Mac hasn't decided on his starter for game 2....Conklin or Markkanen. Is it really going to matter, neither one is close to being a #1. The Oilers D is going to need to block every shot coming at them.
Cross Traffic wrote:The Oilers D is going to need to block every shot coming at them.
Yep, they will... and this is why I fear the Oilers still have a shot. No team has been as good at blocking shots this post-season.
I take back what I said after thinking about it for a day... the Oilers ain't done yet. The 'canes need to hold their head down with their foot or the Greasers will claw back. Teams don't get this far without being resilient.
After watching just the first two periods of Game 1...Roloson faced only 15 shots and the Oilers had 3-1 lead on the road in a tough building after an 8-day layoff. Now who would've expected them to start the series looking that impressive? Ward was very ordinary for those two periods and the Canes really had no hope other the fact Brind'Amour got them on the board late in the period. They went on to play probably the period of their playoff lives in the next 20 minutes but for 40 minutes, Edmonton was the better team and Roloson wasn't all that instrumental in it. We'll see how Conklin does after having regular preparation for a start instead of coming in at one of the most adverse of circumstances. I think it's far too easy to jump to conclusions and just assume the Oilers are done. They proven in the playoffs that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. They've become a very impressive team...I have my doubts that a unit like this can be derailed just by losing one player...albeit a very key player. If they recover from this and win the series, it's not going to be about "I told you so" or any of that...I just don't think you can give up on a team that has overcome the odds up to this point.
The Oilers may have beenthe better team for the first 40 minutes and not had to rely on Roloson. The Oilers also have shown that it takes a team effort with everyone contributing to make it this far.
I do wonder though despite the fact that they are saying all the right things whether or not they might be gripping their sticks a little tighter, trying to do a little to much and overcompesating for the fact that it is Jussi or Conklin out there.
They may say that they won't but it has to be in the backs of many of the players minds that the goalie might not make that game saving play and that they need to push a little more to get the offense.
This could result in a few chances for the Canes on Oilers players trying to do too much rather than making the routine, safe play that they have been making all play-offs long.
The Rat Pack wrote:Edmonton is doomed. Ty Conklin is the worst goalie in the NHL.
He was demoted after 10 games.
I saw this coming a long time ago:
I love Kevin Lowe...but he has to be dragged on the carpet for the goalie situation. Edmonton is not deep in goalies..Where's Lowe's head at?
That's me from October 26, 2005
Rack me
Way to go there Nostradamus. You spew enough shit from your cake hole that one or two kernels is eventually gonna come through.
I can just see your sad ass sifting through shit looking for some gem you dropped 8 months ago.
How about your cram that crystal ball up your hoop and have your mom smack your ass with a sledge hammer?
I knew that I had stated my words in your thread. So I just searched for Cixitrixi on the search engine. There wasn't much sifting involved.
I was asking serious questions about Lowe. My questions have proven me to be a very savvy hockey guy. (again) I can't even remember what the point of your thread was.. Something about 'keeping your head up', or something like that.
But I take no offense.. I know you're tender at this moment.
Pierre McGuire: "The Washington Capitals are the sleeping giants of the East. Exciting times in Washington are coming."
The Rat Pack wrote: My questions have proven me to be a very savvy hockey guy.
Does it hurt your neck to suck your own dick? Like I said before.... talk as much shit as you do on here you are bound to be correct eventually. Which number of the thousand monkeys on a thousand type writers are you?
But I take no offense..
You should. I meant every word. You've been a shit spewing asinine pile of rehashed crap since post one and if I haven't made my opinion on you clearer before now then I apologize. You are now so informed.
Tiger Williams wrote:"... some snot-nosed little fuck that isn't going to break a nail is going to score 50 goals and he's never driven to the net in his life. He's never stood in front with Moose Dupont giving him 89 cross checks in the back of the head."
The Rat Pack wrote: My questions have proven me to be a very savvy hockey guy.
Does it hurt your neck to suck your own dick? Like I said before.... talk as much shit as you do on here you are bound to be correct eventually. Which number of the thousand monkeys on a thousand type writers are you?
But I take no offense..
You should. I meant every word. You've been a shit spewing asinine pile of rehashed crap since post one and if I haven't made my opinion on you clearer before now then I apologize. You are now so informed.
