Sean Maloughney: Game 16: Jets @ Oilers - Help On The Way?

Agree that the D group has taken a step back but I believe this team goes no where until they all play better team defence. The coaches seem clueless about this. And Tippet just keeps going back to the old fallback of putting McDrai out and running them every second shift. It’s going to work against the team in the long run.

The jets play a heavy forecheck and any team that does that to the oilers ends up with a good chance of winning because the d panic and give up turnovers and the forwards are often no where to be seen for assistance.

TEAM D needs a big step forward or the oilers will end up as they did last year. I don’t think Broberg will help that. I’d leave him down for a while longer.

Hyman-McDavid-Puljujarvi
Foegele-Draisaitl-Yamamoto
Holloway-RNH-Kassian
Shore-Ryan-Sceviour
McLeod
- Sean

Nah nah nah. Scratch Kassian.

Nah nah nah. Scratch Kassian.
- MaximumBone

Yes

Nah nah nah. Scratch Kassian.
- MaximumBone

Hyman-McDavid-Puljujarvi
Foegele-Draisaitl-Yamamoto
Holloway-RNH-Kassian
Shore-Ryan-Sceviour
McLeod

Nurse-Bouchard
Broberg-Ceci
Keith-Barrie

I never understand why people expect young players that have zero pro experience to somehow be able to play in the NHL so soon. 2 season in college and nothing since. McLeod was a p/gp C in the AHL and has only been able to put up 1g and 1a in 21 games. At least he has pro experience. Broberg may be closer. Not sure I would trust him in the top 4. IIRC, he was not that impressive in pre-season.

Keith on the bottom pairing is a great idea but lol Broberg as our #3/4 is absolutely nuts. That's one step forward two steps back thinking.

The pre game presser showed McDavid doesn’t have a clue. He had no answers for what the team needs to do differently against the Jets. At least Tippet had some comments about the way the Jets have changed their game to be more defensively sound and effective against them.
I’ll sound like a broken record…until McD and all decide to play a team Defence they will be unsuccessful against teams that play like Winnipeg.

Benson is a better option than Shore or Ryan.
Should have McD and Drai alternate as 4th line centre. They have lots of energy and will elevate the bottom six.

Benson is a better option than Shore or Ryan.
Should have McD and Drai alternate as 4th line centre. They have lots of energy and will elevate the bottom six.
- redwolf

Sounds like a great idea, I think they should be playing 40 minutes a game instead of 32.

Throwing out McDavid or Draisitl on a 4th line shift with Shore and Sceviour is just a waste of energy. I would do what Bowman used to do. You don't just blindly roll 4 lines. You periodically insert a new combo into the mix. Use your 4 lines but then suddenly try McDavid with McLeod and Foegele. Follow that with Draisitl with Perlini and Benson. So maybe once a period you spot McDavid or Draisitl with an extra shift, but with some skill. Another crazy tactic Bowman used to do is roll 3-4-1 to start games. Then 3-1 and finally line 2. Fedorov's line would sometimes sit for the first 6-7 shifts. Then finally come out like a caged lion. He'd then play a ton.

Throwing out McDavid or Draisitl on a 4th line shift with Shore and Sceviour is just a waste of energy. I would do what Bowman used to do. You don't just blindly roll 4 lines. You periodically insert a new combo into the mix. Use your 4 lines but then suddenly try McDavid with McLeod and Foegele. Follow that with Draisitl with Perlini and Benson. So maybe once a period you spot McDavid or Draisitl with an extra shift, but with some skill. Another crazy tactic Bowman used to do is roll 3-4-1 to start games. Then 3-1 and finally line 2. Fedorov's line would sometimes sit for the first 6-7 shifts. Then finally come out like a caged lion. He'd then play a ton.
- HockeyBuzzed

Sounds like a good way for us to dig even more early game holes than we have been (if that is even possible), since our second line is also our best line at even strength.

Sounds like a good way for us to dig even more early game holes than we have been (if that is even possible), since our second line is also our best line at even strength.
- Beergu

Umm, I suggested spotting McDavid or Draisitl with an occasional extra shift with guys that have a bit of skill.

