- RNH's 2.41/60 at 5x5 ranks him 79th among NHL forwards who have played 5 games or more. Jonathan Toews had a 2.17/60 number at 5x5 during his rookie season, so RNH seems to be on a solid path. Although Toews was older than RNH as a rookie, their styles (C's with a nice range of skills) are similar enough for the comparable to have some merit despite the 12 month difference in age.
- RNH's 8.34/60 at 5x4 ranks him 16th among NHL forwards who have played 10 games or more. Now that's an insane number, but the fact that the Oilers are using him as a major option for dishing on the PP--AND that his beautiful passes are being cashed by linemates--is an astounding portion of this early season. Rookies take a long time to impact NHL powerplays. Jonathan Toews 4.29/60 at 5x5 in his rookie season would seem to be a good "line in the sand" by season's end.
RNH has fallen off 5x4, he's down to 7.99/60 which is still a gaudy number. I never want to compare this young man to he-who-should-not-be-named, but the passes last night were so beautiful and perfect is draws comparisons to some of the very best to play the game.
There may come a time when we take this fellow for granted, even smooth passes are less impressive once you lose scale (when I saw the Spruce Goose it was awe inspiring for the first 25 minutes and then kind of a drag).
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is a wonder.
--
Needless to say there was a lot of good in last night's game. A few observations:
- Gagner clearly benefited from the push to the RNH-Eberle line, but deserves credit for a lot of hard work on the first goal and other plays in the game. A very good sign.
- Eberle sure scores goals from outside places. He's popping goals from high in the slot and picking corners consistently. This season especially, Eberle's shot looks all world.
- Ray Ferraro suggested last night that the Oilers might end up moving Ales Hemsky down to the 3rd line when Taylor Hall come back, with Gagner usurping 83's time on RW in the top 6. It sounds ridiculous, and Hemsky has not been himself but the idea of having that kind of firepower batting deep in the lineup is so appealing. I have no idea why they didn't try to roll with more offensive setups when Omark was available, but there's a nice opportunity here to find three lines who can do things. Hall-Smyth on LW Eberle-Gagner on RW? My money is still on the Czech.
- Terry Jones has an outstanding article on the kid here.
Nation Radio hits the air at noon today on Team 1260 (click on icon to the right) at noon today. I read comments posted at both blogs, on twitter @ItsNationRadio and @lowetide_ plus we're available at nationradio@theteam1260.com Our guests:
- Matt Bugg from dobber hockey. The prospects expert will spend time telling us about some of the Oilers kids who are emerging this season and we'll preview the WJs and the names to know in that Xmas tournament.
- Kent Wilson from Flames Nation will help tee up the BOA tonight in Calgary. Flames are 5-4-1 in their last 10 and the Oilers are 4-5-1 in the same time frame. With the Oilers off for a long stretch after the game, it's an important contest.
- Danny Gray from Leafs Nation will break down the sale of MLSE and how it will impact the television sports pie in this country. We'll also have a look at the parallel improvement of the Leafs and Oilers and see which path chosen appears to be working best.
- Ryan Lambert from Two Line Pass. Ryan is a keen observer of the game and a clever fellow. We'll talk about the league in general and the BOA specifically, along with some league news over the last week.
Glad you visited the Spruce Goose LT. Not many make it out to McMinnville. They recently had a museum fire, but the Spruce Goose was fine.
ReplyDeleteFor those of you who need something to read with your morning coffee, I suggest visiting Copper & Blue and Derek's article/link to an interview at the OKC Barons Hockey Blog with Kirill Tulupov.
ReplyDeleteExcellent interview of a candid and interesting young man
Wow. Zero love for the 3rd line and their all-important end-of-the-period game-winning goal this morning on the Oiler Boards. Instead a tribute to RNH here and The Sun, and to Eberle at ON.
ReplyDeleteSurprising, lol.
Any thoughts as to how these lines may or may not work on the road? Or against a different style team in the Flamers?
I doubt Renney makes a change, and that might prove costly. I'd like to see him get Belanger out there againt Jokinen, but Sutter isn't going to bite unless he's with star wingers. Find a way to hide RNH on the 3rd line, keep his EV minutes down and hopefully there's lots of PP time.
Gagner earned his spot on the top line with his improved play of late. If he "benefited", it was because he "earned" it.
ReplyDelete@Bruce, from last thread on calling Gagner's 3 point night - I did get lucky on the assist, no doubt about it ( I was ready to brag about the 2 goals though ;) )
ReplyDeleteGagner seems to play the Av's pretty well since he came into the NHL, and combined with his recent turnaround, I thought I would make the call.
