WCF: Edmonton Oilers (P3) vs Dallas Stars (C2) - Oilers win 4-1

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by kevman

And yet the fans were calling for Knoblauch's head a few months ago.

Byfield chips it out and he probably is fired, its a fine line in the NHL.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

It’s also evident Knoblauch is a pretty good coach. He has to be to get that roster to buckle down without the puck.

I have a hard time believing common sense, work ethic and team cohesion prevailed up there, in a room full of that many egos, addicts and abusers.

Nah.. demonic forces are at play.

It's the most realistic explanation at this juncture.

Those donkeys coming together is only half of the equation. There's also the part where the other teams completely fold inexplicably.

Florida's people can spam X with all the bigoted tweets. At the end of the day they're the world's last line of defense against the forces of evil.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

I hope Kane slips on a track suit in the shower and knocks Perry into Pissy.

Why are you assuming Perry isn’t already into Pissy in that scenario?

[troutman]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

It’s also evident Knoblauch is a pretty good coach. He has to be to get that roster to buckle down without the puck.

Knoblauch is German for garlic.

[MRCboicgy]

Originally Posted by Joborule

So hard to give them credit that some are going to the extent of blaming the playoff format, and calling every team they have beat pathetic, whereas they were higher in the standings than the Oilers were both in the divisional format, and 1-8 format. Discounting the teams they feel would've done better against the Oilers, lost to the teams that Oilers are sleepwalking through.

The Oilers are just simply playing better than the others are. The McDavid/Draisaitl combo with stingy defensive play is finally getting the results the hockey experts were expecting from the Oilers all these seasons. Knob has surprisingly been the coach to figure it out for the team when it comes to playoffs it appears.

Not to mention actively cheering/hoping for injuries, which used to be frowned upon by the masses on this board. But goes along with all the childish nicknames.

Just watch the hockey for what it is.

[Goriders]

Hoping the stars are in getting heart transplants today.

[Rhett44]

Knob getting McDrai to backcheck is the thing of miracles. I think he's a good coach sadly.

Their structure on defense allows almost no scoring chances lately.

[curves2000]

Originally Posted by MRCboicgy

Not to mention actively cheering/hoping for injuries, which used to be frowned upon by the masses on this board. But goes along with all the childish nicknames.

Just watch the hockey for what it is.

This and more. As a hardcore Flames fan myself, I know Edmonton is a rival but it's kinda faded rivalry from the 80's when both teams were great. An entire generation of fans have grown up with 1 team or another just being awful and then playing in the playoffs in 2022 where Calgary got smoked bad.

Real rivalries are built up in the playoffs and best on best competition. I have had plenty of debates with Flames fans saying moronic things like they would forgo a Cup championship so Edmonton won't get one. That doesn't make someone a real fan, makes them an idiot.

I couldn't imagine an elite athlete ever saying something so stupid.

[Jaydee]

Hyman out is huge

[Weitz]

Colorado can’t win a first round series but it’s the playoff formats fault.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by FanSince'01

The format is absolutely a problem, though. Boring, repetitive matchups (who was honestly asking for LA/Edmonton AGAIN in the first round apart from Oiler fans?) and top teams playing each other in the first round when it should be round 2 or later in reality are becoming major issues and it's ruining the product (and shows with the downturn in viewership this year)

Setting aside whether or not the format helps the Oilers or whether they'd be in the same spot if the format were different, both conference final matchups should've been first-round matchups - that's all you need to know to know that the format is messed up.

What top team lost in the 1st round that should have gotten to play on?

[troutman]

Originally Posted by curves2000

This and more. As a hardcore Flames fan myself, I know Edmonton is a rival but it's kinda faded rivalry from the 80's when both teams were great. An entire generation of fans have grown up with 1 team or another just being awful and then playing in the playoffs in 2022 where Calgary got smoked bad.

Real rivalries are built up in the playoffs and best on best competition. I have had plenty of debates with Flames fans saying moronic things like they would forgo a Cup championship so Edmonton won't get one. That doesn't make someone a real fan, makes them an idiot.

I couldn't imagine an elite athlete ever saying something so stupid.

Hardcore status revoked.

[PepsiFree]

Legally, if someone who calls themselves a Flames “fan” in any way praises the Oilers or even acknowledges/concedes any positive sentiment about them, you can punch them in the stomach.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by Weitz

Colorado can’t win a first round series but it’s the playoff formats fault.

Rantanen turned into Lemieux a couple of times when the Avs were heading towards wins.

You can't really prepare for that sometimes.

96 is the only reason the Stars are here, and he's gone invisible since.

And it all plays into the Oilers hands. They get a resigned stars team again instead of the team with heart and star power.

[FanSince'01]

Originally Posted by Weitz

What top team lost in the 1st round that should have gotten to play on?

No-one but that’s not the point. The point is the playoffs are becoming boring and repetitive for the average fan, watching the same matchups year after year.

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by troutman

Knoblauch is German for garlic.

Its also an R rated move in the bedroom.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by curves2000

This and more. As a hardcore Flames fan myself, I know Edmonton is a rival but it's kinda faded rivalry from the 80's when both teams were great. An entire generation of fans have grown up with 1 team or another just being awful and then playing in the playoffs in 2022 where Calgary got smoked bad.

Real rivalries are built up in the playoffs and best on best competition. I have had plenty of debates with Flames fans saying moronic things like they would forgo a Cup championship so Edmonton won't get one. That doesn't make someone a real fan, makes them an idiot.

I couldn't imagine an elite athlete ever saying something so stupid.

Whatever the Flames’ situation, Edmonton is the worst

I’m not sure what is confusing here

[Samonadreau]

I hate the Oilers and always will. I have put a lot of energy into rasing my kids to hate the Oilers and have even converted my casual hockey fan wife to hate the Oilers.


A tale as old as Springfield and Shelbyville.

This is the way.

[curves2000]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Legally, if someone who calls themselves a Flames “fan” in any way praises the Oilers or even acknowledges/concedes any positive sentiment about them, you can punch them in the stomach.

It's not Edmonton praise or hardcore Flames fandom forgoing championships for the other sides pain.

Rivalries are always built for competition, best on best and playoff competition. It's the way it works. You think Tom Brady and the New England Patriots who crushed the NY Jets and Buffalo Bills non stop for 20 years considered them their top rival? The golden age of the LA Lakers didn't think the LA Clippers were some big rival.

Calgary/Edmonton is a rival sports, politics, geography wise but it's muted one sports wise and has been forever. The real hatred was in the 80's when the battles were epic.

The point of Flames fans forgoing hypothetical championships so Edmonton doesn't get one makes sense? I can just see Tom Brady, Michael Jordan, Sidney Crosby, Gretzky, the 89 Flames team and all elite athletes forgoing championships so some other guy doesn't get his.

[Groot]

Comparing a FAN perspective to that of an elite athlete that has dedicated their life and career, and actually earns something from winning a championship is nonsense.

Rivalries exist whether teams are good or bad all the time, in every sport. To pretend otherwise is ridiculous.