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Vancouver with two lines in the top 5. Pettersson line may not be scoring a whole bunch but they aren’t allowing goals when they are on the ice. Winnipeg with one line at #20 and they get scored on more than they score. I think I understand why they didn’t win.

Advanced stats for top playoff line combinations.

I agree with your points. Playoff goalies can’t have bad games or the team loses. I will say Vancouver looked thrown off by trying to line match or at least that was my impression - that will be better at home in game 7 though. I didn’t think they were as tight or ruthless in their zone.

I totally get cheering for the team that has never won the cup. With no Hab team to cheer for I definitely cheer for the Oilers in big part because there is such a fun vibe in the city while the Oilers are still playing. I also have great respect for McDavid. The only Canadian teams I heartily cheer against are the Leafs, the Leafs and also the Leafs and sometimes Ottawa.

One thing I notice is that, when playoff goalies have a mediocre outing, everyone says they “weren’t to blame” for the loss. The exact same was said about Skinner earlier in the series. And in one sense, that’s largely true - after all, the Canucks only scored one goal last night and it’s never fair to expect your G to pitch a shutout. However, a goalie who lets in a couple of dodgy ones affects the entire complexion of the game, and in a close series, you can’t have a goalie have an off night and expect to win. Silov has to be better. Last time he had a dubious outing, Game One, he bounced back strong. Since I’m pulling for the Canucks, I hope this happens again.

I don’t hate or dislike Edmonton so I don’t care too much. It would be nice for Vancouver to win a cup though. The Canadian team I hate is Calgary. This grudge goes back to 1989 cup finals. That dirty, cabbage eating, moustache faced asshat Lanny McDonald. Leafs, jets, Sens are also pieces of crap but Calgary can piss off into the sun.

I don't think there is much more he can do. He gives 100% every shift, he back checks, doesn't whine and complain, doesn't care about personal stats, he just wants to win the cup.

Id also like to see McDavid win a cup as hes done everything to drag that team forward. With help from Drai of course. They are so dominant and fun to watch

I don’t think Vancouver has a chance against Dallas but Edmonton does. No team in the NHL can completely stop the Oiler offence. And we would get the better Winnipeg pick as consolation.

I also hope for a happy celebration. In Edmonton.

Well the last time Vancouver hosted a game 7 the result was chaos. I hope for a happy riot this time.

Glad the Oilers won, game 7 should be fun. I am not even going to try and predict who wins. Flip a coin. If the Oilers win, the Winnipeg pick goes from 27 to 26.

Vancouver didn’t deserve to win. They looked timid in the Ozone and didn’t use their Dmen except right at the blue line. Too worried that Edmonton might take the puck and score. I think Vancouver played not to lose instead of playing to win. Silovs wasn’t to blame for the loss but he wasn’t as great as he has been. Game 7 is going to be interesting

I think Skinner looks a bit shaky Canucks gotta score on the PP Blatant goalie interference on the disallowed goal. Go Nucks

Go Canucks! Skinner back in, fill the net!!! Stuart Skinner will return to the net for the Edmonton Oilers in a must-win Game 6 against the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night. Down 3-2 in the series and coming off of a game where the offense was virtually non-existent, the Oilers face elimination in the Western Conference second-round matchup. Skinner, who expressed his excitement about starting, has struggled this postseason with a .793 save percentage in three playoff games, allowing 12 goals on 58 shots. Despite these numbers, Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch remains confident in Skinner’s abilities. He noted, “We’ve seen Stu play unbelievably well for us, steal games, just be solid,” Knoblauch said after the morning skate. “He’s been our guy all year. So, given a situation like this, that’s who we want in net.” Oilers Dealing with Illness, Skinner Back in for Game 6 - The Hockey Writers - Edmonton Oilers - NHL News, Analysis & More

He refused to extend KHL deal, so they kinda stuck him in MHL- junior league he was too good for and not play KHL as punishment? So, he may be able to come to North America after 1 more year in current deal? I think is what i heard, or thereabouts. (BUT, seems likely to be picked very early on anyways.)

Yes, he’d be tough to walk away from, but so would any of those guys. The thing with Hronek is that he benefitted hugely from playing with Hughes and generally did not impress when separated from him, tailed off badly in the second half, and has been pretty ‘meh’ in these playoffs - all while looking for something like $7 mil per (according to rumour). So I’m saying that, assuming they can’t keep ‘em all, he’s probably one I let go. Then see if you can’t dredge the market for a plausible puck-mover.

Hronek is a RD, scored 48 points and is only 26. Plus the Canucks gave up a 1st and 2nd for him, hard to believe they will just let him walk away for nothing but they they have tough decisions to make.

I let Joshua and Hronek go...Myers will probably re-up at a reasonable rate. Lindholm and Zadorov are the tough calls, I suspect.

And that's why Demidov may fall a bit, there is no guarantee he will come to the NHL. I don't know if he has indicated his desire to play in the NHL.

Yes ... but they might have picked Hayton or Zadina instead--both were picked before Hughes--and that would have been worse yet that Kotkaniemi.

And the Flyers still don't know when or whether Michkov will come to the NHL.

I agree they are definitely a complete team and I also figured they would have a good chance at winning the Cup. My comment was about the Stars being more of a skilled team than a brute crash and bang style. Van and Edm aren't large crash and bang teams and in the 3rd round they would be fairly banged up so they would have little chance against a crash and bang team. Dallas has a interesting team because they are generally large. They only have 2 guys under 6' but they have 9 guys that are under 200 lbs. However, the rest of them are over 200 lbs and 6 of them are 215+ lbs and 3 are around 210 lbs. The Stars are a perfect example for why I keep saying the Habs need to be taller and stronger.

There are always risks when drafting 18 yr-olds ... but 2018 was a weak draft in terms of top-end talent, and Bergevin et al compounded things by REACHING for KK and drafting for need instead of BPA.

I would of said that about Carolina, really surprised they were eliminated. I'm still saying Florida is winning the cup. They have that playoff grit that makes for a miserable season for them, but great playoff team that other teams hate to play against and a goalie that can steal a game or 2 a series.