-Peter Gzowski, The Game Of Our Lives
Two things: I am not directly comparing Taylor Hall to Mark Messier, they have miles of differences between them. A better comp for Hall from the Boys on the Bus might be Glenn Anderson, wreckless and dangerous (to himself and others) and driven for goals in a raw, exciting way.
Second: I don't think Hall has been poor this season, in fact the young man is delivering offense at a pace that will see him exceed 20 goals and 60 points.
I think there's another gear. He seems to be pressing a little, and his ice time is just a few ticks beyond Ryan Jones at even strength.The current road trip is likely to extend the gap (coach Renney has shown a willingness to shorten the bench when victory is at hand, and God love him for it).
It's a challenger for Hall: earn the trust of the coach and impact the game so much that Tom Renney has to send his line over the boards to cheat for offense because the rewards are so great. I don't think Taylor Hall has done anything wrong this season, but it isn't his team.
Yet. He needs to make it so.
--
Nation Radio is on the air at noon today (Team 1260). Your emails are welcome at nationradio@theteam1260 or you can tweet @lowetide_ and tell me what you're thinking. Among the guests scheduled to appear:
- Bruce McCurdy from the Cult of Hockey. Bruce has been doing outstanding work at the Cult of Hockey and also has a tremendous memory dating back before expansion. That's a valuable resource, and I'll ask him to break down the reasons for the Oilers early season success.
- Thomas Drance from Canucks Army. Thomas will drop by to talk about the Canucks--who are still unable to fire on all pistons--and the early days of the NW division this season. He has some good insights.
- Cam Charron from the Nations. He's done some comparison looking at Toronto and Edmonton, and I'd like to know if both teams can keep up this pace. There are some cracks forming--Maple Leafs goaltending and Oilers lack of depth on the blue--and I'll ask Cam to address those things.
- Kent Wilson from Flames Nation and the Nations sites. Kent is a terrific source of information, sussing out the real story using underlying numbers and spotting trends ahead of the curve. I'll ask him about the Flames (promise not to giggle), and whether or not he feels the Oilers could be real this season.
Hall's icetime is limited by Renney not trusting Hopkins late and in his own zone.
ReplyDeleteThrough 12 games of their rookie seasons, Hall averaged a minute more at ES than Hopkins, Hopkins a minute more on the power play.
Coach: I'd argue it's the presence of Smyth.
ReplyDeleteI'd argue the exact same.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Hall hasn't been like he was before the injury. He was such a dominating force though, it was ridiculous. He'll get at it.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I've seen, Hopkins already knows what he's doing in his own zone.
ReplyDeleteHe might be ahead of Hall in defensive awareness. If only he could win draws...
LT: I'd be curious to hear a brief discussion between the "wise men" (you and Bruce) about where you think the Oilers will end up at season's end. While being tops in the West is certainly unsustainable, now that we're almost through 1/6 of the season, what is the new reasonable expectation in the standings?
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Cactus: I'll ask Bruce. :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure what is more surprising; the six-game streak or the fact that Lowetide is on Twitter
ReplyDeleteI love it. Seriously. Booked some of the show via twitter this week. Soon, I'll just have twitter and a mic in my basement. :-)
ReplyDeleteI would say this game tonight is definitely a should win game. If they can limit the effectiveness of Doan they should come out of this game with the W and 2 points. Hoping its a big game for the kid line and for Magnus.
ReplyDeleteThanks LT. I'm looking forward to an interesting show.
ReplyDeleteHey LT,
ReplyDeleteCan you ask Kent any or all of the following?
- Can Kent compare the Feaster 'slow motion rebuild' to the scorched earth rebuild used by the Oilers?
- What influence has John Wiesbrod had on Feasters aquisition of Horak, Byron and Butler?
- Ollie Jokinen has been recast in the role of hard minute #2 center, what do his advanced stats indicate about how successful that transition has been?
Have another great show!
If time allows, can you ask (anyone) the following?:
ReplyDelete-Is Renney dangling the "take the team" opportunity for Hall, and if so, what is Renney looking for?
-Scenarios for Omark going forward (trade, conditioning stint, Sweden)
-When does the team decide its a contender and make some tinkering moves (i.e. Where is the line in the sand)?
Is the general consensus that Gillis still made such an excellent trade to pick up Booth?
ReplyDelete$3.9M for a couple of second assists and a -3 is starting to look like somewhat of a bad deal...
I mean outside of that one 60p season where he had a shooting % that was 3.6% higher than his career average Booth is starting to look like a overpayment to me. Good thing he is only signed for another 3 years.
Is the general consensus that Gillis still made such an excellent trade to pick up Booth?
ReplyDelete$3.9M for a couple of second assists and a -3 is starting to look like somewhat of a bad deal...
6 games to decide who won a trade?
Remind me never to hire you for long term investment advice.
Coach: I'd argue it's the presence of Smyth.
ReplyDeleteHow is the presence of Smyth different than that of Penner? During Hall's rookie year (first dozen games), he came out with Horcoff and Eberle and played regular shifts and had a ZS of 50%.
