Apparently Hall and Corey Power Potterplay are back and Khabibulin's extended rest has him good to go as well. The lines:
- RNH-Gagner-Eberle
- Horcoff-Hall-Hemsky
- Belanger-Smyth-Jones
- Lander-Eager-Petrell
--
The top 20 is completed, I'll have a wrap up post tomorrow and detail 21-30. I can say that the graduating class from last winter--Hall, Eberle, Paajarvi, Omark, Dubnyk--left a large hole so this year's edition is kind of all over the place after about #15.
--
Tyler Bunz not making the WJ team is a surprise, but Oiler fans will be able to see some good young defensemen under the team's umbrella. Oscar Klefbom, Martin Marincin and Martin Gernat are all solid prospects and we should keep a watchful eye on them over the tournament.
--
I don't have much to say about tonight's game. PHX lost last night and maybe they'll be down after the work they put in, but then again the Oilers are on the road so there'll be some exposure. Predicting this young team would be easier if we knew what coach Renney planned to do in regard to matchups.
If Hall and Potter return, that'll be something to watch as well.
Hey! Nothing wrong with sideburns! Even if I sport a full beard these days sideburns are hot stuff back in Sweden hrhr
ReplyDeleteI was listening to the Sportsnet Radio show yesterday and it was beyond entertaining. They had John Garrett on (The only question he was asked was what his opinion was about Dave Bolland's comments) and he spent all of his time talking about how the Sedin's don't get the same amount of calls that other players who have won the Hart and Art Ross trophies get. He said that the Canuck players feel that the Sedin's are dissrespected by the NHL officials and it's really unfair. Doug Mclean said that Ric Nash doesn't get calls either and every team in the league feels that their teams best player doesn't get treated fairly. Garrett also said that the HNIC broadcasting crews are also biased against the Sedin's and they are constantly ignoring penalties against the Sedin's but they point out instances where they think the Sedin's are diving. It was so great to listen to. Garrett is the least impartial person I've ever heard speak.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's just that I haven't had my coffe yet, but saying someone is not impartial is the same as being completely biased, right?
ReplyDelete@pboy ... is Garrett a puppet for Gillis ?
ReplyDeleteI preferred Milbury's comments about all the divers in Vancouver.
Garrett also said that the HNIC broadcasting crews are also biased against the Sedin's
ReplyDeleteopposing player dumps puck in Canuck's zone to get off for a line change
Luongo comes out to play the puck up to his Dman
Hughson: "GREAT SAVE LUONGO!!!
Bought my parents (good ol' ALberta snowbirds) tickets to this game as an early Christmas gift. What they don't know is that I'm currently on a plane (well, in Calgary airport on layover between Winnipeg and Phoenix) to be at the same game. Should be a pretty good surprise when they get to their seats and find their long-lost son waiting for them. :) Fingers crossed that Hall and CFP are both in the lineup tonight.
ReplyDeleteFingers and toes crossed that they don't phone this one in. One win in the last eight tries against Phx... with that kind of record you'd think they were a divisional opponent.
@IceCastles
ReplyDeleteCool idea, but you'd better arrive late. They're going to see you in the parking lot well before they sit down as there will be only three cars in the lot.
That made me think of a great marketing scheme for the Coyotes. Free Upper Bowl tickets after the first period!
ReplyDeleteIt would get some people in there at least. I guess the worry would be that even the paying customers don't care much about the team and would miss the first for a free seat.
Maybe the free taco coupons idea will take off here soon, though.
Oilswell: I've been to 8 games in Phoenix and 6 of them have been sold out. When I bought the fix for this game six weeks ago it was already tough to find three seats together anywhere with a decent view of the ice.
ReplyDeleteContrary to popular opinion, Phoenix hasn't had that much trouble filling the rink (though sellout games are still pretty much just ones where either a Canadian team or a division opponent is playing). They're not even letting that many seats go cheap anymore (went to one game where I got a free ticket with the purchase of a case of Coca Cola). The big problem is that the team has no visibility down there, so ad revenue is bill. And ad sales are the real profit source for NHL teams. (hence why a team in Winnipeg is viable)
Ribs said I guess the worry would be that even the paying customers don't care much about the team and would miss the first for a free seat.
ReplyDeleteThere's truth in this! Two years ago my parents stopped buying the mini packs because of more or less this issue. They'd fork out for tickets, then come game day, the seats surrounding them would be going for only a few dollars. The incentives were filling the rink, but they were actually discouraging people who would have been willing to pay from doing so.
About to board for Phoenix. There are 3 other people on my plane wearing Oilers jerseys/tshirts. Sweet.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I can get an Oilers chant going on the plane. Bonus points since the flight originates in Calgary.
(I'll let someone else talk now)
ReplyDeleteDon't do the chant Ice Castles. Went to Vegas last May and then June, on a flight out of Bellingham, Washington. Plane full of Canucks douche nozzles trying to get a chant started. It was douchery at its worst.
ReplyDeleteTook all the good within me to keep from kicking open a door and taking that sucker down.
In case anyone else is interested, Germany is playing Great Britain right now in Group A of the U20 WJHC. So far, through 3 games, Tobias Rieder has 4-1-5. The current game can be followed at:
ReplyDeletehttp://stats.iihf.com/Hydra/276/gameaction_3465.html
Make that 5-1-6 for Rieder. 2-0 GER 13 mins in.
ReplyDeleteWG:
ReplyDeleteDo you mean the same Jim Hughson who wears a Canucks jersey while he's broadcasting their games?
lol
The part where Garrett said the HNIC broadcasters were biased against the Dys was my favorite part of his whole diatribe.
Game day, game day! I don't care at all what the outcome is tonight, I just want to wash the bad taste out of my mouth from the last game against the flames. Having Hall and Potter back should help this.
