Sam Gagner looks like he's turning a corner, and it paid off in a small way with that very nice pass to the Russian for a late goal the other night. Gagner: "There are times when the ankle still hurts. What I'm struggling with is the tape on my ankle. You want it tight enough to give you protection but not so tight you can't skate. After the second period in Nashville, I retaped it and it felt way better in the third."
Coach Renney is making today's game a big one--more than it already is--in an effort to get the Oilers on a winning streak. Edmonton has been losing in Minny since Lou Nanne had hair--well, not that long ago but for a long, long time. I don't think there's much to it, Lemaire that freak poisioned the water hole and forced all offensive players to become work drones. This version of the Wild is 8 games over .500 and leads the conference, and is being led by Koivu, Cullen, that rat fink PM Bouchard and some silly good goaling by Josh Harding and Niklas Backstrom. Their no-name defense seems to be holding up well.
The Minneapolis sound won the world over long ago, but it's a giant sucking sound for the Oildrop. Maybe Hoppy and the wunderkids can win the day.
Oh, did I just call in sick...well...yes, yes I did!
ReplyDeleteMy money's on Oilers lose 2-1 but I hope they prove me wrong.
ReplyDelete"Ryan Whitney is like a hockey version of Halley's comet in that he appears every 75 games."
ReplyDeleteNice, very nice.
News Flash:
ReplyDeleteEdmonton and area office staff production to drop substantially today between the hours of 2pm-5pm. In related news, internet bandwidth usage of Edmonton and area offices expected to soar at this same time.
...more to follow.
Well there it is. I wish these players that come back from injury would save us all some aggrivation and say yah, I'm going to play, but I'm not 100%. Kidding of course, but it would explain alot.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand - another example of an Oiler coming back before an injury is fully healed. Maybe 89 had a low chance of reinjuring the ankle, but worrysome nonetheless. I'm assuming Hemsky is in the same boat, and now maybe Whitney.
On the other hand - another example of an Oiler coming back before an injury is fully healed. Maybe 89 had a low chance of reinjuring the ankle, but worrysome nonetheless. I'm assuming Hemsky is in the same boat, and now maybe Whitney.
ReplyDeleteSouray too - oh wait.
MIN is going to regress big time soon.
ReplyDeleteThey have a team PDO of 1032, riding a .952 5v5 SV%.
They have a 9-5 record in one goal games (others have done research that shows 1 goal wins in a season is basically a coin flip)
The only have 3 clear victories (wins by more than 1 goal (non EN)) out of their 13 wins, and are 3-3 in clear victories (9th in WC)
They are 27th in the league in Fenwick when the score is close with a 45.29. (EDM is no screaming hell at 24th with a 46.59)
They will come down to earth over the next couple months, that is a given.
Basically I'm going to fade MIN while punting like its my job.
Couple that with Renney getting the team all hyped to end the losing streak in MIN, and I feel pretty good about the game today.
Hope DD gets the start, the Oilers seem to fall apart if they get scored on while carrying the play, and Nik is sliding into untrustworthy territory.
4-2 Oilers.
Hall with 2, Horcov with 1, and PRV with 1. Yeah, I went there.
Book it!!
WG- DD getting the start is a nice thought. I as well would like to see it but... Unlikely. Renney has shown since game 2 that Khabi is the go to guy in big games. DD should get the Col start given Renneys recent comments re: failing to get DD in the net enough.
ReplyDeleteIf Khabi had played as well as Dubnyk did in Nashville, it would be a lock that Khabi would be in net for this afternoon's game. The fact that it's not a lock for Dubnyk, tells me that Khabi is still the de facto #1 on this team.
ReplyDelete...led by Koivu, Cullen, that rat fink PM Bouchard and some silly good goaling by Josh Harding and Niklas Backstrom
ReplyDeleteAmazing how Heatley has just become a forgotten man since being exiled to Minny.
I am going to the game today. Its my 10th Oilers-Wild game since relocating to the US from Saskatchewan, and I am hoping the 10th time is the charm.
ReplyDeleteI feel that I have more than paid my dues by watching 9 pretty boring games played almost exclusively in the neutral zone.
Woodguy said "Nik is sliding into untrustworthy territory"
ReplyDeleteNK 5v5 SV% in his past 5 starts: .883. No surprise that he has only 1 win to show for those five starts. Contrast that with his 5v5 SV% of .962 through his first 8 starts. Granted, both of those samples are extremely small, but one of them happens to correlate very nicely to the 10-11 NK we all knew and loved.