RNH's assists - so many are pure passing plays (not just the rebound type from taking a shot), where HE creates the scoring chance. And he times them so well to give his shooter the optimal time/space to score.
Eager's playing well, put him up with 93 for a few shifts and let him keep an eye on Glencross.
RNH is beyond our greatest expectations! Eberle is as well. Hall will shine again soon. Gags is waking up. That's an impressive young group of forwards.
ReplyDeleteif only we had Schremp.
ReplyDeleteSpOILer - yep, it's good to see some production from down the roster.
ReplyDeleteif only we had Schremp
ReplyDeleteI thought you said he was not to be named - or were you talking about someone else?
LOL. Dammit, old people have shitty memories.
ReplyDeleteRNH is his own player. No need to compare him, he'l do his legacy soon enough.
ReplyDeleteFishstick Robby is actually doing decent in modo with 10-10 for 29 games.
His SH% should go down eventually, but good lord it's refreshing to see the PP like that.
The half-wall is his office.
OKC in first place in the AHL
ReplyDeleteRyan Lambert from Two Line Pass. Ryan is a keen observer of the game and a clever fellow. We'll talk about the league in general and the BOA specifically, along with some league news over the last week.
ReplyDeleteBy "league news over the last week", I hope you are referring to the recent whispers that Sidney Crosby is a vampire .
Re Schremp: if MacT takes over the Canucks, does he turn the Sedins into checking forwards?
ReplyDeleteWhile the game last night was fun to watch, and Gagner was a "force", there was soooooo much room out there it was a little bit fish in a barrel.
ReplyDeleteWhen Sam Valdez ('stache) does that in a tight checking game I'll leave him alone, for a while. Fifth year offensive players are supposed to beat up on shitty teams. We'll see what he brings on the Flames.
Unless Sam's on the block, I think Hemsky has to play higher up than Sam because he's proven, and he's more important to the team's offense and needs to get his feet back under him. I wonder if he needs more rehab, he's clearly not comfortable out there, whether Renney thinks he's a wimp or not.
It was good to see Gagner get an assist on the Eberle goal. He deserved it just for having the brains to dummy that pass. Sweet play all round.
ReplyDeleteWas going to say something in the thread last night but am glad you pointed it out LT. Ferraro (to me) really called out Hemsky w/his comments.
ReplyDeleteRenney really needs to find a way to get him untracked before Hall comes back or I think Ferraro is bang on that he'll be on the 3rd line.
Whether it's the shoulder or the fact that all the excitement is now on the kids you need your vets playing up to their abilities and 83 is not there right now.
Rookies take a long time to impact NHL powerplays
ReplyDeleteThis sentenced sounded funny to me. You mean like 60 or so games? :)
Too right on Valdez. Last game Calgary double teamed the Nuge and all was very quiet on the PP. Let's see what happens. The Oilers beat a struggling team on a back to back. Nuge is great if he has room, I don't think he will tonight. The Shremp line, sorry I meant Shrimp.
ReplyDeleteHey LT,
ReplyDeleteSome questions for your guests today;
- Galchenyuk was talked about as a likely top 5 pick in next years entry draft until he suffered a knee injury. What are the chances he slips down to between 10-15?
- Grigorenko appears to have the best package of skills at center for next years entry draft, will the concerns about Russian players and he KHL be a factor for when he gets picked?
- Are the Flames still looking to make a deal for Kyle Turris?
- How much of the Oilers recent skid is attributable to the defense? 50%? Is a trade to address it imminent?
- The Nuge is clearly ripping it up right now, but is doing so with heavily sheltered minutes. Do we have any idea how he can perform against more physically imposing opposition? Will guys like Ryan Kesler make him cry?
- Burke and Colangelo appear to have had pretty free reign to manage their respective teams, will that change at all with the new ownership composition?
Have a great show!
-
All this high-brow discussion over canapes while adjusting our monocles, and nobody is holding forth on how much they hate the Flames.
ReplyDeleteI find this scandalous.
Let's get this thread pointed the right way:
Q. How much do you hate the Flames?
A. So much.
Please continue in this direction, as appropriate.
I wish the Oilers were a little filthier when we play CGY. Messier was absolutely horrible against them, seriously.
ReplyDeleteMark Messier did many illegal things in PRE-SEASON to the Flames.
Grigorenko appears to have the best package of skills at center for next years entry draft, will the concerns about Russian players and he KHL be a factor for when he gets picked?
ReplyDeleteGrigorenko's playing for Quebec in the QMJHL this year.
There are no Messiers on this team. And Sutton is suspended.
ReplyDeleteI would love to see both Hordichuk and Eager out there but not at the expense of Lander or Petrell.
