Smid Scores! And Other Important Things, Like The Game Tonight...

If I put my physical attraction to him aside, I still love this guy in the context of a purely unromantic fan-player relationship, and when he scored on Saturday I wanted to leap for joy and screech in happiness. As only life would have it I was at work at the time, and was unable to do either of the aforementioned behaviours as they are not appropriate for a place of work. I did, however, kind of yell 'YES' in a rather high pitched voice that I was not aware could be produced by my vocal cords; all in all it was a triumph for my self-control.

Ladislav Smid is my all-time favourite player, and I would wager that this is because I pick players that I like on some other scale than high-scoring offensive talent. I've liked him ever since we got him in the Pronger trade, and the Oilers are lucky that they didn't trade him this past summer. Combined with the underwhelming performance of the team, the absence of Smid would have meant I would be even less invested in this team than I have been of late. I still love them, don't get me wrong, but last week I just about went to the movies in place of watching the game, something that wouldn't have even entered my mind in previous years.

To the matter at hand: The Oilers are in Florida tonight to take on the Panthers, where they have a chance to put together a three game winning streak. It will be important not to take the Panthers lightly, as even the worst teams in the NHL are still good hockey teams by other standards, and when the Oilers are at their worst they don't look like an NHL-caliber team either. Hell, we were in last place in the West just a few short games ago. Also, I'm kind of hoping Smid will score once or twice more. I know, it's a tall order, but in his first season I seem to remember him scoring a couple more before the season was out.

If the Oilers can keep it together and show up as the same team that was in Detroit this should be a win. If it's the team that showed up in Vancouver we're in trouble.

Go Oilers Go!

This Just In: I'm Lazy.

And University is fricken hard.

I had this whole post planned out last night before the game, thinking I'd post it talking about how the team wasn't playing well enough for me to write anything nice about them anyway.

While that's still the case, despite their success last night, I'm going to try and find some positives, and though we haven't been winning, the positives for this team aren't hard to find.

Positive Improvements:
Dustin Penner: Does this need some explanation? I don't think so. The funny thing is that he was never really that bad. was he worth his contract? No, but near-top of the team scoring every season since he's been here is nothing to sneeze at. He's been a Jack-of-all-Trades this season: winning faceoffs, PKing, PPing, Even Strength Scoring...

Ladislav Smid: YES. I am so freaking happy that he's doing so well this season, it's unbelievable. I love this guy, and he's now playing the way that I knew he could.

The Goaltending Duo: While the team has some issues; I think we've established that goaltending isn't one of them. Say what you want about the two games prior to last night of JDD's, he was awesome last night, and he has been dependable in other games as well. Besides; he just wasn't as bad in the Chicago game as some were saying. I don't think I need to say much about Khabbi... He's a monster. That is all... Rest that back... Now that is all.

Return of Lubomir Visnovsky: Incredibly impressed with his play this year. He has his odd off game, but overall he's easily the best overall defender on the team. I am shocked when people suggest we trade Lubo over Souray. I completely disagree.

Some Negatives:

Faceoffs: This was a problem last year, and it's a problem again this year. What ever happened to Reasoner? Oh yeah... We let him walk.

Tom Gilbert: What the hell is up with you? Granted, you're not a favourite of mine and you never have been, but come on. You're better than this.

Secondary Scoring: Our first line is out-producing other lines on the team by a long shot, which wouldn't be a problem if the other lines were actually producing on a semi-regular basis... But they're not... This needs to change.

The Occasional Return of Last Year's Team: Some games the team looks like they simply don't want to be there. They'll have no energy, they'll turn the puck over every 30 seconds, they'll have trouble scoring and no problem letting the other team score etc. The effort level isn't there sometimes, and it's confusing because unlike last year it's not all the time. Perhaps it's just a case of old habits die hard... I hope so, because otherwise this could be a much more serious issue.

This team is not where I wanted them to be come this point in the season. However, injuries and illness have been factors, not to say that they're to blame, because the negatives I chose to talk about here are not a result of injury or illness.

Team Meeting:

I'm not saying that there was a team meeting following last game's poor effort, because there probably wasn't. Mostly because this is still early in the season, and way too early to be either sulking or gloating about standings and win/loss records. Here is my issue: In all of the games we played prior to this past weekend we made an effort. We stayed in the game and we didn't give up, even when down 4-1 to Columbus. The team that I saw, and I'm sure you did too this past weekend, was last year's team. Last night's game was the worst we've played thus far, and the weekend combined had me looking for MacT behind the bench.

