My goodness Gilbert Perreault was fun to watch. He could go end to end and deke the entire roster before potting a goal. He could score off the rush with his slapshot, he was a sublime passer and a stickhandling wizard. Buffalo began their franchise with "the franchise" and didn't stop there.
This is the French Connection. L-R Rick Martin (they used to play up his name, like Reeshard Martann although why they bothered in Buffalo is beyond me), Rene Robert and Perreault. The Sabres under Punch Imlach would use the draft extensively to build their team and had immediate success. They would also procure talent wherever and whenever possible:
- Punch Imlach reneged on a verbal agreement with Boston to stay away from sniper Tom Webster, and sent the young winger to Detroit for G Roger Crozier.
- Sat in his office until right at the deadline so Detroit could call and gift them with trusty C Don Luce.
By 74-75, the Sabres were one of the top teams in the league. FOUR years. The spring of 1975 they were good enough to get a first round bye and then dispatched Chicago in 5 games and Montreal in 6 games (and that Habs team was a killer) before bowing to Bernie Parent and the Flyers.
Four years. Four.
--
I picked the Oilers for 13th in the conference and 27th overall this season, so can't be surprised they are 13th and 25th, respectively. Last night was a pretty terrific hockey game (injuries aside) and Buffalo is no screaming hell right now. Sabres are not a strong home team but the Oilers aren't good on the road and (I haven't checked) my brain tells me they are garbage on the 2nd night of btb's.
RNH and Gilbert must be hurt, because the Oilers called up Josh Green and Colten Teubert. It'll be fun to see Green back in an Oiler uniform and Teubert has played mostly well in his callups this season.
Predicting this team is insane, but if the veterans play like they did last night and Jordan Eberle insists on being an impact player, well you never know.
Way back in the day I went to a summer hockey school. They were giving out posters one day - some leafs guys, some habs guys and some others .. I scored the French Connection poster and had it up on my wall for years. What a great line. And Perreault was amazing.
ReplyDeleteA win today would be a wonderful surprise, but I don't expect one. The Oilers are indeed garbage on the second game in back to back, and our best defenceman is out, leaving us with one actual NHL defencemen + Andy Sutton. Petry is making huge strides but he might end up having to play over his head tonight, Peckham needs to be carefully managed and Potter, while still mildly effective, has come back to earth. As long as we make it through the game without any more injuries, especially on the blue where we are literally out of bodies to call up until Chorney's suspension is over, I'll be happy.
ReplyDelete...he might end up having to play over his head tonight...
ReplyDeleteI think this pretty much sums up the Oilers' player development strategy for the last few years.
...I wish that were a joke.
While it's pretty clear that the team is quite ready to flush this season too, I can't help bu notice how good the farm team is doing. Now, it's clear that some of that is luck and I have no quams with that, but the folks in the big O are definitely doing a good job of building and managing their AHL team, as well as coaching said team. There is depth, there is quality, and there are wins.
It seems so simple...
On a partially related note - when the Barons make the post season, and the Oilers are out of the post season race, how many of the young guys get sent down to go Calder Hunting?
They have to be on the clear day roster. If they haven't played in the AHL all year they are ineligible.
ReplyDeleteSeeing Josh Green in an Oilers uniform and "fun" aren't exactly two things I'd put together...I'm glad for him as a guy who won't quit, but don't exactly see him helping.
ReplyDeleteReally hope Teemu can keep his energy level high and play as he did last night. Those of us who watched closely in the preseason know he's NHL ready and brings a unique element to the roster. He'll be fun to watch. I keep holding off on buying his uni because I think he'll change #s once he's a full-timer.
I think this pretty much sums up the Oilers' player development strategy for the last few years.
ReplyDeleteI think it actually may be the strategy. Last night Tambellini said as much in his interview with Howdy and Bob. "We hope the players are able to compete every night" or something along those lines. We hope? HOPE? He is a complete buffoon. Competing every night should be automatic. If your GM is only hoping that you can compete then the team/season/future is screwed. Demand, not hope, is what he should be saying and practising.
Sooo, Eberle is the modern-day Perrault?
ReplyDeleteSince it is NK starting today and he seems to have something to prove this season, the Oilers are only likely to lose by 2 goals, maybe even a goal and an empty-netter.