Now he's tied to Hopkins, has a ZS of 65% and doesn't play at the end of games at all.
If Hall were on a line with Belanger and Hemsky, he'd be on the ice towards the end of games.
Rather than single out one member of the Pipe Line, I would suggest all three members would and will play more in the dying minutes if down a goal than ahead a goal. And for whatever reason, Oilers have been ahead a goal a whole lot. In the last 8 third periods, Oilers have led for 154 minutes and trailed for < 5.
ReplyDeleteSo more Horcoff, Smyth, Belanger and Petrell, less of the scorers. Pretty standard coaching these days, isn't it?
Soon, I'll just have twitter and a mic in my basement. :-)
ReplyDeleteHey LT, next step you can just install one of those voice simulation programs and do away with that old-fashioned mic altogether. ;)
You'll have to ask Bruce when the giant solar flares are coming to knock out all of our telecommunications and possibly fry us all like that Nicolas Cage movie.
ReplyDelete*Scared*
Woodguy,
ReplyDeleteIf you look at Booth's numbers outside of that one season he really looks like a average 3rd line player to me.
Also no decision has yet been made, just some potential trends appearing, hence the use of the word "starting".
Also the trade was certainly being judged in favor of Gillis at the time of the deal with zero games played. Booth is two full seasons removed from his one strong campaign, if you want to pay based on past performance I bet you we could pick-up Matt Stajan for pretty cheap.
I'd really like to see the fruitions of this rebuild before that happens.
ReplyDeleteThanks for asking Bruce, LT. Interesting analysis as always.
ReplyDeletehableess: what FPB will be when he finally jumps ship completely to the Oilers.
Hey LT - just an FYI on Klefbom. Here is his TOI totals for the past 4 games while paired with Brodin:
ReplyDelete17:21
16:41
18:44
12:04
Average ~ 15:45, and even +/- through those games.
Speaking of #11, would Hall benefit from a sit-down with Messier? i'm thinking #4 wants so bad to be better and dominant that he's overdoing it a bit. He's so fired up out there half the time it's working against him. Not sure if there's anyone 'in house' with relatable skills who could give him the advice he needs.
ReplyDeleteSomeone upstairs needs to put in a call...
verification word: panties(?!)
Even when the Toronto-based media throws us a bone they screw up:
ReplyDelete"The top line of Ryan Smyth (11 points), Nugent-Hopkins (11) and Hall (nine) has been clicking nicely, thanks to Smyth’s leadership and finishing touch around the net. Shawn Horcoff (seven points) and Jordan Eberle (10) have supplied a useful second line."
From this
Globe And Mail Article
Seriously? Has the author watched even one game?
If you look at Booth's numbers outside of that one season he really looks like a average 3rd line player to me.
ReplyDeleteBooth had one of the lowest PDOs in the NHL last year with a 874. Unsustainably low. When his luck moves to the mean he will be credited with "finding his game"
The year before he only played 28 games before his injury.
Also no decision has yet been made, just some potential trends appearing, hence the use of the word "starting".
Just re-read what you wrote. I disagree with your above statement.
Also the trade was certainly being judged in favor of Gillis at the time of the deal with zero games played. Booth is two full seasons removed from his one strong campaign, if you want to pay based on past performance I bet you we could pick-up Matt Stajan for pretty cheap.
You came in and put up a post designed to stir shit because a bunch of regulars here like the trade from the Van side.
Now you liken Booth to Stajan even though Stajan has never scored over 16 goals and Booth has scored 22, 31, and 23 in his last 3 full seasons, including in his "poor" season.
Well done.
Meant Booth has a PDO of 874 this year.
ReplyDeleteHis PDO last year was 958.
Reckless. No w.
ReplyDeleteSorry, pet peeve.
On another note, I disagree with the Anderson comparisons. Hall bulls through too many hits like Moose does. Anderson seemed to slip past more than power through.
ReplyDeleteI would like to post a hypothetical question to the group. My apologies if it has already been asked. Twenty years from now, will we be looking back saying this was Hall's team or Nugent-Hopkins' team?
ReplyDelete"D"
ReplyDeleteHopefully, it will be "The Boys on the Bus V2.0" It is a team sport. It isn't and will never be just one guy, or one leader, as the 1990 Cup demonstrated.
Gretzky's team won without Gretzky. Gretzky couldn't win without his team.
If you had to compare Taylor Hall with players of yore then I'd say he's a hybrid of Mark Messier and Pavel Bure.
ReplyDeleteHe has that drive and itensity the Moose had. (Plus he's probably going to get more of a mean streak as he matures) and Pavel Bure as he seems to have that end to end ability and offensive flare that every time the puck is on his stick he's gonna do something amazing.
Renney pre game
ReplyDeleteNo Barker-same D as last game.
Adrian Dater has a nice piece at SI.
Smarmy: you don't learn how to be mean as a hockey player. Messier had it from the start, just like his dad.