ReplyDeleteI weary of the nonsense in keeping a young guy like PRV out of the lineup on a 2 off, 1 on rotation. Kid was playing better, gets yanked against Calgary before he can get results (for HORDICHUK no less) and is out again vs PHX (are they that big a team?). How is he supposed to develop again? Play him or demote him. Seriously.
GRoRN - Get Rid of Renney Now
anonampe - abbreviation for anonymous name placement
Khabi's summertime goalie coach in a wide stance. High glove or nine hole, that's about your only chance.
ReplyDeleteCheap shot, yes, but it's a cool pic. Just hope the guy never comes onto the ice mid-game. You could watch an entire baseball game during the warmup groin stretch. Cheap shot, again, but it's a cool pic.
Count me in as one who also doesn't think the Sedin's get enough respect. Even referring to them as "the Twins" fails to acknowledge that they are individual talents with unique skillsets.
ReplyDeleteThey should always be referred to as Mary Kate and Ashley.
@cabbiesmacker
ReplyDeleteAwesome!
Well, Potter and the Baby Moose back in is a good sign right?
Right?
Coyotes 5-3
re: Hughson - I watched a BOA HNIC game a while back. I believe it was the last season that the Flames made the playoffs, but I'm not 100% on that.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, three separate times that game, Hughson went on in length about how Calgary's final playoff position would affect Vancouver. I wanted to throw a brick through my tv.
And of course, don't forget "Here comes Superman . . ." JH's call on Kesler in last year's Nashville series. Blech.
ReplyDeleteSmid Sting Pain Index
ReplyDeleteNever knew he was so poetic. Last season, Smid 2.0. This season, Smid 3.0. At this rate, he might not report next fall.
So there was that, but I haven't yet managed to find out whether there is any merit to that story I've been told about the junk-loving venomous spider in unfavoured latitudes with the penchant to lay a trip line over the front lip of deck chairs before concealing himself in the sprinter's blocks on the undersurface.
Four days without a game thread and I'm coming down with savage tremors.
Icecastles, wrt to the sellouts in Phoenix, my question is what are people paying to see those games?
ReplyDeleteA coworker of mine went to Tampa game last year or year before, 2 tickets, parking, 2 hot dogs, 2 beers, ALL for 25 dollars. (yes it was a promotion, but holy cow).
Rieder ended up with 1-3-4 today. His 5-4-9 in 4gp leads the tournament is both points and goals. Of course, the Germans are mostly dominating teams in this grouping, but Rieder is at the forefront.
ReplyDeleteDMW, I hear ya on the gamethread...but it seems it's feast or famine......stretches where it's seems a game a night and then these gaps...the team must just love that.
ReplyDeleteSo I would classify listening to Jim Hughson do a Canucks game as being bitten by a red harvester ant DMW... It's just so unrelenting!
ReplyDeleteJake70: From what I've seen, the Tampa deals are the best anywhere in the league. Average ticket prices here are pretty good, def cheaper than in Canada, but still far from cheapies. I'm in the upper bowl and paid $34/ea. Parking is sometimes thrown in and there are of course game-day discounts (as there are in Edmonton), but that's about it. Minipacks are a bit more heavily discounted too.
ReplyDeletePhoenix gets a brutal and completely undeserved rap from Canadians. They have really worked at developing kids' hockey and involving with the community and the turnout isn't too bad. Even saw some Coyotes merch for sale at the airport when I landed, which is a first - usually it's impossible to find compared to Cardinals, Suns and Diamondbacks stuff.
Oh and two more jerseys in the airport when I landed. Beauty.
I don't hear all of the hockey announcers of course, but of the ones within earshot John Garrett is The Worst, and it is not close. He's just terrible.
ReplyDeleteYears ago when Sportsnet was young or was it even ITV days, Garrett did the colour for Oilers games and was even more annoying as a homer rooting for my team than he is now, rooting for another. In fact his involvement with the Canucks was like a pre-arranged marriage or something, they were made for each other.
Took all the good within me to keep from kicking open a door and taking that sucker down.
ReplyDelete@CrazyCoach: This made me laugh. That's a whole lot of "good", for one thing.
Dubnyk starting, Khabi "tired", backing up.
ReplyDeletePotter back, Teubert out & possibly on his way to minors (no announcement, but he's off the active roster on team website).
Hall back, Paajarvi & Hordy in the pressbox.
Roster: 2 G, 7 D (inc suspended Sutton), 14 F = max 23.
CrazyCoach: Agreed. Douchebaggy noisy fans aren't my style at all.
ReplyDeleteWhich is why it's a bit tedious living in Winnipeg right now... I get the cause for enthusiasm but living in that city is not easy if you're a hockey fan and not a Jets fan. Explaining that there are other teams and we're allowed to cheer for them is like explaining to Traktor... well, like explaining things to Traktor.
Hall back, Paajarvi & Hordy in the press box.
ReplyDeleteEarlier this week they (Renney?) said that they would likely decide in another few games whether to send Ultramagnus for an AHL stint. What the hell is going to change between now and then and what the hell kind of assessment can they expect to be (still) doing, when they don't play the guy? I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but come ON.
Bruce: I would more than agree that Garrett is nothing short of horrible. When compared to Hughson I believe there is a significant difference - Garrett can't help himself he just flat out sucks. Hughson on the other hand seems to have made the decision to come across as a rank amateur and deliver garbage play-by-play strictly when the nucks are involved - otherwise he can be OK. This, I find extremely offensive. He is making a conscious choice to suck.
ReplyDeleteBendelson said: He is making a conscious choice to suck.
ReplyDeleteMaybe he and Bobby Lou have the same sports psychologist.
So there was that, but I haven't yet managed to find out whether there is any merit to that story I've been told about the junk-loving venomous spider in unfavoured latitudes with the penchant to lay a trip line over the front lip of deck chairs before concealing himself in the sprinter's blocks on the undersurface.