Shame about Gilbert, though frankly on this team he was well overdue for a major injury (no one has said anything about him yet, right?).
I hope Renney keeps the same lines as last night, with slight changes due to RNH getting "Oiler Shoulder"
ReplyDeleteI'd like to see:
4-89-83 - Out chanced Toews/Hossa last night, should be able to out chance any line in the league if it holds true.
94-10-14 - With RNH out and a winger getting called up, I think 57 goes back to 4C
56-20-28
55-57-Green
Renney might swap Green and Harski, given Green's vetern status and that line not seeing some tougher ice.
D pairings
5-58
25-44
24-33
Wow, that's pretty thin.
BUF has been hammered by injuries too and are 2-6-2 in their last 10.
Enroth is outplaing Miller (.921 vs .901)
Regier succumbed to Lowe disease and after being a good to very good budget GM forever, throws money hand over fist and overpays everyone in sight this summer simply because he can.
$4.5MM x 6 years for Ville Leino?
Really Darcy?
After he signed that contract he should have phoned Lowe and thanked him for keeping him from offering Vanek $10MM/yr over 20 years.
Really slim that they win tonight, but their odds of winning were slimmer yesterday.
Go Oilers!
Really hope Teemu can keep his energy level high and play as he did last night.
ReplyDeleteI think this is Harski's 4th game in 4 nights and something like 6 games in his last 7 nights.
He's either a cyborg or a Finn.
Finn's win.
yea, this will be Harski's 4th in 4 nights. He may end up playing the 4th for that reason alone.
ReplyDeleteHe needs a day off to sleep before they really start to give him a ton of ice time. Tonight will not be a fun, or fair, night for him
WG - yeah, that's why I mention it. So long as he gets through this stretch playing okay, he should be good to go for quite a while. Hope he pots one tonight...came close last night. He gives them a chance to double-shift one of the top wingers and have a tertiary scoring line 2-3 shifts/game, which sometimes makes the difference.
ReplyDeleteHe's either a cyborg or a Finn.
ReplyDeleteThere's something to be said for countries that enforce mandatory military service.
With all of the money going into prosthetic limb development, one day he could be both!
After all, it's not like he plays for the Oilers and players' shoulders just seem to cease to exist after a couple of years with the club...
Man, people think there are problems with consussions now... just imagine how bad it will be when someone stars playing with cybernetic shoulder!
Re: Gilbert
Haven't heard anything yet, but based on how he fell, I'm guessing (hoping) its soft tissue. Anyone know what the recovery time for that kind of strain/tear is in the knee area?
word on RNH is that he will miss at least 2 games, might get sent home to have the team Doctors look at it.
ReplyDeleteGilbert will miss tonight but may play the next one. Will skate in St. Louis tomorrow after they arrive to test it.
Renny apparently was in disbelief on how Hemsky bailed on that icing play at the end of the game yesterday, and hasn't spoke to him at all since, on purprose. Wants to see Hemsky's response tonight. (according to Mark Spector)
Speaking of Leino's horiffic contract, there's a thoery out there gaining steam that the next labour deal could include an amnesty clause like the NBA just incorporated that would allow teams to waive one player and get his cap number off the books (while still having to pay out his contract).
ReplyDeleteIf that does come in, do the Oil waive the Captain?
There really aren't any other good candidates on the roster since Khabby only has one more year left and we don't currently have a better option in net.
verification word: panness
I think Pouliot hurt his once...
This was discussed in the previous thread so appologies for being off topic:
ReplyDeleteSomebody brought up DD's save percentage last night suggesting he played well. DD was bad last night - no question. Even in a win with a .929. One example where the math doesn't tell the whole story.
When you let in 2 goals as bad as he did last night they carry more weight than stopping any remaining shots.
I like the guy and realize he has to play more, but those goals can't go in on any NHL goalie, especially within 20 minutes of each other.
Crawford was average at the other end and was a major contributer to the Oiler win.
I'm a little surprised they picked Josh Green, but clearly one more vetern isn't going to do this team any harm. For his sake I hope he sticks, he's only 67 games away from qualifying for a full NHL pension.
