Oilers will be destroyed next round

Nobody is underestimating the Oilers. I think the Oilers are a good team with 3 great forwards + one decent defenseman. The Oilers have holes that will be exposed, fortunately for the Oilers they managed to get by Dallas in the conference finals (They Oilers were hanging on for dear life in game 6 , and who knows what happens if Dallas ties game 6). The series against Vancouver the Oilers needed 7 games to beat a Vancouver team using a 3rd string goalie. The Oilers season is a tale of 2 teams that made changes mid-season and had a fantastic run after New Years. The reality is, Florida is the better "team" since last season. The Florida playoff run has been exceptional, with very few noticeable holes in it's path to the cup, it's a deep structured team with a great coach, loaded with players that play a physical style.. Florida lost to Vegas in the finals last season after an exhausting conference final. It's tough to win the cup without first, losing in the finals. There is no doubt in my mind McDavid is an awesome player, but he's not going to win a cup without help from the players around him. I have serious doubts about the Oilers defensive depth and goaltending when matched up against Florida. Everyone knew the Dallas series would be the Oilers toughest test. Nobody expects the Oilers to beat Florida except their own fan base. Next season may be the Oilers window for opportunity.

Couple more points. Would Like to get Ben and Boldy thoughts.  What's the biggest difference we've seen in the Oilers? I'm my opinion,  which was questioned when it happened,  the best addition was adding Paul Coffey to the staff.  Oilers defensive effort looks light years better since he took over.  They appear to have embraced playing defense and to me,  that is the reason they are where they are at. 

Secondly,  saw playoff stats. Oilers have better PP and PK percentages than Florida.  While I'm in the Florida corner,  the more I go deeper,  the more questions I have.  I agree with some that Florida has seemed to be on a mission this playoff season and last year has helped them this year. 

Oilers have the 2 best forwards on the ice. Can anyone name a better defence man than Bouchard? Hopkins plays with more heart than anyone.

I am talking about the remaining 2 teams. When this first started everyone was talking about Dallas. As it went on that left the building. Oilers have the better players as well as the faster players. The defense is playing at a very high level. Look at how many shots Dallas was getting.

Canada will finally take back the cup. Good luck to all.

keep the posts coming.. I have much more Winnings if Panthers hoist the cup.

How long will this series go? Panthers Goalie might be the Conn Smythe play if Panthers win??

@benhogan76

 Vegas had Dallas at -130 for that series as well... and I know,  I lost

@benhogan76

 I agree,  Hope your doing well Ben 

@GASportsDoc

 I think if the Oilers penalty killing numbers continues that's huge. The pp heating up as well could be the difference in the series. Of course Skinner has to be the good Skinner. Have a great summer GA 

I felt this years playoffs was different when we beat LA…. The team and local media didn’t get carried away with the victory as we have done in years past. 

It was business as usual, next step. I feel Oilers have ‘learned to lose’ the last couple of years that this year McDavid and company are on a mission. 

The defensive play is a remarkable change, watch the shot blocking, watch the standing at the blue line and disrupting the attack. 

Throw out the regular season stats/standings…. two teams left trying to win 4 games.

When you have the two best players on the same side, I feel they will impose their will and bring The Cup back to Canada. 

LFG Oilers! 

I was sold on the Panthers winning it all after they tied the NHL record for consecutive road wins this season.  I believe it was 13.  In the playoffs the Panther are 6-2 on the road and Oilers right behind them at 6-3.  But regular season the Panthers were the best at 26-15 on the road.  Oilers were 11th with a 21-20 away record.  Now it does seem that home ice has not meant much these playoffs but I think it will mean more in the finals like it has the last 3 years.  Last years finals Vegas went 3-0 at home and 1-1 on the road.  They won their first 2 home games 5-2 and 7-2 as -133 favs.  2 years ago Colorado went 2-1 at home and 2-1 away.  They also won their first 2 home games 4-3 OT and 7-0 as -140 favs.  3 years ago Tampa Bay went 3-0 at home and 1-1 away.  They won their first 2 home games 5-1 and 3-1 as -190 favs.  I think it will be over if the Oilers don't steal one of these 1st 2 games.  I feel confident that the Panthers will get a road win so the Oilers NEED game 2 because I'm thinking they don't have a good chance at winning game 1.

I was sold on the Panthers winning it all after they tied the NHL record for consecutive road wins this season.  I believe it was 13.  In the playoffs the Panther are 6-2 on the road and Oilers right behind them at 6-3.  But regular season the Panthers were the best at 26-15 on the road.  Oilers were 11th with a 21-20 away record.  Now it does seem that home ice has not meant much these playoffs but I think it will mean more in the finals like it has the last 3 years.  Last years finals Vegas went 3-0 at home and 1-1 on the road.  They won their first 2 home games 5-2 and 7-2 as -133 favs.  2 years ago Colorado went 2-1 at home and 2-1 away.  They also won their first 2 home games 4-3 OT and 7-0 as -140 favs.  3 years ago Tampa Bay went 3-0 at home and 1-1 away.  They won their first 2 home games 5-1 and 3-1 as -190 favs.  I think it will be over if the Oilers don't steal one of these 1st 2 games.  I feel confident that the Panthers will get a road win so the Oilers NEED game 2 because I'm thinking they don't have a good chance at winning game 1.

