Shoot the puck!!

It's the swarm without the swarm. Just doing...nothing instead.


Ryan Rishaug @TSNRyanRishaug
Puck watching at its absolute finest. Caggiula wide open.


What's the guy in front of the goalie even doing? His stick is not even in a place the puck could go. Basically just pretending to be a table hockey player that no one is controlling.

[Updated on: Tue, 05 February 2019 22:38]

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Kr55 wrote on Tue, 05 February 2019 23:36

It's the swarm without the swarm. Just doing...nothing instead. Ryan Rishaug @TSNRyanRishaug Puck watching at its absolute finest. Caggiula wide open. What's the guy in front of the goalie even doing? His stick is not even in a place the puck could go. Basically just pretending to be a table hockey player that no one is controlling.

Simply. Stunning.

Trying to figure out who’s standing next to Nurse and can’t confidently figure it out. Is it Rattie? Russel is coming out the of the corner, where he made a play on 88, Lucic on the other side... Loo could have easily covered the Drake there but who’s the plug next to Nurse??

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Kr55 wrote on Tue, 05 February 2019 22:36

It's the swarm without the swarm. Just doing...nothing instead. Ryan Rishaug @TSNRyanRishaug Puck watching at its absolute finest. Caggiula wide open. What's the guy in front of the goalie even doing? His stick is not even in a place the puck could go. Basically just pretending to be a table hockey player that no one is controlling.

This is a prime example of what is wrong with the Oilers. What are they doing?????

There is a guy behind the net so is stands to reason that someone would be in chase mode. So that is Russell. But what the hell is Rattie and Nurse doing? Rattie is just standing there watching the guy. WHY?? What are you accomplishing by freaking STANDING their watching. My oldest son is in novice hockey and that's what they do half the time is and and watch the puck carrier. They are 8, they are just learning the game. Rattie is 26. He's probably been playing hockey for over 20 years. What coach, or system or even common sense would tell you that it's a good idea to just STAND there and watch the guy. At least if he was lunging at him, it may not be the right play but he's not just standing there doing nothing.

Nurse is actually in the blue paint. WHY?? What defensive coverage says stand a foot from your goal line? The definition of a defenseman is to DEFEND the net. So shouldn't he be out DEFENDING??? If he is doing is job and DEFENDING the net, he'd be in front ready to tie up Caggulia and the play is dead. What is he doing???


I do not understand this team. They don't have enough talent to compete with the big boys, I know that but how are these supposed "pros" not able to play basics? How can these guys play good, defensive hockey for 2 periods then just STOP? It's like they turn their brain off and stop playing. Whatever they were doing for 2 periods was working, they go into the dressing room come out and just stop doing it. It's not even bad breaks or bounces or guys trying to hard, its flat out stupidity. Like not even doing fundamentals like tying up a guys stick, covering the guy in front of your net.

[Updated on: Wed, 06 February 2019 08:36]

mightyreasoner wrote on Wed, 06 February 2019 08:45

RDOilerfan wrote on Wed, 06 February 2019 08:33 Kr55 wrote on Tue, 05 February 2019 22:36 It's the swarm without the swarm. Just doing...nothing instead. Ryan Rishaug @TSNRyanRishaug Puck watching at its absolute finest. Caggiula wide open. What's the guy in front of the goalie even doing? His stick is not even in a place the puck could go. Basically just pretending to be a table hockey player that no one is controlling. This is a prime example of what is wrong with the Oilers. What are they doing????? There is a guy behind the net so is stands to reason that someone would be in chase mode. So that is Russell. But what the hell is Rattie and Nurse doing? Rattie is just standing there watching the guy. WHY?? What are you accomplishing by freaking STANDING their watching. My oldest son is in novice hockey and that's what they do half the time is and and watch the puck carrier. They are 8, they are just learning the game. Rattie is 26. He's probably been playing hockey for over 20 years. What coach, or system or even common sense would tell you that it's a good idea to just STAND there and watch the guy. At least if he was lunging at him, it may not be the right play but he's not just standing there doing nothing. Nurse is actually in the blue paint. WHY?? What defensive coverage says stand a foot from your goal line? The definition of a defenseman is to DEFEND the net. So shouldn't he be out DEFENDING??? If he is doing is job and DEFENDING the net, he'd be in front ready to tie up Caggulia and the play is dead. What is he doing??? I do not understand this team. They don't have enough talent to compete with the big boys, I know that but how are these supposed "pros" not able to play basics? How can these guys play good, defensive hockey for 2 periods then just STOP? It's like they turn their brain off and stop playing. Whatever they were doing for 2 periods was working, they go into the dressing room come out and just stop doing it. It's not even bad breaks or bounces or guys trying to hard, its flat out stupidity. Like not even doing fundamentals like tying up a guys stick, covering the guy in front of your net. Also, where is the center in this frame? Would that be McDavid? Did he go for a change? Did he get beat in the corner? Rattie is probably where Nurse should be, McDavid should be on the puck carrier, and Rattie should be on his wing. Might be a case where everyone is out of position so no one really knows what they are doing and they are covering the empty spot.

Good points. The center usually has WAY more defensive responsibilities than wingers. The center should be in the middle. WHERE is the CENTER?

Like I said, too compete with the big boys in the league, the Oilers don't have enough talent to play with them, they just don't. We have all seen some crappy Arizona teams with even less talent than the Oilers go out and beat good teams by playing sound, boring, defensive hockey. They play their position, keep it simple, do the basics. It may not be fun to watch but it works. But for the Oilers, basic fundamentals seems like an impossibility? Are some of these guys just flat out stupid? Like Nurse. I like Nurse a lot. He has 250 NHL games, been playing hockey probably since he was 5. Let's say he was confused with the defensive system and not sure of his position. So if that is the case, if you are unsure, wouldn't a normal person fall back to the basic default position that you have probably done since your were 5? Like go to the front of the net and tie someone up? I am not a pro hockey player or coach. I played when I was younger but not at a high level. I watch a TON of hockey. I have NEVER seen it where any team at any level just lets a guy stand in front of the goal all by himself while the dman just does nothing. At the very least, if all else fails, the dman tries to keep the front clear. Not for the Oilers.

[Updated on: Wed, 06 February 2019 09:09]

[Updated on: Wed, 06 February 2019 10:33]

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