 |
 Kr55
Messages: 12926
Registered: May 2002
Location: Edmonton
6 Cups
|
|
| Skookum Jim wrote on Fri, 22 March 2024 13:47 |
Ekholm is a beast.. what a game! He unleashed the Hammer of Thor on poor UPL .. (funny watching him finally lose it and smash his stick on the last goal with 9 seconds left)
Best D-man on the Oilers since CFP.. just awesome.
Since joining Oilers.. 86 games 11g + 36a = 47pts and ... +62 !!
plus his pairing with Bouchard has helped Bouchard immensely, I can't imagine Bouchard playing with any other Oiler D-man and still being as effective.. especially his +-
Just need a RHD equivalent!
Oilers finally started moving their feet in the 3rd, got a consistent forecheck working.. way too static in the 1st and 2nd.. like watching 2 different teams..
I liked McLeod taking the shot on the 2 on 1 with Kane.. he has a bad habit of passing off too many chances that end in no shot on net..
Positive signs!
|
It's interesting that Bouch without Ekholm actually has his xGF go up from 62.04% to 65.19% at 5v5. Ekholm drops to 54.73% but with tougher zone starts. Maybe there is Ceci time in there too which is a huge handicap of course.
Ekholm with Nashville never had number close to what he has had with Bouch here. He actually struggled pretty badly with a young D the year we acquired him. Under 50% xGF the 2 seasons before we got him. He was never really a headliner name on D, usually a 2nd pair guy behind Josi, lots of his career playing a rigid system. Successful regular season system that never seemed to pan out in playoffs minus one year. Somehow now his career is magically peaking at 33 years of age.
Statistically, our best pair this year is Kulak+Bouchard. 71.35% xGF. For contrast, Kulak+Vinny 57.35%, Kulak+Ceci 50.79%.
Small samples, but Ekholm+Vinny 40.95%, Ekholm+Ceci 38.35%.
One day ppl might have to consider Bouch helps Ek just as much as Ek helps Bouch. It's just a really good pair with 2 guys that compliment eachother well.
[Updated on: Fri, 22 March 2024 16:53]
"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
|
|
|
|