ReplyDeleteThat's a pretty incredible sentence.
Its also a pretty incredible paragraph.
Also,
I don't understand only keeping 6 eligible Dmen on the roster.
V3.2 must like the feeling he gets in the pit of his stomach when leaning on a window on the 90th floor.
Or if its just in Edmonton, then the 40th flooor.
"Explaining that there are other teams and we're allowed to cheer for them is like explaining to Traktor... well, like explaining things to Traktor."
ReplyDeleteSorry, but who are you again?
Know your role peon.
Okay, let's play nice. Cool?
ReplyDeleteOkay, let's play nice. Cool?
ReplyDeleteIn fairness to Traktor, I read his comment as jocular, rather than insulting.
'Course, that could just be a coping mechanism I've developed.
dumb question:
ReplyDeleteI am "home" in Edmonton, from Tdot, for the holidays.
Where does one find Sportsnet Edmonton on the Shaw Cable dial. I'm scanning through the channel menu at my Dad's place, and can't seem to find a listing for the channel.
godot: If you have Shaw, the game will be on channel 304 at 7:30.
ReplyDeleteRestaurant at the arena, oilers jerseys outnumber coyotes 20-1.
ReplyDeleteIce Castles yeah that is tough, especially when it seems you should live in another province to cheer for your team.
ReplyDeleteEspecially all this "We are all Canucks" BS rammed down our throats by Sportsnet Pacific. Like I have anything in common with all those latte-driven, pot-smoking lower mainland hippies.
Release the hounds Smithers!
Gregor reporting over at ON that Renney wants 7 D on the trip so I expect Teubert sticks and PRV gets demoted, but haven't seen anything yet... any word?
ReplyDeleteI believe Teubert was sent down. Oilers are too smart to give an aeroplane ticket to a kid who won't shave his sideburns.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, maybe they're going to trade MP. The current situtation makes no sense on any level.
Seriously, maybe they're going to trade MP. The current situtation makes no sense on any level.
ReplyDeleteVoynov was a late scratch for LAK tonight, speculation on Twitter is perhaps a trade was imminent.
Another trade between Lombardi and v3.2 is as likely as PRV scoring a hatty tonight, but I'll throw it out there.
Voynov is the player I wanted back with the 1st for Penner.
I can see Lombardi trading him. He's full of potential and can bring back a roster player.
Puck moving Dmen who can play the PP are always in demand and LAK have more than most.
Goligoski got Neal for chrimmenysakes.
@LT
ReplyDeleteA player with 3 points in 25 games, -2 and sitting in the press box likely has the trade value of close to zero.
It really is baffling what the Oilers are doing here.
Paajarvi should have been in the AHL to start the season after the Smyth trade and not dealing with it since then is just another example of the team drastically devaluing an asset.
Paajarvi likely has a very bright future...in Sweden.
Pronger declared out for the season with a concussion.
ReplyDeleteMeh. That's wildly negative and Paajarvi did score 15 as a 19-year old rookie. I do agree that the Smyth deal muddied the waters but you'd have liked to see a little more from the young winger.
ReplyDeleteBut he has value. I wouldn't trade him, though. Send him to OKC.
@ WG
ReplyDeleteWith Pronger out for the season, Philly will be looking for a puck moving defenseman.
Voynov would seem to fit the bill.
LA needs another scoring winger.
Not good for Philly.
ReplyDelete37 years old. 5 million cap hit until 2017.
Retirement possible?
No cap relief until contract expires.
Ouch.
Jesus, that must be a pretty bad situation with Pronger if they are writing him off already.
ReplyDeleteOn 91: really not sure what Renney is trying to prove. To wit: great opening period from the 91-57-55 line in the win at Nsh and we haven't seen much of them since.
37 is a good PKer but he's on the third pairing: he's not the first guy you go to.
I didn't say the guy was junk but I was one of the first fellows to look at young 91 in his rookie season and say, "hey, where is offense gonna come from." But then he finished strong and I didn't have as many concerns about him as before.
He got off to a slow start this year and couldn't find any footing and when he needed a boost with better linemates he didn't get them.
Now we're gonna send a kid with already over 100 caps back to the AHL because his coach doesn't know how to use him; and instead of having him on a 4th line that might work he won't even play him.
It just makes no goddamn sense
Last time the Oilers were screwing the pooch this bad with a young player it was Miro Satan iirc.
ReplyDeletePhilly gets LTIR relief until Pronger returns or returns.
ReplyDeleteHis contract isn't an issue at this point.
or retires
ReplyDeleteThe Snider House Rules.
ReplyDeleteDave Tippett wouldn't play MPS either. Its not a Renney thing. MPS has some tools but right now he doesn't bring anything.
ReplyDeleteMPS is bascially Ethan Moreau streaking down the wing and firing a lame shot from the corner. Big deal.
If you want to throw a fit then point the figure at Tambellini.
In regard to 91... Tonight pay special attention to him when the puck goes into the corner. He has no interest in being the first player to the puck, in fact he peels away so the other guy gets there first, and then hits him after the puck is already cleared. Every time he's going to get hit, he pulls up and chips the puck.
ReplyDeleteHow do you fix that? Would playing against smaller guys in the AHL work? 4th line duty on the Oil?
Giving him better line mates might pump his results a little, but the guys got a pretty one dimensional game, and I can't see him being appreciated much with guys like Smyth / Hall / Eberle, that bust their ass on the walls to make plays.
DSF,
ReplyDeleteNot sure PHI can afford to give one up with Giroux on LTIR, but they are deep.
Now that Pronger's 35+ contract looks worse than ever you can bank on the next CBA having special dispensation for 35+ contracts where the player is on LTIR.
Currently (correct me if I'm wrong) the club MUST have the 35+ player on the opening TC roster under the cap, then they can LTIR them and add salary.
