Will anyone be able to stop the Knights in the playoffs?

[2for1PizzaPastuh]

Probably depends on how much cap they end up successfully circumventing

 

[Czechboy]

Their 100 million dollar roster in round one will be insanely good. They are my cup fav for sure (when healthy).

Having said that.. AVS and stars look phenomenal. Nucks and jets are great too. It is murderers row

 

[Zapp]

And got destroyed

Wish we could get an easy 1st rd opponent like LA. We've destroyed them all season.

 

[Fatass]

Sure looking like the Knights will have to beat the Oilers to get through round one.

 

[BudBundy]

It wouldn’t be surprising to see any of Dallas, Colorado, Edmonton or Vegas come out of the West. Hell Winnipeg and Vancouver aren’t even very dark horses. Vegas has meandered a lot in this second half and there are no guarantees what versions of Adin Hill, Tomas Hertl, and Mark Stone they are going to get when the time comes. It wouldn’t even be a surprise if they get knocked out in the first round. They are a battle-hardened and talented bunch, so I wouldn’t bet against them, but the West is murderous this year and it won’t be a cakewalk.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Oilers vs Vegas.
Oilers playing with the dead cap of Campbell, and part of the Nurse and Kane contracts vs Vegas having great contracts plus the excess cap of players returning from LTIR. It’s hard for McDrai to close that gap even if they go supernova again these playoffs.
Got to take Vegas. Skinner’s meltdown in last year’s playoffs is also a concern. He really needs to take a big step this year for the Oilers to have a chance.
The Oilers record against playoff teams is also concerning.

 

[Czechboy]

Oilers vs Vegas.
Oilers playing with the dead cap of Campbell, and part of the Nurse and Kane contracts vs Vegas having great contracts plus the excess cap of players returning from LTIR. It’s hard for McDrai to close that gap even if they go supernova again these playoffs.
Got to take Vegas. Skinner’s meltdown in last year’s playoffs is also a concern. He really needs to take a big step this year for the Oilers to have a chance.
The Oilers record against playoff teams is also concerning.

All true.. BUT Oil management learned from last year's mistakes and upgraded our D by ... oh wait, no we're going with the same D core.

But don't worry, if Skinner falters then we have... oh f***.

 

[lionsDen]

Their a wrecking ball

 

[BelovedIsles]

Generally speaking, there are a cluster of teams in both conferences that have legit Cup chances. Shaping up to be one helluva playoffs.

Avs, Stars, Oil, Knights, and even the Canucks and Jets in the West.

Canes, B’s, Rags, Panthers, and my dark horse, the Bolts in the East.

That’s a ton of talent, only one team wins the Cup. Bring it on!

 

[The Panther]

I hope the Oilers play the Knights in round 1, and if so, I think the Oilers are going to win fairly easily.

 

[Spirits]

Avs, Stars, Oil, Knights, and even the Canucks and Jets in the West.

Oil

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

Avs
Stars
Knights


Pick your poison really. All 3 teams are extremely deep, and built for playoff hockey. I'd put big money down on it being one of those 3 that comes out of the West.

 

[Ol' Jase]

Oilers vs Vegas.
Oilers playing with the dead cap of Campbell, and part of the Nurse and Kane contracts vs Vegas having great contracts plus the excess cap of players returning from LTIR. It’s hard for McDrai to close that gap even if they go supernova again these playoffs.
Got to take Vegas. Skinner’s meltdown in last year’s playoffs is also a concern. He really needs to take a big step this year for the Oilers to have a chance.
The Oilers record against playoff teams is also concerning.

Thing is, the Oilers are 8-3-1 against the current (and most likely) Western Conference playoff teams since Knoblach took over, so it seems that is a bit exaggerated. They are 12-6-1 against the Eastern teams that are currently in or are fighting for the wildcard (DET, WSH, PIT).

I’m hopeful that Skinner has matured since last year as well (his rookie year).
He’s 32-9-4 with a 2.42 GA/G and a .915 SV%

Not saying it’s an automatic, but I expect the Oilers to be a tough opponent for anyone.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Thing is, the Oilers are 8-3-1 against the current (and most likely) Western Conference playoff teams since Knoblach took over, so it seems that is a bit exaggerated.

I’m hopeful that Skinner has matured since last year as well (his rookie year).
He’s 32-9-4 with a 2.42 GA/G and a .915 SV%

Not saying it’s an automatic, but I expect the Oilers to be a tough opponent for anyone.

