The Cult of Hockey's "9 Things about Oilers vs Panthers" podcast

[@trickassp1]

Staples sounds ABSOLUTELY terrified to even be in the finals. Kurt sounds EXCITED and optimistic. Let's play the games. I think Edmonton is going to win in 5 games. I think the fire power will beat any goalie, special teams is how the Oil will win. Let's have fun guys. Get excited, not timid. 🙄🙄🙄🎈🎈🎈✊️✊️✊️✊️

[@marshalljohn1692]

Thank you guys so much. I never miss a show thank you again for all your hard work Much appreciated

[@BrandonFesler]

The Oilers will need a few games to solve the Panthers just like they did with Vancouver and Dallas. But they will. Until then it will be very close. But I still think it’s Edmonton in six.

[@bbutters2]

The 1st 4 draft picks of the 2014 draft class are all in this final. 1.Ekblad 2.Bennett 3.Reinhart 4.Draisaitl

[@whatajokesicpuppies]

It was Ekblad Reinhart Draisaitl and Bennett

[@toddashton9696]

Soo Glad the Oilers picked Leon. People think it was an easy choice. 2 Other GM's missed on him.

[@MyHappy002]

Dodonov= cherry picker...love it Bruce. My happiest moment of this grrrreat podcast!!

[@nicolasderuiter1699]

What a great podcast. I enjoy the way you 3 navigate the discussion with insight and humour. I believe that McDavid’s focus, leading him to become the best player in the world, will culminate in an unstoppable force this series, and the rest of the Oilers will follow. Epic battle to come!

[@Mego1031]

Fantastic overview! 👏💙🧡💙🧡

[@misknz]

Respect from New Zealand

[@rhye_guy7717]

Excellent pod guys.

[@simondaughtry4619]

I think the Oilers are the team of the 2 in the Cup final that can provide the biggest upside surprise.... the Panthers are solid no doubt and consistent. (I would favor them on paper for sure by a hair) .... But the Oilers are still in the midst of moving their game to a higher level..... I think the Panthers are in for a huge test. Edmonton's offense is better than Boston, Tampa and the NYR's. And more importantly their defense has really come to the rink to play a tighter, far shrewder style than even this past reg. season....Oilers also have the soldiers and size to match hits with the Panthers...In the end I think the Oilers can handle the Panthers offense...I am not so sure the PAnthers can match the Oilers offense once it gets going at their level.... IT's going to be a heck of a DOGFIGHT... LOVE IT!!!!!!

[@popsmoke99]

righto!!

[@joetoh6675]

Some Oilers need to step it up physically and mentally like they are capable of and keep it there from game one to game seven. One by one they've started (but not finished) silencing their critics. Bouch, Nuge, Nurse, Skinner...McLeod has to maintain the form he showed, I think Foegele can step it up (I don't know why he's sitting), Holloway's doing great but has to keep learning fast.

[@ProggaWoggga]

The test will be HOW MUCH the Oilers offense gets going. Ask Boston, Tampa, and NY how well their potent offenses did. My guess is Oilers O will be strong, but not as strong as they have been in the past 3 series. More shorter bursts. Can Oilers D protect Skinner like they did in game 6 against Dallas? Not sure.

[@robgauthier584]

Warren Foegele is an absolute warrior who can score some big goals when least expected !!!

[@charlesking617]

David Staples sounds like a Florida fan.

[@ArchangelUriel-jc4uq]

For being honest? Cope

[@zacharyhoehn6127]

Great video , I like Kurt's confidence

[@747Cone]

Shout out to Bruce for the Officer Bobrovsky reference, that was a great 70s cop show

[@MrPetzold123]

I've been on/off following you guys ever since Puljujärvi was an Oiler. Happy that finally McDavid / Draisaitl are in SCF. Hope for a hard fought but clean and long series. Let the best team win !

[@SuperRonmiester]

Clean??? Not with Florida…….

[@MrPetzold123]

@@SuperRonmiester Ok, at least *relatively* clean then :-)

[@joetoh6675]

Looks like hitting is essential to the Panther forecheck.

[@mickduster]

Staples is Mr Doom and Gloom.

[@reganbodnarchuk2716]

Need to introduce edibles to David. Play it like a battle of Alberta type of series. Skinner and goalie Bob at center ice

[@mickduster]

100% David Staples way overstating Barkov factor. Oilers will be just fine.

[@joetoh6675]

One Selke winner vs. two Hart winners

[@sukhjitsingh8269]

7:40 sec🤣Barkov shutting down Mcdavid & Drai & Hyman

[@jeffchrest3392]

Bravo..see ya in the parade.. Can't wait.. Go Oilers...

