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Post by drtaf on Oct 14, 2019 15:16:10 GMT -7
I'd take "average" as a positive since that SC winners list posted above has a lot of average goaltenders in it that got hot for a month or so and that's about it. The idea of a franchise goalie carrying the load I think is becoming extinct. In fact teams who still have one like Price, Lundquist etc., are themselves considered mediocre. Most teams would rather spend the big bucks on elite scoring and "make do" with average goaltending. No stats, just my eyeball analysis.
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DeutschOil
Oilers Roster
"I know a thing or two about winning" KLowe 2012ish
Posts: 163
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Post by DeutschOil on Oct 14, 2019 16:12:18 GMT -7
I'd take "average" as a positive since that SC winners list posted above has a lot of average goaltenders in it that got hot for a month or so and that's about it. The idea of a franchise goalie carrying the load I think is becoming extinct. In fact teams who still have one like Price, Lundquist etc., are themselves considered mediocre. Most teams would rather spend the big bucks on elite scoring and "make do" with average goaltending. No stats, just my eyeball analysis. Agreed. But I still don't think the Smith/Kosk combo will get us to that level. Not yet .... but I'm willing to change my mind.
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Post by Marshall Bruce Mathers III on Oct 14, 2019 16:37:36 GMT -7
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Post by fogolin2 on Oct 14, 2019 17:15:06 GMT -7
Average goaltending is a positive (for us,) though. Without the constant soul destroying 1st shot goals the team can play a different game. (Yes, he wasn't as bad last year as before, but it was still very bad,) I think we'll maintain average to slightly above average for most of the year, since a lot of goaltending stats are really an extension of team stats in the modern game. Teams not playing from behind and not always afraid every shot could go in can play with more confidence, not always chasing lets you settle in to the game plan. My hope is that this soft start to the schedule lets the team turn "the system" into a habit before they face tougher challenges. If we keep the ball rolling we'll be in the hunt for a playoff spot. I think it's too tall an order to actually improve the situation in net this season, it's more of a long term goal when we are able to free up more money at the end of the year. Right now though, our net gives us a chance to win on most nights, and that is such a vast improvement we should just enjoy the ride, and worry about the next step when its time to take that next step. Last year Smith played more than good enough to win in the playoffs against the Avs, but the rest of the fLames were so woefully bad he didn't have a prayer. I think our current lineup is good enough to get into the playoffs, and depending on the opponent maybe even eke out a first round win. We're not a Cup contender yet, and Goal isn't the only upgrade we need to take that stride. Quite Frankly, I thought saying we had "average" goaltending was going to be taken as a positive. But for some reason, posters are claiming that statement as a negative. I don't see why so many are jumping at the bit to argue about positives. Pretty funny. You used to pick fights with anybody saying something positive, now you say 'average' as a positive (and, I totally agree) and other people are picking a fight with you. Oh, Oilers fans...ssiiigghh
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Post by fogolin2 on Oct 14, 2019 17:16:52 GMT -7
I'd take "average" as a positive since that SC winners list posted above has a lot of average goaltenders in it that got hot for a month or so and that's about it. The idea of a franchise goalie carrying the load I think is becoming extinct. In fact teams who still have one like Price, Lundquist etc., are themselves considered mediocre. Most teams would rather spend the big bucks on elite scoring and "make do" with average goaltending. No stats, just my eyeball analysis. Exactly. The Flames played great, set the record for points in a season, while Smith was TERRIBLE most of the year. Then, in the playoffs, the fLames ghosted entirely, and Smith was clearly their best player. Truly, anything can happen. Especially with goalies.
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Post by mrtea on Oct 17, 2019 15:13:11 GMT -7
Quite Frankly, I thought saying we had "average" goaltending was going to be taken as a positive. But for some reason, posters are claiming that statement as a negative. I don't see why so many are jumping at the bit to argue about positives. Pretty funny. You used to pick fights with anybody saying something positive, now you say 'average' as a positive (and, I totally agree) and other people are picking a fight with you. Oh, Oilers fans...ssiiigghh Just thought I'd comment on Kos's performance last night. I thought he played extremely well and battled to keep the Oilers in the game in the 2nd period and again at the end of the 3rd. It seemed like all the Oilers legs gave out on them at the same time. Thank goodness McDavid kickstarted the team back into the game. I was really surprised just how good Koskinen played last night, I hope he can bring that all season and then we won't worry about his salary or finding a replacement right away. Nurse's penalty in the 3rd period should be taken by the team as a good lesson on what NOT to do. I don't think he would have shown off his MMA moves if the score had been closer. Nurse almost got the Oilers in trouble because of a selfish retaliation and he knows better. Next thing you know it's 6-3 and Koskinen is getting shelled again. In a way I'm glad because Tippett can now use this as a learning experience and it didn't have to cost us a game to learn it.
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Post by Messrules11 on Oct 18, 2019 21:00:42 GMT -7
Koskinen, umm.. numbers look great.
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Post by rapiershot on Oct 18, 2019 21:27:02 GMT -7
Kosk is finding ways to win...and it's working. I see a Kosk this season that doesn't flounder under pressure (maintains his positioning) and seems cooler generally. Whether that means that he trusts his Defence more or has changed his own game / mind set is hard to read. Keep up the great work, Mikko!!!