To borrow a quote from Dennis Green, "NK is who we thought he was".
To borrow a quote from Dennis Green, "NK is who we thought he was".
ReplyDeleteMVP?
It was good to hear Renney acknowledge he hasn't given DD the starts he deserves/needs to establish himself as the true starter.
Now that the Khabi magic is all but gone, now is the time to adjust and get things right.
That being said, I still think Renney starts the wrong goalie today.
I put a pressure bandage on my ankle when I went jogging for a year after I had my high ankle sprain.
ReplyDeleteThose bastards take time. They basically heal in the first month and then nag you for a long time.
I don't think activity or inactivity matters much once one is in the nagging phase.
Flames claim Comeau.
ReplyDeleteGuess they missed Hagman.
That being said, I still think Renney starts the wrong goalie today.
ReplyDeleteThey play tomorrow so its either Bulin then DD or DD then Bulin. Not sure it makes a big difference.
Matty this morning-he thinks
ReplyDeleteit'll be Khabibulin in net with Hordichuk and Pettrel sitting.I haven't seen any official lines yet.
I remember driving to the wilds of Beaumont with a buddy in Jan '86 to get a glimpse of Halley's comet-it was difficult to tell with certainty, but we're pretty sure we saw it,although
the one memory that sticks with me was freezing my ass off in the middle of a farmers field. I was looking forward to the data from the Challenger
launch a couple weeks later but the shuttle exploded and the opportunity was lost.
DD played great last game. Keep him in the net and let Khabi take the second game thereby sending the right message to DD.
ReplyDeleteNot a big difference perhaps but a subtle one...
Plante assigned to OKC.
ReplyDeleteAnyone remember when we beat Minny 8 straight times?
ReplyDeleteMy gad, that's a good song.
ReplyDeleteWG, simple statistical assumptions say that Minny will come to earth soon, but then the same ones said that about Colorado the last time they made the playoffs. I am not at all convinced that Minny can't ride these percentages into April, even with a significant dip.
ReplyDeleteAnd besides, remember, we're now past the American Thanksgiving cut-off to make the playoffs, so theoretically Minny has the points necessary to make it (bookie thingy).
I still think it is a 2-1 score, with the Oil on the short end, and RNH keeping the masses enthralled with another PP goal.
2-0 Oilers. Smyth & Eberle with the goals. Very few penalties called. Whitney doesn't finish the game.
ReplyDelete*clap clap*
ReplyDeleteI say.. 4-3 Oilers (goals by Eberle, Smyth, Hemsky, and Smid with the winner).
ReplyDeleteYes, Smid.
If we're going to end that losing streak against MIN, might as well bank on two once in a life time events hitting at the same time.
On the other hand - another example of an Oiler coming back before an injury is fully healed.
ReplyDeleteIn fairness, it seems that Gagner's implying that his poor play isn't so much due to the bad ankle as it is to the fact that he's having trouble taping it properly. Some injuries can take years to fully heal from: I've had tendon injuries to my wrists 5 years ago which took three years to heal and two fingers 11 years ago which I still need to tape when I climb. I'm not advocating playing hurt, but 100% recovery, while ideal, isn't always a realistic goal before the player returns. particularly if taping or a splint can help prevent re-injury.
So far I've been running on the assumption (hope) that we've been seeing so many players lost to injury because mgmt has changed their tune a bit over previous years and is being overly cautious with making sure damaged players don't turn into broken ones and if this were any of the last few years, we'd have seen a lot of these guys still on the ice. I'm going to cling to my baseless optimism and faith in their good judgement.
termital: I can't think of anything clever. But I do know that the combined weight of the world's termites is greater than the combined weight of the world's people. And like an NHLer in/after a contract year, they shed their wings as soon as they've found a suitable nesting site and established themselves.
I'm gonna swear here so avert your eyes if you don't like to see that sort of immaturity...
ReplyDeleteI.cannot.wait.to.kick.the.mutherfuckin.vinegar.outta.these.mutherfuckin.Minnie.douchebags.Git'er done. Black Friday for the Yanks.
GDP: 5-2. The Kids put the slick back in the Oil.
Patient on the breakouts. Get pucks deep, make them turn and chase against our speed, forecheck hard.
I have to say, this afternoon game thing has some appeal: I have no cable and no internet at home beyond my iPhone, but sitting in a class all afternoon... let's just say I hope none of today's material is going to be on an exam. Thank you chanfeed!
