Feb 28, 2009

Well Wishes



I have been really hard on you this season, and I mean everything I've said, but I would never wish anything even remotely similar to what may have occurred tonight on you or any player in the league.

I will be waking early tomorrow in hopes of hearing some good news, something like this: "It was a very close call, but it ended up being a shallow cut on the upper eyelid and there will be no long-lasting damage or effects."

My best wishes are with you.

Wild @ Oilers



I never thought I'd be saying this but I cannot wait for Grebeshkov to get back on the ice tonight. Mostly because we clearly need someone who can make a solid break-out pass, and apparently he and Visnovsky are the only two D-men we had who could make one.

And for the love of Hemsky could we please get some pucks on net? We can't blame Hemmer here because he is clearly not the only forward on the team, and that PP needs some work. I'm not even going to pretend to know what needs to be done, I don't coach a hockey team at the NHL level, nor do I think I ever will, but our powerplay needs to be a lot less predictable. Or at least that is what I think.

Pisani played in his first game back last game, and I don't think he looked that bad, and he'll only get better as he gets more NHL action so this is good news.

One thing though: why is it that hockey teams that are losing look infinitely better in the last two minutes of a game? Couldn't they play like that all the time? Wouldn't that be ideal? I'm sure there is a reason for it, but not being a hockey player myself I can't think of one.

As Always: Go Oilers Go!

Feb 26, 2009

A Look at the West : One Week Pre-Deadline

San Jose:
I said: 6-2-0
Thus far: 4-1-0

Pretty much on par with what I expected. I don't see them dropping off in production any time soon. Opponents remaining: Stars, Canadiens and the Senators, will win at least two of these games.

Detroit:
I said: 5-1-1
Thus far: 3-1-0

Again, the prediction here is looking pretty good. Will probably keep up their production. Opponents remaining: Kings, Blues and Predators, will win at least two of these games.

Calgary:
I said: 5-2-0
Thus far: 3-0-1

Predition is looking pretty good thus far. Opponents remaining: Wild, Lightning and Senators, will likely win at least one of these games.

Chicago:
I said: 5-2-0
Thus far: 3-2-0

Predicction is good providing they win their remaining games, that said I won't be upset if the prediction fails because they lost too many games. Opponents remaining: Penguins, Ducks and Kings, will likely win at least one of these games.

Dallas:
I said: 4-3-0
Thus far: 1-2-0

This prediction will likely be incorrect, in order for it to be good they would have to win 3 of their next four. Opponents remaining: Blues, Ducks, Penguins, Sharks, will likely win one or two of these games.

Edmonton:
I said: 4-3-0
Thus far: 1-2-1

This prediction could go either way. Opponents remaining: Blue Jackets, Wild and Predators, will hopefully win 2 of these games.

Columbus:
I said: 3-4-0
Thus far: 2-2-0

This predition looks pretty good thus far. Opponents remaining: Oilers, Canucks and Kings, will hopefully lose against us and only win one of the remaining two.

Vancouver:
I said: 3-4-0
Thus far: 3-1-0

This is clearly an underestimation of the strength of the Vancouver team. I wish I was right in the first prediction. Opponents remaining: Lightning, Blue Jackets and Wild, will likely win at least one of these games.

Anaheim:
I said: 2-5-0
Thus far: 2-2-0

Another underestimation on my part, I hope they tank their last three games before the deadline. Opponents remaining: Bruins, Stars and Blackhawks, could very well come away with an 0-3 record.

Minnesota:
I said: 2-5-0
Thus far: 2-0-2

Yet another underestimation. Minnesota has shown resilience this season, I wish they'd stop doing that. Opponents remaining: Flames, Oilers and Canucks, could definitely go 0-3.

LA:
I said: 2-6-0
Thus far: 2-3-0

Looks pretty good, but there will likely be more in the W column come March 4th. Opponents remaining: Red Wings, Blue Jackets and Blackhawks, very likely that they come away 0-3.

Nashville:
I said: 3-4-0
Thus far: 2-1-1

This prediction looks pretty good, will likely end up with more points that I originally thought they would. Opponents remaining: Coyotes, Red Wings and Oilers, will likely win 1 of these games.