ReplyDeleteD: I agree with Godot (that's, what, thrice in one month?). But if it's going to be one or the other, my money would be on Nugent-Hopkins, just because of how rare for a successful team (and that's what we're going to be looking back on in twenty years, right? Right?) to be defined by a winger.
ReplyDeleteThinking back on the most successful teams of the last couple of decades (those that won more than one Cup, say), you've got Lemieux's Penguins, Yzerman's Wings, and Sakic's Avalanche. It's entirely possible that we'll be talking about Ovechkin's Caps in twenty years, but absent that...well, there's Howe's Wings, I guess, and Marice Richard's Habs, and probably a few more of that vintage I've forgotten.
(None of this is to say that, for example, Yzerman's Wings could have won without Lidstrom and Shanahan and all kinds of other players, just that when you think back on that team it's the centre you remember.)
If they move Hall to centre, of course, all bets are off.
And, of course, arguably they were Patrick Roy's Avalanche.
ReplyDeleteI may not actually have a point.
Smarmy: you don't learn how to be mean as a hockey player. Messier had it from the start, just like his dad.
ReplyDeleteHuh? Hall already has a streak it will come out more as he matures and puts on more size.
I supoe beyond Howe and Richard, one could suggest that a few two bit wingers like Lafleur, Hull the elder and Bossy led their teams to greatness.
ReplyDeleteI'm showing my age, I guess - I came of age as a hockey fan during the 1990 playoffs, and can't remember much of anything before that.
ReplyDeleteBut since your examples are all old, I'm just going to say that the game changed fundamentally around that time, such that wingers can't do that anymore.
All great teams have strong centers. Habs of the 70s had Pete Mahovlich, Jacques Lemaire and guys like Mondou who was splendid before injury.
ReplyDeleteLeafs of the 60s had Keon, Red Kelly.
Habs? Lord. Jean Beliveau, Henri Richard and Ralph Backstrom. Killers.
One of the clearest differences between Hall and Messier is you can tell Hall always is trying to be a hockey player, every moment of every shift. Messier was just scary, sometimes his actions had nothing at all to do with making hockey plays. This was clear from the beginning. I also see more of a comparison between Anderson and Hall. Hall is more focused than Anderson, though. You don't get any of those vacant stares into empty space like Anderson did.
ReplyDeleteStrange seeing comments from folks who think Hall's game is less this year than last season. I see a player who's passing and playmaking seems much improved. Most impressively, he's getting a lot stronger on the cycle. There was a play against the Kings where he held off the Kings' D man in the O zone with nothing more than solid positioning and body lean and rendered the D-man completely ineffectual.
ReplyDeleteLike Sidney Crosby and yes, Messier, the thing I love most about watching Hall is his uncanny balance and feel for his edges. He's a veritable weeble out there (remember 'weebles wobble but they don't fall down?') His strength through his core is power skating 101. We are watching the ascent of a future Conn Smythe winner.
All great teams have strong centers.
ReplyDeleteWell, sure, but they all have strong wingers and defensemen, too (or at least they all have since I started paying attention). All but the Wings of the 90s also have strong goaltenders, I think.
delooper: Yeah, agreed. In today's NHL, Messier would be suspended for most of the season just based on what he did in the Calgary pre-season games. :-)
ReplyDeleteLT
ReplyDeleteFor shame you missed George Armstrong on those very dated Leafs teams. Of course it may be his annual holdout each year so he could miss training camp and push off getting in shape for another month to 6 weeks
TOJ: He was RW by the time I remember the Leafs. Always liked him.
ReplyDeleteHall has accomplished more at same age than Messier. Think people have forgotten that Messier was a wee bit "unfocused" in his very early years.
ReplyDeleteFrom Gordie Howe to Bobby Clarke to Bryan Trottier to Mark Messier. There's a long tradition in the NHL of associating 'leadership' with willingness to perform blunt force trauma on your opponent with a well timed elbow or two hander.
ReplyDeleteYou want to get cocky? Let's play some hockey!
I figured this thread would be on fire for a HNIC game given the Oilers are 8-2-2 out of the gate.
ReplyDeleteOilers need a win tonight. No, seriously, they do.
Habs are getting results now, Bos is about to catch fire IMO, Wings are scuffling but still; and Hawks are one of the league's best.
Those are our next four games.
So tonight presents a chance to get another win in the bank and then hope-to-fuck you get a win and a tie in the final four games to make it a post.500 trip.
I believe what LT tried to do in this pregame was build another or change the narrative. The Oilers have so many guys who haven't scored - and the kids are off to a silent road start - that all it will take is a loss tonight without two of 20-89-91 scoring OR the kids line going silent and the new stories will be the ones I just mentioned.
Nice to see DD start because he Is the future and Khabby is still in his late 40's.
On the negative front, when asked about 83's return today Renney said "he's still aways away." Now that might be playing coy as they're about to let him start taking contact in practice but it still seems like Tues in Mtl isn't an optimistic timeline
Well put, Dennis. A win and the kids getting on the scoresheet are the crucial for this trip.
