I'm just picturing the last 5 years with Myers missing the net countless times and having the puck bounce back the other way.
Unfortunately the numbers show he has been the best defenceman over that period of time as well. AND Hughes has 5 times the number of shots wide.
Wait so that means we can shoot it as long as McD is not on the ice?
I was thinking the same thing.
Is McD in Tocchet's head?
One way to just maybe help the PP is to have Hughes dog him. McD doesn't use his speed so much as agility on the PP and Hughes should be able to dog him as long as Hughes doesn't try to check him, just stay close and don't try to escape with the puck. Once McD starts circling the zone the defensive players just about all stop moving or move to where they are guessing he might pass/go. He almost never shoots the puck but is looking for Hyman and Dreadnought with a little Bouchard in there.
The Canucks could do something similar on their PP's with having Hughes circle the zone. The same thing would happen.
And Tocchet is wrong, it isn't the missed shots that get McD his end to end rushes, it is coughing it up in their Dzone and the entry for the PP where they pass it back to him and he gets going.
What this team might need is a "shadow". Hoglander might be able because he plays a little nasty and annoying.
Dreadnought can be hit, a couple of Zadorov hits combined with Cole and Soucy and Myers could slow him down although he is built like a battleship.
Hyman is more difficult because he plays so far down on top of the crease but again a dedicated shadow defenceman might work that and the goalies poke checking more.
Kane, he will be hunting Hughes, mind you most of the Oilers will be. This last series shows hitting takes him off his game in his own zone. No nastiness in Hughes.
The scheduler is nuts, are there events taking place at Rogers?
They must have thought this series will be over quickly because if it goes 7 games either team will be faced with a very quick turnaround.
Canucks will have to start on time, they can't wait 5 minute to get going because the first 2 shifts McD will be flying.
Someone posted EP has a serious injury? If he does it isn't causing him to limp or favour a limb.
Lots of talk about healing after that last series, the only player that took any real consistent punishment was Hughes and that stopped once he started dumping the puck out instead of always carrying or looking to pass.
OR
It's Demko!!!! Maybe another series using three goalies?
Nurse is a train wreck waiting to happen, he gets very emotional. Bouchard, a defenceman we should/could have drafted instead of ....what was that guys name? OJ or something?
The entirety of Edmonton will be holding their breath on most Skinner saves. Well a few of them maybe.