St Louis:
I said: 2-5-0
Thus far: 2-1-1

This prediction could be incorrect, they've already reached my 'win' volume I gave them. Opponents remaining: Stars, Coyotes and Red Wings, could go 0-3, if they win one it will be against Phoenix.

Phoenix:
I said: 1-4-0
Thus far: 2-1-0

Already surpassed the win quotient, I still don't think they make the playoffs. Opponents remaining: Predators and Blues, could go 0-2.

Colorado:
I said: 3-3-0
Thus far: 2-2-0

This prediction looks pretty good, I don't know what happened to Colorado this season, but I do know that they are much better than they have been this season. Opponents remaining: Blackhawks and Blue Jackets, could definitely go 0-2 here.


Should be an interesting week, I sure hope the Oilers can pick up the production and win a few leading up to the deadline. We're in a better position right now this season then we were at the same point last season, so that is good news, but last season were only even considered for playoff contention was because of the awesome run we took through March.

I'd like another one of those please, Saint Christopher.

Columbus @ Edmonton



The Oilers play the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight in hopes of starting a winning streak. Columbus is a team that the Oilers are battling with for a playoff spot, and a win tonight would go a long way to helping the Oilers get a step on their competition.

I'm going to stop posting pictures of Hemsky for a while, I still love him, but it seems that my putting pictures up of him in my posts is some sort of jinx or something.

The Pittsburgh Penguins traded Ryan Whitney today to Anaheim for Chris Kunitz and a prospect I've never heard of. Overall I think this trade looks good from both teams' perspective, and that's good for them I suppose, but I don't know that I really want to be dealing with Ryan Whitney on Anaheim's already hard-to-penetrate defense. That said, weren't there rumors that Chris Pronger wanted out of Anaheim? What does this say about that rumor?

I'd like to see some moves from Edmonton, and I know that there will be some coming by 3 PM on the 4th of March, but who do we give up? Who do we go after? I've never been one to speculate on trades, but I do have a few players that I'd love to see in Oilers silks at some point in my life. Included in that list are: Antoine Vermette, Petr Sykora (again), Rick Nash (highly unlikely), and Chris Drury (also unlikely).

It will be most interesting to see what the organization decides to do come March 4th, there are a lot of questions that will be answered: What happens with Cole? Schremp? What do we do about our first line LW? How about a defensive centerman who can win faceoffs? Are we comfortable with our current Defense situation when Grebeshkov comes back into the picture? When is Pisani coming back? Are we going to try and place him into the lineup when he is healthy? Who is then pushed out? Reddox? So then what? Reddox goes back to the AHL? What do we do with J.F. Jaques?

A lot of questions indeed.

As Always: Go Oilers Go!

Feb 24, 2009

Lightning @ Oilers



The Oilers are in action tonight trying to right their path against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

There's just one problem: The Oilers are gradually acquiring a bunch of iron-made fashions and there is a gigantic magnetic field radiating from 13th place in the West.

Tampa is coming off of a win against Boston, which is a win that was probably hard-earned and made all of their fans feel great about their team. Kind of like the San Jose game, except Tampa didn't give their game away.

On the bright side it looks like Grebeshkov is healing faster than expected, and this can only be good news considering our Defense situation.

That said, Ladislav Smid has been playing some of the best hockey of his career these past few games and I like it. I like it a lot.

This is a game that the Oilers should technically win, but history tells us that this does not mean that the Oilers will win.

As always: Go Oilers Go!

Feb 20, 2009

Edmonton Vs. Calgary



The Edmonton Oilers are looking to get themselves back on track tonight in the BOA. Coming off of a two game losing streak the Oil will be hoping to pull out the two points tonight so that they can hold on to their current spot of eighth in the West, a loss tonight could mean falling out of a playoff position. But if the playoffs were to start tomorrow, and we were in eighth (or even seventh for that matter), we would have to face either San Jose or Detroit; our records this season are not good against either of these teams (1-2-0 against San Jose, 0-3-0 against Detroit).

Realistically the Oilers should probably try for a position higher than 7th if they want to get past the first round this season, unless the boys want to pull off another Cinderella run; which is okay with me.