ReplyDeleteI didn't even know Paajarvi was playing last night until Ray Ferraro mentioned it in the second.
I think it was Jake70 who mentioned Glencross will need to be looked after and he is absolutely right.
Would be thrilled with a 60 minute effort tonight win or lose.
What happens when Hall comes back?
ReplyDelete//While the game last night was fun to watch, and Gagner was a "force", there was soooooo much room out there it was a little bit fish in a barrel.//
ReplyDeleteGagner got his fish. How many fish did 83 get with all the room? When Gagner came back from his injury he had to start on the 3rd line with two guys mired in slumps, and work his way up. When Hemsky came back, he's had Horcoff and Smyth and Hall.
Who ISN'T sulking even though he isn't playing centre and been moved from line to line and wing to wing? And who looks like they are sulking because the keys to the power play have been taken away.
Who is playing like they want to stay? Who is playing like they want to leave?
What happens when Hall comes back?
ReplyDeleteHe gets re-injured! Yay!
Ah geez...I hope not.
Who is playing like they want to stay? Who is playing like they want to leave?
ReplyDeleteAnd who is playing like their shoulder still isn't right, which he has outright stated to the media?
From Twitter:
ReplyDeleteAHLBarons Eric Rodgers
Both Cam Abney and Ryan Martindale recalled by #OKCBarons. Interested to see who's scratched tonight
From Twitter:
ReplyDeleteAHLBarons Eric Rodgers
Answer #OKCBarons RT @Barons_Coach With Brule, Green, and Cornet not making the trip to Texas
Looks like flu bug or injury bug hitting OKC. Don't thing those three would be scratched together unless they were found at the bar together missing curfew. LOL
Nice writeup on Eberle on ON, LT. He's been my second favourite Oiler for a while now and will be number one when they trade Hemsky.
ReplyDelete...Please don't trade Hemsky.
Stauffer figuring Paajarvi will be out for Hordichuk tonight.
ReplyDeleteFrom Twitter:
ReplyDeleteBarons_Coach Todd Nelson
@
@DKingBH Don't know if you were at the game last night but Pitlick did play center. Right now we have 6 centers in our line up.
Interesting stuff from Todd Nelson. Informative twitter feed.
Paajarvi is in trouble.
ReplyDeleteSure hope Omark can be ready around Xmas. I still hold out hope for the Swede line.
He can't get ready fast enough for young Magnus.
BikiniGirl tweeted this week that Paajarvi was saved twice from demotions to OKC by injuries.
ReplyDeleteShe may be doing nothing more than stating the obvious. His play has warranted the trip to OKC.
Demotion is such a harsh word.
ReplyDeleteAloha from Maui (don't be too jealous, I'm leaving tonight :(
ReplyDeleteEberle is better than Hall until Hall proves otherwise (and that might not be for some time if ever). He's taken an unconventional path, but you can see the excellence in nearly every facet of his game. He almost never plays badly. When he plays well, he's utterly dominant. He's at the top of the league in the 5x5 metric, yet has struggled (for him) early this year and has been frustrated with his own game.
This is a guy that expects 40-60-100 out of himself right now. He's also the kind of guy that leads you to cups. That he has #93 to work with is incredible. He's probably my favorite because he can do just about anything and cares so damn much. He has a little Paul O'Neill to him.
We just need to find a defenseman who is hs equivalent.
First question Ron McLean asks Kirk Muller during 2nd intermission of New Jersey/Montreal game: "What did you think of that Ryan Nugent-Hopkins?"
ReplyDelete@melancholyculkin;
ReplyDeleteYeah I know Grigorenko is playing in the Q, but is that sufficient evidence he won't pull a Radulov if Nashville or Edmonton drafts him?
Bruce: Nice job with he-who-must-not-be-numbered.
ReplyDeleteAnd now for the math challenged:
From Couple shoplifted $5 million from Portland Safeway stores:
Safeway security officer Trent Drucker estimates that Remington stole $400,000 a year in merchandise over several years, totaling $5 million over the span of thefts.
One hell of a cup of coffee for the men in blue. Anyone else run out of fingers doing the arithmetic here?
That sure beats going legitimate with the Safeway five-goals-in-a-game Million Dollar Score and Win, which pretty much sucks in the high-five department for anyone A) not living in Pittsburgh in an El Nino year, or B) whose time machine is suspended from visiting the 1980s.
If neither of those conditions apply, pray for a confluence of game day flu and a first-minute groin pull setting the stage for the NHL debut of a sixth-round prospect whose call-up flight was delayed for several hours by a runway engine fire. From the actuarial vantage point, that probably accounts for about half of Safeway's promotional risk profile.