ReplyDeleteFor anyone biding time until the *real* game, the ending to this Boston-Detroit game is phenomenal. Two teams that really really really know about battle level.
ReplyDeleteTied 2-2 going into OT.
Link here
TSN Ice Chips...
ReplyDeleteDefensemen Greg Zanon and Mike Lundin practiced with the Wild again Thursday, but neither is ready to play. Defenseman Marek Zidlicky, sidelined by a concussion, skated on his own Wednesday but experienced recurring symptoms and did not skate Thursday. Forward Guillaume Latendresse also is still sidelined because of a concussion. - Pioneer News
WG, simple statistical assumptions say that Minny will come to earth soon, but then the same ones said that about Colorado the last time they made the playoffs. I am not at all convinced that Minny can't ride these percentages into April, even with a significant dip.
ReplyDeleteI agree that an entire NHL season is so short (82 games) in terms of long term samples that a team can ride unsustainable percentages long enough to make the playoffs over statistically better teams.
The COL team you are referring couldn't buy a win in the last month and *just* snuck in.
I'm not betting that MIN won't make the playoffs, I betting that they, like COL in your example, will lose more games than they win going forward.
Fading them is +EV. Since they have such a good record, they will be favored in many match ups against what I think are better teams, so its ++EV.
A good example of season's being small sample subject to crazy variation is CHI last year.
They had the 3rd best goal differential (GD) in the conference at +33 and squeaked in 8th into the playoffs.
CHI was also 16-22 in one goal games.
Funny things happen over short periods of time.
*clap clap*
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if this is awesome or a harbinger of bad things.
*clap clap*
Ok, its awesome.
*clap clap*
ReplyDeleteComments section for 'Private Eyes' on Youtube is still beautifully peppered with Oilers love. And it beats the hell out of "squeee". :) I wonder which Oiler actually got that one going... Given the 80s music references on HNIC After Hours last week, it seems very Horcoffian.
Well this is strange territory....just home from work on a Friday, gonna order a little pizza, a beer and enjoy an Oiler tilt without calling in sick...haha...my time zone in my favour for a change... ;) Streak is broken, 5-2 Oil.
ReplyDeleteWell that post worked out well.
ReplyDelete*note to self on use of periods in Blogger*
I'd bet the farm on the Oil today, and while that usually works out very very poorly for me, I feel good about today's bout.
Would someone please tell me that Whitney has been pain-free and skating with ease for the past two weeks and there's no chance of any relapse?
ReplyDeleteI'd feel a lot better.
First shift bodes well.
ReplyDeleteWhitney has been pain-free and skating with ease for the past two weeks. There's no chance of any relapse. I exist to please. And to lie.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Minn is starting their 51 year-old backup backup. Oh and Koivu, Heatley and Clutterbuck are going to be HSes.
Yeah spOILer. It's good news when the first cheer from the opposing crowd is for simply clearing the puck to the neutral zone.
ReplyDeleteAnyone have a feed?
ReplyDeleteword verification = chormew
*what happens when Chorney plays a physical game
Clutterbuck has been a real pain in the ass of a healthy scratch already this game.
ReplyDelete;o)
Man, that line is clicking well.
ReplyDeleteGood cover by Teubert leads to a Smytty goal.
ReplyDeleteSmytty! Inhuman the season he's having.
ReplyDeleteFeed here
ReplyDeleteChanfeed has been really good this year for reliable streams.
Cameraman lost in space.
ReplyDeletePetrell, Hordichuk and Lander all in...yet Paajarvi sits.
ReplyDeleteSorry, but that's not right. The Oilers are already on the brink of "losing" Gagner by not putting the guy in a position to exploit his strengths (Belanger and Jones as linemates), and they're running the risk of doing the same with MPS.
It really doesn't matter how many minutes the top 4 eat up today if that third pairing gets stuck out against Koivu-Heatley-Seto.
ReplyDeleteNice start though.
Well that was an ugly 4 minutes.
ReplyDeleteI thought that was gonna be the one from Smid.
ReplyDeleteWow a Smid SOG. I don't know if that's a good or bad omen.
ReplyDeleteCeryse: you almost got your wish there. Nice work by Smid to take the shot and follow it right to the net for a 2nd chance.
ReplyDeleteOk, I know a lot of us were happy when Belanger was signed because we had been missing a Marty Reasoner "type" player on the roster (veteran depth center).
ReplyDeleteI'm still happy we signed him. What I'm not happy about is the fact that the return of the inexplicable "playing the Reasoner-type on the power play" tactic. I know it's just the second unit, but he shouldn't be out there.