Tonight they're up against the Calgary Flames, a team which is first in the division and third in the conference. Calgary has been playing some good hockey this season, as much as I don't want to say it, and the Oilers will have to show up good tonight if they want to come out of this with the two points.

I think that the next five or six games will give us a more clear idea of where the Oilers are going to be come April. The standings in the West are just beginning to show some seperation, and should the Oilers have their results take a turn for the worst they could find themselves out of the running for the post-season awfully fast.

But, the team isn't getting ahead of themselves, and I don't want to either. Thus, I will focus on tonight's game instead of those ahead, that is, until my "Week Pre-Deadline" Western Conference check-up.

As always: Go Oilers Go!

Feb 19, 2009

Oilers @ Stars



The Oilers are hoping to wake themselves up after falling asleep at the wheel Tuesday night against the top team in the Western Conference. A win tonight launches the Oilers, if only temporarily, into fifth place in the West if everything goes right. At the very least we move up to 7th.

I'm running out of interesting things to discuss in these things. I mean, the fact is that the Oilers really need to stop being such a tease. As a woman I don't have to deal with teases that often, in fact, hardly ever; but I know one when I see one and the Oilers are a tease. The worst part is that they've already drawn us all into some sort of one-sided long-term relationship.

If I was Dane Cook I'd say that this relationship is bordering on a 'relationshit'.

As always: Go Oilers Go!

Feb 17, 2009

A Look at the West : Two Weeks Pre-Deadline

I like to do this every once in a while to check up on the Western Conference and see what is going on and what I think will eventually be happening throughout a given period of time: in this case it will be the last two weeks before the trade deadline.

So let's get started.

In order of their placement in the West:

San Jose: 83 Pts, last ten: 4-2-4, Current Streak: Lost 3.
Games remaining before the deadline: 8
Opponents: Oilers, Kings, Thrashers, Stars, Red Wings, Senators, Canadiens, Stars

At this point with San Jose there is almost no chance that they don't make the playoffs, and I think that the whole league has pretty much come to terms with this fact. All I'll say about this is that I hope they can win against the Kings and the Stars, that would really help the Oilers out.
Ideal record for their next two weeks: at least 3-6-0, with the wins against the Stars (2X) and the Kings.
Likely record for the next two weeks: 6-2-1 or something similar. Hopefully one of those wins is not against us.
will be buyers or stand-pat at the deadline (if they need anything to begin with).

Detroit: 82 Pts, Last ten: 6-3-1, Current streak: Lost 2
Games remaining before the dealdline: 7 (8 including the deadline)
Opponents: Predators, Ducks, Wild, Sharks, Kings, Predators, Blues, (Avalanche)

This is another team that will not be missing out on the post-season this season. The Red Wings are also in a position to really help out the Oilers. All of their opponents in these next two weeks are teams that are teams that are fighting for the playoffs this season.
Ideal record for the following weeks: 7-0-0/8-0-0
Likely record for the nest weeks: 5-1-1/5-2-1 or something similar.
Will be buyers or stand pat at the deadline.

Calgary: 71 Pts, Last ten: 5-4-1. Current streak: won 2
Games remaining before the deadline: 7
Opponents: Canucks, Wild, Oilers, Blue Jackets, Wild, Lightning, Senators

The Flamers, as much as I don't want to admit it, will likely not be golfing early this summer. At the same time the Flames could really end up helping the Oilers out in the standings.
Ideal record: 6-1-0 with the loss coming to the Oilers.
Likely record: 5-2-0/5-1-1
Will be buyers at the deadline

Chicago: 70 Pts, Last ten: 6-4-0, Current streak: won 1
Games remaining before the deadline: 7
Opponents: Panthers, Stars, Wild, Predators, Penguins, Kings, Ducks

Will be making the playoffs this season. We can finally stop seeing that effing commercial with Kane 'crying' about how he was thirteen, or something like that, the last time the Blackhawks made the playoffs.
Ideal record: 4-3-0
likely record: 5-2-0
Will likely be buyers at the deadline