That was the excuse, was it not?

Alright, listen, I'm not saying that I don't think that was a major contributor to the problem last year. MacTavish was a grudge holder, from what I could tell, and in sports that can't happen. As a coach you cannot favor a player simply because of who he is, and you certainly can't hate on one. These are the methods of second rate coaches who are too comfortable with their positions, and are likely on their way out the door, or so that has been my experience in my meager time as a hockey and football fan. By holding grudges against a player on a team you're running you could very well be overlooking things that said player does particularly well, and possibly better than the person you've got doing that job. In favoring players you can be blinded to shortfalls and bad habits that need to be dealt with, and that's detrimental to the player itself as well as the team.

What I'm saying is that I was running the streets chanting for MacT's head too, but what the hell happened this past weekend? I understand, the flu has been ripping through the dressing room kicking ass and taking names, and we seemingly have been unable to stop it. But seriously? Some of these guys who had terrible games this past weekend aren't those rumoured to have flu symptoms.

Guys I've heard have the flu and/or symptoms: Gilbert Brule, Dustin Penner, Ales Hemsky, Ladislav Smid, Tom Gilbert, and Mike Comrie.

Guys who were brutal this past weekend: Practically the whole freaking team. Exceptions: Dustin Penner, Ales Hemsky, Khabilulin, Deslauriers, Ladislav Smid, Lubomir Visnovsky. There might be others, but the good performances in losses are rarely those that stand out.

I don't think that flu symptoms can explain away the quality of Gilbert's game, as he has been playing poorly from season's beginning. In fact, though I've never been a fan of his, I don't think I've ever been so frustrated with him. Grebeshkov has been okay, but it seems like the first 10-20 minutes of any given game he forgets how to play hockey. Nilsson, not that I want to beat a dead horse, but Nilsson just is not cut out to play the game. I'm not saying that he can't, because he wouldn't be playing the the NHL right now if that were the case, but he has no drive. A player who is unable to motivate himself when he needs it will not succeed in this league. Plus, if he gave the puck away any more I'd think he was conspiring against us. And I won't even comment on Ethan Moreau, because at this point I'm just too damned biased to discuss his play through a lens that even remotely resembles an objective one.

Please tell me that this was a weekend that sucked because of the flu bug, and not because of some underlying issue...

I still love you guys, but please stay at two meter's length until you're all healthy again, okay? I'm almost at the point where I'm thinking of watching the games in one of those 'SARS' masks...

Dallas @ Edmonton

So, now that we've got the first loss of the season dealt with, should we not also get the first win of the season? I mean, that's the way it goes right?

In all seriousness I was pretty happy with the Oilers' game on Saturday. For the first period we were less than perfect, but the rest of the game we battled hard and did a lot of things right that I liked. The one thing that we managed to do in the first that we slowly stopped doing as the game went on was be physical. If the Oilers want to win games against teams that are faster and/or more skilled than they are, they're going to have to make a commitment to burying as many guys into the boards as they can manage without getting too many penalties. I haven't seen Dallas play yet this year, in preseason or regular season, so I don't have much of an idea as to what kind of game they want to play, but a physical game is never a bad idea.

Cogliano moves to play with Gagner tonight, and Nilsson is in and Moreau is out. This means that my normal goat isn't playing... I'll find a new one to sub in I'm sure.

Khabibulin will also be looking for a chance to redeem himself after a brutal play to end Saturday night's game. I really hope he can bring it together because if he can't we may be a tad bit screwed here guys...

Go Oilers Go!

Finally!!

Today it all begins. The season is fresh and new, and it's time that the Oilers get into the action.

The Calgary Flames will be entering Rexall Place tonight with a 1-0 record, thanks to the Vancouver Canucks, and I'm hoping to see that same record from the Oilers come about 10:30-11:00 tonight, which of course means that the Flames will then be 1-1.

Lines aren't posted yet, but I'm looking forward to seeing a few guys play:

The Comrie-O'Sullivan pairing - These guys seemed like they were dynamite in the preseason, and I hope to watch them continue dominating in the regular season.

Penner: I love this guy, and it sounds like a coaching change might have been just what this guy needed, because in the preseason games he played in he was easily one of the best guys on the ice.

