lol, even when OG Skinner resurfaced, Dallas' goaltending decided to match and one up.

I had a discussion with friends whether pulling Oettinger was the right call, despite 2 goals in 2 shots. Two broken defensive coverage, not entirely soft goals. 2 goals isn't really that big of a lead in today's game especially with so much time left to play. In hindsight, DeSmith didn't look ready to play, that 3rd goal was so soft, what a dagger.

Bailing on Oettinger was insane IMO, especially when it was clearly a last second decision. He called a time out, then w hen it was over Oettinger was skating back to the net and the coach was like hey, come back, I'm pulling you! And then DeSmith is like wtf? Barely made a save on the first shot, and let in the next one. You don't have to call a time out to pull the goalie, you can do it and they'll give them a moment to prepare.

That comes across as mindless coaching, or at least a desperate all-in move.

But maybe you keep Oetter in there and he doesn't let that third goal in, which really was a dagger despite them making a game out of it later on.

DeBoer throwing Oettinger under the bus bigtime in postgame interview:

“I didn't blame it all on Jake, but the reality is if you go back to last year's playoffs, he's lost six of seven games to Edmonton. And we give up two goals on two shots in an elimination game," DeBoer said via Mark Lazerus of The Athletic. "That's a pretty big sample size."

That relationship is probably gone ... even if DeBoer is 75% right, when you take it public, it's over.

Nill just signed Otteginger to an 8 year $66M contract in Oct 2024.

This might become a big war between DeBoer and Nill and result in the team imploding.

I'd be surprised if Edmonton doesn't win.

I don't think deboer has a job after this. Bonehead move.

Don't jinx them!

Most people expected Canucks to win in 2011... :okay:

That's brutal. Losing your mind in the heat of the moment is one thing, but to continue after the game? Rare to see a Coach melt down like this in NHL

I’m pro jinx

If there's any jinx, the crowds already did that by chanting we want the cup. Lol

Did the coach forget his team has a 1.25 goals per game average in their 4 losses in a row? Not exactly how you expect to win. I'm honestly really disgusted with that fuck. You never throw your goalie under the bus. I learned that in fucking Tom Thumb hockey.

The last two SCF back-to-back rematches (bold = won the Cup):

1983-84 NYI vs EDM
1984-85 NYI vs EDM

2008-09 DET vs PIT
2009-10 DET vs PIT

Will it be Edmonton's turn this year?

Another interesting stat - the last 6 seasons have featured a NHL team from Florida "the Sunshine State" in the SCF :

2019-20 TBL vs DAL
2020-21 TBL vs MTL
2021-22 TBL vs COL
2022-23 FLA vs VGK
2023-24 FLA vs EDM
2024-25 FLA vs EDM

Edmonton has experience and are more hungrier. They also have a better version Skinner this year. I think Edmonton's got it...

If oilers win the cup, that is two more ex-canuck players winning the cup.
Stecher, and Pods... lol.

edmonton has a great chance. all the big players are contributing, unlike when the canucks are in the playoffs and there are always some high paid players doing nothing.

Well yea.. they have the best two players in the entire world.. if they can’t win like that it’s on them lol..

They will miss Zach Hyman though ... he was playing like a beast!

But Ekholm is back.

Cheering for the Coilers cause of the Skip promo lol

It helps that Drai isn’t skating around on half a leg this year too

I'm still neutral when it comes to the Oilers winning. Would be nice to see the cup come back to Canada but also wouldn't affect me too much to see Panthers repeat. I'm just here to appreciate good hockey

Not seeing Marchand or Tkachuk raise another cup is enough reason for me to cheer for EDM

It just bugs me when a city that never sees naturally-occurring ice wins the trophy for ice hockey.

Actually doesn't bug me one bit. I mean it is kind of annoying Canucks can't get it done, but it beats having another hardcore fanbase rubbing it in for the next decade, as opposed to no one talking about it when a team with no fanbase wins it.

That's my reason anyway.

Panthers for the repeat. Oilers already had it good with four 1st overalls in 5 years. They bragged enough about that, don't need them to brag about anything else more.

Who the hell brags about getting a bunch of first overall picks?

You should just ignore those mutants and cheer for whoever you want