When explaining the reasons for his team losing Game 1 of its play-in series against the Chicago Blackhawks, Edmonton Oilers coach Dave Tippett had no shortage of reasons, but focused on one in particular. “We made too many mistakes,” Tippett said. And he was right about that, starting with the mistake Tippett himself made before the opening faceoff.
A sense of loyalty to a veteran who has delivered before is a noble thing, but it can also get you into a heap of trouble. And that’s exactly what Tippett created when he chose Mike Smith to start in goal over Mikko Koskinen in the Oilers’ 6-4 loss to open the 2019-20 post-season.