Quote:
Originally Posted by Oil Stain
If you go by the numbers they already are playing a solid defensive game.
Last season they were:
4th in corsi against/60
9th in fenwick against/60
12th in shots against/60
12 in expected goals against/60
9th in scoring chances against/60
6th in high danger chances against/60
In the playoffs they were around 8th out of 16 in most categories. About the same as Vegas. But Vegas had 94% save % and 12.5% shooting percentage at 5v5. Those combined for 1.065 PDO. Highest total out of any playoff team since 07/08. Might be longer but Natural stat trick only has data until then and nhl.com only goes back to 09/10.
Biggest problem for the Oilers last year was goalie. Especially in the playoffs. They don't need their goalie to pull an Adin Hill, but they need at least average.
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Lol
Adin Hill didn't do anything special though. He just had a great team that knew how to win in front of him.
And Edmonton is a No Good team that Knows how to lose.
I ####ing love that every year you guys think you're one positional player away, when the problem is that they Oilers don't play as a team. They're two players (who don't play D well) and a bunch of guys just shuffling deck chairs around them. They play said two guys for full PPs and OTs and run them into the ground over the regular season at the expense of learning to play the game how Vegas did and succeeded at - as a team.
The problem actually might not be the roster at all (they have some of the best game breaking talent in the world), it's the Oilers entire philosophy and approach to playing hockey.
There's a reason no other team employs and utilizes two players the way the Oilers do - because it's A) a team game, and B) not a model for team success (only individual success).
I'm going to thoroughly enjoy them pissing (pun intended) away the final years of Draisaitl and McDavid and getting Johnny'd at the altar.
I mean, if you can't see that the Oilers hung Skinner out to dry defensively while Vegas sheltered their 5th stringer with strong 200 foot play then nothing can help you at this point.
Even despite the numbers, the rest of us saw Nurse getting caught out of position doing his ineffective kneel thing and any Oilers "back checking" giving up on the play or letting their man sneak into the slot.
Amazing that Oilers fans can meditate an entire summer on that series and come out with the conclusion "one goalie away".
It's a gift that keeps on giving.