Dallas: 63 Pts, Last ten: 7-3-0, Current streak: won 1
Games remaining before the deadline: 7
Opponents: Oilers, Blackhawks, Sharks, Blues, Ducks, Penguins, Sharks

Are in the mix with about 6 or 7 other teams that all could drop out of the race at any time. Don't want them to do too well but there are a couple games I'd like them to win.
Ideal record: 2-5-0
Likely record: 4-3-0
The Stars will likely be buyers at the deadline

Edmonton: 62 Pts, Last ten: 5-4-1, Current streak: won 3
Games remaining before the deadline: 7
Opponents: Sharks, Stars, Flames, Lightning, Blue Jackets, Wild, Predators

In the interest of keeping this short I'm not going to say anything here.
Ideal record: 7-0-0
Likely record: 4-3-0/5-2-0
The Oilers will likely be buyers at the deadline

Vancouver: 62 Pts, Last ten: 5-2-3, Current streak: won 1
Games remaining before the deadline: 7
Opponents: Flames, Senators, Leafs, Canadiens, Lightning, Blue Jackets, Wild

This one of the many teams that the Oilers do not want to win games. Period.
Ideal record: 0-7-0
Likely record: 3-4-0
The Canucks will likely be buyers at the deadline

Columbus: 62 Pts, Last ten: 6-3-1, Current streak: lost 1
Games remaining before the deadline: 7
Opponents: Blues, Leafs, Ducks, Flames, Oilers, Canucks, Kings

Another team that the Oilers want to lose as much as possible.
Ideal record: 0-7-0
Likely record: 2-5-0/3-4-0
The Blue Jackets will likely be buyers at the deadline

Anaheim: 61 Pts, Last ten: 5-5, Current streak: lost 1
Games remaining before the deadline: 7
Opponents: Kings, Red Wings, Blue Jackets, Sabres, Bruins, Stars, Blackhawks

Barely on the outside looking in right now are the Ducks. The Oilers want them to fail, and they've got a hard couple of weeks coming up.
Ideal record: 0-7-0
Likely record: 2-5-0
The Ducks will likely be buyers at the deadline

Minnesota: 59 Pts, Last ten: 5-5-0, Current streak: lost 2
Games remaining before the deadline: 7
Opponents: Flames, Red Wings, Blackhawks, Kings, Flames, Oilers, Canucks

A bit out of character for Minnesota to be in this position at this point in the game. The Oilers want them to lose as much as possible, and their weeks ahead are quite tough.
Ideal record: 0-7-0
Likely record: 2-5-0
At this point the Minnesota Wild are likely buyers

LA: 57 Pts, Last ten: 6-2-2, Current streak: lost 3
Games remaining before the deadline: 8
Opponents: Ducks, Sharks, Coyotes, Wild, Flyers, Red Wings, Blackhawks, Blue Jackets

One of the hottest teams in the league right now, ideally the Kings will begin to choke, and by the look of their current streak that may be what's happening.
Ideal record: 0-8-0
Likely record: 2-6-0
Right now the Kings are likely buyers but I think that will change.

Nashville: 57 Pts, Last ten: 6-4-0, Current streak:lost 1
Games remaining before the deadline: 7
Opponents: Red Wings, Blues, Blues, Blackhawks, Coyotes, Red Wings, Oilers

LOSE LOSE LOSE!!
Ideal record: 0-7-0
Likely record: 3-4-0
At this point the Predators are reserving judgement on whether to be buyers or sellers I think, at this point I think they're buyers.

St Louis: 55 Pts, Last ten: 5-2-3, Current streak: won 2
Games remaining before the deadline: 7
Opponents: Blue Jackets, Predators, Predators, Coyotes, Stars, Coyotes, Red WIngs

LOSE!!!!!
Ideal record: 0-7-0
Likely record: 1-6-0/2-5-0
The Blues are likely standing pat right now, I think they'll stay that way.

Phoenix: 55 Pts, Last ten: 1-9-0, Current streak: lost 3
Games remaining before the deadline: 5
Opponents: Thrashers, Kings, Blues, Predators, Blues

Fail.
Ideal record: 0-5-0
Likely record: 1-4-0
At this point Phoenix is standing pat.

