Punching Yourself In The Face With Precious Passing - Oilers Caught Napping
From Other Worldly To Underwhelming. New School Meets Old School.
Sledgehammer - Peter Gabriel
If there was a moment that captured last night’s game 5 between the Oilers and Panthers, it was Corey Perry’s exasperated turn and shoot, one timer goal from the point with 3 minutes left and the Oilers net empty. Perry’s shot sailed untouched through a crowd past Bobrovsky to give the Oilers a fighting chance to make a miracle down 4-2 in the 3rd. It was the Oilers 17th shot of the game, after only 11 shots over the first two periods.
The Oilers have become precious passers since exploding for 3 goals in the first 5 minutes of game 2. Perry’s shot from the point at the end of game 5 seemed to be a telling message to the team. Just shoot the puck already. Connor McDavid had scored the Oilers first goal of the game and his first goal of the finals at the 12 min mark of the 3rd to bring the Oilers within two, down 3-1. Earlier, in the second period McDavid hit the short side post, which doesn’t count as a shot on goal, leaving the Oilers captain with only two shots by games end.
Corey Perry
Even when McDavid finally scored you could see him considering a cross ice pass to Perry in the right side slot. Instead McDavid held onto the puck and made a number of small, fast McDavid deeks and slid the puck effortlessly past Bobrovsky. McDavid didn’t seem happy about the goal. Even if the typically pan faced McDavid was just showing his disappointment about the Oilers overall play to that point, some emotion couldn’t have hurt give his teammates a lift.
The feeling of finally filled the Edmonton arena after McDavid finally took the shot and scored, but minutes later the napping Oilers allowed Marchand another free pass up the ice, who scored his second of the game much the way he had scored his first.
The Oilers have the talent, but the Panthers are the opportunists, taking what they are given and not over thinking it. When opportunity knocks, off the face-off or with a lucky bounce the Panthers don’t even think about passing, they just fire the puck through a crowd or not.
There is no doubting that assists have become another dimension in the McDavid multiverse. But something seemed to happen to the team after giving up the lead in game 2 in Edmonton after McDavid’s daVinci-esque deek, dangle dish.
Chintzy chips off the boards in their own end. Looking for the pass when the shot is there. A lack of depth scoring. Napping when the game matters most and letting the Panthers set the tone. It’s all there to see plain and simple. Still, the Oilers are two wins away from hosting the Stanley Cup at the end of game 7 on home ice.
Someone has to win game 3 in a series tied 1-1, and the same is true for game 5 when a series is tied 2-2. Winning 2 in row is no big deal and if the Oilers can find their game again who’s to say they couldn’t run away with games 6 and 7.
The shame in it all is that Edmonton goalie Calvin Pickard played spectacularly in game 4 and the Oilers had the puck luck on Draisaitl’s overtime winner. Pickard was solid again in net in game 5 and appears ready to provide the stable goaltending the Oilers need to pull off 2 wins in row. It’s the rest of Oilers that don’t seem to be able to be consistent enough to make it happen. Shooting themselves in the foot instead of the puck in the net.
At some point you have to win a close game 2-1. The Panthers had less than 20 shots themselves in game 5 but made the most of what the Oilers napping provided. If the Oilers want to win high scoring games 6-5, they are going to have to find their legs, cut out the give aways and get some shots on goals.
We know the Oilers can, can they find the will and wake up?
2 Way Game
The OKC Thunder scored 111 points with just 3 - 3 point shots winning game 4 of the NBA finals. The Pacers have made a name for themselves by playing big man, new school, 3 point basket ball in the 2025 playoffs. Instead the Pacers were forced to watch home movies from the 1990’s as the Thunder reeled off a 4th quarter of tough defence, tight passing and 2 point jump shots.
M.J. fade away over The Glove
SGA looks like a skinny young Jordan but plays like Jordan in his final seasons, popping fade away, mid-range jumpers over the stretching hands of Pacers defenders. Thunder centre Chet Holmgren played determined and fearless, grabbing offensive rebounds, throwing down dunks and hitting shots despite taking a beating physically throughout the game.
OKC was solid and dependable while the Pacers looked less mystical. Lord only knows if the Pacer magic will return and upend the fundamental Thunder in game 5.
Show For Me - Show For You
Shohei Ohtani is a wonder. If a single individual is worth that much money, he might be it. Just let him pitch and play right field on top of hitting the ball to Mars with that sledgehammer swing. We all want to see the whole package. You know he wants to show us.
