NHL legend Mark Messier has surprising response to Oilers fighting Panthers in Cup Final
Photo credit: USA Today Sports
Former Oilers legend Mark Messier clearly understands the value of physical play in the playoffs, but he doesn't think this year's Oilers team should bother with the Panthers.
Games 2 and 3 have begun to get out of hand with scrums and dirty plays back and forth between the two teams, racking up 140 penalty minutes in Game 3 - and that's just not who the Oilers are.
Mark Messier says Oilers should turn other cheek to Florida Panthers antics
In a recent appearance on the Pat McAfee show, Mark Messier said the Oilers can't get sucked into the slog of scrums and penalties with the Panthers, because it just isn't their game.
"I just don't see the benefit of it. To be honest with you, I think that the Oilers want to play tough. They should be playing tough when the game is still in the balance from the opening face-off. But the fact is that both teams have to be more disciplined. I thought both teams actually took way too many penalties, needless penalties- careless penalties, undisciplined penalties- and that should have played well into the Oilers' hands, but it didn't.
If they're going to win this series, they have to be on the top side of the specialty teams, and right now they're not.
- Mark Messier
If they're going to win this series, they have to be on the top side of the specialty teams, and right now they're not.
- Mark Messier
It's surprising to hear an Oilers legend like Messier, known for his tough play, tell today's team to avoid fighting back - but he's right. The Oilers need to get away from the scrum plays and dumb penalties with the Panthers, and instead look to hit them back on the powerplay.
In addition, the Oilers penalty kill hasn't been nearly up to par in this series. They need to get more saves on the PK, but it's also help not to put up 70 penalty minutes again.
Hopefully the Oilers take Messier's advice tonight, stay out of the box, and are able to take this series back to Alberta tied.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 12 | 637 ANSWERS NHL legend Mark Messier has surprising response to Oilers fighting Panthers in Cup Final Do you think the Oilers have played undisciplined this series? | ||
| Yes, clean it up | 476 | 74.7 % |
| No, they're just responding | 161 | 25.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