I know this is just you venting off steam. You're just wound up tight before the big debacle.
Pierre McGuire: "The Washington Capitals are the sleeping giants of the East. Exciting times in Washington are coming."
The Rat Pack wrote:I know this is just you venting off steam. You're just wound up tight before the big debacle.
....and it's going to get worse before it's going to get better. Juicy is in net (1st start in almost 4 months), Conklin's NHL career is over and the Garlic is in full grip mode.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- Edmonton Oilers forward Shawn Horcoff isn't impressed by the faceoff technique of Carolina captain Rod Brind'Amour.
In fact, he doesn't even think it's legal.
Brind'Amour has won 310 of his 514 faceoffs (60.31 percent) in the playoffs -- including 28 of 34 in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals. He was third in the NHL during the regular season at 59.1 percent and has finished in the top five in three of four seasons.
Horcoff who dropped 18 of 27 in the Oilers' 5-4 loss in the opener has already complained about Brind'Amour's methods and the things he is allowed to get away with.
"It's just a problem that I tried to talk to the linesman a little about," Horcoff said Wednesday before Game 2. "It's not really anything that I really need to comment on, it's just the fact that I thought he was cheating a little bit and hopefully we'll change that."
Horcoff had enjoyed success on faceoffs before the finals, taking 55 percent against Detroit, San Jose and Anaheim.
Brind'Amour didn't buy into the claim that he gets special treatment from the officials.
"I can't even comment on that. I've never heard of that," Brind'Amour said. "I'd be surprised if there was special treatment, but I'd sign up for it."
Rod is one of the best faceoff specialists in the league, get over it Shawn.
AcidQueen wrote:2 more wins and I can die in peace.
Are you dying? No offense but I'm sure there are longer suffering fans than HurricaneFan.
Just busting your chops...things are definitely promising for Carolina. If they can take that momentum into Friday in front of those fans in Edmonton and take a 3-0 lead...you can begin to plan the victory parade. The Oilers have a lot of regrouping to do...they are definitely up against it.
Shoalzie wrote:No offense but I'm sure there are longer suffering fans than HurricaneFan.
Try Leafs/Bills fan.
Flyer fan
They at least had the 70s. Buffalo and Cleveland sports fans are probably the longest suffering fans and have had some of the biggest heartbreaks. Philly has been close a few times but they aren't absent of championships. Chicago has had some rough times with the Blackhawks and Cubs but having the Bulls win 6 titles, you can't call them a loser sports town.
On the other side of the coin, I, as a Detroit/Michigan sports fan, am spoiled and very fortunate for the success these teams have had in recent history. Cripes, I've got two championship minor league teams in Kalamazoo right now...the Kings in the Frontier League (baseball) and the Wings in the UHL. In my 25 years, "my" college and pro teams in the state have won a total of 12 league championships. Makes rooting for the Lions not nearly as bad as it seems.
OK, can we say that goaltending won't be the Oilers excuse for possibly losing this series? Between Saturday and what we've seen so far tonight, Markkanen is plenty capable of winning this series. I would like to see if a road team can win in this series. Good start to this game tonight...
Edmontons lack of production on the power plays is what really hurt them tonight.
Things do not look too good , but you never know. It would be something if they could win the next three games but I do not think they will. It is just too bad they blew that 3-0 lead in game 1, if they would of held on and won that game I believe the Oilers would be up 3-1 or at the very least tied 2-2.
Whats the stat? Two teams in history have come back from 3-1 to win a series? But for the cup? Don't know if its been done but I seriously doubt Edmonton will do it with that kind of effort.
As for shooting the puck......If I see Ales Hemsky I will fight him.
Good to see the floodgates re-open after seeing a couple of 2-1 games...not that the two games in Edmonton weren't exciting. The Oilers aren't going to go away without a fight. Carolina definitely wants to finish it tonight because clinching it back at Rexall is going to be tough.
3rd Carolina goal pisses me off a bit. How the ref can let a play go while Markkanen is sitting on a puck (how can he see the damn thing?) and yet they blow the play dead on that Moreau goal in game 3, saying he couldn't see a puck that was in plain sight.