ReplyDeleteCarcillo is going to have an in-person meeting with Shanahan about his stupid / filthy hit last night.
ReplyDeletefrom TSN (http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=384116):
"Carcillo has been suspended five times since 2008 including twice in 2011, the last of which was a dangerous hit from behind on Joni Pitkanen."
What a piece of garbage.
Peeps said (re: Carcillo):
ReplyDeleteWhat a piece of garbage.
As a result of this comment, Peeps is currently being sued by "garbage", on the grounds that having Carcillo compared to it constitutes slander.
What a piece of garbage.
ReplyDeleteI'm not taking away the responsibility for what the guy does when he's on ice, but on the other hand its hard to blame someone for doing all the things that they were told to do in order to make it to the highest level. Or another way, you can't blame an attack dog when it attacks.
Again, I don't think he shouldn't get a bunch of games for that hit, I think the problem is systemic and will continue for a few more years, until the boys who have been trained to play that way are too old to play and the boys who grew up with a different ethic in their training replace them. And I can't speak to whether or not that is being done right now in minor hockey or not.
Speaking of Leino's horiffic contract, there's a thoery out there gaining steam that the next labour deal could include an amnesty clause like the NBA just incorporated that would allow teams to waive one player and get his cap number off the books (while still having to pay out his contract).
ReplyDeleteThere already was one with the last CBA. See the heading Compliance Rules
Which doesn't change the fact that it will be interesting if it happens, just that it's not some new idea stolen from the NBA.
ReplyDeleteI'm not saying I'll buy one but where does one purchase a television that shows young Teubert playing mostly well?
ReplyDeleteMust be at The Brick?;)
Sabres are a bad hockey club - worse than the Oil if you believe in GD - and Miller's as long as in the woods as Bryz was since Lucic brained him. Oilers could still have a puckline loss - at least two goals - but Buff's a good place to play in the second half of a BTB when the roster is as thin as Terry Jones wife.
Carcillo could end up with a 15+ game suspension. He's not only a repeat offender but apparently ignored the a warning from the ref not to make the hit:
ReplyDelete"I can hear the ref screaming from the other corner to be careful, to lay up on him, and he (Carcillo) comes in contact and throws him (Gilbert) off balance 5 feet from the boards," Oilers goalie Devan Dubnyk said.
http://espn.go.com/chicago/nhl/story/_/id/7417419/chicago-blackhawks-forward-dan-carcillo-was-ejected-boarding-monday-night
The problem with the "suspend the player for x games" system is that three parties are affected by the play and only one is affected by the penalty.
ReplyDeleteOffending player- carcillo will miss 10 games which sounds substantial but consider his options. If he doesn't play like a douche someone else will and he's out of a job. That isn't being dramatic, it's a fact. He can make a million per in the show and budget to spend 100k on fines...or work at Denny's. I know what I'd do.
Offending team- they lose a bottom of the roster guy for 10 games. They lose the roster spot as I assume a suspended player is one of your 23? Please god tell me this is true. They may actually gain...imagine Chicago is fighting Edmonton for a playoff spot. Have their odds not just increased?
Victim and victimized team- why do the Edmonton Oilers or Tom Gilbert care if Dan Carcillo misses 10 games? Does that help them in any way, shape or form?
The solution as I see it that Shanahan makes his judgment as usual. Let's assume it's 10 games. Here's what that 10 games mean:
- Dan Carcillo misses the next 10 games AND
- For the next 10 non-playoff games against the oilers, the Hawks would have to dress one less player.
In this way, the player is punished, the team that employs the player is punished and the team who is victimized gets an advantage.
These guys will be unemployable instantly.
Jamal Mayers from the ESPN article:
ReplyDelete"We don't want to take anything away from his game," Jamal Mayers said. "He plays a nasty game, he plays a hard game. Things like that are going happen. Quite frankly it's a questionable call as well. He was finishing his check."
Someone should spear Mayers in the teeth then spell out in his blood on the ice "I just finished my check"
What an asshole.
KT,
ReplyDeleteI agree with a lot of what you say, but you are off here:
If he doesn't play like a douche someone else will and he's out of a job. That isn't being dramatic, it's a fact. He can make a million per in the show and budget to spend 100k on fines...or work at Denny's. I know what I'd do.