ReplyDeleteThe Oilers took their mothers on the Phoenix trip this year. I remember being pretty upset last year when they took their fathers on the trip and were losing some pretty horrid games. Things are looking up so far. I'm crossing my fingers that the crash isn't just around the corner at this point.
Dennis, re: 83. It could also be that Renney knows that things are going well and they're winning. It would give them the luxury of sitting Hemsky for a few more games to make sure he's completely healthy and ready to go. In contrast, if the Oilers were losing badly, there would be the impetus to force Hemsky back into the lineup the second he was cleared.
ReplyDeleteOf course, he may just be fighting lingering symptoms, but I think the above is plausible as well.
@Coach p
ReplyDelete'How is the presence of Smyth different than that of Penner?'
I would like to write a list here but I might run out of ink. Trying to win every night and trying to win a stanley cup rubs off. 94 doesn't have a cup and he wants one.
I liked Penner when he felt like playing. He already has a cup ring. There might be some evidence of cheeseburger grease on it.
94 does have 600% more goals as well if you're a stats guy.
ReplyDeleteAlmost 500% more assists too. +3 also better than -1. I know he got hurt though.
WG,
ReplyDeleteI guess we can revisit the trade at the 40 gp mark. I am always just weary of how a player will recover from a serious concussion like that and how it affects his game.
Also Booth took twice as many shots as Stajan year over year. Stajan has a higher career S% by 4%. Stajan might not be a goal scorer but he did actually score 19 goals in 09/10 not 16. Since that season he has slowly been dropping off in terms of S% and production similarly to Booth.
Either way we will have to revisit this later on in the season ;).
Re Hall. He is doing a lot of things better this year but my impression is that he seems to be having higher incidence of futile plays this year as well.
ReplyDeleteHis high ceiling is just so apparent that you can see many areas where he will still improve - as good as he is already.
I think Hall is producing this year so far without really executing properly on the opportunities he is getting. Most of his goals have come from hard work or being in the right spot and not as a direct result of his pure talent.
ReplyDeleteOnce Hall starts scoring the 'beautiful' goals again I think his production is going to kick into another gear. There really is no way to tell how good this kid is going to be.
Actually, that's a way better way of putting it. What A said.
ReplyDeleteAn excellent little book of science essays I've had for a long time (published 1993) by Hans Christian von Baeyer begins with a chapter on Fermi estimation, first telling a Fermi story as he observed the very first atomic bomb test.
ReplyDeleteBefore the bomb detonated, Fermi had torn a sheet of notebook paper into small bits. Then, as he felt the first quiver of the shock wave spreading outward through the still air, he released the shreds above his head. They fluttered down and away from the mushroom cloud growing on the horizon, landing about two and a half yards behind him. After a brief mental calculation, Fermi announced that the bomb's energy had been equivalent to that produced by ten thousand tons of TNT.
Weeks later, analysis of data from sophisticated instruments confirmed Fermi's instant estimate.
The author then goes on to talk about estimation tasks.
A Fermi problem has a characteristic profile: Upon first hearing it, one doesn't have even the remotest notion of what the answer might be, and one feels certain that too little information has been provided to find a solution. Yet, when the problem is broken down in subproblems, each one answerable without the help of experts or reference books, an estimate can be made, either mentally or on the back of an envelope, that comes remarkable close to the exact solution.
Such a problem is to estimate the number of piano tuners living in Chicago, which is an example Fermi famously taught. Students often come up with answers within 20% by a multitude of different methods. The reason this works is that your overestimates and your underestimates in your sub problems tend to cancel out. You're not likely to be wrong in the same direction with every term.
It breaks down when one term dominates the whole.
Secondary scoring is a long established proxy for team success. I have a strong feeling that this is more of a story in our present circumstance and less of an issue. One needs to become extremely wary about proxy indicators when primary success terms such as GA are off in the 1% tail. The value of established proxies breaks down when central parameters retreat to binocular country.
Intuitively we're all conditioned to expect Fermi estimation to be close to the truth the majority of the time. So conditioned that we make a story out of these intuitions before a real problem emerges.
There's a meme in journalism that "eventually every story comes true". This story will promptly prove true if the GA regresses to a more sustainable value, while the secondary holds fixed. On what basis do we expect one to regress to the norm faster than the other? Our secondary scoring is closer to the norm already than our GA. It has less far to regress and by all odds ought to win the race.
Of course, due to normal statistical variance, there will come a losing streak where secondary scoring is nowhere in sight. The story comes true, confirming we were right all along.
Hall is stll trying to do too much by himself, by my eye. And he needs to manage getting hit. But other than that he's paying attention to the Dzone and doing the little things. He doesn't have Horcoff in the middle and there's less FO pucks and he and Ebs are breaking in a raw rookie while finding their own way... It's all good.
ReplyDeleteSo Columbus is already down 5-0 after one period in Philly. Is "Fail for Nail" already decided?
ReplyDeleteAnd yeah, this is a must-win game, considering the level of opposition and the icebergs that lie ahead.
ReplyDeleteI expect the Coyotes to trap like mad because I don't think they have the depth to match up. Renney needs to make sure the team isn't going to rest on their laurels this game and show up.