You know who would look good in that spot? Mangus Paajarvi.
pesicant: Mixture of pesticide and dessicant.
Ugly describing that PP is being generous.
ReplyDeleteI'm kind of hoping sitting Magnus does make him mad. I'd love to see him play with a little anger.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of anger, Staubitz has lost his mind.
ReplyDeleteStaubitz you chickenshit. Dodges Hordichuk and then sets up the ability to jump him with a dirty cross-check.
ReplyDeleteDisgraceful.
I'm not really for or against on the whole enforcer issue and I really don't want to fire that arguement up again. I like that 16 is drawing penalties, but I'm not a fan of his antics in this game so far.
ReplyDeleteSeems a bit Burrows-esque.
I'm stunned he's still in the game.
ReplyDeleteStaubitz took a few extra packages of cold pills today. weird...
ReplyDeleteWeird idea by Staubitz. You know the linesmen aren't going to let you pound on Hordichuk while he's lying on the ground. Why even try?
ReplyDeleteRenney's job tonight - match Hordichuk up with Staubitz = guaranteed PP. That guy is Crrrrrazzy.
ReplyDeleteDerek, he's sure suckering the right guy.
ReplyDeleteHordy laughing at Staubitz....lol. The Minny announcers not liking 16 at the moment.
ReplyDeleteThey gonna count that?
ReplyDeleteGagner giveaway and then Belanger fanning on the shot...ugly.
ReplyDeleteHBomb - you were dead right on the Belanger thing. He's really out of place on the PP and just blew and easy pass there.
ReplyDeleteOh well, RNH saves the day again.
The Nuge saves the PP.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteRNH with a Smyth-special, with 94 and Gagner also in the area.
ReplyDeleteThat is how you deter Staubitz's bullshit right there.
Hahaha, wow
ReplyDeleteWith the two goals for Edmonton scored the way they were on top of the 8 minutes of PK time for Minny in this period if I was a Wild fan I'd be livid right now.
Love it.
Good job by Gagner to troll the crease there.
ReplyDeleteThat was actually a good call by the ref - the overhead shows that it was all Minnisota players jammed into the crease and pushing the goalie back.
ReplyDeleteLarsson starting to find his scoring touch with the Devils.
ReplyDeleteIf that pick was ever really on the table for our 2012 first, it's becoming more and more of a shame that they didn't pull the trigger.
Staubitz is pissed.
ReplyDeleteReally not enjoying Belanger's puck management in the offensive zone - Must have been promised PP time.
ReplyDeleteThe rest of the forwards are absolutely flying.
The morons whack-whack-whack away...and the supergenius shows them how it is done. I'd run that video over and over for any team i'm involved with. There's a right way and a wrong way in those scrambles...Hopkins did it perfectly.
ReplyDeleteCactus - I'll restate it, I am a fan of Belanger and the price/term we brought him here on. But he was brought here to fill a defensive role.
ReplyDeleteHe doesn't need to score 40 points to justify his paycheque, and I hope the Oilers realize that and just let the guy play to his strengths (PK, even-strength defensive center, etc.)
Didn't catch the game, and too lazy to get the feed.
ReplyDeleteWhat on earth is Brad Staubitz doing?
So, I wonder what that clown Staubitz is going to do next when he's out of the box.
ReplyDeletePoor penalty by 89 there.
ReplyDeleteStaubitz is off his meds today.
ReplyDeleteHBomb - I think we're on exactly the same page.
ReplyDeleteSadly, I don't think that goal will be called back.
That has to be a high-stick. No way this should count, but it probably will.
ReplyDeletefpb:
ReplyDeleteStaubitz is dishing it out but can't take it.
Got cut on the face with an errant stick, and got checked hard by Horc, but then got caught twice by the refs retaliating after the whistle - 2 double minors.
Can they review the initial high stick - it was not the shot that scored, I don't think they can overturn a goal unless it is the high stick shot that scores.
ReplyDeleteI could be wrong.
Garbage.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I have bookie's question, too.
ReplyDeleteTough way to lose a lot of momentum there at the end. Killing off the rest of the penalty is going to be important.
ReplyDeleteLiked the way the top two lines cycled the puck down low though.
O-zone penalties...kill ya every time.
ReplyDeleteBookie: Well yes they can... it's not a judgement call. It would waive off the goal just because the latter couldn't touch it.
ReplyDeleteThe high stick is nullified by the fact that it hit an Oiler directly after, no?
