-Buzzsaw-

I think that would also be a mistake. JT needs a good winger in the same way Petey does... he and Boeser fed off each other's creativity all season. I also think Boeser fits Miller's forecheck style better than he fits with Pettersson. Yes, he could play with Pettersson and would make him better, but best to leave him with Miller. That line also had Suter, who although he wasn't up to real top six standards because he can't finish half the gimmes he got giftwrapped for him, did have a decent year and does understand how position himself. Next to Garland and Joshua, Suter is the best of bottom six... but he really should be centering the 4th line. Maybe Suter will improve his finish this year... hopefully. Putting Boeser aside, Petey needs at least one top six player on his line... could be Lindholm, could be someone else. In a pinch, he would also probably do well with Garland and Joshua... not top sixers, but high level 3rd liners.

Where do you get that idea? Did you look at his photo? You don't get legs like that unless you train hard.

I don't dispute Edmonton can play dirty and does frequently. I am not rating their chances on their moral superiority... rating it on what I think they can do on the ice legitimately. 3-0 game was close... this one was also closer than score suggested.

I know the Oilers have lost both games by significant margins, but I don't think the final scores reflected how close the games were. I think the Oilers are not playing up to their capabilities... they are missing a lot of passes which they would complete normally. And missing a lot of shots they'd put in the back of the net. Sure there is the "Bob's in your head" factor, but I don't that explains the Oiler scoring drought completely. I think they are capable of better play. First game in Deadmonton is the key. Oilers need to solve Bobrovsky big time with a lot of goals. I expect them to play better... question is, will that be enough? I think they are missing a healthy Kane... if he was hitting Panthers D the way he hit Hughes, would be diifferent series. Doesn't help that none of the rest of the Oilers are hitting... (exception... Dirty Drai on Barkov) Does anyone know if Barkov will be back or if there is a suspension considered for Draisaitl?

Gotta say if you don't understand the difference between a Pettersson and a Bure, you really don't know hockey. Bure was a player who could do it all on his own... he had the speed, acceleration and moves. He was a Bobby Hull type player... a dynamic pure scorer. Pettersson is a Gretzky type of player... you never saw Gretzky accelerate away from multiple players with pure speed and stick handle through a whole team... instead you saw him make the perfect pass, use his wingers and the rest of the team around... slide to the open ice... hold on to the puck and dish... often his game was at a slower pace. That is exactly what Pettersson does when he is playing at his best. But that type of skill requires Wingers who know they need to go to the open ice where Gretzky/Pettersson can find them... and they need to be able to bury the puck when they get that chance. All season I watched Mikheyev/Lafferty/whoever either not go to the right place, or screw up their opportunities when they were sent in alone. Hoglander is good enough that he converted some of Pettersson's passes when the puck was put on his stick, but he is not a playmaker himself, he has not shown to this point he understands give and go, or setting up a linemate. Pettersson needs good linemates to put up big numbers. And I will make a prediction right now that if Tocchet does not put a decent winger, or preferably two decent wingers with him, Pettersson will have another less than optimum season. Putting Pettersson with a bunch of 4th liners or Rookes and expecting him to be a McDavid, MacKinnon or Lemieux type of player is not going to see him have the type of real success he is capable of.

Anyone notice what the panel said about Kane being injured? We know who was responsible... Big Z's gentle touch has left Big Bad Evander hurting bad. SIGN BIG Z !!!!

I am hearing a lot from Tocchet about how Pettersson needs to improve. But I am not hearing anything from Tocchet about how his coaching could improve. I have yet to hear anything where he acknowledges that just maybe, he made mistakes during the playoffs, (he did) and could improve. One thing I know for sure... if Tocchet continues to play Pettersson with 4th liners, he will not get optimum production from him.

Squats and Core training are standard for all professional hockey players... Pettersson probably does more than you could ever hope to.

He's a jerk... but he's playing extremely well.

For the Canucks to not be able to sign Lindholm... would mean they pissed down the toilet a 1st rounder and multiple players including Kuzmenko... just moronic. That would be a colossal failure of management... frankly I think they should not have done the trade without an lock on an extension deal being signed with Lindholm... You can throw away first rounders on the "possibility" of a Cup run.

McDavid needs to start thinking about his defensive play. He is now up against a genuine Star player in Barkov... the best defensive forward in the league, but also a player who can turn it on offensively at the drop of a hat. The two goals Barkov assisted on this game were prime examples of how fast he can counterattack and how dangerous he is at spotting open wingers. McDavid looked lame on the first goal, and mediocre on the second... he will need to start thinking about where and what position Barkov is in... he cannot ignore his offensive ability.

Goalie Bob has set up Camp in the Oiler's heads. Yes, the Oiler scorers did miss some chances... but a lot of the reason why is they know how good Bob is and are trying to compensate too much. Still the Oilers did carry a lot of the play and the score should have been closer... So for the Oilers, there are bad signs... Bobrovsky establishing mental dominance... and good signs... they are getting chances.

Good job Juice! Of course, this is not his ultimate goal... he wants to coach and win a Cup... I guarantee that's where he will go.

Bad sign... Knoblauch is giving a speech like the Oil have already won the Cup. He should be tight lipped, just the basics... focus on the process.

Heffy... why don't you say what you really mean instead of pussy footing it around...

Yes, I was on record on the old forum as saying Oil should win a Cup with this guy.... Of course, they may fall short... but it would have been a result of their poor management, not from lack of good luck.

Sad to say... but I suspect there will be a riot in Edmonchuck if the Oil don't win.

Yep... Florida has an excellent PK. They shut down NY and NY had the hottest PP in the East.

I agree... Florida is overrated... Miami Beach... been there, done that... I prefer English Bay and Spanish Banks in the summer.

Edmonton does need to get it done this year. They are not a young team anymore. They are a team with players either in their prime or getting older. Eckholm is 34... he is the key to the Edmonton D... how good is he going to be next year? Nugent-Hopkins is 31... so is Hyman. McDavid and Draisaitl are both in their prime age wise at 27 and 28, but Drai has taken such a beating over the years... he always seems to come into the playoffs injured... this year the exception... who knows if he will be healthy next year? McDavid had injuries last three years in a row. He also could be getting fragile. Their supporting cast is also getting older... questions there. Maybe best chance this year.

Florida crossed the line several times during the playoffs so far... Bennett should have been suspended a couple times.

Deb you are getting your digs in...

I think Oilers will have a tough time against Florida... odds are in favour of the Panthers in my opinion. What I think of is Barkov... he is SO good defensively... and you know he will be on McDavid. Plus you have Goalie Bob... who has been solid for Florida and actually is capable of better. Then you have the exceptional balance of the Florida top 2 lines... really high level players throughout the whole top six. And lots of speed and aggressiveness from their bottom six. All the Florida D are really mobile, with high level skill and scoring from Montour and Forsling.... with decent grit from Ekblad. Plus Florida has been there last year... they know what it takes. McDavid and Draisaitl are the wild cards... these two guys are capable of upping their game to a degree which no one else in the league is capable of. And if the Panthers get stupid and take penalties.... then all bets are off... the Oilers will eat them up.

BINGO !!!

Frank Seravelli is a has been drunk... and looks like it. Don't click.