[@romandawydiak4476]

Depending on the circumstances, there is one additional option which the Oilers could use (that wasn't mentioned by our hosts) and that benefitted them on a few past occasions and that would be suiting up 7 defensemen and 11 forwards. This in turn would allow the Oilers to: a) Address either a hard hitting game or skating game (ie. Desharnais/hitting game or Broberg/skating game. b) Provide lesser used forwards with more ice time.

[@colleentombs7040]

Let's Go Oilers!🇨🇦🏆

[@DanielBelzil]

The only people who do not doubt the Oilers are the Edmonton Oilers

[@duaneday5474]

Draisaitl also has a broken finger which is likely starting to feel better, has affected him on the draw.

[@randytopolnisky4901]

Good to see a cast that is focused more on the opposition.

[@joetoh6675]

The league definitely has to start the season earlier. At this rate, players might sign as free agents with other teams before they can even have a cup parade.

[@randyscott4120]

Nice boys! My prediction is that each game in this series will be extremely close. And I believe the Oilers will win all four of these close games in a row...The Oilers sweep the final series and win at home!

[@robgauthier584]

If the Oilers sustained multiple injuries to their defense core it would be interesting to see Niemelainen throwing his big hits against the Florida offense!!!

[@joetoh6675]

I'm predicting a game one loss, but Oilers will prevail. Would be nice to win it in Edmonton on summer solstice. Sun will set after 10pm and dusk will linger on the horizon. The northern lights will dance with naked fans. EPS had better have some backup ready.

[@Greenfrom3]

Ive seen him more confident in game 20 of the regular season than he is right now lol

[@colinkobza1342]

Thanks Kurt… Overstating 💯

[@dalriada]

Bergeron was also the guy who knocked Andrew Ladd into Roloson and cost us the cup in 2006. So nobody’s perfect.

[@SeanHillaby]

Ahhh...all is right in the world....

[@joetoh6675]

Kurt you need a better microphone.

[@67Star65]

... everybody is overanalyzing and picking the shit out of both teams. Sit back and enjoy the show and take stock in where we are. It's all gravy here on in. GOAL OILERS GOAL!!! 🤟😉

[@joetoh6675]

Overanalyzing is the sport on top of the sport. Armchair GM-ing is the sport underneath the sport. It's all gravy on top of gravy on top of gravy. Enjoy.

[@andrewlamouche3864]

All this Florida talk is giving oilers vs flames 2022 playoff series. What they are saying about the panthers is what was being said about the flames. Hard forechecking, tight defense and Tkachuk’s top line. Oilers can handle a tough forecheck and aggression. Although Florida does do it better than what Calgary did back in 2022. But I still think oilers can still explode offensively. See how it goes

[@ceecam4853]

Bruce I remember and to this day detest that Bennett ’hit’ on Kokoo. More of an incidental contact hit as KK was looking g the other way ; B moved into K’s lane at speed and pretended not to see him. What a dirty p€#%£ and B continues to attempt to injure other players. To this day I hope to see someone give him some of his own medicine.

[@sukhjitsingh8269]

Evan Rodrigues 3 goals in this series-What will be Evan Bouchard next contract $9 Million - 28 points in playoffs so far

[@cbzblaze2457]

I agree with Kurt. Perry and foegele will flip for each other. Perry is super valuable because he's always around the other teams net and willing to stand in front. He's got more offensive upside as well but stamina is a concern. Foegele brings more speed, forechecking and hitting. Similarly Ryan and Carrick will swap. Ryan is clearly the better player but I don't think he can go every game.

[@dnice4145]

So this is flip side of Staples being unreasonably optimistic (remember his predictions before the avalanche 2 years ago). This is "hopelessly pessimistic " Staples.

[@JohnSmith-ip4js]

Notwithstanding his prediction at the end, David has pretty much thrown in the towel.

[@joetoh6675]

The Panthers forwards will be tough. Last series of the season, everyone will leave it on the ice. I'm encouraged by the special teams numbers Bruce rattled off, +17. And Kurt's observation that FLA doesn't have a clear #1 dman to deal with the McDavid and Draisaitl factors. A string of Oilers have started silencing their critics, and have to continue doing so: Bouch, Nuge, McLeod, Nurse, Skinner. Kane has to stay healthy enough, Holloway has to do what he does while learning quickly. Why's Foegele sitting?

[@FightingSiouxHockey]

The boys better keep their heads on a swivel, we should expect cheap shots from Tkachuk and Bennett , and the rest of the most penalized team in the NHL I hope the refs call it fair. Anyway, the boys need to make them pay of the PP....Kane should be on Connors line. And Foegele should be in for Perry. Perry too slow.

[@WinterWoolies]

Lol David butt hurt over Kurt's genius. 😂

[@Feedback4Utoday]

FLA payroll $119m EDM $73m (if subtract 11% for extra tax pd)..... add up salaries of playoff players. The extra payroll allowed to FLA does give them a big advantage on who they added etc Not an even match-up... but we want more Cups & nhL TV in South.

