Hiller is brutal to watch at this point. He isnt even trying for the most part. His body language is terrible. Must be frustrating for the guys playing in front of him.
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Problem is we've got way more problems then just goal tending.
I disagree
We are within reach of the playoff spot if goaltending is league average.
Love what Nakladel and Worherspoon are showing, love our forward group minus a couple guys but kicking out rebounds into prime scoring areas or not stopping basic shots or not giving the team faith in some bail out saves kills us.
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Lost the goaltending battle but being sloppy in your own end only highlights the issue. Was pretty close game until the 3rd period but the boys need to start burying their scoring chances as too many shots into the goaltender's bread basket and while other teams are picking the corners on Hiller the Flames are either missing the net or hitting the post. Lots of work still to be done with this rebuild. Not sure if the defense is going to ever reach it's potential with this coaching staff as team defense hasn't been good since a Sutter coached the team.
Most of the team did alright tonight. Brodie was Brodie, forwards generally looked lively and created more than enough chances to score more than 2. But Gio, 2nd defensive pairing and Hiller were pretty poor. Gio taking silly avoidable penalties, 2nd pairing making awful turnovers that they should avoid, especially Engellend.
As for Hiller, I feel physically sick watching his useless play. I can't do it anymore. Demote him to the AHL/ECHL, anywhere but on this team. Can't stand it. I'd rather see us play Poulin/Simpson/Ortio/an injured Ramo, anyone else but him. I hope he enjoys the last bit of that NHL contract he's on, because its the last pay day he'll ever get. I know its sad and I shouldn't get this wound up, but I'll cheer the day he leaves/plays his last game for us.
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We are within reach of the playoff spot if goaltending is league average.
Love what Nakladel and Worherspoon are showing, love our forward group minus a couple guys but kicking out rebounds into prime scoring areas or not stopping basic shots or not giving the team faith in some bail out saves kills us.
I really wish people would stop saying this as it's Oiler fan talk. Yes goaltending needs to be better but the PK and team defense are horrendous and the team lacks finish on their opportunities. This team turns over the puck like mad.
5 on 5 the Ducks are like men vs boys against us with the size and skill that they possess up front. This matchup really drives home why we lost in the playoffs and what we need to add to be able to get out of the Pacific. We need power forwards like they have. Big, strong, skilled forwards. Otherwise we'll never match up against the Kings or Ducks in a 7 game series.
Also on my wish list would be a defensemen of Hamilton's size but who was nasty and physical like a Pronger, Hatcher, Blake, etc. Our defense is kind of average sized for the most part and teams like the Kings and Ducks can exploit us on the cycle.
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Wotherspoon's mobility looks a lot better than in previous years doesn't it? His game seems to have matured, he looks very close to an NHLer if he isn't already.
5 on 5 the Ducks are like men vs boys against us with the size and skill that they possess up front. This matchup really drives home why we lost in the playoffs and what we need to add to be able to get out of the Pacific. We need power forwards like they have. Big, strong, skilled forwards. Otherwise we'll never match up against the Kings or Ducks in a 7 game series.
Also on my wish list would be a defensemen of Hamilton's size but who was nasty and physical like a Pronger, Hatcher, Blake, etc. Our defense is kind of average sized for the most part and teams like the Kings and Ducks can exploit us on the cycle.
Is that you Brian? The Flames were right there with the Ducks after 40 minutes and had plenty of zone time and opportunities. Two bad turnovers (as per usual for this team) early in the 3rd and game over. If the Flames can finish their opportunities better they could have at least taken this game to extra time. The Ducks are beatable hence their record it's just that the Flames haven't played well against anyone in the division because they are a half baked team at this point in their rebuild.
The outrage at the knee-on-knee hits like Bennett/Perry's collision is stupid to me.
That's a normal hit if Perry doesn't try and avoid getting hit by moving 2-3 feet to the side last second. Bennett didn't stick his knee out late or move it over, Perry just tried and failed to avoid a hit. Too bad for him.
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5 on 5 the Ducks are like men vs boys against us with the size and skill that they possess up front. This matchup really drives home why we lost in the playoffs and what we need to add to be able to get out of the Pacific. We need power forwards like they have. Big, strong, skilled forwards. Otherwise we'll never match up against the Kings or Ducks in a 7 game series.
Also on my wish list would be a defensemen of Hamilton's size but who was nasty and physical like a Pronger, Hatcher, Blake, etc. Our defense is kind of average sized for the most part and teams like the Kings and Ducks can exploit us on the cycle.
I really wish people would stop saying this as it's Oiler fan talk. Yes goaltending needs to be better but the PK and team defense are horrendous and the team lacks finish on their opportunities. This team turns over the puck like mad.
I think people are being completely reasonable to point a big fat finger at the goaltending and Hiller in particular.
When you play in front of a sieve like that it hurt your confidence, you start second guessing yourself, and defensive play breaks down. It's amazing how much confidence my team gets after a couple good saves from our goalie. We want to win for him because he's doing his part.
Hiller is not just bad, he's downright awful. In goalies that have played 10 or more games this year, he's 64/65 in save percentage and goals against average.
He is -literally- the worst goalie in the NHL.
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5 on 5 the Ducks are like men vs boys against us with the size and skill that they possess up front. This matchup really drives home why we lost in the playoffs and what we need to add to be able to get out of the Pacific. We need power forwards like they have. Big, strong, skilled forwards. Otherwise we'll never match up against the Kings or Ducks in a 7 game series.
Also on my wish list would be a defensemen of Hamilton's size but who was nasty and physical like a Pronger, Hatcher, Blake, etc. Our defense is kind of average sized for the most part and teams like the Kings and Ducks can exploit us on the cycle.
We do need to get bigger, but we need the big guys we have to play like big guys. Colborne is 6ft 4in, he plays like he's 5ft 9in. Monahan is 6.3, plays the same. Hamilton, another who is butter soft most nights.
I expect these guys to go out and start laying out bodies and making things uncomfortable for the opposition, but they are way too soft and easy to play against. The Ducks utilise their skill and size to great effect. We have skill and when that doesn't work, we've got nothing. Either Hartley and his coaches need to start playing a more physical style of play(making full use of the big guys we currently have) or we need to find a set of coaches that will play that way. So annoying to see big guys getting pushed aside by opposition players that are no bigger than them.