That hampers a long term solution, so something will be done to get PHI from under that contract.
When Bettman speaks you can often see Ed Snider's lips moving.
This is too rich not to share:
ReplyDeleteFrom Marc Crawford's twitter:
TsnMarcCrawford Marc Crawford
If I'm Paul Holmgren, I trade ASAP for Sergei Gonchar. Give them a young prospect the same age as their developing core players #MaybeSchenn
I've always thought a lot of NHL "men" think of players at their best instead of where they are now (not even bringing in the cap situation of the above opinion)
Looking at Howson picking up theformercaptaintheanmoreau off waivers last year, then Lombardi signing him (albeit for a paltry sum, then waiving him) is another piece of evidence for this line of thinking.
"Not good for Philly.
ReplyDelete37 years old. 5 million cap hit until 2017.
Retirement possible?
No cap relief until contract expires.
Ouch."
Ya. Sad story. #asif
LT:
ReplyDeleteThanks for the channel info.
Nice back check by 4 on 5's giveaway.
ReplyDelete40 looks calm and big.
Impressed by Dubnyk so far. Keep it going, young man.
ReplyDeleteFirst game back and 44 is better than 6.
ReplyDeletePehaps 6 is still "getting into ghame shape"
Tipett almost, but not quite, makes me want to watch a Lemaire team.
Suffocating neutral zone play.
Need lots of speed in neutral zone and play dump, chase and pound the D against this team.
Wow, this crowd is dead.
ReplyDeleteI think I can hear Icecastles yelling at Renney
Peckham sucks balls. It's that simple.
ReplyDeleteI'm just joining in on centericelive, Phoenix feed guys saying Edmonton should be the most rested team but it's Phoenix swarming.....encouraging.
ReplyDeleteLooks like no more than 7000 there
ReplyDelete6000 are Oiler fans
Theo Peckham is not an NHL Dman this year.
ReplyDeleteSam Gagner continues to look dangerous. Good stuff.
ReplyDeleteI'll say it again but Peckham and Petry play every night and Teubert's back in OKC. He's not Doug Harvey but give the kid a chance!!
ReplyDeleteTwo wide open wraparound misses......yyyaaaayyy....ugh.
ReplyDeleteat least their was a smidgen of effort at the end of the period.
ReplyDeleteDid anyone see Doan knock Potter down when they passed that puck to Ray Whitney coming out of the box. Don't know how they didn't call that.
ReplyDeleteWhatever IC paid for his tickets: he paid too much for the 1st period. Yuk
ReplyDeleteIts not holding if you grab a player with both hands and pull him down without the puck.
ReplyDeleteHappened to 28 and 44 in the last couple of minutes.
I'm with you Clakenstien. At least Tuebert in for Peckham.
ReplyDeleteI know Renney would never do it, but I'd consider Petry over Whitney on the PP at this point.
Whitney getting that wrist shot blocked is not acceptable for an NHL PP
Would you call penalties on your bosses team?
ReplyDeleteShots that period:
ReplyDeleteDamien Langkow: 7
Edmonton Oilers: 6
Daymond, that is.
ReplyDeleteChrist, am I still drunk from this morning?
Thats what I'm talking about.
ReplyDeleteI know Renney would never do it, but I'd consider Petry over Whitney on the PP at this point.
ReplyDeletePetry has been playing PP1, Whitney PP 2.
Peckham is awful. I wouldnt care if he got claimed off waivers.
ReplyDeleteThe losing is starting to get to me. They look bottom five again. I don't know if I can take much more.
Oilers aren't getting their bodies in the way of PHX.
ReplyDeletePHX gets in the Oilers way every chance they get and are bottling them up.
Its not THUNDERING HITS, but using the body to disrupt their flow.
Did Renney just point towards Oklahoma?
ReplyDeleteWhy do they play the sound of a ghost after each announcement?
ReplyDeleteDon't look now the refs have just killed this game.
ReplyDeleteThe way icetime is being handed out makes no sense, and now it is costing us.
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering if Renney is letting that moron Buchberger run the forwards again...
I'm pretty sure Ric Flair has season tickets?
ReplyDeleteThis is a poorly coached hockey team.
ReplyDeleteHorizontal stick? Penalty.
ReplyDeleteTwo handed hip throw? Play on.
Hanzel crushes Peckham.
Another penalty?? Ffs.
That's a fucking horrid call on 57, worse than the one on 94.
NHL refs are worse than CFL part timers.
I know they keep preaching that the future looks bright, but I'm starting to think these teams are worse than the "dark days" 90's teams.
ReplyDeleteThere's no effort. And nothing being done about it.
I'm wondering if Renney is letting that moron Buchberger run the forwards again...
ReplyDeletePeople shouldn't be allowed to coach in the cities in which they were beloved as players. Ruins everything.
(They also shouldn't be allowed to turn into Ethan Moreau.)
Don't miss the series 24/7 that just started last night on HBO. This year it's Philly and the Rangers leading up to their outdoor game. These teams have NHL coaches. Laviolette and Tortorella are motivators. It's almost comical when you compare the Oil staff with these guys.
ReplyDeleteThat was a beauty save by Dubnyk there.
ReplyDeleteThe ice time Peckham, Whitney, Belanger have gotten and the usage of Paajarvi/Omark have driven me nearly insane this year.
ReplyDeleteMore the former than the latter, but nonetheless. I just have no faith that the coaching staff is doing anything more than letting players play based upon what they expect from them (how is Belanger still on 2nd pp? Or Whitney? Whitney has been playing like a 7-8D).
Its incredibly frustrating to watch this team's coaching and asset management and utter stupidity on common line matches.
Nice pass Horc.
ReplyDeleteHemsky!! *face palm*
ReplyDeleteI like 57 and don't mind 37 and 55, but they are making Boyd Gordon look like Meadowlark Lemon out there.