What a nice little touch by Seguin. Wow.
ReplyDeleteNot trying to be contrary, but I don't see this as a must win. The Oilers are on a 6 game winning streak, 2-1-1 on the road and won in LA.
ReplyDeleteMust win? That's Columbus every night
Leafs are faltering a little, 3-0. Wonder if the Oilers can hold back the water.
ReplyDeleteAskoreyko,
ReplyDeleteAgreed. Let's look at it then.
I'm leery of small sample sizes.
After all, if we go on the last 6 games then:
-Khabby will have the best season any goalie had in the history of the NHL.
-The Oilers will finish with 158 points
-Detroit will finish 30th in the league with 11 points
Anyone see the comments by Laroque about drugs in the league and about Greyzky being the worst coach he ever played for?
ReplyDeleteI wonder if he gets an invite to the next alumni breakfast?
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/story/2011/11/05/sp-laraque-nhl.html
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteLeafs are shitting the bed, Seguin has the hatty, and that poor Scrivens in net, parents flew in to watch him get pulled. Ugly.
ReplyDeleteIt's just the market correcting, that's all. The Oilers SP is going to correct too.
ReplyDelete8-0 Philly at the end of two.
ReplyDeleteHemsky is expected to play on Tue. (according to HNIC Hot Stove).
ReplyDeleteHot Stove also mentioned that Tambellini stated Omark wanting to play in the SEL is news to him, and the best way to the NHL is to play well in the A.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if Columbus would have any interest in Khabibulin.
Leafs are looking like the Leafs I know tonight.
ReplyDeleteThis is old news, but half of the lower bowl empty to start the 2nd and 3rd in Toronto so the suits can sip on Martinis must be embarrasing for most Leafs fans. I guess it's not socially accepted among that group to be in your seat to start a period
Why don't they just rip out the seats, install cocktail tables, and double the price for those tickets so the suits can watch the game?
Wow Columbus down 8-0
For all of us in the "trade Khabibulin" crowd from last year, or was it "buy Khabibulin out", I can't remember, but now is our chance. All Tambellini has to do is call Howson (like tonight so Howson has something to say to the press after a Saturday to forget). We might even get something of value in return. Who would have thought.
ReplyDeleteI find myself wishing we could have pulled the trigger on a trade for that 8OV pick last year that CLS put in play weeks before the draft. We could have got RNH and Couturier. What a steal for Philly.
Well of course it's news to him. EVERYTHING IS NEWS TO HIM. Souray upset? Who knew?
ReplyDeleteHonestly. Sometimes people have no idea about how they are perceived.
I'm thinking Rick Nash might soon be in play.
ReplyDeleteHey LT, think the Oil get blown out soon? Bubble gonna burst? I don't see it myself, not an 8 or 9 goaler anyway.
ReplyDeleteLt- Omark didn't say he WANTED to play in the SEL, but rather that he could play there (if he ended up stuck in the AHL). I don't see the problem with what Tambellini said.
ReplyDeleteTo be fair to Tambellini I think he meant more along the line thatit was news to him that Omark wanted to go back to Europe (which was the phrasing the Hot Stove twits used). Of course that'd be news to Tambelinni; it'd be news to Omark. I doubt Omark wants to go back to Europe; its his fail safe -- where he wants to be is the NHL and right now he wants to do what he can to get there (whether its with the Oilers or not).
ReplyDeletePersonally, I'd still like to see the Swedes united before anything happens to Omark, as I think they could work really well together as a third scoring line (and drop Belanger to a high minute fourth line with Petrell and Eager/Jones when Hemsky is back).
But, then again, the host still blamed the Oilers for Schremp because he "liked him".
And wow; Boston has looked ordinary tonight and they've destroyed Toronto who has had some great individual play at times, but horrendous system play and lazy attitudes.
jake: I think they're a little more button down. And tonight the Leafs started a guy in net with very little experience.
ReplyDeleteThat is often a reason for disaster.
jake: I think they're a little more button down. And tonight the Leafs started a guy in net with very little experience.
ReplyDeleteThat is often a reason for disaster.
Or Steve Mason.
LT...
ReplyDeleteLMAO!
I wonder if Mason would like to borrow Bryzgalov's post game comments from the other night.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite moments from the Boys On The Bus, is when Messier blatantly cross checks a guy right in front of the ref, breaks his stick over the guy's back, gets whistled for the penalty and then screams bloody murder at Mcreary all the way to the penalty box.
ReplyDelete"Why? Because my he fell down and my fucking stick broke? Are you fucking kidding me?"
If #4 has half the intensity that Mess played with, we'll be ok for the next decade +.
In the run-up to the 1990 Stanley Cup I remember thinking to myself how much less of a player Messier was than in the mid-80's. He still had enough in him to drag the Oilers to the cup, but he wasn't the same guy after Gretzky left. He was near civilized. And he became more of a passer.
ReplyDeleteThis year has truly been bizarre from an Oiler fans viewpoint. Imagine waking up from a 6 month coma and discovering...