I think the Oilers will be a tough out too. But it’s hard to pick them over a healthy Vegas.

 

[Ol' Jase]

I think the Oilers will be a tough out too. But it’s hard to pick them over a healthy Vegas.

For sure. Especially the way Vegas play. They are the best team in the league at playing their system disciplined and consistently. To have a chance you have to get up on them early and force them to adjust. If you can’t, they’ll dictate the game and you usually end up beating yourself when they capitalize on one or two mistakes.

The LTIR thing might, however, not be the huge advantage everyone believes it is. Hertl is a good player, but hasn’t played a minute for them. He might need a period of time to adjust. Stone isn’t guaranteed to be 100% when he gets back and will need a couple of games to get back to full game speed as well.

Honestly, I really only believe one thing to be a guarantee this year. The West will be an absolute bloodbath.

 

[Atoyot]

 

[hangman005]

For sure. Especially the way Vegas play. They are the best team in the league at playing their system disciplined and consistently. To have a chance you have to get up on them early and force them to adjust. If you can’t, they’ll dictate the game and you usually end up beating yourself when they capitalize on one or two mistakes.

The LTIR thing might, however, not be the huge advantage everyone believes it is. Hertl is a good player, but hasn’t played a minute for them. He might need a period of time to adjust. Stone isn’t guaranteed to be 100% when he gets back and will need a couple of games to get back to full game speed as well.

Honestly, I really only believe one thing to be a guarantee this year. The West will be an absolute bloodbath.

The fact no one wants to play anyone else is such a big sign,,,, LA would probably at least be considered the closest by many (possibly Vancouver just on them not having reached the playoffs for a few years), but I don;t think there is a real clear "weak" team, I could see all teams winning and losing against each other.

 

[Ol' Jase]

The fact no one wants to play anyone else is such a big sign,,,, LA would probably at least be considered the closest by many (possibly Vancouver just on them not having reached the playoffs for a few years), but I don;t think there is a real clear "weak" team, I could see all teams winning and losing against each other.

The stretch also seems to be good preparation for most teams as well. I know the Oilers play some huge games to get ready (COL twice, VGK and VAN) and get some weaker opponents (ARI twice, SJ).

I was a bit worried about Calgary and their tendency to take cheap liberties, but with their rat Posposil likely gone, it’s a little less worrisome.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

For sure. Especially the way Vegas play. They are the best team in the league at playing their system disciplined and consistently. To have a chance you have to get up on them early and force them to adjust. If you can’t, they’ll dictate the game and you usually end up beating yourself when they capitalize on one or two mistakes.

The LTIR thing might, however, not be the huge advantage everyone believes it is. Hertl is a good player, but hasn’t played a minute for them. He might need a period of time to adjust. Stone isn’t guaranteed to be 100% when he gets back and will need a couple of games to get back to full game speed as well.

Honestly, I really only believe one thing to be a guarantee this year. The West will be an absolute bloodbath.

That is for sure. The Canucks may end up playing Nashville and that team has been red hot. There’s a couple of meh teams in the East but really none in the West. Most series will be close to coin flips.
The one team I’d really want to avoid is Vegas. Just such a stacked team imo.

 

[hangman005]

The stretch also seems to be good preparation for most teams as well. I know the Oilers play some huge games to get ready (COL twice, VGK and VAN) and get some weaker opponents (ARI twice, SJ).

I was a bit worried about Calgary and their tendency to take cheap liberties, but with their rat Posposil likely gone, it’s a little less worrisome.

We are pretty similar, though through the stretch we play Van twice (one more to go after last game) Then 4 very winnable games with the Yotes, Ducks, Wild and Blackhawks

 

[kcunac]

No you are dropping to P2.

EDM loss and Canucks win yesterday

 

[hirawl]

They sure can stop themselves.

 

[ORRFForever]

They sure can stop themselves.

Tonight was shameful.

 

[mkatcherin00]

That is for sure. The Canucks may end up playing Nashville and that team has been red hot. There’s a couple of meh teams in the East but really none in the West. Most series will be close to coin flips.
The one team I’d really want to avoid is Vegas. Just such a stacked team imo.

This

I do not consider any team in the West as an easy team.

You have to give COL and VEG odds though as they are cup champs and battle tested. Those 2 I would not want to face

 

[Hockeylife2018]

I'm torn because on one hand I'd rather avoid playing vegas round 1

On the other hand if I have to vs them at some point, I'd rather it be round 1 before they get healthy, and find chemistry