Why don't they do something a little more creative and less spectacularly unrealistic? How about six Oiler goals in one game by any player named Ryan? Isn't the whole point of advertising to invoke the subliminal "yeah, baby, yeah!" response? Offer void if hitched to a women who first name ends in the letter "a".
From Spellbound:
In addition to Bewitched, which aired from 1964 to 1972, Murphy appeared in more than 80 TV commercials (including a detergent ad with Ronald Reagan), often beating out kiddie rivals Helen Hunt and Jodie Foster at auditions.
How's that for a segue on a game-day thread to Silence of the Lambs?
Enough calf season already.
That move last night by RNH to put the puck around Hedja, then to lift his stick, then to angle him away from the puck with his body shows just how much talent and creativity this kid has.
ReplyDeleteI really don't know if we can put a limit on him at all.
Renney
ReplyDelete-PRV/Hordichuk game time decision
-starting goalie will be a game time decision
Fracking lunar eclipse-I got up a 6:30am for a look and couldn't see past the end of the yard.
We haven't had a cloud in the sky for a week in Squamish and this morning a thick fog rolls
in and messes everything up.Why do they have these things in the middle of the night?
If anyone else heard the Amber Alert during LT's show today, they have located the missing infant and mother in Grande Prairie.
ReplyDeleteEthan Moreau clears waivers and assigned to Manchester.
ReplyDeleteThere has been a lot of calls in the media and among the fan base for 93 to get more TOI. I don't believe Renney is paying any attention to their TOI, but rather the matchups they face. 93 is slaughtering soft comp and PP time, and struggling (relatively) when facing tougher comp. Renney can't get him any more 5v5 TOI without putting him out against tougher comp, and then he simply doesn't produce as well as the 10's line against tough comp. For proof, we only need to look at his home/road splits
ReplyDeleteRNH Home - 16gp, 8-16-24, +9
RNH Away - 13gp, 5-3-8, -4
As good as he is, the kid is still a kid, and those splits are damning. They emphasize the value of the veteran 2nd line capable of facing the toughs at home and destroying 2nd comp on the road.
That move last night by RNH to put the puck around Hedja, then to lift his stick, then to angle him away from the puck with his body shows just how much talent and creativity this kid has.
ReplyDeleteThat play had me invoking He Who Shall Not Be Named Nor Numbered on our Cult of Hockey live blog last night. The Anonymous One used to pull off that sort of play from time to time, put the puck right in the other guy's space and still beat him to it. If Gagner's shot a second later had been an inch to the left that would have been on the highlight reels for awhile.
Wow. Zero love for the 3rd line and their all-important end-of-the-period game-winning goal this morning on the Oiler Boards. Instead a tribute to RNH here and The Sun, and to Eberle at ON.
@spOILer: While I'm shamelessly plugging, we had lots of love at CoH for the 55-20-28 line last night. Our format calls for us to consider the contribution of every Oiler, every game. Whoever it was here who made the excellent observation about Belanger playing better with straight ahead types in the past (misfit? outKast? somebody like that) the evidence from last night supports that view. That trio was a handful, and Eager himself a revelation, playing a legitimately "great" game in my opinion. Where TF did that come from?
@Gerta Rauss: At least this lunar eclipse was towards the end of the night. Here in Edmonton we saw the partial phase as the Moon was immersed in Earth's shadow, but shortly after the onset of totality the clouds rolled in and the darkened orb just faded into nothing. Still a cool sight, though.
ReplyDeleteI am already taking 93 for granted; doesn't mean I love him any less but all of his skills seem quite repeatable so I'm at the point of, "yeah, he's gonna be able to do that all of the time."
ReplyDeleteDoesn't make him any less enjoyable though.
Renney did seem to make it work when he made losing to Minny a point of emphasis; maybe he should have did that with Cgy.
Lol, Bruce, have at'er, plug away. And nice to hear the pluggers got a plug on your plugged blog.
ReplyDeleteBack in the 80s, Hockey was more like the Old West--run and gun shootouts at the OK Corral, starring The Man with No Name. Blondie was our hero and never met a Mexican Standoff he couldn't win, guns a'blazin.
Here in the Tweens, stuck between the Noughts and the Teens, hockey is more of a systemic military action, methodical, planned tactical games of chess. Information, satellite video, intelligence are key tools for victory. I don't think Blondie would have the time and space to shoot the rope of a hangman's noose in today's game.
But I'm liking our new commando. He's lethal in so many ways I think he could probably fake out and take out Chuck Norris. You just look at what The New Kid does, watch his moves, Shakesperean Sonnet in motion, and think wow...