ReplyDeleteOilers in first place?
Ryan Smyth an Oiler again?
And leading the team in points?
Ryan Nugent Hopkins tied with him?
Their duct tape and chicken wire defense leading the league?
Two Oiler castoffs in the top ten for scoring?
Souray alive and well and thriving in Dallas?
Penner with one assist since being traded?
Getting arguably the best goaltending in the league?
Without a trade??
Wake me up in June, after we've won the cup!!
One thing I've learned about crowing about anything is that you inevitably eat crow before you know it.
SEE: Smyth, Khabibhulin, Souray, Penner, RNH, MAB, Seguin...
I'm sticking by my idea, LT. Lots of tough road ahead on this trip and this should be the easiest game left of the bunch.
ReplyDeleteDennis: Phoenix is a good team. I think they win this one.
ReplyDeleteI think the Habs game is winnable. Wings too.
ReplyDeleteWell we'll need one of those two too to go .500.
ReplyDeleteNot sure what Ron MacLean was smoking during the Hot Stove. Omark's story still to be told but he's a way better player than Schremp. Fucking guy couldn't skate, check etc etc and is out of the league. Because the Oilers stifled his creativity? Puhlease.
ReplyDeletePhoenix are a team that likes to chip the puck behind the defense, getting deep and work. That's the style that can cause problems for this new Renney systems troops.
ReplyDeleteI think Edmonton needs an excellent night on special teams, because I see some 5v5 breakdowns down low being a common theme tonight. 2 lines should fare well, but there's two that are vulnerable, and this is a road game.
This is the NHL, though. Betting half of your bankroll is a fools game.
@Ribs: Funny you should mention that, right now there's a big old naked-eye sunspot that's as big as any active region on the Sun in 7 years. Had a couple of flares today, including one on my watch at the observatory. Nothing scary, but better than average chance of northern lights in the next few nights.
ReplyDeleteOne of these years we'll have a superflare like the one recorded back in 1859, and it'll be interesting to see how all this new-fangled tech deals with it. An EMP might not hurt anyone, but at the same time it could wipe out the entire Oilogosphere!
Black Dog...
ReplyDeleteJust typical stir the pot to generate a storyline from the talking heads. Yet another reason why the MSM is obsolete.
Speaking of idiots, Lee likes to remove all doubt in the first few moments of the game.
ReplyDelete2-on-1 early but not much else.
ReplyDeleteTo anyone that has Netflix, watch the history channels 'The Universe' seasons. It really puts shit in perspective, and makes Bruce a little more understandable ;)
ReplyDeleteIt's funny I've been watching everything I can get my hands on in regards to the universe lately, fascinating and mind boggling stuff. I was at a funeral today for my fiances grandfather, and being in church, listening to the gospel etc, all I could think about is how incredible us being here actually is. Wondering if the church is aware of how insignificant our solar system is, in an insignificant galaxy, both of which having a finite lifespan ticking away.
Ok back to hockey and beers.
Major slash by 5 I believe. Lordy.
ReplyDeleteEager with the sneaky flop shot pass.
ReplyDeleteBetter pass to Sberle and that's buried.
ReplyDeleteI hope Torres and Nuge never see the ice together.
ReplyDeleteHarski a healthy scratch vs. Abbotsford tonight.
ReplyDeleteWonder why, he's started well.
looks like tonight's game is going to be "high event." Lots of pinching, turnovers, and rushes by both teams.
ReplyDeleteGood to see MPS go to the crease and try to jam one home. That's what it takes to get out of a slump.
WG: AHL rotations are a mystery.
ReplyDeleteOmark sets up Green for a goal.
ReplyDeleteSuch a smart little circle from RNH there. Hard to believe he's only 18 sometimes.
ReplyDeleteTwo good shifts by the 4th so far.
ReplyDeleteLowe and Sillinger watching the OKC game in Abbotsford as per Neal Livingston of C&B.
ReplyDeleteAHL rotations are a mystery.
ReplyDeleteAt least there's a rotation.
Speaking of idiots, Lee likes to remove all doubt in the first few moments of the game.
ReplyDeleteHey! ;=)
This Oilers D is something no one saw coming. Even after making mistakes, calmer feet and then often correcting themselves. Just a thing of beauty. To think how we thought of this being such a blight on this club.
ReplyDeleteWell, we don't really know what's up with Hartikainen, to be fair. He might just have a touch of the flu.
ReplyDeleteOake just can't help himself.
ReplyDeleteDid anyone know that he was Taylor Strba Hall ?
ReplyDeleteCouple of those Moms might be a little giggly by the third.
ReplyDeletespOILer: that may be the only way this is watchable. Damn Phoenix - they can't draw enough fans to pay for a proper lineup so they're forced to ruin the game for everyone else.
ReplyDeleteDivorced NHL moms must have a plethora of young suitors chomping at the bit to have an NHLer call him dad.
ReplyDeleteI've decided that Ladi Smid is the second coming of Igor Ulanov. Pain threshold of a corpse, might occassionally get beat wide.
