The NHL Thread

las vegas black nights: not quite dead yet

Think mcdavid had a jfc skinner face after the first goal

He's so ****ing bad. How was Pickard not the number one goalie all year?

it's really hard to tell the difference in quality of goalies because sample sizes are so small (one shutout or awful game will severely impact stats for the entire year) and so much of the goal scoring is luck based

we're getting better at figuring out things like whether the goalie was screened or the puck was deflected - whether it was a rebound or not (and importantly whether or not it was a rebound that the goalie should have not given up as a rebound but instead controlled)

i mean it's only recently that we discovered that in most cases a rested backup will perform just as well as a tired starter

so it's still very much gut and feel of the coach on whom in better and while i'm with you that i've seen skinner give up quite a few goals that truly surprised me, i've also seen him appear very good at times and it's not exactly like pickard has been crushing it - both are pretty similar statistically, both are below average goalies

while pickard has been slightly less bad, you could make an argument that skinner is the better goalie because pickard gives up goals from a bit further away than he does on average and is significantly worse on the pk when it's possibly a better test of goalie ability rather than the more random type of goal where you just throw it in front of the net and pray

oil!

looooooooooooooooooooilers

ouch that's an unfortunate own goal

yup, I feel terrible for oilers fans!

Scientists need to study the time space continuum in hockey games. I swear each second takes 10 seconds in real time to tick off of the clock.

Crazy last 8 seconds to go from defense to scoring a goal 2 on 4 or whatever.

My current theory is there is hardly any difference in the goalies. The goalies inspire different levels of confidence in the team and the defence plays differently depending on which goalie is in net, or how they perceive he is playing on any given day.

Sometimes this is helpful, they are careful, or they are more cavalier, but sometimes those changes don't help.

It's all about defence, or how the defence plays with the goalie. A good defensive team will make any goalie look pretty good.

One of the first things I noticed after having been away from the game for 15 years was how much better the defences were, always sticks in the lanes, always sticks knocking pucks off sticks in the slot, much better at squeezing players out along the boards.

Also, clearing the zone is done so much quicker and puck control is sometimes done much more reliably. The former Thrashers were very good at those things. Byfuglien and Enstrom would play pitch and catch and drive the forecheckers to swearing.

I'll disagree. A goalie who can handle the puck and move it like Binnington is insanely valuable. Thompson has actually done a great job for the Caps but could significantly help their stagnant offense if he could play the puck.

Cmon Skinner has GAA over 5 and a save % of .816 . You’re not winning a cup with that . It amazes me the goalies the Oilers have dumped to see them perform elsewhere . The Oilers have had the same goalie coach for over 12 years .
Draisaital had a bad game that didn’t help
Oilers still up 2-1

Let’s hope Calvin can play Monday

And while we will never know, it's hard not to say that the Oilers would've won if Pickard played. A better goalie doesn't let in the first goal, might save the second goal, and also not give up the last goal. Hell, you could argue even the third goal.

They are probably up 3-0 with Pickard, and they are probably down 3-0 if Skinner was the goalie for every game.

Pickard will not play Game 4. Knoblauch considering going with a Shooter Tutor.

I hate to say it, but this is a must-win game tonight.

Wow a smart 100% bang on post from Gus, miracles do happen this year.:p

♥♥

Woll vs Skinner cup finals

1993.

It’s been that long since a Canadian team has won the cup.

If a Can team does make the cup and loses then I support a mild riot. Not a full on one like the Vancouver riot but a few cars burned and the cops chasing people would fit nicely.

that is essentially what the vancouver "riot" was

anyway, no one will riot because the only fanbases with #thepassion are in vancouver and montreal

Nice little marathon OT game shaping up between Ottawa and Montreal in the PWHL. Heading to 3rd OT with both teams having blown a 5v3 opportunity already. Lots of good chances both ways though. I thought I'd just start off Jets-Stars on the second screen but now it might stay there for the duration

Every Canadian team but Toronto (and Winnipeg but they were gone 15 of those years) has made the Finals since then.