That's just mad, man.
Its interesting how quickly we take the great young players for granted. I fully expect to see Ted kickedmto the curb next year for the new shiny thing, as fans are doing with Hall.
ReplyDeleteFull credit to Hunter who identified how Hall opens space for everyone else, regardless of his own counting numbers.
Ok, I am not sure I understand all of this 'he who cannot be named' stuff.
ReplyDeleteWhat we are saying is that RNH is basically Craig MacTavish with hands - Right?
Right?
¡
... or Robbie Schremp with a head.
ReplyDeleteSutton gets 8 games.
ReplyDeleteObviously my book it leaves something to be desired. Still glad Sutton is back sooner than later.
ReplyDeleteAny recent word on Potter? Also, is Whitney returning soon?
ReplyDeleteHaven't heard a thing on Corey Power Potter Play.
ReplyDeleteThe Oilers site(earlier today,I can't find it right now) had Potter and Hall skating with the light blue jerseys and a mention of Thursday in Phoenix as a tentative return.
ReplyDeleteWhat's odd is the site lists Smid as upper body-I'm assuming he's playing tonight...
..maybe it was Renney that mentioned both of them and Phoenix.
ReplyDeleteraventalon40 said...
ReplyDeleteWhat happens when Hall comes back?
Goes to RW in place of Hemsky...I hope. Kids got the lethal snap shot. Let him try it from the off side ala Messier. He scores more from the R side anyways, (one-timers), "I think".
Just warming up for the BOA by watching the Sens/Kanucks game. I can sure understand why Van is probably the most hated team in the league. Talk about a bunch of dinks. Every single one of them.
ReplyDeleteAlbowing gets my vote for fave new poster in here.
ReplyDeleteLet's face it - either tonight, or the next game, or the one after that Oilers will start routinely hammering the Flames into the ice.
The Flames are old and tired - they know once they lose to these hotshots they're not going to win many for a long while.
The season is still turning out pretty cool relative to the last 20 lol.
Don't if anyone is watching the Canucks-Senators but Alfredson just took a cross check (not overly vicious) across the arm just above the elbow it appeared....went to his bench right arm hanging, very similar to the Hall cross check that put him out.
ReplyDeleteI would really like to beat these mofos tonight.
ReplyDeleteI would also like Hughson to choke on a hat. A sombrero preferably.
ReplyDeleteI can't take much more of the CGY dominance. Especially Glencross. He's not Frank Mahovlich for Christ's sake. KNOCK HIM ON HIS ASS!
ReplyDeleteI've always like the team in White and have disliked the team in Red for a long, long time.
ReplyDeleteIf I saw Joel Otto in the street I'd trip him from behind, then stink hand him while helping him up, then steal his wallet while lying about the trip, saying it was an accident.
Yeah, that's what I'd do.
Go White!!
Doobie starts.
Whats with all the second games of a back to back vs Calgary?
ReplyDeleteIts been embarressing enough as it is without having the deck stacked against the Oilers.
Hoping for RNH to re-kindle his HNIC magic tonight. Please win this tonight Edmonton, i'm in the midst of a long work road trip with a bunch of pro-Calgary co-workers.
The only problem I have with dropping Hemsky to the third line, for a real third line scoring line, is the fact Renney will keep Belanger there, and plays die on his stick without players like Jones/Eager. He just doesn't gel, play style wise, with the higher skill, fancier players.
ReplyDeleteDrop the current third line to the fourth line, whole, and put Hemsky with Lander/Paajarvi on the third line.
Same lines 'cept Hordichuk?
ReplyDeleteAt least we get Simmer with Lee.
Ryan Braun tested positive on steroids.
ReplyDelete50 games suspension coming up...
Charlotte's had a couple.
ReplyDeleteI predict 3 goals from the point will get by Doobie.
ReplyDelete18,000 people in the stands and Scott Oake puts the one housewife who's drunk before the anthems on national television.
ReplyDeleteI'm not proud to admit, but Sutton's the kinda guy I'd like to see in a Flames game.
ReplyDelete7 minutes in and Craig Simpson talks about fatigue for RNH!
ReplyDeleteSmart.
Iginla is in an ornery mood tonight.
ReplyDeleteI've been waiting years for someone, anyone, either in the MSM or among the league to bring up just how dirty Iginla is.
ReplyDeleteGood lord i'm tired of missing games for Finals.
ReplyDeleteOh well it ends soon.
Nice hand/eye Horc!
ReplyDeleteNice save by Doobie and then a decent shift.
ReplyDeleteFinally put some heat on them in the offensive end and take a needless penalty.
ReplyDeleteYep.