ReplyDeleteIf the past is any indication it's only a matter of time before Ethan Moreau is here coaching the D and Steve Staios is running the power play.
ReplyDeletenotice how many times an oiler d passes it to a stationary forward in the neutral zone.
ReplyDeleteI think the call on Lander was the refs getting their revenge for the selling job Teddy Peckman did on the boarding.
ReplyDeleteWell Taylor Hall does brighten my spirits.
ReplyDeleteThe Coyotes feed has a kid trying his hand at commentary and shit the kid already sounds better than Hughson
ReplyDeleteHallsy! Where's your ghost call now?
ReplyDeletePuck Movement!
ReplyDeleteThe Oilers have never had puck movement like that on a PP.
ReplyDeleteNever.
Looks like 44 is back on PP1.
They had 58 there when he was down.
except now when the Oilers scored and the kid goes, "Aw"
ReplyDeleteha ha ha at least he's not pretentious like Hughson
CrazyCoach:
ReplyDeleteThat sigh the kid let go when Hall scored reminded me of a lot of Hughsons calls in last years playoffs.
He'll never beat Hughston until he says, "He's got the puck on a string," or, " the fans call a penalty, but the refs don't!"
ReplyDeleteOn another note, I have never watched a road game feed that shows the away team fans like today. Are there just no Coyote fans?
Right...yep.
ReplyDeleteHah
Grabbing the oppenents stick hand with your open hand off the stick is not a penalty, especially if its on a break away.
ReplyDeleteThese refs stink like bad fish.
Derek I worked with Hughson's sister and she asked me about her brother and I said he reminds me of the guy who wrote the Illiad and Odyssey
ReplyDeleteTerrible call back - Zebras are having a tough night - normal for an Oiler game
ReplyDeleteSo much for the ref's bias. That one should count
ReplyDeleteI'll take it...but that was a brutal call.
ReplyDeleteWaka waka
ReplyDeleteThe refs just made up for a number of bad calls. Bad turnover by Hemmer. Why no penalties for the glove to Teddy's face? That would have been icing on the cake.
ReplyDeleteYeah, these refs aren't fucking the Oilers or anything; they're just bad at their job. Unfortunately that's the norm in the NHL. The NHL has to have the worst refs in pro sports.
ReplyDeleteBaaaad giveaway by Hemsky on the disallowed goal. And then karma catches up and Belanger bounces it off of Dubnyk's noggin into the slot.
ReplyDeleteThat Smyth-Belanger-Jones line isn't working.
ReplyDeleteBrutal play by Belanger there. Break em up. Renney won't because as evidenced by when they've played tonight, he's obsessed with the combo (rather than, ya know, his uber-talented top 2 lines).
some bad luck there, but you have to give some of the fault to the goalie on the 2nd PHX goal imo.
ReplyDeleteThis team is terrible
ReplyDeleteOh Edmonton, you're just so... bad.
ReplyDelete29-13 in shots after 2! Can they give up 50?
ReplyDeleteGoalie flopping like a salmon on the riverbank and skaters that look like Daniel Caruso trying to catch a fly with chopsticks.
ReplyDeleteHard to watch
Momentum killer Hemsky. Peckham should not be on the ice when Hemsky plays. That's a bad combination.
ReplyDeleteWas that an unlucky bounce or casual, weak clear by Belanger? Man I was expecting more from this guy.
ReplyDeleteYeah LT, he's kicking those rebounds out pretty good tonight. The dq goal as well, big juicy rebound into the slot.
ReplyDeleteThe vast majority of free agents that Tambelltooni brought in this year just aren't worth a shit are they? Smyth and Jones are pretty fair 3rd liners but put Belanger in there and it's like running a boat with the anchor dragging.
ReplyDeleteIf that last scramble that resulted in the PHX goal happened in the PHX zone, no Oiler would be physically able to get to the puck.
ReplyDeleteNot one PHX player was checked in the Oiler zone.
No one fucking player.
Coaching?
Dumb players?
They look like they are worrying more about their zones than the man in their zone.
I just had a chance to watch the Oil change episodes one and two last night. I have to say, I'm not sure it is wise of the Oil to let cameras inside the fortress. The July 1 interactions were absolutely moronic. Outside of MBS, these guys don't look that sharp. Their decision making is seemingly ad hoc, and the July 1 decisions included input such as "I like how he is umm, you know, ummm, rangy-like (Renney holding his arms out to the side like an airplane while discussing the potential Belanger signing). Rangy? Belanger? Then a pro scout pipes in with "Pretty durable. Played most games in the last three years" and they show him looking at NHL.com on his laptop. Seriously, I think a random selection of people from this blog could do better than that. A pro scout should have details about most players in the league on the top of his head including what role the player might play on the team, his medical status, and his ability to play away from the puck (after all, 90%+ of a player's time on the ice is without the puck). Some advanced stats would even be a nice touch. God I hope Sutter helps with the pro scouting dept. That is pathetic. I'm still hoping it might have been bad editing that made it look so arbitrary.
ReplyDeleteWhen you are talking about signing somebody like Belanger, or Eager, or Barker, you better be sure of what you are doing and who you are getting because once you commit, you have to give them ice time or admit you failed on July 1 in signing them, and we know the latter is not going to happen. That ice time is valuable and takes away from other players that could use it for development. Terrible July 1. I wish they hadn't done anything except the Sutton trade.