The Kid line (or parts of it): While Nilsson for the most part was entirely disappointing in the preseason, he seemed to get a fire under him once the Kid line was reunited. While these guys are a legitimate option for a line, it's difficult to say whether they'll play due to lines that are already existing, and fitting other players in. Considering that we already have lines (presumably) of Horcoff centering Jacques and Hemsky, and Comrie centering O'Sullivan and Penner, where does the Kid line fit? The don't check, and they're not terrible good defensively. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out.

Ladislav Smid: His preseason wasn't the best, but I'm holding out hope that he's improved. I'm almost positive that this will be a good year for him, just like the last. However, I think that pairing him with Staios is a mistake of monumental proportions. Stop it Oilers, now.

I'm so excited!

Go Oilers Go!

I Can Taste It...

The hockey season is so close I can practically taste it. I'm unbearably excited for a new season despite the lack of change on the roster from last season. Here are a few things that I think will be interesting to see play out over the season:

The Return of Lubomir Visnovsky: I was really impressed with Lubo last season before his injury. I'm hoping that he can come back and continue to dominate like he was last season. I missed his breakout passes at the end of last season, and I'm pretty sure Ales Hemsky missed them too. Looking forward to seeing #71 back on the ice.

Is Penner The Player I Think He Is?: I have a lot of faith in Penner. It's a bit strange because there isn't much to go on as far as fuel for my belief, but I've always had a feeling that this guy was something more than what most seem to think he is. I've seen glimpses, and I'm hoping that Quinn will be a good motivator to get the player I think Penner is out of the player that Penner has been.

Will Ales Hemsky Step Up?: For several seasons past the question has always been, 'will Hemsky break out this year?' I don't think that's the question to ask this season. Phrase it a little different and I think the question that more accurately portrays what we're looking for from Hemsky is whether or not he will step up. This team is his for the taking, but if he doesn't grab it soon; Gagner isn't too far behind.

Will the Kids Start Out Right?: It seems like the kids; Gagner in particular, have an issue with starting the season off on the same foot that they left the last one on. Now, granted, the sample size for such an assumption is a small one, but if the Oilers are hoping to be successful with the same roster they had last year then the kids need to start the season right.

Will the Powerplay be Resurrected?: New personnel behind the bench will hopefully take the ugly system that we iced last year on the man advantage. Lack of diversity on our attack was almost sad to watch last year, and hopefully we won't be watching what will seem like reruns of last season.

There are others to think about, and I'll post my thoughts more as the season nears. One thing is for sure: I can hardly wait until the first preseason game this coming Tuesday.

P.S.: Nice job Esks. Way to blow your lead in the last minute of play.

It Seems Like Every Season...

Or should I say off-season?

Either way, there is this threshold that I have. It details just how long I can go without Oiler Hockey before I bloody well go crazy. Every season that we miss the playoffs this 'threshold' of mine seems to become shorter and shorter. This off-season is no different.

I've been running around the Oilers' blogging community brushing up on everyone's opinions, options, ideas, and general nattering about the team, and I've got to say that it isn't helping a whole lot. In fact, I'd say it's making it worse. I'va already begun watching old youtube highlites, checking out next season's schedule, and taking preliminary scrutinizing looks at our division rivals.

This is bad.

Why is this bad? Because this is exactly the kind of hype that lets me down more often than not. The Oilers haven't been a great team out of the gate for some time now, but year after year I get myself so worked up that I can hardly stand myself.

You know why that is? Because in actual reality my love for the game over-rides the Oilers' game when they're playing poorly. When they're playing well it's irrelevant, but boy does it help when the boys are dragging their butts in the mud.

I mean, let's be honest here: this offseason has not been exciting. Free Agency was a let down, and the only change we've made is swapping Roli for another aging goaltender in Khabibulin. The changes behind the bench? Yeah, it will be interesting to see how that plays out, but it wasn't exactly shocking, was it? We all had a feeling that MacT was on the out, and though Quinn and Renney were a bit of a surprise, they were both on the fan base's radar for a new coach.

Oh, and the Heatley thing. Kill me now.

There are rumblings about other possibilities, in say Kessel for example, but as this goes on it looks like we're going into TC with essentially the same team we left the season; minus a 35 and plus a 39.

I'm dying here. I need hockey. Two months? Hope I make it that far....


Okay, so that was a little over-dramatic, but you get the point.