When you see Calgary come through the neutral zone like that, it's not hard to understand why teams play the trap.
ReplyDeleteHoly Hannah. That would've been nice.
ReplyDeleteEvery time Theo gets the puck, he does the wrong thing.
ReplyDeleteIf he has 4 options and 3 are ok and 1 is horrible, pick horrible like its your job.
No one is happier about Sutton's suspension than Teddy Peckman.
ReplyDeleteThree times this period he's had the puck and made the wrong play in or near the offensive zone.
Surprised Nuge fluffed the Hemsky gift. I think players have just gotten allergic to his passes.
Ceryse: the pass from Hemsky was tipped.
ReplyDeleteTeubert over Petry and Peckham all day long. Let the kid play.
ReplyDeleteSpoiler; logic is disallowed. I'm trying hard to find fault with the kid. I'm searching REALLY hard.
ReplyDeleteWhitney looks.. pedestrian at best thus far in his return. Hope he gets back into form sooner rather than later.
I'm watching the game being streamed from a Swedish feed, instead of commercials it shows the scores from tonight's games. Beside each game that has finished it says "Slut". Predicted post-game relaxation?
ReplyDeleteOilers are funny against the Flames. Even when it's 0-0 it's really 3-0.
ReplyDeleteAnd Mike Milbury deploys the "no wonder nobody likes Vancouver" line. Sweet.
ReplyDeleteHemsky does not look good. Not involved in his own zone, cheating for offense, out of synch in the Ozone.
ReplyDeleteNeed to see a simpler game from everyone.
This game is an insult to the "Battle of Alberta". When did Smytty turn into Dustin Penner? Must be sick or hurt.
ReplyDeleteChicklet?
ReplyDeleteHemsky does not look good. Not involved in his own zone, cheating for offense, out of synch in the Ozone.
ReplyDeleteNot doing much on ice. Not doing much to bolster trade value. Making it hard know what to possibly offer him for contract extension? to which amount would likely be low enough, he'd have to decline extension, and ripe for being excellent offseason signing for someone else. Shitty.
Geezuz that must hurt. Poor Smid.
ReplyDeleteHave to make them pay on one of these PPs.
ReplyDeleteThat blown 4 minute PP is going to come back to haunt them.
ReplyDeleteThey lost every battle on the 4 min. penalty. Every one.
ReplyDeleteNot so; Hemsky won a battle. Oddly enough, he looked like the only player who gave a damn on that 4 minute pp.
ReplyDeletemy word verification is "fookdik"
ReplyDeleteThese games are like fighting your big brother, or learning what old man strength means.
ReplyDeleteSenior teams have a resolve, when they don't want to lose to a young team, they don't. Happens at every level from city league basketball to elite level hockey.
Dumb question; why would you have that d-pairing on the ice for the dying seconds of a penalty kill on a own-zone face off?
ReplyDeleteAnd then follow it up with the fourth line and the Whitney/Teubert pairing?
Makes no sense to me; at all, yet Renney makes those kinds of decisions fairly often.
You get scored on Renney,and your response is put out the 4th line!
ReplyDeletewtf?
I think Renneys strategy is to set an example, albeit a poor one, for opposing coaches. Thus planting flawed concepts in their psyche. Now winning isn't about rising to the top, it's about bringing the top down. Brilliant stuff really.
ReplyDeleteThis is looking real bad with no Smid
ReplyDeleteWhitney does not look anywhere close to ready. Not remotely close. He's not playing like a top four d-man, much less our best.
ReplyDeleteNot enthused with Teubert either; he's a d-zone turn-over machine.
Hey, light,sweet,crude, how is Montreal? I recall you have an interest in linguistics....a lot of talk lately about Hemsky's body language...what's he sayin anyway?? ;)
ReplyDeleteTeubert refused to move the puck up the left, leading to the give away on the right. What was he scared of? But nobody was at fault for Iggy's goal, that was a good play by him finding the space to get the shot away.
ReplyDeleteWith the injury to Smid, the Oilers have exactly 1 Dman who would start tommorow on any other NHL team.
ReplyDeleteMaybe 1.5, Petry would play bottom pair, and Whitney should be re-habbing in the AHL.
3rd period should be a shit show.
Maybe Renney should show a video with OTC bitching about trying to pass the puck into the net.
Mind you, they actually have to have possession of the puck in the Ozone to take a shot.
This game is horrible.
? But nobody was at fault for Iggy's goal, that was a good play by him finding the space to get the shot away.
ReplyDeleteWhitney should get a Staples -1 there for shitting the bed to start that whole sequence of events.
This is the way the Oilers have played for most of the last 5 seasons.
