Pre-Game Talk: Western Conference Finals - Series Discussion (Bring on the Avs!)

[PositiveCashFlow]

I trust Woodcroft but would make sense to me to split up McDrai again and match MacDavid up against MacKinnon and Draisaitl against Rantanen's line (keeping Kadri away from McDavid). After that the bottom-6 is a wash.

That depends on Drais health

 

[TheNumber4]

I never realized Avs fans had so little confidence in Kuemper. They have like zero belief in their guy. Let’s be the smarter, better fanbase please and support OUR guy.

Smith steals this in Roloson like fashion! Let’s go!!!

 

[Took a pill in Sbisa]

That depends on Drais health

Hes looked a lot healthier the past few games than he did at the end of the LA series.

His 2 highest ice-times of the playoffs have come in the last 4 games which is the biggest indicator.

 

[Captain Fantastic]

Based on my response to the 'what makes a successful year's I can't even be mad if we lose this one. Hopefully that makes me more relaxed.

I'd be upset but the Oil basically rose from the ashes mid-season to get to this point and that's just remarkable. They overcame a lot and I can appreciate and be proud of them just for that .
Although winning a cup now would be very special , almost dream-like, and I've been through 9 of them . Four with 70s/MTL and Five with 80s/EDM .That was so so long ago though and those teams were expected to win. Having a Cup now would be a totally unexpected shock./surprise that I'd never imagine happening with this Holland- constructed team.

 

[Captain Fantastic]

Or in Matthews case, just kinda get close to the best.

Parade planned for his Hart in Toronto I'm guessing.

 

[Mr Positive]

Parade planned for his Hart in Toronto I'm guessing.

All the Matthews hoopla feels so silly now. It's funny when you realize it was always purely based on stats. It's like how Vasilevskiy wasn't even nominated for the Vezina. The NHL needs to reconsider how they vote for things.

 

[Burnt Biscuits]

I think their are 2 avenues we can go down in an attempt to win the series:

1) The first pound the crap out of their young D hitting at every available opportunity, hope we can draw out the series long and they begin to wilt. I'm thinking the AV's D is good enough to not falter, but sometimes you don't know till you try.

2) The second option I feel is entirely dependent on how healthy Drai is, I'm not sure Drai is healthy enough to assume C duties again, but if he is I do feel we have an advantage down the middle.

If we ran our lines like the CGY series I think our top loaded line McDrai line has a slight edge on the top loaded MacKinnon line, but I'm fairly certain the Kadri line would eat up the RNH line and despite how well McLeod played I'm not confident McLeod wins against the Compher line.

If we roll with McDavid, Drai, RNH, and McLeod down the middle I think we could possibly do light bleeding on the 1st line match-up and then handily win the 2nd and 3rd line match-ups obviously D matters as well and the advantage AVs have on D might wash out the advantages we have on forward, but I think this would be our best bet at exploiting their roster weaknesses. Also if we aren't going with a checking gameplan we might be able to sneak in Brassard or Holloway for more offensive punch on the 4th line.

 

[KCC]

Been seeing this float around abit.

mc/mac pattywhack

lol.

 

[snipes]

There is something special with this team. I don’t even know how to explain it.

I think we match up well against the Avs. When they come to Edmonton that building is going to be loud and hostile as ****.

The guys need to come out flying and achieve their destiny here. Driven to the point of a belief that it’s a divine purpose, that’s how bad they need to want this.

 

[McHelpus]

Keith (Chicago 3x times)
Helm (1x Detroit)
And, of course
Archibald (1x Pittsburgh)

I find that crazy someone that won with Detroit is still in the league. Must have been his rookie year?

 

[TheNumber4]

Blues fan here. Mind if I come join you for the next round?

f*** yah let’s go! Kadri did it on purpose. You know it, I know it.

 

[Trafalgar Sadge Law]

So... something I've noticed with Kuemper in the St. Louis series that may or may not be a weakness. He seems to let in a lot of goals high blocker side. Both St. Louis goals tonight were scored there and 3 of the 5 on Wednesday. It could just be a small sample size thing, but we did completely abuse Markstrom glove side on lateral movements. Maybe there's a chink in the armor there for Kuemper?

