WCR2: Edmonton Oilers (P3) vs Vegas Golden Knights (P1) - Oilers win 4-1

[Lewis_D]

Vegas baby!!! (in six)

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

At least now the Oilers have to face a legitimate playoff opponent.

Took until the third round last year to face one of those.

And they looked like they just came out of the Battle of Pelennor Fields.

[SuperMatt18]

Looking at the current roster construction for each team:

Karlsson - Eichel - Stone vs. Draisaitl - McDavid - Perry: Advantage Oilers
Saad - Hertl - Dorofeyev vs. Kane - RNH - Hyman: Push
Barbashev - Roy - Smith vs. Frederic - Henrique - Brown: Advantage Vegas
Pearson - Howden - Olofsson vs. Podkolzin - Janmark - Arvidsson: Push

McNabb - Theodore vs. Nurse - Bouchard: Push
Hague - Pietrangelo vs. Walman - Klingberg: Advantage Vegas
Hanifin - Whitecloud vs. Kulak - Emberson: Advantage Vegas

Hill vs Pickard/Skinner: Advantage Vegas but it's pretty slight based on Hill's recent form.

I'd say for Forwards it's pretty close, but the Oilers have the two best forwards in the series, so that gives them the advantage. Vegas has 5 guys that are pretty effective centers though (Eichel, Hertl, Roy, Howden, Karlsson).

Defense is a clear advantage for Vegas and hopefully they can slow down 29 and 97.

Goaltending for both teams is a bit inconsistent, but Hill is the most proven and hopefully can find his A game.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Vegas should beat this Oilers roster (worse depth and no Ekholm).

If they don't then it's probably 100% due to the two players carrying the oilers because top to bottom Vegas is better and are proven as well.

Kings stopped their assault on Pickard for the last 7 periods which speaks to their mental implosion.

Literally all Vegas has to do is keep attacking, and the mistakes the oilers will make will pile up.

[troutman]

McNabb - Theodore vs. Nurse - Bouchard: Push

Not close to a push.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by troutman

McNabb - Theodore vs. Nurse - Bouchard: Push

Not close to a push.

I mean, Bouchard needs a push on the backcheck, Nurse is always pushing guys after the whistle and when getting scored on he is in the been pushed over position.

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

Vegas should beat this Oilers roster (worse depth and no Ekholm).

If they don't then it's probably 100% due to the two players carrying the oilers because top to bottom Vegas is better and are proven as well.

Kings stopped their assault on Pickard for the last 7 periods which speaks to their mental implosion.

Literally all Vegas has to do is keep attacking, and the mistakes the oilers will make will pile up.

Agree! The Kings didn't lose because Grease Pigs are better team, they have that losing streak hanging in the back of their mind and neither the coach nor the veterans help the team shake it. The Knights don't have that in their mind, Cassidy will roll 4 lines throughout the series doesn't matter if the Grease Pigs double or triple shifts the Grease Twins. At the end of the game the Grease Twins will be out of gas.

[3rd liner]

960 flames show had an oilers radio guy on this afternoon on the drive home who seemed to have inside team knowledge. Can't remember his name, not cholesterol pig Stauffer. Guy was relatively humble for an oilers broadcaster. Said oilers defense was putrid in first two games, and they all the bounces went their way and they got some luck. Said Nurse has had to make up for Bouchard's gaffes quite a bit. Said that the Hiller challenge was asinine and the turning point, though said seeds of doubt were planted in game 1 when the oilers came back.
Did say Klingberg has become a 'revelation'. Not sure I agree. Said kings team hadn't changed since last few years, despite the hype. Said Ekholm returning for this series would be a 'miracle' as he was really banged up. Stopped short of saying he'd be surprised if they seem him in the post season- he started to say it and backed up. Also seems they have lost faith in Skinner and Pickard is the guy- thought he'd be up to the task against vegas. That's where I called BS....

[3rd liner]

Pickard the starting goalie going into a series against Vegas. On paper this should be a bloodbath.

[memphusk]

Yeah it's all ####ed. It will be based on bull#### penalties. If there is a chance that you're going to be called, make it count. Drive everyone through the boards.

[3rd liner]

Originally Posted by memphusk

Yeah it's all ####ed. It will be based on bull#### penalties. If there is a chance that you're going to be called, make it count. Drive everyone through the boards.

The blues series just shows you have to be really physical and borderline dirty for success. Imagining how the dirty Blues would have gone at the McDiver twins, had they played each other. They've seemingly knocked schiefele out of the series, without taking a penalty.
Though let's be honest, if anybody hit Pissy or McDiver like Schiefele got hit by Schenn it'd have been at least a major. Two sets of rules.
LA didn't punish them at all. I don't think either of the two-man team has a bruise. Guys like McNabb need to punish those two and play them hard. He's usually good for a borderline dirty hit or two.

[midniteowl]

It's going to be interesting to see how this series being called, two darlings of the league playing each others. The best is don't call anything let them play, worst would be tit for tat, PP after PP, it'll be unbearable.

[iloveicedhockey]

[3rd liner]

When does the series start? I’m only seeing the eastern round 2 game 1s scheduled so far.

[Tbull8]

I'm guessing it depends on the other western matchup for scheduling purposes

[FlamesAreOne]

What’s the word on Ekholm?

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by flamesareone

what’s the word on ekholm?

e=ng

[curves2000]

Originally Posted by FlamesAreOne

What’s the word on Ekholm?

Considered doubtful for round 2.

[midniteowl]

Go Knights!!!

[Buzzard]

We get the odd order of groceries delivered from Walmart. Today we had an awesome, very obviously new Canadian with a delivery who was sportin' a Golden Knights jersey. I told him I like the his jersey choice as we exchanged thumbs up and a grin. This guy knows how to fit in. I went to the app to see if there was a way to increase his tip.

It's a sign.