Edmonton Oilers Playoff Talk: “Smith was a microcosm of this Oilers team.” Says One Pundit

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Cult of Hockey

Player grades: Mike Smith’s blunder key play in Edmonton Oilers loss to Los Angeles Kings.

Connor McDavid, 8. Great game, with major contributions to nine Grade A shots.
Kailer Yamamoto, 8. One goal and an assist in a great game. Mixed it up with big Iafollo early on…
Brett Kulak, 7. He fired a 5-alarmer in tight in the first. He kept a clean sheet at even strength, not one major mistake on a Grade A shot against.
Zach Hyman, 7. Some monumental hustle plays this game. His dogged o-zone ragging of the puck got a penalty call in the second.
Darnell Nurse, 4. Super rough start to this one. He got caught in the Red Light Zone — covering no one and blocking no passing lane — on the first L.A. goal.
Jesse Puljujarvi, 3. He seemed off. He was not sharp with the puck. He played just 7:52.
Mike Smith, 3. Did so much so well, but one brutal error in crunch time lost his team the game, for which he gets docked three full grades.

BLH’s Thoughts: Serious? How can you dock Smith three full grades for one error when he actually made the save he needed to off of the giveaway? The ones being docked should be the defenseman who let that pass get out from behind the net, the forward who wasn’t covering Durzi, and/or the skater (dman or center, you pick) who left Danault all alone at the side of the net. As far as I’m concerned, Smith did everything he needed to on that play and his teammates let him down.

I didn’t think Nurse was so bad that he should be considered below average on the night. It looks like he’s still dealing with a knock, but he kept things pretty simple and wasn’t forcing anything substantial on the night plus he showed a little edge as well as the odd rush into LA’s zone which I enjoyed.

My boy Jesse… He is not looking himself. He looks tentative and nervous, but considering the circumstances, I can understand why he’d be feeling like that. However, I need him to buck up though and stick his nose in places where it doesn’t belong. Take a few punches, throw a few, and simply get involved. I love Pulju to death, but if he could spend some time watching old clips of Tomas Holmstrom, it would do him a world of good. I don’t know, he just doesn’t look himself and I wonder if that’s a lot to do with how much pressure he puts on himself in order to keep Connor happy. Poor kid must be a bucket of nerves right now.

Tell ya what though, Russell and Barrie did not have a good night. The Kings’ grinders had their way with them because Barrie and Russell don’t have the speed to beat them to the puck nor do they have the size to knock them off of it. So they’re left containing, chasing, or blocking the shot and a reactionary style of play is not the system that’ll see Edmonton to the 2nd round.

I was really impressed with Kailer Yamamoto though. I loved his tenacity and didn’t mind the penalty. He was engaged in the moment and thrived and the aggressiveness of the game didn’t push him out. He dug right in and got better as the game wore on.

Old Man Bouchard is starting to get a bit ornery… Can’t say I mind this too much. Hopefully some more kids walk on his lawn so he can get a bit more angry…

Warren Foegele’s game was as I expected. He used his speed and physicality to tenderize LA’s defenders, but I’d like to see him either take the shot as he enters the offensive zone or drive the SOB right to the net.

Speaking of guys who need to stop mucking around and shoot the puck, I would like to see Evander Kane and Zach Hyman simplify their games and get that fookin’ puck on the net more. Hyman’s work ethic and engine should never be critiqued because he’s elite in both, but sometimes he gets that puck and he rags it for so long that his opportunities dissolve before he gets a shot off and with Kane, sometimes he likes a dangle when he needs to like a shot. It happens though and I imagine they’ll be better in game two, just like the rest of the team.

Sportsnet

Smith’s awful gaffe looms large as Oilers revert to bad habits in Game 1

One mistake… That’s like calling Mount Everest “one hike.” Like calling Connor McDavid “one NHL player.”
Smith made a miraculous save to keep the ensuing chance out of the net, but within seconds Phillip Danault deflected a point shot home for the game-winner with 5:14 to play.
This wasn’t a physical mistake, or a bobbled puck. This was mental — a player taking too big a risk at a time in the game when the safe play is the right play. A veteran player who should know that the playoffs requires patience.
Smith was a microcosm of this Oilers team. His game has been flawless for the past two months, just like the Oilers, who have installed a structure and reliability that simply wasn’t there when the puck dropped in Game 1.
The Kings line of Danault between Iafallo and Trevor Moore was unstoppable, with each player scoring and the line splitting up four assists.
Somehow, an Oilers team that was playing sound, structured hockey down the stretch reverted to their former selves, holding a track meet against a Kings team that was licking their chops at the thought of a loose opponent.

BLH’s Thoughts: The did revert didn’t they? That was Tippett-era defending last night. I really felt like Edmonton’s defensive game was non-existent at times and LA was getting gifted chance after chance even though they weren’t playing that well and they were missing their most gifted scoring winger, Viktor Arvidsson, who was away due to personal reasons.

What I did enjoy is how the team battled back three times, I loved all the hits they were dishing out, and its special teams was on point.

With Mike Smith, he could’ve been better. There’s no doubt in my mind about that. I didn’t feel the same level of comfort as LA broke into Edmonton’s zone with Smith as I have in the last few weeks but ultimately, I truly believe the GWG banking off of Danault is pure luck and I can’t fully blame Smitty for that because other mistakes had to have been made between his “miraculous save” and Durzi’s bank shot.

Conversely, Jonathan Quick was really good and if he continues to be really good we’re going to start hearing comparisons to Corey Crawford and Connor Hellebuyck. The Oilers shooters need to start peppering this guy and driving the net to eliminate the possibility of any sort of narrative developing around Quick.

Are you at the point to where you can pretty much see how Edmonton’s game is going to go after the first few shifts of the night? I mean, if they’re not looking engaged or winning battles, giving up lots of shots or even the first goal or two early on, it’s going to be a long night, isn’t it.

Jay Woodcroft’s got his work cut out for him but I believe in the man and I believe in his group. LA has to win three more to take this one and they barely won this one while Edmonton was having a bad game… What happens when the Oilers regain their mojo?…

Trade Rumors

Spector’s Hockey

Ken Wiebe believes how Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff proceeds with Mark Scheifele and Pierre-Luc Dubois will determine the club’s future.
Wiebe believes Scheifele would draw plenty of interest if Cheveldayoff were to put the 29-year-old center on the trade block this summer.
Bruce Garrioch reports Senators general manager Pierre Dorion said his club won’t spend to the $82.5 million cap next season but they will increase their salary budget… Dorion said he would like to bring in a player to help his young talent play meaningful games by the end of next season.
Garrioch said it’s no secret the Senators would like to add a top-six right winger to skate alongside center Tim Stutzle… The Senators could be among the clubs interested in Ottawa native Claude Giroux if he hits the open market this summer.

The Daily Goal Horn

The Jets announced on Monday that they will begin a search for a new head coach. Interim bench boss Dave Lowry will also interview in hopes of becoming the permanent coach… Word out of Winnipeg is that he’s unlikely to get the job… The top potential coaches out there are John Tortorella, Rick Tocchet, and David Quinn.
ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reported on Monday night that the Philadelphia Flyers will be moving on from Mike Yeo as the team’s head coach for next season… Former Flyers power forward, Rick Tocchet is considered the favorite to land the job.

BLH’s Thoughts: If there was any time for teams to “rebuild” it’s now thanks to the 2023 draft that will feature Connor Bedard, Matvei Michkov, and Adam Fantilli. The Jets might want to consider that route…