Post-Game Talk: Resilience.

[Thomas Tatar]

Knoblauch does act at times like a sophisticated coaching robot sent back through time, to change the future for one lucky team.

Who would have thought autocorrect would chose abiotic over about!?

 

[Duke74]

Nah, its OK. Drai is playing the same role on Oilers as PLD is on Kings. Carrying two bottomsix players. He does it of course impecabbly well and was setting guys up all night. I don't know what all the negativity was on him, I guess the penalty. Drai had another good game. Board had another night of ripping him.

Drai doing what he does and being capable of it allows the team to super load up the top unit.

Other than his tying goal, which, of course, was a tap-in from a brilliant McDavid feed, he took two penalties, one of which resulted in a GA, took a minus on LA's only ES goal, made that lame SO attempt, and missed other glorious chances. I'm one of his biggest fans and there are many times when criticism is undeserved, and hell, I've even defended him on many occassions, but I think he deserved ripping in this game.

I'm not sure what's up with him this year, but one silver lining is that his play is driving down the cost of his next contract. Assuming we want to re-sign him in the first place.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Other than his tying goal, which, of course, was a tap-in from a brilliant McDavid feed, he took two penalties, one of which resulted in a GA, took a minus on LA's only ES goal, made that lame SO attempt, and missed other glorious chances. I'm one of his biggest fans and there are many times when criticism is undeserved, and hell, I've even defended him on many occassions, but I think he deserved ripping in this game.

I'm not sure what's up with him this year, but one silver lining is that his play is driving down the cost of his next contract. Assuming we want to re-sign him in the first place.

The penalties were bogus. Especially the 2nd where its just two players having a tustle. Its ridiculous in a situation where two players are going at each other to send the star player in the box, and leave the instigator standing there. Only the NHL as a league would figure that makes any sense. At worst that should be matching penalties there.

That EV goal had NOTHING to do with Drai. Foegele lost the puck behind the net, we had possession, Foegele lost it, the line was caught up and Nurse once again figures he's going to pick that moment to pinch instead of cover back, because, you know, he's a D. The opening was caused by Nurse not doing his job. Drai was exactly in type of location he should be with puck possession in own zone. He's there to get a cycle and to be strong on boards.

Drai also made several setups to McLeod and Foegele that were botched. In one sequence he setup both of them. Neither even got a shot on net.

The Drai goal was the kind of anticipation that McDrai have. Drai cloaked into scoring area at just right time and McD found him. Finished with authority. That isn't a tap in either. Players on both teams were botching that kind of scoring chance much of the night. With Drai the finish was clinical, and against a reasonably good goalie that will make the stop if you give him any chance to.

Who would have thought autocorrect would chose abiotic over about!?

I was trying detect clever double entendre or something there and was pulling up ??? heh

It is hilarious, and annoying how much the autocorrect corrects into something completely stupid that you didn't state.

 

[SupremeTeam16]

The first goal was bar down. The second goal went in off the post.
When shots are that accurate you gotta just give it to the shooter.

The first goal went from behind the net to the top shelf in a second. That puck is in the net 99% of the time no matter who’s in net.

The second one is a perfectly placed rocket from a sharpshooter. Skinner didn’t give him much to shoot at but Kempe didn’t need much. With a shooter like Kempe who’s got a very hard and accurate shot with a quick release and he’s a left shot on his off wing that gives him a great shooting angle. As we saw he didn’t need much net to bury it but as a goalie if you try and take that little bit of space on the short side then a shooter like Kempe is gonna go low blocker off the post and in.

 

[Drivesaitl]

I think KK's worst mistake so far has to be going with Mc-Drai-Bouch as an OT group two games in a row. Nurse fits so much better there with his speed 3 on 3.

Not sure I agree here. No knock on Nurse, and the speed dimension and rush ability adds something. But Booch is allstar impeccable with the puck on 3 on3. He's a beauty to watch in that. Putting Booch out with McDrai in 3 on 3 is like Allstar hockey porn to me. There, I said it.

 

[bellagiobob]

I think KK's worst mistake so far has to be going with Mc-Drai-Bouch as an OT group two games in a row. Nurse fits so much better there with his speed 3 on 3.

KK’s first OT coaching game he had two D and one of McDrai on the ice to start, with the logic being that if we lose the draw, then we waste a lot of time chasing the puck with our two best players on the ice, and if we win the draw, we make a quick line change. I would go back to that format.