Never suggested planting our 2nd line to the bench for 6-7 minutes. Merely shared that this was another crazy tactic Scotty did. It helped having depth that those Wings teams had. I'm sure part of it was simply to disrupt any line matching from his opponent. You want to match up Pronger against Fedorov...OK. We're not rolling 1-2-3-4 so have fun keeping up.

Umm, I suggested spotting McDavid or Draisitl with an occasional extra shift with guys that have a bit of skill.

Never suggested planting our 2nd line to the bench for 6-7 minutes. Merely shared that this was another crazy tactic Scotty did. It helped having depth that those Wings teams had. I'm sure part of it was simply to disrupt any line matching from his opponent. You want to match up Pronger against Fedorov...OK. We're not rolling 1-2-3-4 so have fun keeping up.
- HockeyBuzzed

Right now McD and Drai are playing 25 minutes a night. Obviously some of that is double shifting and PP time, but do you think the answer is 25 minutes or more per night for 82 games? How about having a 3rd and 4th line you can roll for 10-13 minutes a game.

Right now McD and Drai are playing 25 minutes a night. Obviously some of that is double shifting and PP time, but do you think the answer is 25 minutes or more per night for 82 games? How about having a 3rd and 4th line you can roll for 10-13 minutes a game.
- Traveldude

I would move RNH to 3rd line and have a more balanced line up. I would give McDavid and Draisitl less time overall, but would spot other wingers with them once in awhile. When you give Yamo or Hyman or Pulj a shift off that keeps them fresh, whereas a guy like McLeod or Benson or even Kassian can gain some confidence when they get 1 or 2 shifts a night with a star.

I would move RNH to 3rd line and have a more balanced line up. I would give McDavid and Draisitl less time overall, but would spot other wingers with them once in awhile. When you give Yamo or Hyman or Pulj a shift off that keeps them fresh, whereas a guy like McLeod or Benson or even Kassian can gain some confidence when they get 1 or 2 shifts a night with a star.
- HockeyBuzzed

Disagree. Just keep the top two lines consistent and roll 3 (1-2-3/4). If these guys can’t get their poop together and do their roll then that’s their problem not McDavid or Drais.

I think Skinner is ready to be an NHL back up. Needs more games this season as he's been pretty solid.

I'm liking McLeod and Foegele together as well.

Keith still sucks ass. Two times the Jets nearly had a 2 on 1 because of his inability to process the game anymore lol.

I think Skinner is ready to be an NHL back up. Needs more games this season as he's been pretty solid.

I'm liking McLeod and Foegele together as well.

Keith still sucks ass. Two times the Jets nearly had a 2 on 1 because of his inability to process the game anymore lol.
- Oilers4Life14

Lol. You have no clue. You’re goaltending analysis has been awful over the years.
Skinner has been lucky so far. He’s giving up a lot of juicy rebounds.

Lol. You have no clue. You’re goaltending analysis has been awful over the years.
Skinner has been lucky so far. He’s giving up a lot of juicy rebounds.
- TurdFergeson

Has it been awful over the years? Yeah. Saying Koskinen would win the Vezina was a dumb hot take.

Skinner has allowed a lot of rebounds, but he's also been placing them in the corner. You're allowing you pessimism to creep into your analysis bruh.

I guess low blocker is Hellybuck's weakness

I guess low blocker is Hellybuck's weakness
- 13sundin13

Not Skinner's though.

Pure luck from Skinner though. 45 saves on 46 shots? That's pure luck.

What a game.

Pure luck from Skinner though. 45 saves on 46 shots? That's pure luck.
- Oilers4Life14

I'd say that the D actually helped him out this game though (weird to say out loud). His positioning and tracking was phenomenal, but he did have an issue holding onto the puck quite a few times, and it was rarely pushed out to the corners. A lot that he had to drop down and smother in front of him, and the D actually game him time to do that.

Definitely agree Keith sucks though.

I'd say that the D actually helped him out this game though (weird to say out loud). His positioning and tracking was phenomenal, but he did have an issue holding onto the puck quite a few times, and it was rarely pushed out to the corners. A lot that he had to drop down and smother in front of him, and the D actually game him time to do that.

Definitely agree Keith sucks though.
- Beergu

Didn’t get to watch the third or OT. Sounds like he made some big stops especially in OT.

Sounds like you get your way Sean. Broberg called up.