ReplyDeleteShould have picked up Moreau and O'Sullivan off waivers? (don't ban me..lol)
ReplyDeleteHey Jake70!
ReplyDeleteI saw you totally called Gagner's coming out party last night. Did you make a prediction about tonight or are you sparing us? Montreal is good, it's no Edmonton, but I get back for the holidays.
I can't get a read on Hemsky's body language. I'll ask my prof tomorrow.
Take care, pal
Nothing to like about this game. Just ugly all the way around.
ReplyDeleteMost disappointing is there horrible work on the boards- just losing every puck battle, every scrum, every 50-50 play. No forecheck, defensive collapses in their own zone...like an old record from the last five years. This team doesn't deserve to win.
And it's a shame. Because they do indeed let us fans down, on a big saturday night against their arch rivals. But we continue support them- for god only knows what reason.
The flames look they want this game worse.
Maybe I'm biased, but some pretty soft calls against the Oilers. What did Whitney do to get his in the first for example
ReplyDeleteJake: Can't let you do that Dave.
ReplyDeletethe line changes against Colorado were shocking, they seemed to have addressed that till now.
ReplyDeleteThis thread is moribund.
That was a bit of a stretch there by the linesman. Looking for a call. You would almost think the Flames were losing to get that kinda call.
ReplyDeleteLT-this game is ending 3-0 isn't it?
ReplyDeleteAnyone ever see a linesman drop the puck like that in the NHL (with just one player there)?
ReplyDeleteLinesmen did that unopposed puck drop thing to us twice last week in the Scottish Recreational League, we thought they were being dicks. Turns out they do it the NHL. Never seen that before.
ReplyDeletefbp - cmon, pretty please, claiming them won't "jeopardize the mission" (fail for nail).
ReplyDelete(should be fpb, must have been a logic error in my chip set)
ReplyDeleteJake: Already distracting you, it's fail for Mikhail now.
ReplyDeleteThe Oilers effort tonight reminds me of the immortal words of Graham Chapman:
ReplyDelete"WRONG!! WRONG!! ROTTEN!! YOU'RE NO BLOODY USE AT ALL! YOU'RE AN UTTER BLOODY WASH-OUT! YOU MAKE ME SICK! YOU WEED!!"
Jay Feaster's hair is mezmorizing.I can't look away.
ReplyDeleteHow can a real Oiler fan get upset, because we all know they're going to be wildly inconsistent from team to team, without Hall especially. Flames have nowhere to go. They stink when it matters, and how does Tambellini talk Feaster out of Iginla?
ReplyDeleteHall I liken to Gordie Howe, because without Howe the Red Wings immediately fell apart and missed the playoffs for years and years starting immediately when Howe retired in the early 70's. Hall is also the type of player you can pencil in Conn Smyth trophies sometime during the first ten seasons he plays in the NHL.
I'll stick my neck out and predict Oilers win the series with the Avs this season by at least 1 clear game, after watching their response to the post Hall getting injured vs the team that injured him game last night. Oilers really hate the Avs, who are weak and afraid. Tonight the Flames took turns to play schoolyard bully.
Oilers hockey hilarious on occasion lately - last night I thought River Hockey, but after tonight's classic I'll go for Road Hockey.
does it appear to anyone else that the Oilers' system seems to not want to forecheck? Sometimes they dump the puck in then play an odd 1-2-2 where they are very passive in the other teams' zone. I know they do this when they are protecting a lead but strangely they do it when the game is tied or down by 1. I think this is one of the reasons why they get outshot and outchanced so much. playing defence first trying to get offence from turnovers, but their d isn't good enough to keep the puck out of their own zone and as a team they don't create nearly as much turnovers as they do turn the puck over themselves.
ReplyDeletethat second goal was all on Whitney; oilers get the faceoff in the flames zone and the puck is passed back to Whitney who inexcliplably loses the puck at the Oilers' blue line to create an odd man rush for the Lames who end up scoring on the play.
As others have noted here...not only does Whitney not look like himself, a legitimate top pairing dman, he doesn't even look like a third pairing dman. Why can't he go to the AHL for ten games again??
Hopefully in the next year he can return to form or that is another trade we end up losing.
Just a couple of thoughts from watching the game at the 'dome:
ReplyDelete1) Whitney was easily the worst defender out there. Teubert outplayed him by a wide margin, and not just in the speed department. I was worried every time he was defending or handling the puck, especially after giving up the puck on the sequence that led to the second goal. A conditioning stint in the AHL might do him some good, if the organisation had any depth in defense.
2) Did Smytty forget to take off his skateguards before the game? Seemed like he was falling for no reason throughout the game.
