Round 1: Edmonton Oilers vs. Winnipeg Jets

[L K]

In fairness to the Oilers Hellebyuck did the thing.

8 goals against in 4 games but his expected goals against was 15.47
In comparison Mike Smith with 12 goals against with an expected goals against of 10.8

 

[Frank E]

In fairness to the Oilers Hellebyuck did the thing.

8 goals against in 4 games but his expected goals against was 15.47
In comparison Mike Smith with 12 goals against with an expected goals against of 10.8

That's what scares me if the Leafs get past Montreal.  At some point it's unsustainable, but all it takes in the playoffs is 6 weeks or so.

 

[bustaheims]

In fairness to the Oilers Hellebyuck did the thing.

8 goals against in 4 games but his expected goals against was 15.47
In comparison Mike Smith with 12 goals against with an expected goals against of 10.8

That's what scares me if the Leafs get past Montreal.  At some point it's unsustainable, but all it takes in the playoffs is 6 weeks or so.

Obviously, it's hard to read much into such a small sample size, but, one of the things that helped Winnipeg win this series was that the Oilers depth forwards basically generated nothing. Only 5 forwards had more than 5 shots. There was no depth to their attack. It's not much, but the Leafs already have 6 forwards with more than 5 shots, even though they've played the equivalent of 2 fewer games in terms of game time.

The Oilers are pretty easy to contain. Focus on minimizing their two big threats (which, obviously, it not the easiest thing to do, but when they're playing on the same line, it certainly makes simplifies the focus) while limiting mistakes made against the rest of the roster. Winnipeg executed fairly well there. With the Leafs, there's offensive contributors throughout the lineup, and multiple lines that can generate quality scoring chances and goals.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

In fairness to the Oilers Hellebyuck did the thing.

8 goals against in 4 games but his expected goals against was 15.47
In comparison Mike Smith with 12 goals against with an expected goals against of 10.8

That's what scares me if the Leafs get past Montreal.  At some point it's unsustainable, but all it takes in the playoffs is 6 weeks or so.

I mean, Hellebyuck was great and all, but is he playing any better than Price has been in the first 3 games? Or at least in games 1 and 3? I'll admit I haven't watched much of the Edm/Win series but I've watched the highlights and I don't remember falling out of my chair the way I did when Price made that blocker save on Marner in Game 1 or the sequence in game 2 where it felt like Toronto took 15 shots in 2 minutes.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

This could go just about anywhere, but most belongs here:

https://twitter.com/domluszczyszyn/status/1397275501018898440

Full article. There were 8 playoff games this year and last in which McDavid unbelievably drew zero penalty calls.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

This could go just about anywhere, but most belongs here:

https://twitter.com/domluszczyszyn/status/1397275501018898440

Full article. There were 8 playoff games this year and last in which McDavid unbelievably drew zero penalty calls.

https://twitter.com/ChrisRyan_NJ/status/1397288744722604035

lol

 

[OldTimeHockey]

This could go just about anywhere, but most belongs here:

https://twitter.com/domluszczyszyn/status/1397275501018898440

Full article. There were 8 playoff games this year and last in which McDavid unbelievably drew zero penalty calls.

The officiating is certainly horrible....
But, is this on McDavid as well? Is he going to those spots on the ice? Like I said above, I didn't watch much of the series, but there's definitely penalties being called in other series. Not all of them that's for sure. But they're being called. So is it the officiating out for McDavid or McDavid not getting to the spots that he would usually get penalties called on him from. Just a thought.

 

[L K]

This could go just about anywhere, but most belongs here:

https://twitter.com/domluszczyszyn/status/1397275501018898440

Full article. There were 8 playoff games this year and last in which McDavid unbelievably drew zero penalty calls.

The officiating is certainly horrible....
But, is this on McDavid as well? Is he going to those spots on the ice? Like I said above, I didn't watch much of the series, but there's definitely penalties being called in other series. Not all of them that's for sure. But they're being called. So is it the officiating out for McDavid or McDavid not getting to the spots that he would usually get penalties called on him from. Just a thought.

It's a bit of both.  McDavid is a guy who's game is built on his speed and ability to do things with the puck while maintaining his speed.  It doesn't make him a transition only player but its one of his most dangerous attributes.  When guys are allowed to waterski him up the ice he's absolutely going to the places that should draw penalties because people are committing infractions against him.  He shouldn't have to stand in front of the net eating crosschecks to have interference and hooking be called elsewhere.

 

[Bender]

In fairness to the Oilers Hellebyuck did the thing.

8 goals against in 4 games but his expected goals against was 15.47
In comparison Mike Smith with 12 goals against with an expected goals against of 10.8

That's what scares me if the Leafs get past Montreal.  At some point it's unsustainable, but all it takes in the playoffs is 6 weeks or so.

Obviously, it's hard to read much into such a small sample size, but, one of the things that helped Winnipeg win this series was that the Oilers depth forwards basically generated nothing. Only 5 forwards had more than 5 shots. There was no depth to their attack. It's not much, but the Leafs already have 6 forwards with more than 5 shots, even though they've played the equivalent of 2 fewer games in terms of game time.

The Oilers are pretty easy to contain. Focus on minimizing their two big threats (which, obviously, it not the easiest thing to do, but when they're playing on the same line, it certainly makes simplifies the focus) while limiting mistakes made against the rest of the roster. Winnipeg executed fairly well there. With the Leafs, there's offensive contributors throughout the lineup, and multiple lines that can generate quality scoring chances and goals.

They are almost literally a 2 person team.

 

[Bender]

For me, it's definitely more about how poorly constructed the roster is compared to the amount of hype surrounding them simply because they have 2 of the best players on Earth. They are a bad team, and I feel bad for McDavid and Draisaitl that they're wasting the prime years of their careers in such a terrible organization.

For me it has nothing to do with McDavid but complete and utter disdain for a team that got repeated 1OA picks, some they didn't deserve, through repeated and unending incompetence. Sure, it's a league problem, but I have a lot of time to hate a team that had years of top picks and eventually was so bad they go McDavid even though they had years of 1OA picks (and top 5).

I don't want to see McDavid bounced but I also have no sympathy for him rewarding an incompetent front office with a max contract that he didn't have to sign either.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Full article. There were 8 playoff games this year and last in which McDavid unbelievably drew zero penalty calls.

The officiating is certainly horrible....
But, is this on McDavid as well? Is he going to those spots on the ice? Like I said above, I didn't watch much of the series, but there's definitely penalties being called in other series. Not all of them that's for sure. But they're being called. So is it the officiating out for McDavid or McDavid not getting to the spots that he would usually get penalties called on him from. Just a thought.
[/quote]

It's a bit of both.  McDavid is a guy who's game is built on his speed and ability to do things with the puck while maintaining his speed.  It doesn't make him a transition only player but its one of his most dangerous attributes.  When guys are allowed to waterski him up the ice he's absolutely going to the places that should draw penalties because people are committing infractions against him.  He shouldn't have to stand in front of the net eating crosschecks to have interference and hooking be called elsewhere.
[/quote]

You're probably bang on with that assessment. I feel like this is a yearly discussion that's been ongoing for ages. It drives me crazy when things are let go that are obviously penalties(the defensemen interfering with the driving player after a dump in), yet a one handed "hook/hold" by Hyman is called. It drives me even crazier when a high stick of a puck over the glass is a guaranteed call

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

https://twitter.com/byterryjones/status/1398392087641395200

That's right, a decade of dominance.

A highlight:

"Is there a hockey club in Canada or in next season?s Pacific Division ? maybe even in all of the NHL ? you?d really rather watch for the rest of this decade?"