Nov 26, 2008

Roloson Starts Tonight.

What the H-E-DOUBLE HOCKEY-STICKS is going on here?!?

What happened to the 'whoever is winning plays'? Or even, 'whoever is playing well plays'?

I don't know what the EFF is going on, but I am quickly loosing faith in the coaching staff of the Oilers. Roloson is NOT winning and he is NOT playing well. Everytime I see his bloody five-hole I wanna puke; stop holding on to the idea that playoff Roli is back, he is not back: end of story. Roloson has not been able to put a consistent streak of games together for the past two years: he plays well, he plays really well... And then? He tanks. I'm not talking he plays a marginal game here, I'm talking plays like a forty-year-old goaltender, who in my opinion is well past his prime, which would be fine (that's what he is) if we weren't seemingly relying on him for this team to succeed.

We need to play Garon, or at the very least JDD. Roli is not the future, and I hope to H*** that he is not here next year. All I hear about in the media right now is that as a team we are not living up to our potential, but we also are not giving ourselves the best opportunity to win: this season and in the seasons to follow. JDD needs to play more, and Garon needs to play.

I want the Oilers to win tonight, but I want Roli out of the net more... If it takes a game where he tanks completely to get him out then so be it.

Oilers Vs Kings

The Oilers are back on the ice after almost a week-long layoff, and here's hoping the days off have been used wisely. This team has yet to live up to its potential, but I feel as though the Oil are close to a break-through.

We play the L.A. Kings tonight, a team that was decimated by the Flames 6-2 last night. All things considered the Oil should play well against the Kings, but the Kings are only one spot lower than the Oil in the conference standings. This means that if the Oilers decide that they are going to come out with the same lack-lustre first period or two performance they have made a habit of the past few games it will come back to bite us; not that we've been getting away with it with other teams either.

On another note tonight is the first return of Jarret Stoll and Matt Greene. I can't say I've been paying attention to their play in L.A. but it will be nice to see them on the ice tonight.

See you after the game,

Go Oilers Go!

Nov 20, 2008

Oil Vs Wings: Post-Game Thoughts

Disclaimer: I did not watch the game. I did, however, listen to it in its entirety. These views are based mostly on Ched's commentary and a few comments from the OMB.

The Oilers fell down early, and they fell down hard. The velocity of a penny dropped from the CN Tower hard. It sounded as if the first of the three goals allowed by the Oilers in the first maybe could have been on Roli's shoulders, the other two were screened powerplay tip-ins. Roli was pulled in favour of the goaltender who I think should have got the start to begin with, and I sure hope this means that he will get the start in the next one.

So, Roli lets in 3 of 10 and Garon comes in to give the team a chance, letting in 1 of 25. Now, I am not one who usually blames the game on a certain species of official that is black and white, and in the "Great Magoo's" case red all over; however, it is hard to ignore the calls in the first, you know, the ones the ref's on the ice managed to ignore.

Souray was a beast on the ice tonight, again. The man is living up to his contract BIG time. I'm loving him more and more each game he plays, each shift he has.

I think I heard it mentioned in passing that Ladislav may have been injured again. Something about a jammed wrist? If this is so I will be very sad.

In short, for a team that was down by three goals for the majority of the game we played pretty well. Looking forward to next game, maybe I'll watch that one... In 6 days.

Oilers Vs Detroit

The Oilers are on Rexall ice tonight versus the team that schooled them in a 4-0 Oiler loss on Monday.

It is not yet known who will start in net tonight, but it is likely that Roli gets the start. I'm not saying that I don't want Garon to start, because it's painfully obvious from my last couple posts that I really do; but Roli had an excellent game versus Columbus so it is probable that he will start with MacT's current goalie-rotating philosophy.

There seem to be some murmurs around that are saying Laddi starts on the wing tonight, which scratches Stortini and Boulerice. It'll be interesting to see how this works out, I think MacT just wants some size up on the wing, but I'll be hoping for a successful game for Ladislav. Mostly because he's my favourite.

If we have any hope of winning tonight the offense will have to be ready and rearin' to go. No one wins a game when they don't score.

Also, stay out of the bleedin' penalty box boys, their PP rate is over 30%, which is ridiculously high. We don't want to tempt fate tonight.

I won't be watching tonight, I'll be at work, but I will definitely be listening, although Laddi on the wing is almost worth buying the last period and a half or so. Here's hoping for an Oiler's win!

Nov 18, 2008

Who Woulda Thunk It?

The Oilers won tonights game with goals to spare; not something Oiler fans have been accustomed to thus far in the season; what with most of our games involving the team holding on for dear life and crossing their fingers that the buzzer sounds before the last tally of the previous two goal lead is equaled.

Credit where credit is due and Roli played well tonight, not amazing, but well. I still think Garon should get a few starts, but maybe that's just me.

