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Oilers » Review: Edmonton @ Toronto (Game #39)

Re: Review: Edmonton @ Toronto (Game #39) [message #781495 is a reply to message #781481 ]	Tue, 30 March 2021 09:22

K.McC#24
Messages: 2827
Registered: March 2004
Location: ALBERTA

2 Cups

Adam wrote on Mon, 29 March 2021 23:14

stemhovlichski wrote on Mon, 29 March 2021 22:57

Adam wrote on Mon, 29 March 2021 21:02

g2k wrote on Mon, 29 March 2021 19:40

NetBOG wrote on Mon, 29 March 2021 19:33

A certain poster likes to continually dump on Mike Smith, but he's the only reason they won tonight, and it's not the first time that's the case.

Hey, if you are referring to me, you will notice I haven’t been bashing him lately. For good reason. In fact I have been giving him accolades for saves etc. Just didn’t do it in GDT tonight, but was gonna here, but then I seen your dumb post.

I'm pretty sure he's talking about me, so you're all good.

I think all I've been saying is that this is just a hot streak and likely an aberration, so enjoy it while it lasts, but expect the other shoe to drop at any time. I have been rejecting the thought that this is because he's just so focussed on his craft that he's playing among the best hockey of his entire life at 38 years old...

Adam, I didn't think he was a starter at all either. I thought he was a useful experienced backup in the twilight. But watching his positioning, his reactions, his tactics and his focus, it really looks like he's for real this year. Like he's being coached by a skilled goaltender and is constantly working on his game. Koskinen looks the exact opposite - like a typical Oiler-coached goalie. Watch Smith's aggressive forward motion with his blocker on shots from passes across the slot - he attacks towards the player while Koskinen drops his arm instead. Smith challenges as much as he can and forces the opposition to work hard to score - the closest to CuJo I've seen here since CuJo. He's still going to have some dud games, I'm sure, but I don't see wheels falling off in a short season.

I don't think pro goalies get better at age 38, even if they're capably coached.

I think people tend to like Smith because it looks like he's really trying out there. I don't think that's generally a good thing. Much like choppy skaters look like they're really working, overly active goalies are out of position more. It's inefficient.

The Koskinen comparisons don't hold much water either. Koskinen's played seven times since Smith came back, starting six of those games. He took the loss for Smith in the 6-5 loss to Winnipeg, despite the fact Smith let in 4 of 6 goals. In the other games, he's 4-2. His save percentage is .931 and his goals against average is under two.

The Oilers have been playing strong defensively (despite the fact that there's so many complaints about young defencemen here whenever they make ANY error) and both goalies numbers have been strong - with Koskinen's actually better than Smith's.

I think strong defence and a hot streak from goaltending has been a great thing for the Oilers the last 6 or 7 weeks, but I don't think the goaltending is sustainable, and I worry that the wheels won't come off until it's too late and it costs the Oilers a playoff round or Ken Holland decides that Smith IS the exception to the rule and he's getting better as he ages like a fine wine and re-ups him for another year.

Hey, I hope I'm wrong. It would be great to have the Oilers in the Finals and Mike Smith on the way to a Conn Smythe Trophy...but I am not holding my breath.

Also Dustin Tokarski is not a goalie whisperer.

I don't think a 39 year old goalie has upside, so no he's not going to get better. Can he play his best and maintain a high level for the season and the playoffs? Can he mitigate bad habits and use tweaks to techniques to help maintain? I think so, and that's probably good enough. Turned out to be an excellent signing, especially when you look at backups around the league.

The conversation should surround the 'starter' and the fact he's signed for another year after this one, and where to go from there. I think the point you're probably trying to make in goalie discussions is that ideally the Oilers this summer somehow acquire a guy who can have term here and take Koskinen's job, not just for the year but for term. The only misgiving I have about Smith is he's short term year to year and the Oilers are probably lucky this is a short season.