ReplyDeleteThat was gross.
ReplyDeleteDubnyk drifts out of position a lot
ReplyDeleteShite. The Edmonton born Langkow has hurt the Oil more than a few times over the years.
ReplyDeletePHX keeping EDM break out bottled up.
ReplyDeleteMight be a tough night.
My sister'd crucify me for saying it, but Smid's twice the defenceman that Ulanov ever was.
ReplyDeletePain threshold of a corpse
ReplyDeleteThe way he endures - nay, welcomes - abuse, I have to assume he calls his girlfriend "Mistress".
Mind you, Laddy'll probably never have a two goal game.
ReplyDeleteSo at what point do we start to give credit to Steve Smith for the play of some of these young Dmen? I know Huddy was certainly seen as an asset, but Smid and Gilbert certainly seem to be different men this year. Potter is a mystery, no real way to determine if coaching had anything to do with it.
ReplyDeleteWhat about Fedun even?
I rarely see Phoenix but they remind me of those old Jersey teams. They're big, they have some speed, they close the gaps right away, great puck support. One of these games where Oilers have lots of try but they're just getting shut down, no room to move.
ReplyDeleteIf Smid scores two, I demand Safeway pays out the mill for the Score n Win.
ReplyDeleteI know I'm in the minority on this, but I don't buy that Gilbert's been much better this year than in the last two. Smid's a different story. Potter's from a different planet.
ReplyDeleteThe D is looking a little weaker against the forecheck than the past few games. Really need Whitney.
ReplyDeleteGreat shift by Smid.
ReplyDelete89 with an ugly PP, he's back to planting his feet and stickhandling like a mad man.
ReplyDeleteBig stop by dd there.
Also need some offensive pressure from MPS and Gagner. If they can't do anything, Omark needs another chance next game.
ReplyDeleteBD agreed.
ReplyDeleteAnd WG nailed it too with the breakout. They're all over us on the Dzone walls.
"Steve Smith" - good work with the D first of all. You're not just another witty commenter.
ReplyDeleteThen again maybe witty doesn't mean what I think it means. ;)
Smid is much better.
I've always liked Gilbert. I think he has been better this year though. He's more physical and well, he's just better imo. Part of this is because he has a pretty good partner and also because the forwards are improved. Easier to play with Smyth in front of you and Smid at your side instead of O'Sullivan and Strudwick say.
Might be time for the coach to revisit the "Shoot more" conversation with the young guys.
ReplyDeleteWho is he? Gumby?
ReplyDeleteSmid never took his eyes off that luck.
ReplyDeletePuck. Fuck.
ReplyDeleteMight be time for the coach to revisit the "Shoot more" conversation with the young guys.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, but to my eye, Hall is shooting perhaps not too often, but often too early. Trying to force it a bit much which I recall being an issue at times in his rookie year as well.
I hate saying he needs to calm down his game as that recklessness is a big part of what makes him so good (and fun to watch), but...
There are Oiler fans in the stands than Phoenix
ReplyDeleteWith all the interference PHX is running tonight, they call 5 for that?
ReplyDeleteBad juju tonight.
This is the kind of the game the bigger forwards should get more ice time and crashing the net is the mantra on the bench. Wouldn't mind seeing the 4th line getting an extra shift or two.
ReplyDeleteCutesy isn't going to pay dividend in the PHX zone tonight.
Wow - PHX loves their one timers.
ReplyDeleteOiler forwards are a half step behind tonight.
Lander has to get that puck out.
ReplyDeleteDon't think Dubnyk can be faulted on that goal, still hasn't seen it. Smid's a beauty apparently, but that penalty was costly.
ReplyDeleteUgh
ReplyDeleteLosing on HNIC is always made worse by the broadcasters rabid screaming.
No disrespect to Petry and Teubert but Sutton and Barker are the kind of D we need in a game like this.
ReplyDeleteIs this second period the worst period the Oilers played this season?
ReplyDeleteIt's one of the best second periods an opposing team has had against us.
ReplyDeleteThey are looking pretty frustrated.
ReplyDelete@ Lee
ReplyDeleteUh what? I don't follow. What could barker bring to this game that Petry doesn't?
Good pre-scouting by the PHX coaching staff.
ReplyDeleteIf they keep getting goaltending from Smith, PHX could surprise. they're likely going to struggle to score goals though.
Well young oilers, welcome to a road game against a disciplined, hard checking team. It's not pretty.
ReplyDeleteAgree with the above posters- in games like this, cutesy is out. Forecheck hard, win battles along the walls, and throw everything to the net. The oilers have been dominated on the boards and in the trenches all night.
The limitation of the kids line against shutdown d-men becomes apparent in a game like this. Hall's cutesy dangles and tic tac passes aren't getting it done. We're not in junior anymore son. Hall should look at how Ovechkin plays on the road- he's not adverse to the dump and chase game by any means.
Not surprisingly, the only semi-effective line tonight has been the smyth line.
The oilers weren't going to win them all, and tonight is a good example of how far the oilers still need to go. You need to learn how to win on the road.