Carcillo doesn't have to make that check to keep his job. He can be a pest and tough to play against asshole without endangering careers.
Offending team- they lose a bottom of the roster guy for 10 games. They lose the roster spot as I assume a suspended player is one of your 23?
Carcillo was playing with Toews and Hossa for most of the year. He should be bottom of the roster, but hasn't been.
Yes, CHI loses the roster spot, much like EDM did for the last 8 games with Sutton.
The solution as I see it that Shanahan makes his judgment as usual. Let's assume it's 10 games. Here's what that 10 games mean:
- Dan Carcillo misses the next 10 games AND
- For the next 10 non-playoff games against the oilers, the Hawks would have to dress one less player.
In this way, the player is punished, the team that employs the player is punished and the team who is victimized gets an advantage.
These guys will be unemployable instantly.
I like this a lot.
Anyone interested in checking out the Sweden FInland game online can check it out on TSN - http://tsn.ca/live/world_jrs/wjrs2012/
ReplyDeleteI also like the suggestion made by Knighttown. But I would take it further, and make it count for either playoff or regular season games.
Colby Cosh's response to Kent Wilson on twitter is pure awesomeness:
ReplyDelete@Kent_Wilson: RNH out for a month? Oilers third straight "fall for prospect X" in full effect!
@colbycosh: The Endeavour For Whomever, Year III
THE ENDEAVOUR FOR WHOMEVER!
I love it.
I hope RNH is actually not out that long - it would be incredibly disappointing to see him get jobbed out of the Calder trophy when he beats every other rookie in points-per-game, but voting members of the MSM fail to take this into account when casting their ballots.
ReplyDelete(NOTE: I'm one of those Oilers fans who is still bitter over Gretzky not being Calder-eligible, even though this happened two years before I was even born, and no Oiler having won the Calder trophy since then...)
Even if RNH misses a month, there's a solid chance he'll still be in the rookie scoring lead. Adam Henrique's the only who should be able to catch him based on the pace he's been scoring at but he's been benefitting from even better shooting percentages than Hopkins and might start to slow down.
ReplyDeleteIn watching Klefbom over this tournament, he does a lot of good things but decision-making is clearly not a strength of his. And I wonder about his backwards skating as he seems to get turned around a lot when the forwards come with outside speed.
ReplyDeletePelss with a couple of assists today...Yay...
ReplyDeleteLines as per Tencer:
ReplyDelete4-89-83
94-57-14
Green-10-56
55-20-28
Interesting.
I think Renney is going for "I don't want a 4th line that sucks"
I agree with his thinking.
Interesting to see how 57 does with the harder ice and better linemates.
Okay, Lander gets a try with some players. Good stuff.
ReplyDeleteGood on ya, Renney.
Wunderbar:
ReplyDeleteRenny apparently was in disbelief on how Hemsky bailed on that icing play at the end of the game yesterday, and hasn't spoke to him at all since, on purprose. Wants to see Hemsky's response tonight. (according to Mark Spector)
Unless there's a video clip, I would highly suggest that Spector is not an unbiased reporter. A more likely possibility is that Renney gave a look of disbelief AT SPECTOR for asking the question.
Woodguy:
Green-10-56
Wow. Horcoff gets the two AHL guys? Is this punishment?
Well now I'm just worried about how serious Horcoffs injury is if they've moved him to the fourth line.
ReplyDelete@Ben
ReplyDeleteI've been tracking the rookies all season.
On November 15th, Henriques Shooting percentage was 18.2, on December 1st it was 13.0, on December 15, it was 16.0 and is now 14.5 so it's not that he's really benefiting from any blip.
On the other hand, Hopkins shooting percentage has dropped from 22.6 on November 15th to 16.3 today.
What has really made the difference is that the Devils are using Henrique on the second unit PP which they weren't doing earlier in the season. H
His PPTOI/G has gone from 0.25/G on November 15th to 1.50/G
(worth noting he also kills penalties and has 2G and 2A while shorthanded.)
