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

[GFG#1]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

The interviewer asked him why they aren't pushing back and being physical/why did they stop hitting. And he answered by saying they aren't built to play that physical style so they are playing their own game. Lol.

Kind of crazy, when really the path to beating Edmonton is to be heavy on the forecheck. I really don't see how opponents haven't figured this out.

Chip the puck into the corner, where the goalie can't slow it down or pass it to the D. Follow it hard and finish your check. Eventually that D will hear the footsteps and send a muffin pass up the middle of the ice to F2.

If you take away the defence's ability to make that first pass to the Oilers forward he has already flown the zone and is at center ice, you will easily force turnovers and have lots of time and space.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by Weitz

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

Their lack of a decent goalie is their problem.

[TheIronMaiden]

[jg13]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1928119818726588557

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

Their lack of a decent goalie is their problem.

Makar having a substandard series was probably the biggest contributing factor in their first round loss. He needs to be their best player or right there with MacKinnon for them to have success. Blackwood was solid for the Avs in the regular season and is the best goaltender they have had since Kuemper. He didn't have a great first round series against the Stars but hard to jump to any conclusions on him based on a single series. He will need to be better next season in the playoffs for sure.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by jg13

https://twitter.com/user/status/1928119818726588557

Hopefully they rushed him back and he sucks

[FlamesAreOne]

I know Ekholm was considered their "best" Dman and a big locker room guy, but I'd personally be weary about throwing him in after missing so much time when the team and D specifically have been playing so well.

Stecher has done wonders for Nurse so I hope this reverts everyone back to their bad norm.

[Toonage]

^ Kind of a reverse slotting lol

[Lubicon]

Originally Posted by FlamesAreOne

I know Ekholm was considered their "best" Dman and a big locker room guy, but I'd personally be weary about throwing him in after missing so much time when the team and D specifically have been playing so well.

Stecher has done wonders for Nurse so I hope this reverts everyone back to their bad norm.

I'd be hesitant too under normal circumstances but being down two forwards already they would likely go 11/7. Ekholm would not necessarily have to play big minutes.

[sarge]

Originally Posted by GullFoss

This is how I feel too. I'm resigned to the fact oilers may win. In all fairness McDavid and Drai have earned the right to be in the finals two straight years. They're generational players and at this point they deserve the cup. Good for them.

Those two clowns are super entitled and think that they deserve the cup, but it ain’t gonna ever happen for them! Florida will steamroll the Coilers…

E=NG

[kukkudo]

Is it another easy money night coming up? Oilers at 2.15 odds are looking good.

[InternationalVillager]

Originally Posted by GullFoss

This is how I feel too. I'm resigned to the fact oilers may win. In all fairness McDavid and Drai have earned the right to be in the finals two straight years. They're generational players and at this point they deserve the cup. Good for them.

And here I was arguing in the Draisaitl contract thread last summer and taking a lot of heat for calling him a generational player....

I could see this coming since last year. This year is the Oilers best chance at winning the cup. After this year, it starts to get a bit tricky but the NHL is massively increasing the salary cap so that is going to bail out their cap situation.

This looks like it will be an annual thing now where we wait and hope they get eliminated. The team with the best shot - Colorado - seems to be unable to get past the 2nd round these days and I think they made a huge mistake by trading away Rantanen who ended up burying them.

[midniteowl]

Ok Dallas, do you think you can beat those greased pigs tonight?

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by InternationalVillager

And here I was arguing in the Draisaitl contract thread last summer and taking a lot of heat for calling him a generational player....

I could see this coming since last year. This year is the Oilers best chance at winning the cup. After this year, it starts to get a bit tricky but the NHL is massively increasing the salary cap so that is going to bail out their cap situation.

This looks like it will be an annual thing now where we wait and hope they get eliminated. The team with the best shot - Colorado - seems to be unable to get past the 2nd round these days and I think they made a huge mistake by trading away Rantanen who ended up burying them.

The contract hasn't even started yet so don't hurt yourself patting yourself on the back. The whole point is that they won't be a contender when these contracts kick in let alone the later years. The cap increase doesn't bail them out...Drai going to 14 and Bouchard getting 11 is going to cost them, not to mention McDavid the following season.

[Ped]

Sportsnet says that Stecher will not play, and they will go with Jeff Skinner to replace Hyman.

[dissentowner]

The last time I had time to watch this series was in the 3rd period of the Stars comeback. I can watch the whole game tonight. Stars gonna win.

[Enoch Root]

Claiming you were right, about an 8 year contract, that hasn't even started yet, is next level delusional.

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

The last time I had time to watch this series was in the 3rd period of the Stars comeback. I can watch the whole game tonight. Stars gonna win.

Are we gonna get double frogs power tonight?

[dino7c]

Go to the net, hit the net...its all they have to do. Oilers scored 2 real goals last game, both on the PP. This idea that the Oilers are just running them over isn't true, the Stars have tons of ozone time they just aren't going to the hard areas or hitting the ####ing net.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Hit draisaitl
Hit mcdavid
Hit draisaitl
Hit mcdavid
Hit perry's face