Uh what? I don't follow. What could barker bring to this game that Petry doesn't?
ReplyDeleteGrease, jam, crust, truculence, heart, soul, dark matter, etc.
Oilleak. Trench warfare. Not young Petry's forte. Yet.
ReplyDeleteLangkow is just a fantastic looking man. Beautiful. You don't see that much in hockey, so I feel it must be mentioned, if for no other reason than to bring balance to all the photos of beautiful women posted here. He's right up there with Moreau.
ReplyDeleteTough night for the Oil. In contrast to the unflattering critique from the play by play duo, I think Dubnyk has played quite well. A little unlucky tonight.
Khabibulin a Jacket by Monday??
I think on these road games, the Oil may have to shuffle up the lines. They need someone more physical to cycle and play along the boards on the Hall-Hopkins line. (I might try MPS, who might also help defensively) And they need someone who can help Horcoff-Smyth be more effective offensively. (This will be easier with Hemsky back, or with Omark in the lineup.)
ReplyDeleteHall-RNH-MPS
Smyth-Horcoff-Eberle
Omark-Belanger-Gagner
Eager-Lander-Jones
Petrell
Btw, thanks to the Montreal Alouettes for sweet fa against the Lions tonight.
ReplyDeleteGagner...I think he misses Cogliano. ;)
ReplyDeleteHas a single play, bounce, call gone our way?
ReplyDeleteKhabibulin a Jacket by Monday??
ReplyDeleteI wonder if Howson/Arniel are Jackets on Monday.
I'm not opposed to selling high on Khabibulin if something nice came along.
Hall has been shit
ReplyDeleteNeed a PP goal tonight and they're no where close.
ReplyDeleteLander's looked good.
perfect!
ReplyDeleteYep there's one.
ReplyDeleteAttaboy 93..
ReplyDeleteThere's the greasy one around the net again.
ReplyDeleteKid isn't a goal scorer.
ReplyDeleteIs this the first road goal of the year from the kid line?
ReplyDeleteA bounce I mean
ReplyDeleteyes icecastles
ReplyDeleteEager wasn't very aware on that one.
ReplyDeleteTerrible flat footed forecheck leads to 3 on 2 from center line.
ReplyDeleteBleh.
Call up Omark!
Well, that's the game. Not sure, what Renney needs to do to help on the road.
ReplyDeleteHemsky should help create a balanced attack and improve the ES numbers.
Woot! Teubert?
ReplyDeleteDubnyk played that one a little odd - thought he could have gotten more of his body square to the puck.
ReplyDeleteThat one started in PHX end though. Eager didn't fill in the center passing lane.
Well F Me - Teddy Peckman
Teubert to Peckham!!!
ReplyDeletePeckman with the hands...lol.
ReplyDeleteMPS gets an assist as well. Hopefully this helps relieve some of the pressure now.
ReplyDeleteMagnus and Teddy should trade positions
ReplyDeleteBrutal! - obvious hook to the hands on 93 right in front of the zebra - just a terrible missed call.
ReplyDeleteBy the Three Balls of Mary, Jesus and Joseph!
ReplyDeleteWow, Renney sending in the D on the attack.
ReplyDeleteRefs just outright refusing to call a hold or interference call on PHX.
ReplyDeleteIts like watching DET in the playoffs when they always went to the CF and got all the calls.
WG. Yeah, but some interference is allowed now. The Oilers have to get better at fighting through it.
ReplyDeleteWhy does 4 insist on shooting the second he's gained the zone?
ReplyDeleteIt seems like after Hall gets hit a lot his brain slows down. He's skating and shooting, but not playing as intelligently as he can.
ReplyDeleteThree Holy Balls. Apologies. Forgot their proper title.
ReplyDeleteWell, I can live with this if they lose.
ReplyDeleteNasty cross check in the ribs on 28.
ReplyDeleteOilers might be leading if they got the 10 min of PP that they should have got.
Horrid reffing.
I understand "letting them play", but you call shit that affects scoring plays.
4
ReplyDeleteHall=Epic Snide.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like after Hall gets hit a lot his brain slows down.
ReplyDeleteCall it Duk Koo Kim Syndrome.
What? Too soon?
The D are playing Hall much better than last year.
ReplyDeleteThey know Hall is jailbreak wide 90% of the time so they're backing in a bit further and letting him shoot from the hash. Usually the D get a stick on it and it's a harmless rush.
Oh well - they had some pushback, but 10 minutes won't win a game most nights
Had to end at some point.
ReplyDeleteOk Renney, makes some good changes on line 3 & 4 please.
Probably good for the team, a resetting of sorts.
ReplyDeleteNugent Hopkins might just achieve divinity. He is Crosby tenacious, smart, fast. He's far too shy for this to be his team, but very shortly this will be his team.
ReplyDeleteNasty cross check in the ribs on 28.
ReplyDeleteWas it good for you?
I mean it was a bad game for much of it, but it looks to me like a 'learning oppurtunity' for the Oilers
ReplyDelete