Pouliot scores one tonight, for the first time this season. His hard work tonight really shone through and he created chances by moving his feet. Not too many chances though ; )

Penner had a monster of a game comparatively speaking. He hit players, he used his big body and he even scored a goal; one that I definitely did not expect to find its way into the net. He was also put back on the powerplay and raised to the second line with Cogs and Gagner.

Speaking of guys who had big games, Cogs was absolutely delicious. He was moving his feet all night using all of that highly-tauted speed to catch Columbus off gaurd. He even had a nice deflection on his goal that put the Oilers up 2-0.

All in all it was a good game with few things to be negative about; the question is: can we keep this level of play up consistently?

Only time will tell.

Oilers at Columbus

So the Oilers are back in action for their umpteenth back to back set on the road versus a somewhat hot Columbus team that definitely has the personnel to come out and give us a good old fashioned beat down.

Some quick things to point out:

Pisani is out with a broken ankle, so that means that Penner is in.  I thought it was a pretty bogus move by MacT to call the guy out and not let him play directly following the comments, almost like punching a guy when he's being held down.  I hope Penner comes out tonight and plays like the monster he was at the beginning of the season, when every thing was roses and daisies.

Word is Roli is starting again, I think I made it perfectly clear who I thought should be starting the game tonight in my last post so I won't reiterate it here.  MacT give your head a shake, that's all I'm saying.

Looks like the kid Reddox will be playing again, as he damn well should.  The kid has been playing his ever loving ass off for this team since he got the opportunity to play a couple games ago, and when no one else is playing with intensity it's nice to see someone have some emotion in their game.  Play on Reddox, play on.

I think it is entirely possible that we come out of tonight with another in the L column, but if we can bring a good work ethic to the game and some good morale (which I'm sure is rare these days) we may be able to make a game of it with a few punishing, clean, but punishing hits.

Preferably on Torres.

Nov 17, 2008

Here's My Issue.

And as much as I hate to say it, it definitely involves MacT.

For the most part I have not been one of the many fans who rag on MacT every time we lose a game, make a stupid play or take a stupid penalty; but simply cannot stomach his decisions of late.

1. What the H-E-double-hockey sticks was he thinking with his comments against Nilsson and Penner?  I'll start with my issue with the Nilsson comments: Bobby is not even close to being the only player to go 5-7 games in-between goals/points.  If you are going to call one player out on the fact that he seems to be a bit inconsistent then you have to call them all out, and lets be honest here: its the whole damn team that's inconsistent.  My issues with the Penner comments are various.  Most of my problem is with the manner in which MacT chose to call Dustin out.  Comments including: he's just never been in the shape to help the team, that Penner viewed his contract as a finish line, and once again inconsistency comes up.  If I'm not mistaken the first one or two games of the season where we won?  They were a direct result of Dustin's play.  The whole contract finish line thing is just ridiculous, the fact is that Dustin wasn't the player that the Oilers wanted him to be in Anaheim; so if he wasn't that player then, why is it that we decided to pay him 4 and a quarter?  Take a chance on a kid who was not drafted and had a good year playing on a stacked Anaheim team?  If we're pointing fingers here Craig then we need to point a few more.  One needs to go towards Kevin for signing him, and I'm not saying that I can't understand why we signed him, we were in need of a big move and we thought this was it. And one needs to be turned around and pointed at yourself: Penner lead the team in PP goals last season and he played on the first line.  Penner has been yanked from the first line down onto a checking third line in favour of Cole (and that's from the beginning of the season), and he gets comparatively miniscule time on the PP if any also in favour of putting Cole on the PP.  If you're going to rag on a guy for being inconsistent, perhaps you should look at the difference in the way he's been used all season.  The Oilers didn't sign him to be a defensive guy, okay but maybe he shouldn't play on the checking line then; just saying.

2.  Why the F--- has Garon not been playing?  Isn't he supposed to be our starter?  Why are we rolling three goalies?  That didn't work out too well for us last time if I recall correctly.  Garon hasn't played since the 6th of November, there were at least 5 games in between his last three.  Roli has not been that good, JDD has played well but lets be honest with ourselves: the kid is not our #1 guy this season.  Play Garon MacT, use your head, but that may require for you to pull it out of a certain place first.

3. Pouliot.  I hate to rag on one player, but I was at the game when Toronto was in town and this kid got completely schooled all night.  So MacT benches Brodziak, calls out Penner and what happens to Pouliot?  He gets put on the Powerplay.  In fact in the game against Colorado on Saturday he was given a shot in the shootout.  What the F--- are you thinking MacT?  This kid is a fourth-line grinder at best, and you are not getting anything better from him any time soon, so he gets a SO chance before Cogliano?  Cole?  Horc?  I noticed at least three or four instances where the play completely DIED when the puck was given to MAP, so why is he on the powerplay if the play dies with him so often?  Speaking of lack of scoring MacT, as of today hasn't it been something like 23 games since Pouliot has scored?  Selective memory I guess.

/END RANT