It's no wonder they trade Vis for Whitney. I didn't see any medical personnel in the war room. Vis for Whitney was probably just as ad hoc. It probably went something like: "He seems good. Nhl.com says he's 6'3" and that he was a former lottery pick. I think we're getting a steal here"
Speaking of Whitney, I was at the CGY game. I watched Whitney skate and nothing but Whitney for several of his shifts. He is either in a lot of pain, or his ankles are still lacking strength because his skating is atrocious. Sloppy, pivots like he just learned how to skate last year. Terrible acceleration, but decent speed once he gets going. I think this confirms my worst fears. I think Whitney is pretty much done. He's playing out the string because he wants to be professional about it, and the management want him to play for a while so they forget who they traded for him, but I think he hangs them up in less than two years. I doubt he plays 50 more NHL games in that time. He is certainly no longer a 1D in these parts, not that that was saying much anyway.
BTW, the best part of Oil Change was the moms being invited to Phoenix. It brought a tear to my eye. Good on Oil management for that classy move.
Nah, looked at that one again. Belanger a bit unlucky. Gilbert was having a coffee leaining on the post watching his team get outmanned in front of his golaie.
ReplyDeleteThat Smyth-Belanger-Jones line isn't working.
ReplyDeleteThey are they only line with any kind of sustained time in the Ozone tonight. Not sure one break down wipes all that out.
89-93-14 are invisible, pushed off the puck at every turn.
PHX is clogging up the neutral zone and EDM refuses to dump and chase.... Except 94-20-28 who have actually had pressure.
Should be 4-1 Phoenix.
ReplyDeleteBrutal officiating.
@ Ashley... right on! It's what I was trying to say but you were much more articulate. As soon as Terry Jones is done carving Eric Tillman over the Ricky Ray trade maybe he can start taking Oil Management (including Ownership) to task over personnel mismanagement. It's becoming a joke.
ReplyDeleteAshley, as someone who broke their ankle last season, I can only tell you that it takes awhile to come back from an ankle injury, especially strength and flexibility.
ReplyDeleteNot that I'm remotely close to being a pro player, but I know it was tougher than coming back from orthoscopic knee surgery.
Phx on back to back.
ReplyDeleteOur team hasn't fucking shown up.
Period.
Again.
puzle. Yes, I suppose it would be, but we've spent 5yrs in this house.
DSF wrote:
ReplyDeleteShould be 4-1 Phoenix.
Brutal officiating.
I take that to mean brutal officiating, the Coyotes are getting screwed. Are you high? The goal being disallowed was a bad call but depending on what angle the ref saw the play, it was understandable. The refs have been equal opportunity horrible tonight IMO.
come out flyin' please.
ReplyDeleteAshley,
ReplyDeleteYou can't say that!!
They are NHL executives, they know what they are doing.
Are you and NHL exec?? Thought not! Just sit in the corner and learn.
Seriously, I thought the same thing and just shudder.
Any level of competence is not evident at all.
Like I said earlier in the thread, I think most GM's/coaches run on instinct and memory and fail because of it.
Renney out coached again. Phx is playing the same game as last time the Oil were in tow: The nuetral zone is quick sand.
ReplyDeleteDo they actually make a game plan? Absolutely no dump/chase/forecheck
At least Raffi is one former Oiler we don't have to worry about scoring
ReplyDeleteDidn't Renney say something about liking Belanger's weave going up the ice in Oil Change (While waving his arms)? Whatever I heard wasn't insightful or meaningful
ReplyDeleteIs it me does PHX constantly interfer with the forwards try to get in on thr forecheck. Throwing picks.
ReplyDeleteHallsy! Where's your ghost call now?
ReplyDeleteWhitney beautiful keep in.
ReplyDeleteGood work by 6 to hold the line.
ReplyDeleteGreat pass by 94.
The Oilers are better with Hall.
Who knew?
Nice keep in by 6 and smart play by 94.
ReplyDeleteOilers penalty in 3.2.1..
Why is Boyd Gordon owning the Oilers at every turn?
ReplyDeleteKnock him down FFS.
Paajarvi might not do much in the offensive zone when he gets there, but unlike most of the Oiler's bottom six who are pretty useless in getting the puck from the D zone to the O zone, Paajarvi helps either bottom line he is on play a more Corsi neutral game.
ReplyDeleteNothing much good happens when Paajarvi is on the ice, but nothing much bad happens either.
I think Lander would be a much more effective player in his assigned 4th line role if Paajarvi was his wing.
To make Paajarvi more effective in the offensive zone, to break his hesitancy to play physical, he needs to play with an Omark or a Hartikainen who go to the danger zones, and who would draw Paajarvi to "trouble". i.e. one initially needs someone to lead him out of the safety of the trench into battle, and once he learns that that battle isn't so hard he may begin to climb out of the trenches and lead the charge himself.
WG - "They are they only line with any kind of sustained time in the Ozone tonight. Not sure one break down wipes all that out."
ReplyDeleteSo what? No goals for. Hardly any dangerous chances. No good in their own end. Belanger playing horribly.
Useless.
If Hemmer were switched to centre, then a 10, 94, 28 line would be Ales, Smyth and Jones.
ReplyDeleteWas anybody else watching TV in the 70's?
That linesman must have bet on the Oilers. Now way that's not icing.
ReplyDelete4th line goes on and gets dominated.
Standard.
NHL Rule 41.3: Tackling RNH away from the play shall not be a penalty
ReplyDeleteDoan. Fuck.
Seriously? Between Peckham and Dubnyk on that play I could have vomited. That should have been a totally harmless turnover.
ReplyDeleteCan Peckham fuck off and quick leaving Potter all alone. Fuck me.
ReplyDeletecool as a rule, sometimes bad is bad.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sequence of pain.
ReplyDeleteHopkins can't get to the puck when he had a step on the Coyotes player, Eberle loses a battle, Peckham just leaves his zone to lay a soft hit on a player leaving Potter to try the slide block.. just, wow.
@SK Oiler fan, I might not have gotten what he said exactly right as it was hard to hear, but I would agree that it was lacking substance. His weave? That is just as curious as rangy. Scouting is not his job, to be sure, but it didn't leave me with a lot of confidence.