@benhogan76

  1P game one should be under 1.5 as I feel both teams will feel each other out but I do like more of these games to be a little bit more high scoring. Game one winner????? Stay tuned. Personally, I just hope it goes 7 to extend pucks as long as we can. 

@benhogan76

It's average right now but it could get there.  One more time, the team that has won the regular season series has won game 1 in this playoffs.  11-1 this situation in playoffs.  This useless trend had no chance going up against the Stars game 1 losing streak of 6.  That last Stars game 1 loss made me very angry.  So happy that was my last loss on that team and that they did not make it.  No 1 seed who losses game 1 all 3 times deserves to make it to finals.  Although I thought they were the better team game 6, we all know the better team doesn't always win.  I was on the Oilers last game and will take the money but chalked it up as a loss and the wrong play.  McDavid said in his post game interview that it wasn't pretty and seemed to show some relief that they were able to hang on to the win.  All while Florida was like, Next!

Little Finals history.  Hasn't been a sweep since 98 when the Red Wings did it BTB seasons.  Before that year the sweep looked some what common but none in the last 26 years.  Only 1 Finals 4-3 in the last 12 years.

Bol in your future endaeavors. 

Don't know who's backing the Oilers here, but it makes sense to me to take McDavid to win the Conn Smythe at +200.  It's a better bet then +106 on the Oilers to win the cup. If the Oilers do win the cup, Mcdavid is likely the MVP of the playoffs..

Florida in 7. This is going to be fun and honestly I don’t mind calling either of these teams champions. I think Florida had tougher path physically which is why I say it goes 7. Dallas was exhausted after playing Vegas , Colorado , then Edmonton . 

@benhogan76

haha yeah no kidding.  No series bet but I am leaning Florida in 6 right now.

Bring the cup back to Canada!!!

Both teams have played game 1 on 6 days rest in round 2.  Florida had a 1-0 lead at 32 minutes and then let Boston score 5 unanswered to lose 5-1.  Oilers had a 4-1 lead at 37 minutes and then let Vancouver score 4 unanswered to lose 5-4.  The Panthers loss was worse because it was home but both fell apart in the 3rd.  I have a feeling the Panthers did not forget that last game 1 at home after 6 days rest.  I don't think the Oilers remember their game as much.

@Ju_lie

 Oh, we are making this a Country thing now...

Our Pens are out and I just want a 7 games series with good hockey. 

I did this bet. If the Oilers win C.M wins the Smythe. If they lose it will not matter. Rounding numbers +200 much better than +100. 

Considering the trophy is for the entire playoffs, not just the finals C.M. is so far ahead of everyone else. Numbers do not lie. Look at the odds for the Smythe. You nailed it!

My 2c. past series - i was surpised and horrified, (i had bet on dal for the series) how soft dal was. i saw benn nail toews behind the net

and i am thinking wow what a great physical team this will be to defeat the oil. none of that at all. this team was soft. didnt hit at

all and gave mcdavid time and space to work. that is how they lost imo. vancouver had success going up 3-2 in the series partly that

they covered mcdavid really well. second the most physical team is now gone. Nurse and fogele and others were turnover machines

because to me they were afraid of vancouver's big d and forwards stapling them to the boards. game 6 and 7 for nucks not only did they 

seem gassed but maybe oilers regained their abitlity to skate fast and have more stamina that i thought.

so big adv going forward to this final oilers have the speed adv.

pp ofc is oilers as well. however, that last goal by the panthers pp to seal the deal was a thing of beauty.

coaching a wash here. both are super at motivating their players and making changes on the fly. maurice is more known but knoblach to me is kinda a genius in his own  right.

defense moving the puck adv florida i say this cuz they are physical and prolly pressure oiler d esp ceci and nurse into mistakes.

defense hitting and moving players - edge fla. ekholm is great - bouchard to me is more offensive dman. he is prone to some mistakes although less

give bouchard marks for being a great fit on the pp though.

shot blocking- give edge to oil here

depth- florida. this is what happns when u pay drai and mcdavid the big bucks and nurse too lol and have little left and are forced to play some guys

that even the oiler ants hate.

1st line edge edmonton.

penalty kill edm. they can block shots effectively.

goalie bobrovsky fla. sure skinner has looked better but i also take note that many of dallas' shots was on the crest of the goalie

----

oilers key to win to me use their speed and have mcdavid and drai break free with hyman standing by the goal.

they need the pp as well. hate to say it oiler fans,but oilers are really good at diving and drawing penalties and the refs are buying into it.

fla keys to win. bobby in goal. barkov, reinhart and bennett, verhage, tkachuk to get open and shoot

also tkachuk has to be their man here. he has to lead the way in hitting. without hitting this is another dallas team - soft.

playing fla to win -135 at bet365 small 1 unit cuz i feel i can make better playing game by game.

my reason. florida is a phsical team not as much as van but they need to not respect mcdavid too much like dallas did.

florida has been to the cup last year. in most sports the back to back runner up will have the exp to win next time in this is next time.

i know one guy here will complain about this but the conspiracy theory of bettman for usa based teams to me is real.

there have been very good canadian teams capable of winning. there are refs likely to be in this series imo to make sure florida

grows its market base by hoisting a cup.

is that a weak way to end it? maybe. so let's backtrack a bit

bobby in goal will steal wins.

dmen of fla is better - def wins championships.

fla will hit hard and foten leading to nurse and ceci turnovers.

conn smyth plays

bobby in goal +400

tkachuk +600