| Review:
Edmonton @ Dallas (Game #74) [message #831543] |
Wed, 03 April 2024 21:30  |
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 HamBlaster
Messages: 967
Registered: June 2007
No Cups
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Blowout. Oilers played with fire for the first half of the game, giving up turnovers and odd man rushes. Dallas finally started making them pay, over and over again.
This game encapsulates the Oilers. Talented, but can be exposed badly if you play smart hockey against them.
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g2k
Messages: 2810
Registered: January 2003
Location: The Hood
2 Cups
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I think Kr55’s notion a while back of purging the coach every second month to attain consistent efforts might be the only key to success for this team.
#firebob #screwitjustselltheteam #ownerisacreep
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g2k
Messages: 2810
Registered: January 2003
Location: The Hood
2 Cups
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This team subconsciously feels like 97 is their insurance plan most nights and their play reflects that most nights.
And dare I say, the leaders on this team are often a bad example of displaying discipline. Not a winning recipe.
#firebob #screwitjustselltheteam #ownerisacreep
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oiltec
Messages: 90
Registered: December 2022
No Cups
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| g2k wrote on Thu, 04 April 2024 05:23 |
This team subconsciously feels like 97 is their insurance plan most nights and their play reflects that most nights.
And dare I say, the leaders on this team are often a bad example of displaying discipline. Not a winning recipe.
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Accurate and vey well said.
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g2k
Messages: 2810
Registered: January 2003
Location: The Hood
2 Cups
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Adam got me thinking.
Not that it’s the key to success, but what does Knoblauch have against Gagner? He’s provided decent offence in his limited action. Creates offence when it’s lacking elsewhere. Gives a damn. Scrappy. A great leader.
I don’t understand why he doesn’t even get a sniff. Might light a fire under Carrick. What’s to lose?
#firebob #screwitjustselltheteam #ownerisacreep
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Adam
Messages: 7156
Registered: August 2005
Location: Edmonton, AB
6 Cups
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| g2k wrote on Wed, 03 April 2024 22:28 |
Adam got me thinking.
Not that it’s the key to success, but what does Knoblauch have against Gagner? He’s provided decent offence in his limited action. Creates offence when it’s lacking elsewhere. Gives a damn. Scrappy. A great leader.
I don’t understand why he doesn’t even get a sniff. Might light a fire under Carrick. What’s to lose?
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It's not really Knoblauch's fault. Oilers screwed themselves repeatedly on the cap. I don't think they have any room to carry any extra players so Gagner and Holloway are stuck down there on the farm until the end of the season. They have Ryan and Stecher as the spares...I don't even think there's a third with the team, is there?
"Thinking that a bad team's best players are the reason the team is bad is the "Tambellini re-signing Lennart Petrell" of sports opinions." @Woodguy55
#FireBobbyNicks
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g2k
Messages: 2810
Registered: January 2003
Location: The Hood
2 Cups
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| Adam wrote on Wed, 03 April 2024 22:36 |
| g2k wrote on Wed, 03 April 2024 22:28 |
Adam got me thinking.
Not that it’s the key to success, but what does Knoblauch have against Gagner? He’s provided decent offence in his limited action. Creates offence when it’s lacking elsewhere. Gives a damn. Scrappy. A great leader.
I don’t understand why he doesn’t even get a sniff. Might light a fire under Carrick. What’s to lose?
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It's not really Knoblauch's fault. Oilers screwed themselves repeatedly on the cap. I don't think they have any room to carry any extra players so Gagner and Holloway are stuck down there on the farm until the end of the season. They have Ryan and Stecher as the spares...I don't even think there's a third with the team, is there?
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Yeah, that’s good insight. Likely the case.
I would like him here. Carrick has been invisible. Not that a 4th liner will ever be our game breaker, Gagner was noticeable, energetic and created at least something in his small sample size.
#firebob #screwitjustselltheteam #ownerisacreep
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Adam
Messages: 7156
Registered: August 2005
Location: Edmonton, AB
6 Cups
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| g2k wrote on Wed, 03 April 2024 22:42 |
| Adam wrote on Wed, 03 April 2024 22:36 |
| g2k wrote on Wed, 03 April 2024 22:28 |
Adam got me thinking.
Not that it’s the key to success, but what does Knoblauch have against Gagner? He’s provided decent offence in his limited action. Creates offence when it’s lacking elsewhere. Gives a damn. Scrappy. A great leader.
I don’t understand why he doesn’t even get a sniff. Might light a fire under Carrick. What’s to lose?
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It's not really Knoblauch's fault. Oilers screwed themselves repeatedly on the cap. I don't think they have any room to carry any extra players so Gagner and Holloway are stuck down there on the farm until the end of the season. They have Ryan and Stecher as the spares...I don't even think there's a third with the team, is there?
