[PDSF] Edmonton Oilers (P2) vs. Los Angeles Kings (P3) | Oilers win series 4-2

[WHL rocks]

18 - 2 - 1 is the Oilers record sice Ekholm trade. Bouchard has been playing on another level playing as Ekholm's partner.

 

Kenny Holland made a heck of a trade to get Ekholm. 

[-Vintage Canuck-]

 

[mll]

Fiala and Vilardi are out for LA - didn't even travel.

 

Fiala took a knee from Cogliano mid-March.  He attempted a return but was then shut down again.  Has yet to practice with the team and it doesn't look like he's been skating on his own either.  Vilardi missed their last 10 games and has resumed skating.

 

LAK has a defensive mindset.  It's their defensive excellence that allowed them to qualify despite having by far the worse goaltending in the league by end of February.  Swapping out Petersen/Quick for Copley/Korpisalo has stabilised things in net. 

 

Per Kevin Woodley, Korpisalo has been better than Skinner based on goals saved above expected per the tracking company CSA.  Few teams are better than LA defensively per Sportlogiq - they were top-3 mid-March and no team allowed less shots from the inner slot.  IE defensively at 5v5, LA should be able to hold their own.  

 

It's scoring the issue with Fiala and Vilardi missing.  Their offence comes from having 3 scoring lines which made matchups challenging for opponents.  Losing both Fiala/Vilardi puts a significant dent in that plan.

 

Fiala's offence generation is on par with some of the very best in the league where he could turn bottom of the lineup players into a scoring threat with his playmaking.  Without him they are much easier to matchup because they lose a whole scoring line.  There's also his effect on their PP with Vilardi also a regular on PP1.

 

Edited April 17, 2023 by mll

[King Heffy]

7 minutes ago, -Vintage Canuck- said:

 

Refs need to be on the lookout for McDiver flopping and give a game misconduct when he starts throwing tantrums.  Time for the Kings to teach this gutless piece of trash what the consequences are for disgracing the sport.

 

 

[Guest]

2 hours ago, WHL rocks said:

18 - 2 - 1 is the Oilers record sice Ekholm trade. Bouchard has been playing on another level playing as Ekholm's partner.

 

Kenny Holland made a heck of a trade to get Ekholm. 

Eckholm is a hell of a defenseman. 

 

Edmonton is a Stanley Cup contender for the foreseeable future. 

[Miss Korea Bob.Loblaw]

1 hour ago, mll said:

Fiala and Vilardi are out for LA - didn't even travel.

 

Fiala took a knee from Cogliano mid-March.  He attempted a return but was then shut down again.  Has yet to practice with the team and it doesn't look like he's been skating on his own either.  Vilardi missed their last 10 games and has resumed skating.

 

LAK has a defensive mindset.  It's their defensive excellence that allowed them to qualify despite having by far the worse goaltending in the league by end of February.  Swapping out Petersen/Quick for Copley/Korpisalo has stabilised things in net. 

 

Per Kevin Woodley, Korpisalo has been better than Skinner based on goals saved above expected per the tracking company CSA.  Few teams are better than LA defensively per Sportlogiq - they were top-3 mid-March and no team allowed less shots from the inner slot.  IE defensively at 5v5, LA should be able to hold their own.  

 

It's scoring the issue with Fiala and Vilardi missing.  Their offence comes from having 3 scoring lines which made matchups challenging for opponents.  Losing both Fiala/Vilardi puts a significant dent in that plan.

 

Fiala's offence generation is on par with some of the very best in the league where he could turn bottom of the lineup players into a scoring threat with his playmaking.  Without him they are much easier to matchup because they lose a whole scoring line.  There's also his effect on their PP with Vilardi also a regular on PP1.

Yes - if LA can avoid taking any penalties, they might have a fighting chance here.  But if they do, we are matching the worst PK out of the remaining teams against what has literally been the greatest PP of all time.  Edmonton doesn't have a lot of weaknesses right now, but LA is literally playing into the Oilers' strengths.  

[mll]

1 hour ago, Bob.Loblaw said:

Yes - if LA can avoid taking any penalties, they might have a fighting chance here.  But if they do, we are matching the worst PK out of the remaining teams against what has literally been the greatest PP of all time.  Edmonton doesn't have a lot of weaknesses right now, but LA is literally playing into the Oilers' strengths.  

Edmonton for sure has the special teams advantage but it might not have been as acute as it is now without those 2 guys for LA.  Edmonton's PP is lethal but LA's PP is top-5.  Edmonton's PK has been incredible after the TDL but on the season they were nearly as bad as LA's.  Ekholm probably a factor for the PK improvement.

 

Many teams only have 1 good PP unit while with Fiala/Vilardi LA would have 2 pretty solid units.  Having 2 creates more matchup issues as the 1st PK unit hardly stays out on the ice for the full 2 minutes.  The 2 units also had different styles which also created some challenges but it's now just 1 unit.

 

Would have liked to see a fully healthy lineup on both sides.

 

[Wise Guy]

Oilers seem to be peaking at the right time, I predict Oilers/Bruins SCF.

[AlexBurrows14Yu]

6 minutes ago, Wise Guy said:

Oilers seem to be peaking at the right time, I predict Oilers/Bruins SCF.

I would hate that… I wish each team forfeit and this year there is no winner

[mll]

 

[IBatch]

Oilers in 5. 

[CBH1926]

Oilers in 5

[greenbean30]

Ugh... Singh is calling this series... Dunno if I can handle listening to him for a bunch of games.

[250Integra]

Copying Mark Donnelly

[Doxm]

GO KINGS GO BABY!!!!! 

[King Heffy]

10 minutes ago, greenbean30 said:

Ugh... Singh is calling this series... Dunno if I can handle listening to him for a bunch of games.

[King Heffy]

[greenbean30]

1 minute ago, King Heffy said:

Wish there was an option just to mute the play by play and leave the arena noise... Then I'd never have to hear Singh ever again.

[King Heffy]

2 minutes ago, greenbean30 said:

Wish there was an option just to mute the play by play and leave the arena noise... Then I'd never have to hear Singh ever again.

I'd honestly consider paying extra.  Mic the players up and put a parental advisory on it.

Edited April 18, 2023 by King Heffy

[King Heffy]

Foegle moved his body to make sure he ran the goalie.  Should be getting 2 in the box for that.