ReplyDeleteBookie: Well yes they can... it's not a judgement call. It would waive off the goal just because the latter couldn't touch it.
ReplyDeleteDon't think so, it needs to be the scoring play -either directly in or deflected. Just like they can't review an offside on a goal. The high stick is a judgement call on ice during gameplay. Only the scoring play is reviewable I think.
Well I was right about RNH on the PP anyways.
ReplyDeleteBookie: I remember a game in NJ with a double tip. They did review both at the time but i'm honestly not sure if they should have
ReplyDeleteI didn't see the first few minutes, but it's a whole lot easier to watch the Oilers when you have Whitney anchoring another defense pairing.
ReplyDeleteI still say they need one more really excellent or elite D-man. Then this team is murderously good.
But of course that was a sucker bet too.
ReplyDeleteAnd WG, I think what you said about Col doesn't negate what I said about Minny, even though I see your point.
As Sgt. Bimbeau said on Hollywood Knights, "Horse Shit!"
ReplyDeleteThe Wild should count their lucky stars.
One of the biggest improvements this year has been the Oilers start to games. Last year, they'd wait until NK did his MVP thing and start skating after 2 goals against. Those first 2 shifts were dominant.
ReplyDeleteLiked Hordi's candidness in the interview.
I wasn't a Tuebert fan from the start, but I can see I might warm up to him - had a good period
I hope they run that ATB commercial during Flames telecasts as well.
ReplyDeleteEntertaining first period, a bit scary that Edmonton spent half the period on the PP and were almost outshot 2:1.
If Hordichuks interview is any indication the theatrics aren't over yet. Unless of course Staubitz never sees the ice again.
Crosschecking and doing the Paul Bunyon on an opponent's stick are probably the dumbest penalties a player can take and the easiest for a ref to call. One while you're on the PP with a chance to really put a curbstomp on the Wild? Well done by dumb and dumber.
ReplyDeleteLose the stache Gags. Makes you look like Denis Savard...minus the creativity, hands and scoring touch of course.
Still a proponent of Hall tried at RW. Kid's favored deke is to the left so it gives him a better shooting angle. Scores an awful lot of goals from the right side anyways and I could see some Messier-like far side snappers happening.
Jordan Eberle, you are simply amazing.
Teubert isn't great with the puck, but he's miles better than Peckham, IMO. He brings a lot of the same virtues as Peckham, too.
ReplyDeleteI know I'm starting to sound like a Peckham-hater, but I think we might be better off with Teubert in the lineup this season when others come back.
Am I crazy?
Are they allowed to review whether or not it was a high stick prior to the goal?
ReplyDeleteAlso, what is the rule regarding kicking, high-sticking, etc., a puck that goes in the net but hits something/someone else prior to going in? For example, if a player kicks the puck and it goes off a defenseman's skate and then in the net, is it a goal?
Kris: I see what you mean as well. The biggest thing with Teubert is that he seems calm on the ice and seems to take decent lines to the puck. Peckham isn't seeing/thinking the game as clearly right now and is more frenetic and panicky than I'd like (also the source of some bad decision-making like that infamous pinch). At the game in Detroit, Peckham seemed really wild-eyed in person like he didn't know what he was doing and was constantly reacting.
ReplyDeleteYou will grow to like Teubert. Peckham just has to get more consistent and use his brain. Once Sutton is back the whole D will be in much better shape.
ReplyDeleteHall should have crashed the net.
ReplyDeleteAnd WG, I think what you said about Col doesn't negate what I said about Minny, even though I see your point.
ReplyDeleteI'm not trying to negate your point. I acknowledged you are correct that MIN can still make the playoffs, even as they come back to earth, just like COL did.
I'm just excited to bet against them getting + odds and winning more than I lose.
I also see Peckham chasing in the zone so often an so ineffectively.
ReplyDelete---
I am coming around on Jones. He looks more effective this year at all three ends of the ice. (I think his numbers look better too.) Decent (not great) third line player right now and a PK'er. (Let's hope he stays consistent.)
The problem for the team is MPS needs a top-9 spot going forward.
Horcoff, Hall and Hemsky keeping the Koivu line hemmed in their own end is a wonderful thing.
ReplyDeleteBouchard is the fucking devil.
Bouchard. Typical.
ReplyDeleteoh Nuge.
ReplyDeleteThis is the worst game ever.
ReplyDeleteI was going to post that PM Bouchard would score a hattie as a game day prediction, but I didn't want to jinx things.