 

[Drivesaitl]

The first goal went from behind the net to the top shelf in a second. That puck is in the net 99% of the time no matter who’s in net.

The second one is a perfectly placed rocket from a sharpshooter. Skinner didn’t give him much to shoot at but Kempe didn’t need much. With a shooter like Kempe who’s got a very hard and accurate shot with a quick release and he’s a left shot on his off wing that gives him a great shooting angle. As we saw he didn’t need much net to bury it but as a goalie if you try and take that little bit of space on the short side then a shooter like Kempe is gonna go low blocker off the post and in.

A shooter like Kempe has had trouble scoring this year and its been fall back from his last couple years. Prior to last night he'd only lit the lamp 11 times while being fed constantly. He was tracking to his lowest goal scoring total in years, like 26 goals..

People evaluate goaltending incompletely. Its like so much attention is JUST on the goals allowed. I look at it much differently. Its how many landmines is the goalie stepping on in a game. How many did he just get lucky on? To wit:

The Lewis chance wasn't a save. Lewis hit the outside of post starting at an empty net, with skinner down and out, and with time.

Skinner once again allowed a puck behind net to squirt right by him to front side of net, and its amazing Byfield didn't punish that. The Oilers cleared puck from harm before danger was spotted. It was a blooper.

2 other times in game Defenders cleared a dangerous rebound that was just splayed around as Skinner does. In first period alone Skinner dropped 6 pucks. That is so bad its worthy of constant concern.

Nuge saved Skinner bigtime in OT. I've yet to see anybody mention why or how Skinner got so far from net on the play where he didn't even give himself a chance to make a save on a standard wrap around.


Heres the big picture deal. We won the battle but we lose the war with Skinner in net. He got lucky this time. Other times thats 2GA plus 2 ridiculous blooper GA and its happened several times this season. The trouble is the misplays just keep happening. In volume. One of my biggest concerns with the club is that they convince themselves they don't need to go hard for a stopper at TDL. Skinner can do enough to get us to there, but we need a goalie.

 

[snag]

Speaking of resilience....it's funny how the Mains have forgotten the Oilers lol

 

[Lacaar]

Nice to see them go into the break and come out of it focused.

Usually December and the games leading up to and after Christmas doesn't bring the best out of this team. They were looking to slide, stopped, and run back up the slide haha.

This is a good hockey team that could be down right scary but there's always a few players dealing with shit.

I'm still of the opinion Draisitl is struggling with something. And only because I have such high regard for his play when he's on. His 5 on 5 game has picked up but it's been awful for the most part this year imo. He's a ppg player that's been a defensive liability 5 on 5. That's not the guy I know is all I have to say.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Speaking of resilience....it's funny how the Mains have forgotten the Oilers lol

Its a quiet pleasure. Looks like Leafs and other clubs in that crossfire now. With the Oilers its back to "oh no"

With the Oilers its back to McD calculating scoring a goal from a non goal behind goal line spot and opponents and fans going "oh shit he did even that again" Worse, he did it twice just got unlucky the first one. That one goal broke the Kings spirit. Because they've seen Mcdrai take over the games so so many times.

 

[Frank the Tank]

Speaking of resilience....it's funny how the Mains have forgotten the Oilers lol

Didn't they close the Cup or Bust main board thread when the Oilers went on their 8 game winning streak?

It was perfectly fine for everyone to rag on the Oilers when they were struggling.

 

[Drivesaitl]

I think this has been one of his toughest seasons. He just doesn’t look/play at the level we are accustomed. He really needs some better linemates though. He needs better support. Hopefully Jackson can throw him a bone at the deadline.

Holloway is a possible option. Gagner another, Lavoie intriguing in his strong on puck hold situations. Strikes me that Lavoie could do enough to work some give and go's with Drai and he's got a shot. Trouble with Lavoie is skating and how much could he get open or find open spots. Its why its critical to have a pace guy like McLeod that stretches to pucks and wins races on dumps and stuff. The answer is to rotate players in with Drai. As good as Foegele looks some nights he's not ideal because he's so unpredictable. Foegele got stripped behind net on possession, resulted in the GA as Nurse also f***ed up.

Any look at what Drai is or isn't doing this year has to feature that we're loading first line and so that he isn't getting the allstar help, and that the Oilers are 30th place in PP toi this season so he isn't getting that help either.

Its invariable that Drais production is slightly down this season, how could it not be with the lines we've gone with.