In short...the math loves Henrique...in lots of ways:
5V5 P/60
Hopkins - 2.03
Henrique - 2.29
5V4 P/60
Hopkins - 7.34
Henrique - 4.86
PPTOI/G
Hopkins - 3.50 (1st among Oiler forwards)
Henrique - 1.49 (7th among Devils forwards)
PKTOI/G
Hopkins - 0.01 (11th among Oiler forwards)
Henrique - 2.09 (4th among Devils forwards)
QUALComp
Hopkins - 7th toughest competition among Oiler forwards
Henrique - 4th toughest competition among Devils forwards.
ZONE STARTS
Hopkins - 66.8% OZone Starts
Henrique - 49.8% OZone Starts
FACEOFFS
Hopkins - 37.5% (128W - 213L )
Henrique - 49.9% (242W - 243L)
Renney is sheltering Hopkins and he's kicking out the jams on the PP but in every other facet of the game Henrique is hands down.
Now, Hopkins is 18 and Henrique is 21 with a year in the AHL under his belt but that shouldn't sway Calder voters.
What will sway them is Hopkins posting better boxcars but Henrique has been closing the gap pretty quickly now that he is getting PP time (5A).
Hopkins had a 14 point lead not that long ago and it has shrunk to 7.
I wouldn't count him out.
stuck in mountains without sportsnet, and my wife is napping, so does anyone have a feed for the Oil game? Appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteFirst row sports is quite good.
ReplyDeleteDid you see how sulky 83 drew 3 defenders to himself then passed to Hall?
ReplyDeleteTrade that bad seed.
Hemsky-to-Hall. 1-0
ReplyDeleteBeauty read, hook and no-look pass from 83.
ReplyDeleteWell, sure he can pass - I'm not sold until I see how he handles icing.
ReplyDeleteFoksh: What drunk British nobility hunts.
That's the texbook Hall goal I hope to see many many more of.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ribs!
ReplyDeleteIt's a pretty neat feed. It keeps filming through commercials.
ReplyDeleteHemsky-Hall-Hartakainen could be an excellent line. But one of them would have to become a centre.
ReplyDeleteInteresting to see how 57 does with the harder ice and better linemates.
ReplyDeleteI like it too but I bet its the prelude to his demotion.
Wow. Horcoff gets the two AHL guys? Is this punishment?
For who? Horcoff or the AHL guys? :-)
Was that 83 negating that icing..no wait, it was 56...lol.
ReplyDeleteThe away feeds are interesting to listen to. Last night it was the underated defense. The Buffalo analyst just said this Edmonton team is the hardest forechecking team he has seen so far this season. Are we too hard on our own? ;)
ReplyDeleteCaught last two minutes of period, Buffalo feed said Oilers are obviously hardest forechecking team he's seen this season.
ReplyDeleteI guess they brought some more of the hustle Chicago taught them last night.
The on ice shooting percentage at even strength for the Devils with Henrique on the ice is 11.66%. That's top 10 in the NHL for players with 13+ minutes. He already almost has as many even strength points in 35 NHL games as he did in a full AHL season last year. He'll be hard-pressed to keep that up IMO.
ReplyDeleteI've liked the looks of the Horcoff line.
ReplyDeleteEureka, some size and they don't get bumped off the puck. Who knew?
Vanmassenhoven is by far the worst ref in the NHL.
ReplyDeleteJust awful.
Oh hey; shitty call by a ref. Big surprise.
ReplyDeleteWhy did no one say VanM is reffing this game? What's the point of watching?
ReplyDeletethat was a pretty bad call.
ReplyDeleteIve seen plays like that be called no goal, on rare occasion, but a penalty too? wow.
58 not that great at breaking up plays in the Dzone, was a passenger on the last BUF goal.
ReplyDelete-2 tonight so far too.
He's a Finn, he'll be ok, but having a tough night in the Dzone.
He already almost has as many even strength points in 35 NHL games as he did in a full AHL season last year. He'll be hard-pressed to keep that up IMO.
ReplyDeletePlaying with Parise and Kovalchuk, he may.
Yah, I guess Smid is due for an injury.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, the Oilers have played the last 4 or 5 periods pretty well, but these injuries are death.
ReplyDeleteHorcoff not taking faceoffs accoring to Matty.
This is shit.
ReplyDeleteRun the Edmonton Oilers is really starting to piss me off.