Colorado: 53 Pts, Last ten: 3-7-0, Current streak: won 1
Games remaining before the deadline: 7 (8 including the deadline)
Opponents: Senators, Capitals, Hurricanes, Thrashers, Devils, Rangers, Islanders, Red Wings

Ideal record: 0-7-0/0-8-0
Likely record: 3-4-0/3-5-0
Colorado will likely be standing pat come the deadline.

If all of this occurs the standings don't change that much and would be as follows:

San Jose: 96 Pts
Detroit: 93 Pts
Calgary: 82 Pts
Chicago: 80 Pts
Dallas: 71 Pts
Edmonton: 70 Pts
Vancouver: 68 Pts
Columbus: 68 Pts
Anaheim: 65 Pts
Minnesota: 63 Pts
Nashville: 63 Pts
LA: 61 Pts
St Louis: 59 Pts
Colorado: 59 Pts
Phoenix: 57 Pts

I guess we'll have to wait and see what actually happens.

Oilers @ Sharks



The Oilers finish off their back-to-back set in San Jose this evening. The game is on PPV, and I will likely be making that purchase, despite the odds being in San Jose's favor tonight. The boys looked real fired up following last night's game, and I have a feeling that we'll at least give an admirable effort in against the Sharks.

Ladislav Smid was a beast last game. He's really doing well with the extra time and responsibilities given to him in Grebeshkov's and Lubomir's collective absence. I really appreciate his aggressive flair.

I also want to mention, albeit really late, that although Sammy may have lost the fight against Johnson I thought he did really well relative to the size difference.

P.S.: I really like the hopping huddle following the game. Do that more.

Feb 16, 2009

Oilers @ Coyotes



FYI: The picture today is of Hemsky because I love him. Plus he does well versus Phoenix: in 2 games played this year: 2-2-4, with a 40% SH%. Lifetime: 21 games played: 6-19-25 with a 17.1% SH%.

The Oilers are in action tonight in the first half of a back to back. Seeing as tomorrow night's game is versus the Sharks we better win this one, our chances of winning tomorrow are less than respectable.


Here's a crazy stat: according to Oilers.NHL.com the Oilers are 1-8-1-0 all-time on February 16th.

Yeah, I thought it was a weird stat to bring up too.

The Coyotes are coming off of a 7-5 loss to the Calgary Flames on Saturday, the same day that the Oilers managed to squeak out a win in the SO with Sam Gagner scoring the winner and Nilsson finishing it off with some type of almost-messed-up-Forsberg move. If the Oilers want to win tonight they're going to have to eliminate that brutal second period from their game schedule - seriously, can't this team do anything the easy way?

We also need to continue to find that first-period motivation. I'm tired of watching the team come out with no fire in the first and then trying to catch up all ending with a last minute scramble for a goal where Gilbert or Souray misses the open net after Horcoff/Penner/Moreau crashes the net moving the 'tender out of position and ultimately we lose the game.



Why can't we put on our 'rally' hats and mount our 'comeback horses' while it's still 0-0? Maybe we need to rename the horses... How about the 'three-goal-lead- horses? Yeah, that sounds good, I think we should maybe wear our 'plaster-everything-that-moves-to-the-boards' hats while we ride the 'three-goal-lead' horses too.

As always: Go Oilers Go!

Feb 14, 2009

Oilers @ Kings



The Oilers are lacing up this afternoon against the Los Angeles Kings. Following a decisive 7-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday Oil Country was notified that we would be out yet another defensemen for at least two weeks. Grebeshkov took a slew foot from Plekanec and has gone out with a high-ankle sprain.

Just what the team needs.

Peckham has been recalled and it should be rather interesting to see the D combinations that MacT and Huddy put together. Here's hoping every one can gel on the back end and the team can pull out another win, preferably like the one on Wednesday.

I won't be able to watch the majority of the game, my choral group has a performance that starts at 2:30 or something so I'll be checking updates whenever possible on my phone, and then listening to the radio as I frantically try to make it back to catch the last few minutes of the third period.

As always: Go Oilers Go!