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Review: Edmonton @ Toronto (Game #39)	By: OilFans on Mon, 29 March 2021 19:30
Re: Review: Edmonton @ Toronto (Game #39)	By: sinfulchimp306 on Mon, 29 March 2021 19:32
Re: Review: Edmonton @ Toronto (Game #39)	By: Skookum Jim on Mon, 29 March 2021 19:33
Re: Review: Edmonton @ Toronto (Game #39)	By: Mike on Tue, 30 March 2021 05:58
Re: Review: Edmonton @ Toronto (Game #39)	By: K.McC#24 on Mon, 29 March 2021 19:49
Re: Review: Edmonton @ Toronto (Game #39)	By: Ragnarok73 on Mon, 29 March 2021 19:32
Re: Review: Edmonton @ Toronto (Game #39)	By: NetBOG on Mon, 29 March 2021 19:33
Re: Review: Edmonton @ Toronto (Game #39)	By: PlusOne on Mon, 29 March 2021 19:38
Re: Review: Edmonton @ Toronto (Game #39)	By: g2k on Mon, 29 March 2021 19:40
Re: Review: Edmonton @ Toronto (Game #39)	By: Adam on Mon, 29 March 2021 21:02
Re: Review: Edmonton @ Toronto (Game #39)	By: stemhovlichski on Mon, 29 March 2021 22:57
Re: Review: Edmonton @ Toronto (Game #39)	By: Adam on Mon, 29 March 2021 23:14
Re: Review: Edmonton @ Toronto (Game #39)	By: stemhovlichski on Mon, 29 March 2021 23:37
Re: Review: Edmonton @ Toronto (Game #39)	By: K.McC#24 on Tue, 30 March 2021 09:22
Re: Review: Edmonton @ Toronto (Game #39)	By: kungpaobenji27 on Mon, 29 March 2021 19:36
Re: Review: Edmonton @ Toronto (Game #39)	By: sinfulchimp306 on Mon, 29 March 2021 19:45
Re: Review: Edmonton @ Toronto (Game #39)	By: watchman on Mon, 29 March 2021 19:46
Re: Review: Edmonton @ Toronto (Game #39)	By: NZ Oiler Fan on Mon, 29 March 2021 19:47
Re: Review: Edmonton @ Toronto (Game #39)	By: WhoreableGuy on Mon, 29 March 2021 19:48
Re: Review: Edmonton @ Toronto (Game #39)	By: sinfulchimp306 on Mon, 29 March 2021 19:49
Re: Review: Edmonton @ Toronto (Game #39)	By: watchman on Mon, 29 March 2021 20:15
Re: Review: Edmonton @ Toronto (Game #39)	By: WhoreableGuy on Mon, 29 March 2021 20:23
Re: Review: Edmonton @ Toronto (Game #39)	By: sinfulchimp306 on Mon, 29 March 2021 20:26
Re: Review: Edmonton @ Toronto (Game #39)	By: NetBOG on Mon, 29 March 2021 20:30
Re: Review: Edmonton @ Toronto (Game #39)	By: inverno76 on Mon, 29 March 2021 20:56
Re: Review: Edmonton @ Toronto (Game #39)	By: Oscargasm on Mon, 29 March 2021 21:04
Re: Review: Edmonton @ Toronto (Game #39)	By: JPro on Tue, 30 March 2021 08:43
Re: Review: Edmonton @ Toronto (Game #39)	By: Adam on Mon, 29 March 2021 20:59
Re: Review: Edmonton @ Toronto (Game #39)	By: Kr55 on Mon, 29 March 2021 21:06
Re: Review: Edmonton @ Toronto (Game #39)	By: Oscargasm on Mon, 29 March 2021 21:21
Re: Review: Edmonton @ Toronto (Game #39)	By: WhoreableGuy on Mon, 29 March 2021 22:17
Re: Review: Edmonton @ Toronto (Game #39)	By: RDOilerfan on Tue, 30 March 2021 08:56
Re: Review: Edmonton @ Toronto (Game #39)	By: inverno76 on Tue, 30 March 2021 10:13
Re: Review: Edmonton @ Toronto (Game #39)	By: stemhovlichski on Tue, 30 March 2021 11:49
Re: Review: Edmonton @ Toronto (Game #39)	By: Adam on Tue, 30 March 2021 12:02
Re: Review: Edmonton @ Toronto (Game #39)	By: K.McC#24 on Tue, 30 March 2021 12:35
Re: Review: Edmonton @ Toronto (Game #39)	By: Adam on Tue, 30 March 2021 12:46
Re: Review: Edmonton @ Toronto (Game #39)	By: RDOilerfan on Tue, 30 March 2021 12:27
Re: Review: Edmonton @ Toronto (Game #39)	By: K.McC#24 on Tue, 30 March 2021 12:40
Re: Review: Edmonton @ Toronto (Game #39)	By: Kr55 on Tue, 30 March 2021 12:50
Re: Review: Edmonton @ Toronto (Game #39)	By: stemhovlichski on Tue, 30 March 2021 16:46
Re: Review: Edmonton @ Toronto (Game #39)	By: Kr55 on Tue, 30 March 2021 17:01

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