somni wrote: ↑04 Jun 2025 20:39 pm
Tkachuk has made at least 3 outstanding defensive plays where he totally reads the play.
Each FLA player sure knows which role to play when needed.
All in all I thought a pretty quiet game for him.
If he doesn't have an injury, he might be tempering his game as he did last year in the playoffs. The year before, his first SCFs, he led the playoffs in penalty minutes and was much more noticeable offensively. He is performing at a very similar rate as he did last year, in scoring and in PIMs, when they won the Cup.
I reckon if the Panthers lose the second game, or are trailing near the end of it, he might unleash his feistier side. And maybe not.
MT is incredibly savvy about Ice Hockey, much more so than most all who criticise him.
Hope you know I wasn't trying to criticize just an observation.
Also, I barely heard his name but a few times or so it seemed.
It sure seems the Oilers experience of last year served them well in game #1.
This time they KNOW what they can achieve against the Panthers.....there was no panic in the first and then the Oil came back strong from there on.
It looks like a 7 game series to me....we shall see.
Harry S Deals wrote: ↑04 Jun 2025 20:29 pm
Klingberg is not my favorite defenseman
He came in with so much promise. I guess injuries really limited his game.
He’s just awful defensively.
Jake Walkman routinely covers his mistakes.
Isn’t that a sad sentence.
How bout this:
Kapanen is a fine playoff hockey player.
He looks pretty good Kapanen is a grinder but you or i may look good too on Leon's line lol
Very possibly... but I see him as more than just a good grinder.
He needed a Center and linemates who could make plays at speed. Playing with Sunny, it wasn't gonna be like it is on Edmonton's middle six. He is a top-level third liner who can deliver on a top six situation with the right linemates,
He might be almost as fast as Joseph- who is a rocket, but Joseph can't make consistent plays at top speed. He has to slow down to have great hands.
Kapanen says'" Catch me and we will do some damage".