 

[Tobias Kahun]

Didn't they close the Cup or Bust main board thread when the Oilers went on their 8 game winning streak?

It was perfectly fine for everyone to rag on the Oilers when they were struggling.

Yup.

And you can’t call out any of the Canucks trolls.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Didn't they close the Cup or Bust main board thread when the Oilers went on their 8 game winning streak?

It was perfectly fine for everyone to rag on the Oilers when they were struggling.

I just find it funny. Jealousy can be like that. The teams with generational players will always be hated. I take that as unintended compliment. The teams that are hated are respected foes. The teams that people worry about.

The funny thing is the Oilers franchise even 10yrs ago was still being hated due to the 5 cups generational club. Again envy. If you draw deeper how much of that is coming from Leafs, Nucks, Flames fans etc?

 

[YakDavid]

Didn't post this last night, but I thought Brown had a great game yesterday. I've been just as disappointed as anyone that he hasn't worked out, but he was a force on the forecheck last night. If he can keep playing that way night in and out, he'll definitely find a way to contribute night in and out even if the points aren't coming his way.

He plays like that the points will come. I like to think what we saw last night was closer to what we were expecting. Frankly if he gets up to speed and is more consistent to what we saw last night he is worth it.

 

[guymez]

The first goal went from behind the net to the top shelf in a second. That puck is in the net 99% of the time no matter who’s in net.

The second one is a perfectly placed rocket from a sharpshooter. Skinner didn’t give him much to shoot at but Kempe didn’t need much. With a shooter like Kempe who’s got a very hard and accurate shot with a quick release and he’s a left shot on his off wing that gives him a great shooting angle. As we saw he didn’t need much net to bury it but as a goalie if you try and take that little bit of space on the short side then a shooter like Kempe is gonna go low blocker off the post and in.

I agree.
Objectivity on a players performance is a rarity on here...appreciate the input.

 

[SupremeTeam16]

I agree.
Objectivity on a players performance is a rarity on here...appreciate the input.

Yeah once people have formed their opinion on a player they tend to focus on fault while ignoring or explaining the good away because it runs counter to their argument. You can look at even the best players/goalies and find plenty of mistakes if that’s all you’re looking for.

Skinner was good last night and the only reason they had the opportunity to come back and get that win. He’s been good the last 15 games as the team has improved defensively in front of him.

 

[GOilers88]

Nobody on the internet brings me more joy than this man

View attachment 793171

Imagine hating a team more than you enjoy your own team.

People are strange.

 

[GOilers88]

When Ryan tells a story like this, they better be damn well listening.

I needed a new heel for my shoe, so I decided to go to Morganville which is what they called Shelbyville in those days. So, I tied an onion to my belt which was the style at the time. Now, to take the ferry cost a nickel. And in those days, nickels had pictures of bumblebees on ‘em. ‘Give me five bees for a quarter,’ you’d say.

"I forgot to mention my story takes place in Nineteen dickety two. We had to say dickety because that Kaiser had stolen our word twenty. I chased that rascal to get it back but gave up after dickety six miles."

 

[guymez]

Yeah once people have formed their opinion on a player they tend to focus on fault while ignoring or explaining the good away because it runs counter to their argument. You can look at even the best players/goalies and find plenty of mistakes if that’s all you’re looking for.

Skinner was good last night and the only reason they had the opportunity to come back and get that win. He’s been good the last 15 games as the team has improved defensively in front of him.

100% and I especially agree with the bolded.

 

[bellagiobob]

 

[snag]

Nobody on the internet brings me more joy than this man

View attachment 793171

Imagine hating a team more than you enjoy your own team.

People are strange.

That guy is one of the main reasons I go to CP lol

For some reason immature meltdowns are very amusing to me.

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

Reasoned post game by Coach McLellan for those inclined:

 

[Coffey]

Imagine hating a team more than you enjoy your own team.

People are strange.

Low IQ Red Deer things.

 

[guymez]

Reasoned post game by Coach McLellan for those inclined:

Always enjoyed listening to Todd. Good coach.

I think that the largest part of his failing here was that the roster he was given was just not the type of roster that can play his system effectively. LA has a big grinding roster and they play his system very well making them a very hard team to beat.

Part of me would really enjoy another playoff series against the Kings but on the other hand that series would be such a tough grind that I think this team would be better served (in terms of playoff longevity) not having to endure that.