[@elizabethmarkoe7776]

Their bank accounts aren’t on the ice sorry Florida go count your money while Edmonton counts on many talented players on an entire team

[@m.j.s.3838]

What concerns me is that the NHL seems to approve of Florida’s head shots and other intent-to-injure tactics.

[@gordon7306]

Whos going to rag doll tkachuk now that kassian isnt there

[@Apex1000snow]

Great review guys! My 2cents is Florida will be nasty and dirty! If the refs show up we will many PP'S. our guys need to hold back and not retaliate. Special teams will be the difference once again! FLA may not have a #1 defenseman, however The have the best goalie in the league..........

[@mikechar17]

52:15 it was on the PP and they are locked in the zone coverage, he didnt beat him lol.

[@mikechar17]

he literally skated around a stationary target bahahahahahahhaha

[@mikechar17]

He really deked that pylon bhahahahahhaha

[@omalleysmith9100]

Everybody, including the Tkachuks themselves pronounces it "Ka-CHUCK" Bruce, pronounces it: "Ka- CHUKE" Staples: "Ka- CHOOK" 😂😂😂

[@dalriada]

It is odd. Did they pronounce it Dale Hawerchook?!

[@MachineGunJanmark]

Please .........someone tell David it's not Kachoook, its Kachuck aka Tkachuk

[@1ckmaxx]

I call him Tkafuck.

[@davebastow10]

When the Oilers win, maybe they'll call him Ka-choke

[@Bitslappin]

Seriously Barcov is not bergron

[@schustererik83]

I agree, he might be better

[@johanstinson]

​@@schustererik83no

[@dnice4145]

​@@schustererik83not even close.

[@schustererik83]

@@dnice4145 why, exactly. . . . similar game, Bergeron only one one cup. stats are similar

[@HopefulNihilist]

​@@dnice4145 Barkov is a straight up better offensively than Bergeron and defensively the gap is not all that big.

[@shaunmartin506]

Kurt, please go buy a microphone.

[@DS-hs3qp]

What a Debbie Downer of a podcast...no excitement or fun, just doom, gloom and worry.....disappointing. By the tone of this podcast, you would think the Oilers were already down 3 games to 0. GO OILERS !

[@almuthebebrand7487]

They all will hit but Nuge will fight...just my humble opinion😂😂

[@joetoh6675]

Why is this the Hate on Staples in the Comments podcast? How boring it would be if it were just rah rah rah we gonna beat you down. Leave that for the watch party. Doom and gloom, negativity, pessimism??? WTF, this just in, it is the SC FINALS. Two out of 32 teams left, you don't think the other guys are going to be a challenge? How about some wariness, humility, and respect? That's not being meek. Dave's just being a wannabe coach, like every single fan. I'd want a coach who reminds me of my weaknesses and how to strengthen my game. Disagreeing with Kurt? He can't do that? Ever heard of Socrates, that irrelevant dead white male? I like Dave and Bruce as the core pair on the podcast. That's no knock against Ira and Kurt, who are also great, it's just that Dave's effusiveness and Bruce's low-key but incisive insights complement each other very well. Bruce trying to play the effusive one doesn't work as well; Dave's presence allows him to be the sorta grumbly guy standing behind who hits with heavy punches.

[@robgauthier584]

Bouchard is built like a brick shit house who can take a big hit and keep on going like nothing ever happened !!!

[@schustererik83]

The corey perry curse comes to Edmonton this year 😂

[@anythingforabuck]

Thanks for helping Murphy's law work for us.

[@ZabiAnwari]

Kurt is better than the two and his protection always right

[@Feedback4Utoday]

Oilers have a lot of bottom6 players: mcLeod(-4) Foegle(-8) Perry(-2) Kane (-3) Ryan(-6) Carrick Janmark Holloway Brown & RNH not a scorer. So these guys will have to step up a lot... to compete w Bennett etc.. Henrique Drais McD Hyms can compete. Nurse(-13) Ceci(-5) Vinny(-8) Bouch will have to cut down on their errors. Oilers may have to play over their head... and find a few guys to score/go to tough areas in spite of tight checking/pressure..

[@FreeeAgent]

Staples and McCurdy will never go all in, It's like they are always hedging their bets so they can say "I knew it", or maybe because they don't want to put themselves out there to be hurt lol. Staples especially, if you go by what he says, Edmonton would never win a series. Staples constantly thinks the opposing team are levels above anything Edmonton could bring.

[@dnice4145]

Nah Staples always jumps to hyperbole. Staples act in this episode is him looking for the other 2 to assure him it going to be ok. McCurdy is always sober in his assessment.

[@FreeeAgent]

@@dnice4145 Yeah, they're hockey fans through and through. I love watching their breakdowns. They're great guys. Lets hope we can do it. Go Oilers.

