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

Makes sense, I assume this means that Nuge is going to out for an indeterminate amount of time.

 

[tardigrade81]

Tippett stated at the start of the season that he was going to go Smith 2 game, Koskinen 2 games and has only veered off that course for back-to-back games thus far. The concern is the belief that Koskinen struggled in the second half last year because we played him too much, which he hasn’t been used to yet. Way I see it, if we have to endure a streaky/inconsistent Smith who usually gives you one decent-to-good game and one dicey-to-bad game, in order to keep Koskinen from getting exhausted, I’m ok with that, since he seems to give us good-to great games consistently. Once Kosko, goalie coach, and Tipp are comfortable with him taking on more of the load, then hopefully they move to a Kosko 3 games, Smith 1 game (with exceptions for back-to-back games, or a slide from Kosko).

I do worry about Smith being backup and not playing consistently, since I think he tends to play better in his second of two games, and I attribute that to his personality of wanting to be involved as much as possible (which is how he plays). Even a 3-2 split could see benefits of having more Kosko, but not limiting Smith to only the odd cold start.

Well said. It’s also hard not to give smith time after his playoff run last year. Was only 5 games but he was extremely solid. In fact he was the only reason flames had chance in most of those games. He is capable of having fantastic games but as you mentioned he is inconsistent. Maybe he would do better as a backup ? Some goalies shine in that role. Look at Halak in Boston. He looks like an all star right now. But when he is the lone starter it’s a different story.

 

[Mez]

View attachment 286399

 

[justafan22]

 

[McClelland]

Koskinen has started less games but played more as he has came in relief of Smith twice. Koski should be starting more but tippet knows best...

Tippets seems like a likeable guy! But every coach favorites some players in the their team. Tippet has a old relation to Smith since his Arizona years and has in my view given Smith way to many chances to get his down spiral career on track.

Dont buy that talk , that Koski doesnt is fit to play more, thats only a coach way to defend his decisions to let Smith starts 50-50 or even more then Koski.

Every one saw it and the stats confirms it, that Koski is way better and need 70-30 starts atleast.

I dont want to give away points early on when we all know its get way harder after deadline to win games,when teams gearing up and many teams fighting for a playoff spot.

Tippet let friendship come in the way, luckily he doesnt take this experiment any further, it seems!

Need to win against a btb playing bottom feeder, shouldnt even be a close one!

 

[BoldNewLettuce]

Tippets seems like a likeable guy! But every coach favorites some players in the their team. Tippet has a old relation to Smith since his Arizona years and has in my view given Smith way to many chances to get his down spiral career on track.

Dont buy that talk , that Koski doesnt is fit to play more, thats only a coach way to defend his decisions to let Smith starts 50-50 or even more then Koski.

Every one saw it and the stats confirms it, that Koski is way better and need 70-30 starts atleast.

I dont want to give away points early on when we all know its get way harder after deadline to win games,when teams gearing up and many teams fighting for a playoff spot.

Tippet let friendship come in the way, luckily he doesnt take this experiment any further, it seems!

Need to win against a btb playing bottom feeder, shouldnt even be a close one!

"I treat all my players with respect.....but players play hockey....and right now you're not a player.....you're a piece of shit"

-me as Dave Tippett

 

[94 Oil Drops]

Pageau, somehow, is +18 (second best in the league). The next best Senator is +5.

That's an incrediblely wierd statistic.

The Sens are very much beatable but the Oil can't take look at this game as a free 2 points.

 

[ElysiumAB]

"I treat all my players with respect.....but players play hockey....and right now you're not a player.....you're a piece of ****"

-me as Dave Tippett

I'm going to Tweet about this in 12 years you sonofabitch!

 

[MessierII]

Tippet has a old relation to Smith since his Arizona years and has in my view given Smith way to many chances to get his down spiral career on track.

They actually go all the way back to Dallas. Tippett had Smith his rookie season.

 

[BoldNewLettuce]

I'm going to Tweet about this in 12 years you sonofabitch!

douchey internet personas are only 2-3 years from being persecuted. tops.

at which point i will just admit.

yes. i enjoy being a douche sometimes. i try to make it pretty ambiguous so as not to end up punching people in the face.

caveat that im a thirty something nobody that doesnt get paid to deal with the fallback from this celebrity-social media incestuous f***fest.

caveat #2....i generally agree with normal principles aka human rights. (caveat #3 the word generally does not imply inherit racism or homophobia but may disregard the rights of Toronto media, douchebag celebrities and douchebag internet personas)

 

[brentashton]

Farming likes with some pregame vids boys!

Made me laugh while watching these back to back, in both videos there's an injury question and Tippett goes over the injuries and then says, "Who else?..."

"Benning."

LOL, I’ll consult with you after, Jimmy! (Followed by a shit eating grin).
Gold, Jerry, Gold I say
Love the whole Tip!

 

[ElysiumAB]

*****ey internet personas are only 2-3 years from being persecuted. tops.

at which point i will just admit.

yes. i enjoy being a *****e sometimes. i try to make it pretty ambiguous so as not to end up punching people in the face.

caveat that im a thirty something nobody that doesnt get paid to deal with the fallback from this celebrity-social media incestuous ****fest.

caveat #2....i generally agree with normal principles aka human rights. (caveat #3 the word generally does not imply inherit racism or homophobia but may disregard the rights of Toronto media, *****ebag celebrities and *****ebag internet personas)

The only word you capitalized was Toronto.

 

[McClelland]

They actually go all the way back to Dallas. Tippett had Smith his rookie season.

Wasnt aware of that! Even more understandable that he wanted to give Smith every chance to get his career on track!

We cant know exactly how many points we wasted playing Smith way to much, he also stole us 1 or 2 games!

Seems Tippet arent dragging this 50-50 split any further and gives unofficially the first spade to Koski.

How much Koski should play is entire up how much he feels he can play without getting worn out, a dialog between him and the coaches. He perhaps arent Talbot and wants to play 82 games, but 7 of 10 games depending on the schedule is the minimum for me!

I think the whole team will be relieved having Koski as a clear no 1 , they play alot more confident with Koski in the net, its not like day and night but even people with little experience of icehockey can see it!

 

[OfCorsiDid]

...so we’re f***ed.

 

[Delicious Pancakes]

After tonight's game, the next 9 Oilers games start at 7pm or earlier. Thank f***ing God.

Edit: Also, Between Christmas and the All-Star break they only have 1 game that starts after 7pm - An 8pm Saturday start against the Phlegms.

 

[Delicious Pancakes]

...so we’re ****ed.

Not necessarily. It just means the Oilers will probably have to score on the 1 or 2 powerplays they do get and will have to allow 1 or fewer goals on the 5+ powerplays that Ottawa gets.

 

[TheUltimateOiler]

...so we’re ****ed.

Nooooo

 

[justafan22]

?!

 

[ZJuice]

This is the game we beat Anderson and/or that Voldemort fellow in the vert. stripes

 

[iCanada]

...so we’re ****ed.

I hope we boo him. Chant his name.

 

[Mav3rick07]

7:30 PM start because the Leafs game doesn’t end until 7:30 and as we all know the entire world revolves around Toronto.