ReplyDeletePM Freakin' Bouchard.
ReplyDeleteThat goal was all on the Nuge.
ReplyDeleteWait a second,
ReplyDeleteI could of sworn that someone here told me that trade of Penner for Teubert, Klefbom and a third was supposed to be terrible.
Teddy Peckman will be fine. He just turned 24 and only has 118 games in the NHL. Another 100 to 150 games in the NHL and he will be a good reliable #5.
I doubt Teubert will be better than a D-man who could be easily signed for very little, e.g. Scott Hannan this year. As such, he wasn't a very valuable trade piece. IMO. That deal was 2 years of Penner for the pick that lead to Klefbom and change.
ReplyDeleteAnd Klefbom is not a sure thing to even see a game in the NHL.
ReplyDeleteOf course, Penner has struggled in LA.
I don't know what Hemsky is thinking today, but I've counted at least twice where the Oilers have been headed towards the Minnesota net with numbers and he's button-hooked back and allowed Minny to establish their defensive zone coverage by doing so.
ReplyDeleteI'm pro-Ales, but ferfuxsakes, if there's no pass there, fire the puck on net and look for a rebound.
Nice!
ReplyDeleteFantastic work by 4 on that goal.
ReplyDeleteThis is the best game ever!
ReplyDeleteThis team has a real chance to be great if Renney/Tambellini can figure out what to do with lines 3 and 4. Those top two lines are playing lights out right now.
ReplyDeleteIt is clear where Hall's office is. If we have control in the offensive zone and he's either not there or headed there, the coaches aren't doing their jobs.
ReplyDeleteHBomb: Have to agree w/you on Hemsky. Sometimes he just needs to simplify things and it'd help him enormously.
ReplyDeleteLiked Smid's play down low in his own zone there. He's come a long way.
There's just no excuse to call any kind of ticky-tack penalty on the Oilers on a game against the Wild. Minnesota runs on "almost-penalties."
ReplyDeleteRich: Hemsky's a great talent, but he sometimes out-smarts himself, if that makes any sense.
ReplyDeleteThe thing I like about RNH and Eberle is that, even though they're clearly skilled players, they don't seem to be afraid to make the simple play and score the dirty goal.
Hemsky, on the other hand, seems to be a perfectionist. It might be why the combination of he, Smyth and Horcoff has worked so well (both during 2005-07 and when we've seen it this season) is that 10 and 94 are experts at doing what 83 doesn't.
As for RNH's "give-away" on the Wild goal, it's the first time I've seen him make a mistake like that leading directly to a goal against this season, so there's no reason for concern, I'd say.
HBomb: I think that Hemsky's perfectionism is both good and bad. It drives him to be better, but it gets him in trouble too.
ReplyDeleteIt's a part of the package. I just wish that as he gets older (and perhaps wiser) that he'd use the talents around him a little more instead of feeling like he needs to do it all himself.
I can say with absolute certainty that if RNH scored more goals and fewer assists that giveaway wouldn't have happened.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't a concern about RNH's giveaway, just surprise, the young man seemed to know where everyone was on the ice. The first sign that he's fallible. But did you see that stutter step in the corner that left the D-man facing the wrong way? Nice.
ReplyDeletelol Bookie well done sir
ReplyDeleteI can say with absolute certainty that if RNH scored more goals and fewer assists that giveaway wouldn't have happened.
ReplyDeleteSarcasm: the official language of the Oilogosphere.
dingulat: A childish insult. I think. (i.e. "You're a dingulat").
So the NHL admits the ref blew the call on the high stick on the first goal but that it wasn't reviewable, according to Sportsnet. They better hope the Oilers win or else they should give Renney one fine free rant.
ReplyDeleteI don't think the Oilers have won a single face off this period. Starting to play jail break hockey in their own zone.
ReplyDeleteN-frickin-UGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDelete4-2. Just need the Smid goal now.
ReplyDeleteThat Hemsky guy and his patience...never works out.
ReplyDeleteComrade Horcov having a solid game.
ReplyDeleteI've liked Gagner's hustle the last couple games
ReplyDeleteshades of scorpion! the curse!
ReplyDeleteit's 4-2 in minnesota?
Do not remove pedal from metal.
ReplyDeleteIf we get to the point where Minny pulls their keeper, I hope we see 5 on the ice.
ReplyDeleteMVP? For real? Smythy.
ReplyDeleteIf we get to the point where Minny pulls their keeper, I hope we see 5 on the ice.