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Yeah, that’s good insight. Likely the case.
I would like him here. Carrick has been invisible. Not that a 4th liner will ever be our game breaker, Gagner was noticeable, energetic and created at least something in his small sample size.
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Yeah - and I think once again, we've filled up our fourth line with guys designated to play specific roles, rather than the best players available.
The fact is, that 4th lines do matter, and the best teams usually are playing good young players who can contribute rather than just guys who could penalty kill and fight. We're still stuck in that same old mind-set. And even if Knoblauch wanted to break the mold, he can't because the Oilers bottom four forwards still on the roster are all bubble guys on half the teams in the league.
"Thinking that a bad team's best players are the reason the team is bad is the "Tambellini re-signing Lennart Petrell" of sports opinions." @Woodguy55
#FireBobbyNicks
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Adam
Messages: 7156
Registered: August 2005
Location: Edmonton, AB
6 Cups
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But hey - maybe that 3-goal scorer can penalty kill. Probably can't ever teach a skilled youngster that, right?
"Thinking that a bad team's best players are the reason the team is bad is the "Tambellini re-signing Lennart Petrell" of sports opinions." @Woodguy55
#FireBobbyNicks
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g2k
Messages: 2810
Registered: January 2003
Location: The Hood
2 Cups
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| Adam wrote on Wed, 03 April 2024 22:58 |
| g2k wrote on Wed, 03 April 2024 22:42 |
| Adam wrote on Wed, 03 April 2024 22:36 |
| g2k wrote on Wed, 03 April 2024 22:28 |
Adam got me thinking.
Not that it’s the key to success, but what does Knoblauch have against Gagner? He’s provided decent offence in his limited action. Creates offence when it’s lacking elsewhere. Gives a damn. Scrappy. A great leader.
I don’t understand why he doesn’t even get a sniff. Might light a fire under Carrick. What’s to lose?
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It's not really Knoblauch's fault. Oilers screwed themselves repeatedly on the cap. I don't think they have any room to carry any extra players so Gagner and Holloway are stuck down there on the farm until the end of the season. They have Ryan and Stecher as the spares...I don't even think there's a third with the team, is there?
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Yeah, that’s good insight. Likely the case.
I would like him here. Carrick has been invisible. Not that a 4th liner will ever be our game breaker, Gagner was noticeable, energetic and created at least something in his small sample size.
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Yeah - and I think once again, we've filled up our fourth line with guys designated to play specific roles, rather than the best players available.
The fact is, that 4th lines do matter, and the best teams usually are playing good young players who can contribute rather than just guys who could penalty kill and fight. We're still stuck in that same old mind-set. And even if Knoblauch wanted to break the mold, he can't because the Oilers bottom four forwards still on the roster are all bubble guys on half the teams in the league.
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Stars 4th line combined for 7 points last night.
#firebob #screwitjustselltheteam #ownerisacreep
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Kr55
Messages: 10692
Registered: May 2002
Location: Edmonton
6 Cups
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Been pretty unimpressed with this team since the few weeks before the allstar break. Hope for a miracle of improved team play in the playoffs. If we keep playing like we have though, could be an easy out for a good team, and starting to look like it will be Vegas again.
Coach firing seems to be the only real tool to get this team going and looking like they could contend.
5 x $5,000,000
[Updated on: Wed, 03 April 2024 22:47]
"We need to get better immediately. That starts today"
- Lowe, 2013
"Next year I would forecast as another developmental year"
- MacT, 2015
5 x $5,000,000
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HamBlaster
Messages: 967
Registered: June 2007
No Cups
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Nurse's contract as well. So brutal.
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tardigrade81
Messages: 2198
Registered: November 2022
Location: Regina, Saskatchewan
2 Cups
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Well… we had a strong first period
So there’s that
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HamBlaster
Messages: 967
Registered: June 2007
No Cups
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I was watching the highlights from last night over and over...
Draisaitl and Nurse. Two assistant captains... the guys that are supposed to hold the course, stick to the plan and demand accountability and responsibility from the rest of the team... those two guys that are so double-edged (either very dominant or highly suspect) completely gutted our squad last night. Baking turnovers and throwing them all over our zone and terrible situational reads and selfish errors sank the boys hard.
I think a huge part of the meltdown was that the rest of the team saw what those two had to offer and thought "if these guys don't give a damn, I'll go off script as well" and it all felt apart.
