Selectively attended? You are talking about an almost negligible percentage here. That aside some people dont get very many opportunities to go to an NHL game so who could blame them for going....expecting an effort for 60 minutes isn't too much to ask IMO.
Well I live in this market. Tickets are turning hands constantly for games like this. Where seasons ticket holders go to premium games or resell or gift less desirable games. You see it here all the time. One of the most startling things in watching Oilers home games is that you see different faces sitting in the same seats nearly all the time. This always being evident anywhere near the Oilers, or visitors bench. Contrast with other markets, even Calgary, and you've seen some of the same fan faces around the benches for years.
Not blaming anybody either. This is a team that nobody could love 41 or more times/year and care enough to go to all the games. That has become a very rare quantity here. I know a lot of people with seasons seats, I don't know anybody that goes to all the games anymore. Even this shortened season.
Frankly I refuse offers of tickets countless times. I really don't want to go. I'm not at that level of investment anymore. I'd hate to know that I'd finally become that fan that would just walk out in the middle of a game but I more than suspect its the case.
In anycase who really expected anything more than we've seen from this club this year. I was frankly amazed that people continued to want seasons seats. I can only think they are placeholding them for some conceived better times. Certainly wasn't likely to be this season.
The 90's teams due to their lack of talent weren't expected to win many games but that team busted their ***** game in and game out. There is no excuse for not being competitive because that is based primarily on desire and will. Whats silly is excusing a poor effort from paid professionals.
I understand what you are saying and have certainly made that comparison before with a team that tried harder. That was Ronnie Low hockey in a nutshell.
Again expecting a certain level of compete has nothing to do with the opposition. Its about the amount of heart (lack of) in the Oilers room.
I thought the compete was there. I didn't think we had the bench or players on the ice that were able to overcome on that particular night.
The really strange thing is that the Oilers played better in losing the game 3-0 at home, than they did in winning it 3-0 on the road. But thats hockey and thems the bounces and breaks. Khabi was on fire, that was the big story and STL started the wrong goalie. Thats about it.