"Riding the stick was the dumbest thing I've done in my hockey career" - Finland's Joel Armia,
ReplyDeleteheh
God damn.
ReplyDeleteEberle is unbelievable.
I know Petry makes mistakes but am hoping they hang in there. Mobile, jumps up and can take and make a pass.
ReplyDeleteI wish we had a graduate like this guy every fall.
Trevor Kidd and the Canadian junior turned up the ghetto blaster for "Simply The Best" -Tina Turner
ReplyDeletepretty sure the boys on the bus used that song as well
ReplyDeleteI'm enjoying Green and Harski. Such a nouveau thing, board men, and soon - Hamilton and Pitlick.
ReplyDeleteAnd that's Gagner, as well. Oops, the Horcoff disease.
ReplyDelete2 goals for Potter.
ReplyDeleteGreen? He was awful tonite.
ReplyDeleteGreen -4, Ouch!
ReplyDelete12-10-56 got about 12 min 5v5 and went -4, -3, -3 respectively.
ReplyDeleteOuch.
Interesting that the AHLers and injured 10 got more 5v5 TOI than 55-20-28, who got about 8min 5v5.
Lots of try tonight, best btb I can recall since early fall
ReplyDeleteThought 83 had his third assist on that pass from behind the net...not sure how they didn't cash that.
ReplyDeleteFact: Renney repeatedly put out the 4th line late in the 3rd period to try and lose this game.
ReplyDeleteRyan Murray two early goals!
ReplyDeleteI was an early supporter of Petry but would not be disappointed if he gets packaged up with other assets for a top tier defender who is about 3 -4 years further along the learning curve.
ReplyDeleteFor a whole bunch of reasons this team needs to make a serious bid for the playoffs next season. Petry is likely an asset that has some meaningful value and although I cheer for all Oiler prospects i'm beginning to doubt he will ever reach his potential.
I like WG's team punishment with the roster spot but I think they might hit the teams employing the dirty guys in the salary cap more effectively. Something like $1M off the next season for a repeat offense then $3M for a third etc. Will make Shero think twice about employing Cooke and Bowman with Carcillo.
ReplyDelete@ Nelson8
ReplyDeletePetry can't help it if he's saddled with Josh Green for a majority of the night. Green is not a NHL player in any shape, way, or form.
The WJC is fun to watch, even with Canada losing.
ReplyDeleteLast game: Below the Belt
ReplyDeleteThis game: Breakthrough Bleeding
Next game: Beating the Blues
3rd period btb has not been kind this season. Glimmers of hope, then the loser point slips away like a wet bar of soap.
I am with LT on Petry. I think there is a player there, once he gets the few brain cramps out. Smid is 26 soon, and he is just really starting to get his traction in the league.
ReplyDeleteSK Oil said:
ReplyDeleteSomebody brought up DD's save percentage last night suggesting he played well. DD was bad last night - no question. Even in a win with a .929. One example where the math doesn't tell the whole story.
When you let in 2 goals as bad as he did last night they carry more weight than stopping any remaining shots.
-----------------
SK that is complete rubbish - so we give "style points" for goaltending now? Want to pick and choose which shots a goalie "should" stop? How about shots he "shouldn't" stop? Are those worth "more"? I guess you think some goalies are "clutch" as well?
Goaltending is totally results oriented. It matters not one bit what kind of goals go in or are stopped - as long as you stop a high percentage. You stop some you have no business making the save on - and let in some beach balls - it all evens out in the wash over hundreds and thousands of shots. What remains is SP - and particularly ES SP - and if you are in the top 10 of that category you are a good goalie. If you stop 39 of 42 and win - you had a good game - end of conversation. Everything else is opinion and the clattering of dice on a particular game day.
Fact: Renney repeatedly put out the 4th line late in the 3rd period to try and lose this game.
ReplyDeleteWhich line are you talking about?
Based on 5v5 TOI:
4-9-83
12-10-56
94-57-14
55-20-28
Were lines 1-4
Petry lead all Oilers with 18:34 TOI
I like WG's team punishment
ReplyDeleteThat was Knighttown's idea, not mine.