 

[MessierII]

Oilers Avs

GPG 4.33 vs 4.30
Goal diff 15 vs + 16
PP 28.2% vs 34.5%
PK% 85.4% vs 73.1%
Save % .918 vs .900

 

[gordonhught]

But where you you even get a quinoa and wheatgrass donut?

In calgary

 

[Mcnofool6110]

I find that crazy someone that won with Detroit is still in the league. Must have been his rookie year?

Yep!! Darren Helm is somehow 35.

 

[Senor Catface]

RIP to any poor soul's account who goes to the main boards during this series.

Sweeping generalizations never help, but Avs fans are some of the worst on this board.

 

[OilerTitanFan]

I never realized Avs fans had so little confidence in Kuemper. They have like zero belief in their guy. Let’s be the smarter, better fanbase please and support OUR guy.

Smith steals this in Roloson like fashion! Let’s go!!!

I guess you and many others have not watched Kuemper play. He's worse than Markstrom. The only reason why the Avs are in this is because they are a high octane and puck possession team. Lots of shots are coming from the perimeter. Look at who the Avs faced so far, neither the Predators or Blues have lethal weapons like McDavid, Kane and Draisaitl. Blues have one Tarasenko but he has done a whole lot of nothing.

 

[walktheboulavard]

Colorado is going to be shocked when Smith shoots one into his own net and it doesn't even rattle us.

 

[OilerTitanFan]

Oilers Avs

GPG 4.33 vs 4.30
Goal diff 15 vs + 16
PP 28.2% vs 34.5%
PK% 85.4% vs 73.1%
Save % .918 vs .900

I just gave a comment about Kuemper. He's not an NHL playoff level goaltender. If Woodcroft does his homework, the Oilers might run him out of the building. sv% of barely above 0.900 in the playoffs will not get any team far. What is sad is Kuemper's worse than Koskinen. The Avs should be the ones investing their 1st round pick on a goalie more than us.

 

[TheNumber4]

I guess you and many others have not watched Kuemper play. He's worse than Markstrom. The only reason why the Avs are in this is because they are a high octane and puck possession team. Lots of shots are coming from the perimeter. Look at who the Avs faced so far, neither the Predators or Blues have lethal weapons like McDavid, Kane and Draisaitl. Blues have one Tarasenko but he has done a whole lot of nothing.

Better or worse than Markstrom. I really don’t even care. But if the Avs fans say it’s true, I’ll take their word for it, I’m not even doubting it. My point is not to fall into that disbelief and negativity trap no matter what. Support Smitty and believe in our guys.

 

[OilerTitanFan]

Better or worse than Markstrom. I really don’t even care. But if the Avs fans say it’s true, I’ll take their word for it, I’m not even doubting it. My point is not to fall into that disbelief and negativity trap no matter what. Support Smitty and believe in our guys.

You probably did not see Kuemper play a single game vs the Blues. It is piss poor goaltending. Probably just a tiny bit better than Husso. Both should be in the AHL. They make Vasilevsky look like Tretiak.

 

[TheNumber4]

You probably did not see Kuemper play a single game vs the Blues. It is piss poor goaltending. Probably just a tiny bit better than Husso. Both should be in the AHL. They make Vasilevsky look like Tretiak.

Did I not just say and outline why I don’t care. And that I’m not doubting it.

So... something I've noticed with Kuemper in the St. Louis series that may or may not be a weakness. He seems to let in a lot of goals high blocker side. Both St. Louis goals tonight were scored there and 3 of the 5 on Wednesday. It could just be a small sample size thing, but we did completely abuse Markstrom glove side on lateral movements. Maybe there's a chink in the armor there for Kuemper?

If there is elite Video coach turned elite ahead coach Woody and friends will find it.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

Helm did as a rookie.

Manson and Cogliano haven't.

I thought they might have been there for one of the Ducks' cups, but they only got that one right?

 

[TheNumber4]

If Sutters wisdom is legit (I think it was and wasn’t just trolling), we should have the edge in the D experience factor. Holland obviously believes in it too. Let’s hope that holds for this series. Makar and friends may need to do that whole learning before winning thing still.

 

[Magnum23]

Is Duncan Keith the only player that has won a cup in this series???

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