[@dalriada]

We’ve been hurt before is all. I don’t blame him for being cautious.

[@FreeeAgent]

@@dalriada I agree but there comes a time when you have to believe in why you can win instead of why you can't. If you can't find reasons why as a fan or someone analyzing the game that's not good. They haven't even played yet. It's too early to be doubting that they can be competitive.

[@joetoh6675]

@@FreeeAgent They all state reasons why they can AND can't win. Which is what I want from a podcast. How many times did Staples say "the only team that can beat the Oilers is the Oilers"? That doesn't sound like pessimism or negativity to me.

[@Ahmed-oc5gi]

Staples??? More like no clue!!! You are under estimating our boys… go oilers go…

[@resarfw]

If Dave doesn’t start sharing the mic more often, I won’t be coming back. I’ve been listening all season and for seasons before this one, but am losing my patience waiting and waiting and waiting for someone not named Dave to be given a chance to share their views, at length.

[@troybaier5460]

He is definitely expounding his answers a lot of the time.

[@BmacT]

Barkov can't handle McDavids foot speed

[@mikechar17]

quinn hughes is not made for the playoffs, one hit and hes done. look at the whole family, its actually sad how soft they are, I always go back to the video of the devils guys when they are at the draft, its so sad, you should never draft someone like that to play a contact sport.

[@joetoh6675]

No worries, Hughes has Petterson to make up for his playoff no-show.

[@mikechar17]

@@joetoh6675 Petterson need a lower body transplant. Knees are knocking. Hard to believe he has the hardest slap shot in the league, that power has to come from somewhere.

[@joetoh6675]

@@mikechar17 Slapshot would come from everything above the hips, the legs just have to root and stabilize for it. Otherwise, sounds like he needs some leg presses.

[@KOB2717]

3 games in. McDavid, drai, Hyman, bouchard = 0 goals

[@allendale18]

Sorry guys but podcast is a little too long and negative. Go Oilers go!

[@mikechar17]

This guy just saying the Oilers suck and shouldnt have beat anyone is hilarious, they literally had the best record in the NHL since the change, they have the best D in the playoffs and the goalies stats are better than bobs and everyone elses. What are you talking about? Edmonton couldnt beat vancouver if some lame azz player hughes was 100%, he sucks! This is part of the problem with markets, you should be saying good things about your team but its always negative.

[@joetoh6675]

They didn't figuratively have the best record since the change?

[@whatajokesicpuppies]

David is laughable mr chicken little

[@garysharp3841]

I hope the Oilers win but I don't trust the refs or player safety. Florida will continue to be the dirtiest team in the league and will try to stop McDavid and Draisetal that way(like Pieterangelo did last year) Will officiating be honest? Since when have they been in the past? Go Oilers!

[@DS-hs3qp]

Please no Sam Gagner... he isn't even an NHL player anymore.

[@TH-tl6sy]

Sam needs to be in a game even if he only plays 4min. He's worn the Oilers jersey in 10 seasons. He was the start of the rebuild in the decade of Darkness. He only played 28 games this season so doesn't qualify to get his name on the cup unless he plays 1 game in the finals. And I'm all for it.

[@DanielBelzil]

I think he could be for 1 game here and there

[@DS-hs3qp]

@@TH-tl6sy You'd rather ice a weaker lineup for nostalgia purposes?

[@TH-tl6sy]

@@DS-hs3qp Derek Ryan has been in and Out Carrick Perry Foegele. Carrick and Ryan have averaged less that 9 and 10 min a game. Perry has 1 assist -2 Carrick 1 assit -1 Ryan 1 assit -6. Do you think 1 game swapping out say Perry or Ryan is going to make or break the series?

[@DS-hs3qp]

@@TH-tl6sy Absolutely...if replaced by gagner. If he were good enough to play he already would have.

[@patrioticwarrior2345]

David is such a negative Nancy, seemingly being cash or agent influence by over cheer leading for (mcloud, Ryan and his other favorites who recently showed as in their current playing motivation as more liability overall suggesting to team revert to proven less successful lines, to facilitate oilers certain defeat . thank God Ken won't be supporting David's seemingly intentional wrong suggestions. almost like he's cheering for any team other than the oilers. getting kickbacks David ??

[@budstik]

Perry needs to go. That play leading up to the draisaitl penalty was brutal.

[@kwaty]

I thought after he missed a few shifts after that big hit he was a liability on the ice. Put foegle on the ice. I get why he got sat but he’s a 20 goal scorer with speed, and he’ll itching to get back in. It’s just a no brainier to me but then again knobby’s choices have gotten us this far!

[@ArchangelUriel-jc4uq]

Let’s go CATS

[@NatsdadsamI]

Not sounding very confident David.