ReplyDeleteWhile I'm at it, Renney is starting to get on my nerves. He's too methodical. The players seem like they're in a box all the time trying to play the "system" he preaches. Sometimes you gotta let the kids play a little. There is such a thing as overcoaching. You don't want chaos of course, but there is a balance somewhere in there. Not following the system was apparently the problem with Linus. He didn't follow the system. And his sideburns.
@Crazycoach, admittedly, in a perfect Oiler world, Whitney's bad skating would be entirely attributed to his lack of strength after his ankle surgery. I hope that is true too, but I've been hoping at every turn since we acquired him, and he keeps letting me down. The odds are not in his favour.
Easiest place to play in the NHL - In front of an Oiler goalie.
ReplyDeleteIt's the free skate zone.
The breakdowns are real and they're spectacular.
So what? No goals for. Hardly any dangerous chances. No good in their own end. Belanger playing horribly.
ReplyDeleteI'll bet you they do better than the other lines in terms of 5v5 scoring chances via Dennis' count.
By your logic, even though Ovechkin is killing it in terms of scoring chances, he is useless becuase he is has only scored 10.
Sorry guys I bleed blue and orange but Belanger sucks. He's getting nothing done out there. Bad signing. 3 years of blocking the road for all the young C's...........
ReplyDeleteAnd Dubnyk....where's the battle? I see a big guy who has worked hard on his fundamentals for years but that is all you get out there, just the basics, no ad lib.
WG - I think you've been around long enough, but maybe I haven't written enough about what I think of those "scoring chances".
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I'd be bagging on Ovechkin in a huge way right now. He's not executing and there's no excuse for that from him. Not saying he's worse than a bunch of the guys on his team, but not up to his standards.
----
Dubnyk - That was so weak. He's playing chicken in that net tonight.
That goal was just fucking awful.
ReplyDeleteDD started well and has looked bad for the last 2 periods.
Shooting the puck more usually results in scoring more.
Who knew?
yuck what a horrible goal.
ReplyDeleteWG - I think you've been around long enough, but maybe I haven't written enough about what I think of those "scoring chances".
ReplyDeleteWhy the "quotes"?
If you don't value scoring chances, there is no conversation here.
Every team tracks chances. No reason its not a valid stat.
Fk, I like DD, but now he won't play for another 10-14 days. He's just not taking advantage of any opportunity this year.
ReplyDeleteLeadership. Veteran leadership = Shane Doan. His team gets outworked / outclassed last night, calls his team out and declares a better effort / victory for his team. The determination he showed on what will be the winning goal tonight is what the Oilers have lacked for years now.
ReplyDeleteIf the Oilers with letters one their chest care, it is very hard to see it.
This organization will only turn a corner on the ice when Hall takes this team on his shoulders.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDubnyk looks shaaaaaaaakyyyyyy...
ReplyDeleteWG - the quotes are because I don't particular think they are an accurate measure of scoring chances. I know they need to decide a metric and show something. Don't see as great a stat as many seem to.
ReplyDeleteYou don't score many from the d-zone.
ReplyDeleteI don't care how good you are, if your team can't move North, you're kind of hooped.
Dubi played good for two periods....anyone else concerned that khabi didn't practice until yesterday and didn't play tonight as well.
ReplyDeleteWell I'm happy, Hall's L arm didn't fall out of the socket.
ReplyDeleteJust can't believe the ice time Belanger gets too. He's out there all the f*#kin time. At least if he could fight and intimidate, but no he can win draws. Woo. Renney is starting to lose me.
ReplyDeletePHX plays last night and flies in late.
ReplyDeleteOilers have been there for a day already and are coming off a long rest.
Get outshot 42-20
Just rotten.
Bad coaching, bad players, no battle, no using the body to disrupt plays.
Shitty hockey.
I'm glad they are developing Petrell instead of PRV. Great asset management.
The men who run the Oilers are clowns.
The Oiler's theme song should be Yakety sax. From Dzone play to professional scouting.
Yakety sax.
Well the coach hasn't been able to get Paajarvi going and now the young goalie looks poor.
ReplyDeleteI know winning is the thing, but this is turning into a decidedly uneven development season.
Man. Dubnyk looked like a rookie after a nice start.
I didn't see an Oiler win in the draw tonight myself, anyone have the real figure? I expect we were > 0%
ReplyDeleteBut prob about 35, unless I was just peeking in at the wrong times.
WG - the quotes are because I don't particular think they are an accurate measure of scoring chances. I know they need to decide a metric and show something. Don't see as great a stat as many seem to.
ReplyDeleteWhy?
What is missing?
This team needs Theo Peckham out of the lineup. He is the weak link on D. The last time we were solid defensively, he wasn't in the lineup for a time. He's making mistakes all over. We can all see it. Roster spots and waiver wire whining can be gotten past. On ice results cannot.
ReplyDeleteI didn't see an Oiler win in the draw tonight myself, anyone have the real figure? I expect we were > 0%
ReplyDeleteNHL.com has EDM winning FO 32-26.
The only thing they won.
At least he's off the PP. Renney was about to lose me if that continued.
ReplyDeletePeckham with a -3 tonight in 14:12. I guess one was the DD whif.
Add Phx to the list of opponents I don't care if I never see play again.
Roster spots and waiver wire whining can be gotten past. On ice results cannot.
ReplyDeleteEvery can get past it but Oiler management.
Peckham with a -3 tonight in 14:12. I guess one was the DD whif.
ReplyDeleteGood thing they sent Tuebert down so PRV could sit.
Dumb Assholes.
Renney and v3.2 need to go and professional management and coaching needs to come in.
ReplyDeletev3.2 did a great job building a development system, but other than calling out the names MBS tells him to, that's all he's done well.
v3.2's best achievements were as Vice President of Player Personnel. He has no track record of being able to run the show, and it shows.