Based on 5v5 TOI:
ReplyDelete4-9-83
12-10-56
94-57-14
55-20-28
Since 10 has a injured shoulder (again) you can probably lay a lot of this loss at Renney's feet.
A hurt C with 2 AHLers get 2nd most 5v5 TOI, even after they are getting killed most of the game?
Ryan Murray with the Russian Hat Trick...wow.
ReplyDelete@ Woodguy
ReplyDeleteExactly. With 5 minutes left in the game, there was no better options?
Stupidity.
i know this tourney doesnt matter or anything, but....
ReplyDeleteanother goal for Murray!
scoring chances are around 10-1 Canada, and the score is 3-1 Ruskies.
ReplyDeleteSo far the Canadian gameplan is pathetic. Boards all night long, weak shots from the outside, reaching with your stick instead of skating...brutal.
ReplyDeleteThe D was the strength of the Canadian team and they've totally collapsed.
ReplyDeleteAlso, don't care if it is bad breaks...bench Ryan Murray. He's poison tonight.
well atleast Murray didnt score that one he only got the assist.
ReplyDelete5 goals on 15 shots.
Nelson 88 ??
ReplyDeleteTime for a new tv maybe? One with a picture?
Petry is going to be just fine for a long long time thanks.
The problem is they are playing in Calgary.
ReplyDeleteRussians are going old school on Stone. # 17 for Russia is his shadow,
ReplyDeleteNot sure the Oilers would have been able to trade up to grab Kuznetsov in 2010, but I was always kind of surprised they didn't because I got the impression from listening to interviews that Kuznetsov was very well liked by MacGregor, and they certainly had the ammo to get in teh coversation with their 2 2nds and the first pick of the 3rd round (they also ended up with a 3rd second after the Nash trade).
ReplyDeleteThe problem is that this is a Prendergast team
ReplyDeleteKuznetsov has PRVitis
ReplyDeleteThe guy has two things on his mind, dont get hit, and look good doing it.
He'll find a better life in the KHL.
Canada seems a little bratty and immature. Russia is the better team.
ReplyDeleteI think the issue is Hockey Canada needs to refocus a little bit. This is the 3rd year in a row with a disappointment on the big tournament.
ReplyDeleteCoaching, coaching, coaching. Gotta help these kids out with some leadership and guidance when they run into trouble.
I've also liked what I've seen from Khokhlachev, although i haven't been watching all that carefully so who knows what that's worth? He was the guy I liked when EDM was picking at 19 last year (and 31, for that matter, since he was still available).
ReplyDeleteThe Canadian goalies seem To be getting outplayed. Were there any other possible goaltending options for Canada?
ReplyDelete@ book¡e
ReplyDeleteI see what you did there.
i didnt see the game, was Ryan Murray really that bad or was it bizarre bad luck?
ReplyDeletemaybe Grigorenko is the one the Oilers should go for
I wouldn't judge Murray on one bad game,this kid has lots of talent.He might be closer to the NHL then any prospect the Oilers have.
ReplyDeleteI feel bad for Murray who is a fine prospect but I think I feel worse for Green who just had a hell of a debut.
ReplyDeletePoor bastard was on the ice for every Buffalo goal but not responsible for all of them. Some just plain bad luck.
Asia - I hate to wade into the "clutch" debate, but you know these players aren't robots out there right? It's not Playstation NHL 12
ReplyDeleteThere is such a thing as confidence - especially for a young team. Did you see the body language of the Oiler players on the ice after that first crap goal went in for Chicago? They were playing well then that goes in? What a kick in the nuts - don't you think?
Quality of shots and time of game are huge factors.
Did you watch the world jr. game last night? Perfect example: Did you see Canada crap their pants when every shot started going in for Russia in the 2nd and then Russia do the same when the pucks started bouncing in their net instead of out? It looked like Canada strapped on rocket skates as soon as that 2nd goal went in for them (and Russia was skating in slush).
Momentum, Confidence, Concentration, Calmness, Focus - these are real factors in a game that won't show up in math calculations.
You mention they all wash out over hundreds of saves - We're looking at one game here where 2 goals went in that should not go in on an NHL goalie.
You can't just look at the box score and determine DD had a good game the other night. IMO He was baaad based on two very poor goals, and keep in mind I like the goalie.