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Post by Marshall Bruce Mathers III on Oct 18, 2019 22:41:55 GMT -7
We all gotta remember. Koskinen went 8-2 with two shutouts and around a .925ish save percentage his first 10 starts with us last season.
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Post by neufab94 on Oct 19, 2019 10:36:45 GMT -7
We all gotta remember. Koskinen went 8-2 with two shutouts and around a .925ish save percentage his first 10 starts with us last season. Right. Having Smith here will be good because goal tenders can't stay hot forever. If Koskinen ends up playing 50 games I think that's plenty.
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Post by Marshall Bruce Mathers III on Oct 19, 2019 10:43:16 GMT -7
We all gotta remember. Koskinen went 8-2 with two shutouts and around a .925ish save percentage his first 10 starts with us last season. Right. Having Smith here will be good because goal tenders can't stay hot forever. If Koskinen ends up playing 50 games I think that's plenty. Koskinen had 55 last season, finished with a winning record. I think that was still a bit much for him. I'd drop him to 45, and have Smith play 37.
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Post by fogolin2 on Oct 19, 2019 11:57:03 GMT -7
Right. Having Smith here will be good because goal tenders can't stay hot forever. If Koskinen ends up playing 50 games I think that's plenty. Koskinen had 55 last season, finished with a winning record. I think that was still a bit much for him. I'd drop him to 45, and have Smith play 37. Last year was Kos' first try at carrying the starter load. Maybe he learned a bit about pacing himself, so he could be a bit better over a similar 55 games or so. I like the idea of Smith playing 35ish games. He'll lay an egg or two in there, but he doesn't seem to get affected by it. Just keeps battling. Looking good so far, and it doesn't seem like either of them is making more than a couple of big saves per game. If the teams keeps playing the system, the goalies could maintain something similar to what they're doing now.
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Post by igibb on Oct 25, 2019 9:56:01 GMT -7
Read today that Kos is the first Oilers goalie to start the season 5-0
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Post by mrtea on Oct 25, 2019 10:48:06 GMT -7
Read today that Kos is the first Oilers goalie to start the season 5-0 That's pretty cool and a feather in Koskinen's cap. He has looked a lot better this season. He must have been working hard with the goalie coach and actually learning, very impressive to be able and willing to learn at his age. I have to admit I thought he would be our Achilles heal, but hey, I'm wrong again and couldn't be happier. The team is helping but Kos is earning his own success and not getting shaken after a couple of quick goals, he just settles in and keeps battling.
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Post by Messier11 on Oct 25, 2019 10:49:15 GMT -7
Koskinen is good. He was ridden into the ground by Hitchmale chicken last year.
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Post by Marshall Bruce Mathers III on Oct 25, 2019 12:38:18 GMT -7
Koskinen is good. He was ridden into the ground by Hitchmale chicken last year. Koski played 55 games last season, 48 for Hitchmale chicken and 7 for McLellan. Talbot played 73 in 2016-17, and 67 in 2017-18. I wouldn’t say he was ridden into the ground, but I would agree he was slightly over played. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Post by Messier11 on Oct 28, 2019 13:41:40 GMT -7
Koskinen is good. He was ridden into the ground by Hitchmale chicken last year. Koski played 55 games last season, 48 for Hitchmale chicken and 7 for McLellan. Talbot played 73 in 2016-17, and 67 in 2017-18. I wouldn’t say he was ridden into the ground, but I would agree he was slightly over played. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Keep in mind this is a guy who was coming from a European schedule. He also only had 1 start in October so he played over 50 games between November and mid April. That’s a big adjustment. Hitch even used him on both nights of back to backs.
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Post by Marshall Bruce Mathers III on Oct 28, 2019 13:43:44 GMT -7
Koski played 55 games last season, 48 for Hitchmale chicken and 7 for McLellan. Talbot played 73 in 2016-17, and 67 in 2017-18. I wouldn’t say he was ridden into the ground, but I would agree he was slightly over played. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Keep in mind this is a guy who was coming from a European schedule. He also only had 1 start in October so he played over 50 games between November and mid April. That’s a big adjustment. Hitch even used him on both nights of back to backs. True. I mean he has played close to that before, 49, but the competition is a lot higher now. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Post by igibb on Oct 28, 2019 14:06:56 GMT -7
Keep in mind this is a guy who was coming from a European schedule. He also only had 1 start in October so he played over 50 games between November and mid April. That’s a big adjustment. Hitch even used him on both nights of back to backs. True. I mean he has played close to that before, 49, but the competition is a lot higher now. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Post by Marshall Bruce Mathers III on Oct 28, 2019 14:12:56 GMT -7
True. I mean he has played close to that before, 49, but the competition is a lot higher now. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk And he was 23 not 31. Yeah but lots of goalies in their 30s play 50+ games a season. Dubnyk, Price, Bobrovsky, Fleury, Andersen, Holtby, Rinne, Howard, Lundqvist, etc. Not saying Koskinen is at the level of some of those, but they’re all 30 or older and play a lot. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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