I know I've torn into Leon a bunch on here this season, but he plays this kind of game too often. He did it against Colorado recently and he did it again last night. He takes wild chances with the puck and against weak teams, those crazy passes might work. Against the best teams in the league, he gets picked off and gives up goals because of it. He'd been better, much better, recently... however he was back to his usual baker style last night. Needs to be so much better at managing the puck.
Nurse is just a boat anchor of a contract. He's usually fine, serviceable and a pretty good 3 - 4 (but not a good value at $9.5M), but against the good teams he can get exposed for not thinking the game well enough. That pinch last night was absolutely terrible and I'm not sure how it happens. He had zero chance of getting to it and he gives up the 4 on 1 as a result. He also doesn't get down far enough for blocks and ends up screening his goalie (that happens all the time with Darnell).
Both of those guys are going to play a massive role in whether the Oilers do anything of note in the playoffs. If they put forth these sorts of games, they will get crushed and be an easy out.
Shape up, lads.
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smyth260
Messages: 1060
Registered: November 2007
1 Cup
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What a complete failure of a deadline to fix deficiencies in an 11/10 go for it year.
Clean house or bust
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CrusaderPi
Messages: 7785
Registered: December 2003
Location: AB Highway 100
6 Cups
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| smyth260 wrote on Thu, 04 April 2024 10:59 |
What a complete failure of a deadline to fix deficiencies in an 11/10 go for it year.
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Yes and no. I don't think there was a deal or deals that turned the Oilers into a reliably steady hockey team. For better or worse they're a high risk / high reward team that lives on its ability to outscore its problems. We can say we saw them developing into this years ago, but we can't change that now. To make a team that doesn't blow up like they did last night Holland and Jackson would have had to swap out a third of the team on the fly. Unless a Holland turned down a Nurse & Ceci trade for 2 clones of Ekholm they weren't going to improve enough on the backend to fix what we've been watching for the last few years. Stecher isn't enough on D and Henrique isn't enough for depth. So let's hope they score enough to force the opponent into making enough mistakes to allow enough scoring.
Their hands were tied because of cap constraints and asset management. We can grouse about who tied their hands, but we can't change that fact now.
Please do not feed the bears. Feeding the bears creates a dependent population unable to survive on their own. Bears.
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Kr55
Messages: 10692
Registered: May 2002
Location: Edmonton
6 Cups
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| Rowan Oil Fielding wrote on Thu, 04 April 2024 16:25 |
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Didn't we have a legendary dman on the bench telling all our D to try to make plays like he did in the good old days? Ceci really takes it to heart, why can't Nurse?
Funny side stat. We are 4th last in the league at shot blocking. Vegas is #1. I know there are lots of ways to think about that stat, but I've really taken note lately at how awful most of our D are at getting in front of high danger chances when they had all the opportunity in the world to do it. It's damn annoying and keeping making me think about how badly this team needed a D like Tanev. There is a massive hole in our lineup of a totally reliable defender that is elite at reading and staying ahead of the play on our zone. We arguably have 1 D like that in Ekholm. Ek has his off periods too. Rest of the guys, chasers, stick wavers and elite puck dodgers (intentional or unintentional), sometimes adding elite screening of our goalie at the same time.
Oh well. Too late for this team. Pray for Miracles.
[Updated on: Fri, 05 April 2024 00:59]
"We need to get better immediately. That starts today"
- Lowe, 2013
"Next year I would forecast as another developmental year"
- MacT, 2015
5 x $5,000,000
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oilfan94
Messages: 396
Registered: June 2006
Location: USA
No Cups
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I only really was able to watch the first period (which I guess was the only period they played well in ironically), so I don't feel quite so much doom and gloom from this. We started our back up against a team that is on a role, and their goalie was outstanding. Dallas is firing on all cylinders and had some good puck luck in the 1st as well.
The stat to me that is most concerning is the Oilers win loss record since the big winning streak. If you look at losses past regulation as losses (as I feel like we all should) then the team is only 16-14. Being barely over .500, that is the reason why they haven't been able to catch Vancouver, and its almost surprising no one has been able to catch them.
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g2k
Messages: 2810
Registered: January 2003
Location: The Hood
2 Cups
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I do feel this team can knuckle down and play responsible/accountable hockey when it counts. But the fact it isn’t second nature for them is a problem for me. Every play in the post season is an important play. The style you need to deploy needs to be second nature.
#firebob #screwitjustselltheteam #ownerisacreep
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HamBlaster
Messages: 967
Registered: June 2007
No Cups
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This is my worry as well. It takes time to develop that responsible play, and a few players on our team seem to move back and forth between committing to that style and going back to bad, old habits.
Winning teams play defensive hockey that doesn't give up much and capitalizes on mistakes. How the Oilers leadership (players and coaches) haven't figured that out yet is VERY concerning.
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