ReplyDeleteWe can have a pool on who will score: Smid or Bulin
I guess a lot of people wasted a lot of time trying to think of a name for the "kid line."
ReplyDeleteThat's not the Smid.
ReplyDeleteeat it st.paul!
ReplyDeleteYES! Take that you coleman cooler wearing freaks!
ReplyDeleteThe curse is over.
ReplyDeleteMVP for real? Gilbert. I love Smytty but without Gilbert Smid is playing 25 minutes a game with Petry or Teubert and this team is near the bottom of the league again.
ReplyDeleteWithout Smytty they're not as good for sure but not as big a disaster as without Gilbert.
And the cursed curse of all Oiler curses finally comes to an end.
ReplyDelete".... Streak is broken, 5-2 Oil....." <----- me
ReplyDeletethank you, thank you very much....
That's 2 people predicting 5-2 for the Oil. Scary.
ReplyDeleteYou know in about 1988 or 89 my buddy bought a video about Magical Mario that highlighted the career of a young Mario. One of the highlights was the fact that the Pens had never beaten their cross state rivals, the Flyers, in a long time, and it was reminiscent of the tough times in Eastern Penn, including a poor steel industry, etc.
ReplyDeleteMario was the hero because he helped the Pens finally beat the Flyers. I used to think it was the corniest thing ever, till now.
These top 2 lines are way better.
ReplyDeleteTeubert looks like a better skater than Peckham to my eye.
Nice game by Hemsky. Improving with every game and a key piece of our top 6 right now. As he should be.
ReplyDeleteNo words to describe Eberle, Smyth and Gilbert right now. Pretty much just doing everything right.
I am amazed given the experience level on D at how comfortable this team looks right now.
Well they were still HUA for periods of the game. I'd feel better with Sutton and Potter in there.
ReplyDeleteTeubert looks like a better skater than Peckham to my eye.
ReplyDeleteTo my eye, today, Teubert looked like a better everything than Peckham.
I like Theo and all, but unless a guy has top-four upside on the blueline, there's no point trying to "develop" a guy who might top out as a 3rd pairing D-man.
Teubert appears to be a better skater and might be the big, nasty 2nd pairing stay-at-home guy we once traded to Los Angeles named Matt Greene. Peckham looks like another Staios (a #5D who might top-out as a #4 for short stretches if the top three is strong, a la Pronger/Smith/Spacek 2006).
Teddy Peckman's days as an Oiler are numbered, methinks...
Nice win (I didn't see it,but it's a win in Minny after all).
ReplyDeleteDidn't quite read your response right, WG, too many students to ignore them all to participate in discussions here with full attention.
Was Smyth this good the last time he was an Oiler? His board-work can only be described as art.
ReplyDeleteSo when's the last time Smyth and RNH weren't tied in points? It's getting kind of creepy.
ReplyDeleteAlso, for all our concerns about Hall having a weak start to the season (considering), I was surprised to notice that he's on pace for 27 goals and 69 points (assuming he plays all the Oilers' remaining games).
ReplyDeleteWhen's the last time that was only good enough for fourth on the team?
Smyth has always been an awesome player. It's just that when he was last here there were other awesome players to compare him to. With the last few years of drought, Smyth seems soooo much better.
ReplyDeleteMy grandma's cooking always tasted better when I rode my bicycle (90km) out to her farm. When we drove out there I was rarely hungry.
(Hall's also the only one of the Oilers' top scorers who's not riding an unsustainable shooting percentage, and his PDO's at an even 1000 - Smytty, by contrast, is at 1062. Hall's fine.)
ReplyDeleteTraktor: It's funny. I was trying to think of what year in Smytty's Oiler career would be comparable to this one.
ReplyDeleteAnd I don't really have an answer. I'd say the Weight-Smyth-Guerin year (2000?) but he's clearly been to the crossroads.
The residual effect he is having on the rest of the roster in enormous.
ReplyDeleteHe should get royalties when he retires.
"Take that you coleman cooler wearing freaks"
ReplyDelete..good one..haha..hate their uniforms
Traktor and Lowetide:
ReplyDeleteI'm kind of with you guys on this - I don't know if I've ever seen Smyth play this good.
He's the perfect LW for Eberle and RNH, and Hall with Horcoff and Hemsky is starting to click. It's quite a sight to behold.
Ducey
ReplyDeleteTrading Penner for Tuebert who is clearly better than Plante, Klefbon and a third is terrible.