3) Clone Tom Gilbert.
4) Thank goodness for the kids on offense. They were the only spark after the Kostopoulos' goal (which seemed to be a kick in the nuts for the entire team - my buddy who was sitting beside me remarked on the play shortly after the goal "did the Oilers forget how to skate?")
5) I boldly predicted Sutter would outcoach Renney, and he did. Sutter won alot of the line matches he wanted and the continuing mystifying line change and too many men problems continued again tonight.
6) Somewhere along the line the Oilers have offended the referee's union, because so many calls were farcical tonight. The Horcoff penalty in the third was especially egregious from my vantage point (150 ft away in a clear line of sight). 44 blew a tire and Horc's stick was in the zip code, thus a penalty, which was typical of some of the calls against them (the Gilbert one looked suspect too). This is a continuing trend for penalties against the Oilers (not that they don't earn some dumb ones).
Collectively the team looked ready to fail, and it almost felt like they were throwing in the towel starting DD in net - even though he played very well all game.
This team needs more Taylor Hall.
ReplyDeleteNot too upset by this loss. Oil are still basically even in terms of GD on the season. Much better than I expected going into the season. RNH has been a revelation, and Eberle shows no signs of playing second or third fiddle to Hall/RNH. Potter might be a player, Smid has turned a corner, and Gilbert has apparently found another gear(though Whitney is a worry). We don't have the depth for these back to backs or for serious sustain on the season but there are too many positives to worry about these games where the team comes out flat.
I mean, the team can go 0-82 but if we have a 18 year old in the top 10 in scoring I'm going to be positive about the season.
Kind of got a bit of a revelation watching last night's game.
ReplyDeleteNo need to clamor for the playoffs, since this is what we're going to get if we end up there.
No room on offense, quality goals against by the opposition.
So maybe we really should think of this as another developmental year, and see how everyone does the rest of the way to evaluate what moves need to be made to further strengthen the club for next season.
Rick, are you Tom Renney? B/c I'm pretty sure that's how he thinks too.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to put on my fan hat for a moment here.
ReplyDeleteI am sick and tired of the Oilers losing to an INFERIOR Calgary Flames team (yes, I said it and I believe it) due to a simple lack of effort (not to mention that phony Iginla taking a dive to draw an Edmonton penalty, high-fiving a teammate right after, then scoring the goal that basically was "lights out" during the next two minutes) and a coach being unwilling to do things that would help the team win the game (playing Paajarvi over Hordichuk, at least attempting to get a match-up against the Iginla line that favors the Oilers, or using the veterans for defensive zone face-offs).
What I saw last night, in terms of coaching motivation and tactics, was a combination of the worst of MacT (motivation) and Quinn (tactics). Renney is *this* close to losing me with regards to what the hell he is trying to accomplish (if he hasn't already). This shit, cannot continue, especially in the Calgary game.
Between now and January 21st, there's a bunch of work to be done to improve this hockey team, including getting Taylor Hall and others back from injury (having Hall out last night and last Saturday helped about as much as both games being the second-half of a back-to-back for the Oil, but no excuses for listless efforts), but when that next Calgary game rolls around, the coaches better pound it into the players heads that it IS the most important fucking game of the season. Full-stop to this "getting dominated by a highly mediocre Flames squad". It cannot continue.
BarQ:
ReplyDeleteNope, just a pessimistic Oilers fan, seeing the team give a good effort and not doing anything.
I hope the stupid fucking refs get to watch Iggy high-fiving his mates after taking a dive! If that doesn't smack of 'showing them up', I don't what does. Idiots!
ReplyDeleteHBomb:I am sick and tired of the Oilers losing to an INFERIOR Calgary Flames team
ReplyDeleteI'm as sick of it as you are HBomb but there's no way Calgary is a worse team than the Oilers. Not in any department. Goaltending without question, vet presence at Forward which cannot be overlooked, speed to rival ours, grit in the top 6, and even though they also iced a patchwork D the guys doing the patching, Piskula - Smith, are similar to Corey Potter in that they have had good AHL seasoning time.
It's be asking a lot for our kids to make a difference imo. Not making excuses whatsoever but we're a few players and a ways down the road from beating the Flames on a regular basis.
The Oilers have been garbage since 2007. The Flames have been junk since 2007.
ReplyDeleteShould garbage even lose to junk 18 of 19 times?
ReplyDeleteThe Oilers have been garbage since 2007. The Flames have been junk since 2007.
Should garbage even lose to junk 18 of 19 times?
Whatever the Flames are/have been we are worse. Pretty obvious. The only place where we're ahead is on the prospect sheet and that takes time to realize itself.