| Central Division beatdowns... [message #849955] |
Sun, 01 February 2026 10:55  |
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 HamBlaster
Messages: 1330
Registered: June 2007
1 Cup
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The Oilers have gotten smoked repeatedly by the Central Division this year in particular, however they've gotten run over many times in seasons past as well.
What's the deal with the team just rolls over and acts like a submissive little B around these guys? Honestly? Are they scared little babies and just choose to not show up, hang their goalies out to dry, close their eyes and hope for the best? Because that's what it looks like out there.
These guys need to pull on their big boy pants for match ups like this. Clearly.
Defense was a complete afterthought last night against Minny, and after the Wild got ahead the Oilers pretty much threw in the towel, much like they did against Colorado and Dallas earlier this year.
I've never seen this squad be treated like they are an absolute punching bag, but the Avs, Stars and Minny beat the Oilers for fun this year. Total walkover games.
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tardigrade81
Messages: 3976
Registered: November 2022
Location: Regina, Saskatchewan
3 Cups
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In my personal opinion we just aren’t near as good as them. We have three elite scorers in McD, Drai, and Hyman. We get some help from Nuge, Roslovik, Savoie, and the defense. But overall we don’t have enough depth to keep up to those teams, and we sure as hell don’t have the defense
I thought getting a good goalie we could mask some of those faults, but unfortunately Jarry (although still a step up from Skinner) is just not good enough to mask any of these problems.
This team makes playoffs, and might even make the conf final, but we will be swept by Colorado or Minnesota
Dallas would be my pick to face, as it might be psychological with them that we have beat them the last two years, but overall this season has been a huge disappointment so far even with us being in second place for the time being
We could still slip to a wild card too
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 smyth260
Messages: 1235
Registered: November 2007
1 Cup
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They are just better constructed teams.
We have to load up at the deadline to have a chance this year no matter how other teams look. Half measures are not an option given where the Oilers are with McDavid.
Sell the farm, mortgage all the way to 2035 for all I care. The best chance to win a cup was yesterday and the 2nd best is now.
You just have to win 4 games against a central team in the playoffs. A lot can happen between now and May.
Clean house or bust
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Skookum Jim
Messages: 5718
Registered: March 2006
Location: Burnaby, BC
5 Cups
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Minnesota didn't even have one of their best D-men last night (Brodin).. Oilers defense is not good at defense.. (except IMO Ekholm) Bouchard is good within the offensive zone blue line .. and mediocre to not good beyond .. that goal where Boldy snuck behind Bouchard can't happen.. but it's just an example of what happens way too often in coverage.. A good defenseman should be able to provide the offense he's capable of (i.e. Bouchard) without the exclusion of playing smart, capable defense in your own zone and neutral zone.. they are not mutually exclusive ..
And the offense is pop-gun excluding the top 3 in 97, 29, 18 ..
93, 92 work hard and are complimentary pieces to the top 3.. but are not snipers.. 28 can shoot but has gone cold ( I hope they hold off on paying him 4x4) .. and the rest have not represented much of a scoring threat .. at all.
Despite not getting goals from outside 97, 29, 18.. they can still win games.. but not if they give away free goals on stupid, weak plays.. then they have to chase and its 97+29 time.. all the time.. they are able more often than not to supply the required heroics to win games.. but it shouldn't have to get to that point as frequently as it does.. symptom of a weak defense and too many gift goals.
Overall the team needs more speed through the line up, in order to create a forecheck and offensive pressure.. and turn overs.. this team doesn't have a credible forecheck outside the super stars.
JMHO
[Updated on: Sun, 01 February 2026 14:16]
McDAVID! Oh YEAH Baby!! (Thank you Lord!)
Tic-Tac-Tao!
Keep on Rockin' in the Free World
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