Not sure measure should be a #6 D man. #6 d men grow on trees
Just returned from the game and it was a full-value win. Wild fans were grown over alleged blown calls, etc. and were apoplectic over the the Staubitz calls. Good times.
ReplyDeleteThought Teubert played well. Impressed with his strength and his wing span. 4-10-83 had the Wild on the ropes nearly every shift.
Fun game to see live.
Moved into a new house today and no internet but I did manage to get the satellite man there in time to catch the game.
ReplyDeleteSome thoughts:
- great start by the Oilers and actually an entertaining game from Minny for once. Looks like Renney set the charges in the right place ie motivation.
- Oil won but sitting 55-91 after a good 4th line performance the other night was just stupid.
- not much left to say about 94. the canadian Selanne perhaps?
- Really promising to see some chem develop with 4-83 ie give-and-go. 4 is more than willing to be the shooter so maybe that works; 10 is there to do a little bit of everything. It was humming today.
- some nice early saves from Khabby; nothing to fault him on at all really.
- 24 is ultra-likeable but fuck he can also be ultra-useless. He's in the sean brown/matt greene zone where you know a bad penalty's coming.
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Hmmm. Smid + Gilbert +3, Heatley -3
ReplyDeleteGreat game by that pairing.
Didn't quite read your response right, WG, too many students to ignore them all to participate in discussions here with full attention.
ReplyDeleteNo worries BQ.
Sounds like Khabby played well as well. Young psyches on this team seem to have problems with bad goals, and he didn't let any in.
I listened to the last 10min of the game. Stauffer and Micheals were effusive with their praise of the Oilers "keeping their foot on the pedal" and keeping a good forecheck up with the lead.
That's the best news I heard all season.
All the good teams keep up the pressure with the lead, and if the Oilers can learn to do that, its a great next step.
In the 10 minutes I heard, Micheals did a very good job describing the play as well.
He should get royalties when he retires
Given his performance so far this year I hope that's not for a few years yet.
4-10-83 had the Wild on the ropes nearly every shift.
ReplyDeleteThey also gave the "play of the game" award on CHED to 4-10-83 for outplaying MIN's best line all night.
Tough minute out-scoring.
Awesome.
Before the season, I had Smyth slotted in for a much reduced retirement contract beginning next year. His play this year certainly makes the contract situation interesting.
ReplyDeleteHe's made it apparent that he only wants to play here, so that certainly reduces his negotiating position. But he's also going at better than a point per game pace while playing the toughs, and players like that don't come cheap.
Sessess: what Steve Tambellini does drunk.
Two wins out of three tough road games, with the Avs looking like lambs to the slaughter tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteA single OT point and they return home heroes.
PS: Wild are a very good team. Possible they win 1 or 2 rounds next playoffs.
SS: Smyth suggested that he would have accepted a trade with Calgary if Edmonton didn't come through.
ReplyDeleteDennis: I (mistakenly) have subscriptions to both the satellite centre ice, and the online gamecenter version. The latter offers archive replays at hd quality for the entire season. If this is any value to your scoring chances, let me know and I'll send you my login info.
How about "French Connection 2.0"
ReplyDeleteEberle sounds enough like a French name, RNH and Hall you can easily see in a Monty Python movie wearing those crazy helmets while acting as French castle defenders.
word verification: collywog = politically corrected children's icon.
If Smyth wants to play with Iginla, that's ok with me.
ReplyDeleteEberle is a classy guy.
ReplyDeleteI don't really have an answer. I'd say the Weight-Smyth-Guerin year (2000?) but he's clearly been to the crossroads.
ReplyDeleteI hear you, baby. But which one is Smyth and which one Igninla?
Curtis Hamilton and Teemu Hartikanen each with 1 g 1 a tonight. Pitlick with 20 min in penalties.
ReplyDeleteTeemu had 7 shots. Time to recall him and ship out one of Lander, MPS, or Petrell.
Teemu was a HS twice for lollypopping. A little early, post tuneup. Now Hamilton apparently was double shifted in the third period of the last game and now has broken his goal maiden is good news.
ReplyDelete(Race horse terminology)
Eberle sounds enough like a French name, RNH and Hall you can easily see in a Monty Python movie wearing those crazy helmets while acting as French castle defenders.
ReplyDeleteIt's just become very clear to me that some people see the world with a totally different eye than I.
Also Eberle is obviously German.
Thanks, Danny.
ReplyDeleteI just upgraded to a HD PVR so hopefully all will be well now:)
But, still, nice to know I have a backup.