WG: holy cow.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I was paying more attention to the special teams faceoffs, but am still hugely surprised.
I'm going to return all that money they've been paying me to watch this stuff.
Soon, I promise.
WG - I've just disagreed over what is counted and what's not over time. The issue as I understand it was trying to create a metric for the chances and applying it, which of course shows *something*, but again, there are disagreements.
ReplyDeleteIt is likely they've improved the method some...but as a for instance, trying to tell me that 4-10-83 only had 2 even strength chances for in that game just now? Nope. Unless I'm missing something, both wraparound chances at the end of the first were also missed.
Again, I get it, and I'm not saying it isn't valuable if you agree with the metric and hence the conclusion.
If I didn't know better I would swear this was HFCanucks with the amount of crying over the refs.
ReplyDeleteWatching San Jose and they are down 4-2 to Colorado. Oilers are going to face an angry bunch of Sharks Saturday night in Oakland.
ReplyDeleteNow 24th in the League Standings and only 3 points away from a lottery pick. 9 points up on Columbus... this shouldn't be too hard should it?? I mean it's Christmas time so must be time to start the drive for #1.
ReplyDeleteNice pass Horc
ReplyDeleteI've joked with by buddies before that Horcoff would pass on a breakaway if he had the opportunity:after seeing it happen in real life it wasn't as funny as I thought it would be.
This team is off the rails and in the ditch.8 of the next 10 on the road.Just awful.
And you know that management isn't going to do a damn thing about it.
RNH looks all-world, Eberle has taken a massive step, Hall on pace to improve on his numbers, Smid playing his best hockey and Renney turned something from nothing in Potter but because MPS is struggling its been a poor development season?
ReplyDeleteYeah, OK.
I'm with Traktor on the development issue. Don't like the way MPS is being handled but Renney has done a good job with zone starts and there are so many youngsters performing at high levels that I'm not complaining.
ReplyDeleteWoodguy,
ReplyDeleteMan, I've been wondering what that song was called for a while now, and now I know. Thank you, and certainly that 3rd period was all yakety sax.
As for the Oilers...please start winning. I agree the Paajarvi situation is confusing. Wonder if it has something to do with his being hyped as one of the big 3 last year so they see it as politically not ok to send him down now. Baffling. Get the guy playing!
unpoley - very unpoley effort from the Oil tonight.
Traktor: I said "decidedly uneven" and you frame it as "poor."
ReplyDeleteHmmm.
These losses have been frustrating, but I still think the games are WAY better to watch than the last few years.
ReplyDeleteI typically make it out to a game live once a year or so, and this year's game was the Carolina game that just happened. With a game clearly out of hand, with a few minutes to go, when the players don't look capable of getting anything done... normally I'd leave a few minutes early to just glare in a slightly-less full subway. This year, I honestly couldn't wait to watch 93 and 14 back on the ice again.
I was expecting something great could happen, and that's something I haven't felt for a very long time. Yeah, we'll keep having losses, but this year, there's hope (for me at least) that something cool could happen, even if we lose.
That's a good start for me in any case.
By the way, I have NEVER seen the Oilers win live. And I STILL didn't feel cheated at the Carolina game because I got to see the young kids play.
Just caught up on DVR. The usual rant: Peckham is lost out there. Though I admire his exuberance and tenacity, it is generally used in all the wrong spots. The reason he has had some success at PK is because it is simpler in terms of systems (plus he's not scared to block shots). His breakout passes--or lack thereof--, reads, gaps, and hits are not NHL level. Too bad he's such a waiver risk, as a year or two on the farm would be great for his development as he remains a hopeful.
ReplyDeleteA relief to see 4 & 44 back. This is Hall's team. Also, CFP sees the ice very well and is turning into something fairly decent, though he's still got lots of time to prove us wrong:).
They continue to get out-coached. Whatever systems play they are attempting is resembling nothing but discombobulation. IMO the deep collapse by the forwards and the lack of anything resembling zone-position by d-men is counter-intuitive to the strengths of this team.
Sigh.
Wins don't come when you get out hustled at every turn for the entire game. The Coyotes are a feisty bunch when the choose to be.
ReplyDeleteIt was good to see Renney keep Whitney off the ice at the end of the game (I think he came on for the last 10 seconds or so). He's just not in any kind of game shape yet. I guess you have to play him, though. It sucks. It reminds me of his play after his first foot surgery with Pittsburgh. He was just horrible and eventually got good enough to be tradeable. We wait.
Noticed something on a play with Hall and Hemsky. We've heard things from players and coaches about Hemksy having to trust who he is playing with and that seems to be the reason he clicks with some players and not others. On this play, Hall went into a battle for the puck on the boards on a rush with Hemsky. Hemsky saw the puck bobble a bit and turned back in toward the blue line expecting Hall to lose the battle. If there was trust there he would have went down low and waited for the puck to come along to continue the cycle. So of course, Hall eventually wins the puck and puts it into the corner where Hemsky should be and the play is dead. Hopefully some trust is gained there because I think the two of them could work well together.
More on Hemsky - He seemed to be shooting in areas that he would usually not. It didn't work at all for him as he hit shin pads every time but I think it's good for him to try to find those shooting lanes every now and then. maybe it's something he can learn from this Nuge character.
Glad Potter is back. It's too bad he prevented Dubnyk from crossing his crease on that one goal, though.
Belanger needs some intensity shot into him. Does good work in the circles but is a passenger on most plays. Tough luck on that clearing attempt that led to one of the goals.
Smid made a glaringly bad pass on the same play I believe that lit the fuse.
It's kind of funny to watch Smyth and Jones on a rush. What will they do? 85% chance it goes into a corner.
I think Dubnyk played well enough to win this one. The team ahead of him let him down once again.