EDMONTON IN A HOLE; PP THROWN IN THE TOWEL?
Carolina kept its streak alive tonight -- the team has not lost two-in-a-row in the playoffs since the first round against Montreal. And taking a page book out of Edmonton's game-plan, they played a strong, physical defensive game around the boards and in the defensive end.
In fact, there defensive game was outstanding. They were quick to the puck on the PK, often sending a third player into a scrum along the low boards. And like most Edmonton fans, I could be found screaming at the tv "Get the thing out front!" But their system has worked to perfection this series, and Edmonton cannot seem to solve it. And the odd time that they do, Cam Ward has been as solid as Mack truck.
If there is anyone to blame, it is the collective PP of the Oilers, and ultimately, the coaching staff of the Oilers for not adjusting the system accordingly. While Carolina is playing an almost perfect PK, it is up to the coaching staff to adjust the system and get the players to work within it. And I am not convinced that this was occuring tonight. The soft dump that had brought them success in earlier series' has not been working in this series, yet they continue to utilize it, and by my count, they were successful at retrieving the puck less than 50% of the time! If the Oilers are to continue this series, they will have to try something different in the offensive zone, which may be easier said than done with, at best, three games remaining in the season.
And like NS over at Out of Left Field, I agree the Jussi Markanen played as well as anyone not named Roloson, and did a great job of keeping Edmonton in the game. He is not the one to blame, not that many people would be blaming him. Nonetheless, like my laundry on a Sunday afternoon, the "kid" got hung-out-to-dry on Recchi's game winner. Let's hope the Oilers don't throw in their towels just yet.
In fact, there defensive game was outstanding. They were quick to the puck on the PK, often sending a third player into a scrum along the low boards. And like most Edmonton fans, I could be found screaming at the tv "Get the thing out front!" But their system has worked to perfection this series, and Edmonton cannot seem to solve it. And the odd time that they do, Cam Ward has been as solid as Mack truck.
If there is anyone to blame, it is the collective PP of the Oilers, and ultimately, the coaching staff of the Oilers for not adjusting the system accordingly. While Carolina is playing an almost perfect PK, it is up to the coaching staff to adjust the system and get the players to work within it. And I am not convinced that this was occuring tonight. The soft dump that had brought them success in earlier series' has not been working in this series, yet they continue to utilize it, and by my count, they were successful at retrieving the puck less than 50% of the time! If the Oilers are to continue this series, they will have to try something different in the offensive zone, which may be easier said than done with, at best, three games remaining in the season.
And like NS over at Out of Left Field, I agree the Jussi Markanen played as well as anyone not named Roloson, and did a great job of keeping Edmonton in the game. He is not the one to blame, not that many people would be blaming him. Nonetheless, like my laundry on a Sunday afternoon, the "kid" got hung-out-to-dry on Recchi's game winner. Let's hope the Oilers don't throw in their towels just yet.
posted by Pattington at 1:26 a.m.
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