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This in Sportsnet’s NHL writer Luke Fox: “Kris Knoblauch open to experimenting with different D pairs in Game 2. No Oilers lineup decisions yet.”
Added Sportsnet’s Mark Spector: “Concern over Nurse-Ceci pairing, and perhaps more minutes for Broberg could lead to some Game 2 changes.”
And the Journal’s Jim Matheson: “Broberg has been revelation on Oilers blueline. He was excellent in Game 1.”
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And Jeff Marek on the 32 Thoughts podcast “Another story in this one was the defence pair of Darnell Nurse and Cody Ceci who on the two goals, the Verhaege goal and the Rodrigues goal, just flat out they got beat. They got beat with bad decisions. They got beat with puck-watching. They got beat losing battles. They got beat chasing. Those were the two that were exhibit A and B for the Edmonton Oilers. I know it’s to criticize defencemen when you don’t score any goals, I get it, but that was a problem on Saturday night.”
On the same podcast Elliotte Friedman mentioned commentator Kevn Bieksa’s great breakdown of what went wrong. If you missed it, here is what Bieksa had to say after the second period: “You got to feel good if you’re an Oilers fan because they played some pretty good hockey, but I think these goals in particular are just bad reads and bad mistakes. It’s something you can clean up for sure by watching video. (On the first goal against) Ceci and Nurse have to identify this is straight 3-on-2 quick strike. So what they have to do is hold the middle and not allow themselves to get 2-on-1. When Nurse goes here (towards the boards and puck carrier) he gets 2-on-1 and when Ceci goes (towards puck carrier) he gets 2-on-1. And it’s great passing by Florida and it’s in the back of the net and Skinner can’t really save that. That’s all because they open themselves up. They got. to buy time. (On the second goal against) The coverage is good, the positioning is good here but just having your stick on the ice (which Nurse failed to do) is a key detail. I know you don’t think the pass is coming, and it’s kind of not really your guy, but just having sticks on the ice in the d-zone, those are two easy things to clean up if you’re the Oilers.”
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After the game, Nurse said, “There are a few things we need to clean-up.”
On the first goal against, he said, “They scored a nice goal off the rush, made two good plays.”
On the second goal, he said, “He wins a puck race and goes through my wicket. I got a piece of it.”
My take
1. In this playoff season Darnell Nurse has the worst official NHL goals plus-minus of any player this century at -15. He’s had a handful of good games, in particular when he was paired with Brett Kulak, but he’s struggled mightily.
Together in 179 even strength minutes in the playoffs, Nurse and Ceci have been on the ice for 5 goals for, 14 against, a 26% Goal For Percentage.
Without Nurse in 154 minutes, Ceci is 3 goals for, 2 against, a 60% Goal For Percentage.
Without Ceci in 155 minutes, Nurse is 5 goals for, 12 against, a 29% Goal For Percentage.
Without either Nurse or Ceci on the ice at even strength, Edmonton is 30 goals for, 19 against, a 61% Goal For Percentage.
Houston, we have a problem.
2. It’s bewildering why the coaching staff put Nurse and Ceci together for Game 1. I’ve yet to hear a reasonable explanation, though there may well be one. It’s obvious that Nurse and Ceci need to be split up. What to do? Ceci and Broberg did well together, 1 goal for, zero against in 33 minutes, so Edmonton could go back to them, pairing Nurse with Kulak.
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3. It could well be, though, with the emergence of Broberg as a strong player and with his ability to play the right side, as seen in a solid Game 1 performance, that the best idea is to go with Broberg and Nurse on one pairing, Ceci and Kulak on the other, or Desharnais and Kulak on the other. I’d stick with Ceci over Desharnais as Desharnias has struggled to move the puck and has had defensive struggles on his own these playoffs.
4. Broberg and Nurse could work well, giving Nurse the ability to free-lance a bit more, with the big, fast and sound Broberg there to cover for him.
Recently at the Cult of Hockey
LEAVINS: 9 Things, including a look at Knoblauch’s tough decisions for Game 2
McCURDY: Player grades for Game 1 with Broberg and Janmark grading out highest
STAPLES: ‘Bob is in sicko mode’ — Hockey world reacts to Bobrovsky’s shutout
STAPLES: ‘This hit so hard’: Hockey world erupts in praise for tear-jerker Oilers video
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