Feb 11, 2009

Jagr, Bald Heads, and the Habs.



Oh no... Not this again.

Rumors are circulating around Oil Country that there are deals in the works to somehow bring Jarmir Jagr back to the NHL... On the Oilers.

Yesterday David Staples wrote this article about Jagr not only possibly signing with the Oilers but being close to doing so. Most people have brought up the idea that Jagr has to pass through waivers, which of course is true, while I don't remember this happening this has occurred before with Wade Dubielewicz and the Islanders; Columbus picked him up.

The Oilers' Organization has repeatedly denied the claims, Lowe came back with this reply basically stating that if Jagr is to play for the Oilers then it won't be this season.

One more piece in what I'm going to call 'The Jagr Series,' (because it's more dramatic this way) was written this morning entitled So Should The Oilers Even Want Jagr... What a stupid question.

Enough about this.



Ales Hemsky and Ethan Moreau are now bald after participating in the Valentine's Hair Massacure. Good on the boys for showing support for an excellent cause. Pictures are available on the Oilers Website and a short video available here (Under Health Matters - Hockey Hair).



The Montreal Canadiens are in town tonight, and if you want to see the game legally you'll have to pay for it on PPV.

Things of note for this game:
-Lubomir Visnovsky is out for the rest of the season and thusly will not play tonight.
-Peckham has been returned to Springfield and that means that Strudwick will likely be playing back on D.
-Despite the last two games being losses Nilsson and Gagner have been playing pretty well, I will look to see a continuation of that trend tonight.
-The Oilers are on a two game losing streak. They're in tough tonight against a great team to get back on track.
-Both Horcoff and Gilbert suit up tonight, it will be nice to have the luxury of Horcoff's defensive reliability. I think we really missed that in our games without him.

As always: Go Oilers Go!

Feb 10, 2009

Lubo: Out for the Season.




First: let me mention how close I am to crying this morning.

About half an hour ago I received a TSN Breaking-News Alert telling me that Visnovsky will be out for the remainder of the season because of his needing and intending-to-have shoulder surgery following a dislocation that he suffered in a loss to the Chicago Blackhawks.

This, I suppose, will mean that Peckham will be remaining up with the club for the rest of the season. That is, unless MacT decides that he's not impressed with Peckham's performance, in which case Strudwick will be moved back on D and either Reddox will play a whole lot more often and/or someone like Brule or Schremp gets the call. Of course if Gilbert has a remission on his back-spasms this would mean that both Strudwick and Peckham would play on D.

I'll have to watch Peckham a bit more before I decide what I would like to see done; not that it truly matters what I think is best anyway.

Edit: Looks like they've already sent Peckham down. This shall be interesting.

Feb 9, 2009

New Layout!

So I'm kind of proud of it, drew it myself the old fashioned way.

By hand.

I have yet to purchase a graphics tablet, I'm not sure if I'd even use it if I bought one, for now this is the way I shall do things.

Boredom has its fruits.

Feb 8, 2009

Edmonton @ Minnesota



The Oilers play the second half of a back-to-back that has started off with another rout-type loss. Hopefully the Oilers can come out with a better effort this afternoon, I didn't watch the game yesterday but I did listen to it, and if the team was half as bad as the radio was making it seem the Oilers are not in good shape. Our PK is inept, our PP is inert and our even-strength scoring is non-existant.

In short: we need to be better. 5 goals allowed in one period is not okay for any team, let alone one that was talking about the possibility of a division title before the season started.

The Oilers are in tough tonight as they're in Minnesota, a building where the Oilers perpetually play badly, to try and get back on track. Someone needs to find a way to get this team to show up in the first period, enough of this 'come-back' sh--. I want a decisive win.

Ales... Please?

Feb 7, 2009

Oilers @ Red Wings



The Oilers are back in action this afternoon in the first half of their back-to-back set. There is speculation as to who is starting in net this afternoon, I fully expect Roloson to be between the pipes and JDD to be put in net tomorrow night. I just don't see them throwing JDD to the wolves, I don't think he has the experience to handle that at this point in his career.

Horcoff is likely out and so is Gilbert. To be honest I have been less-than impressed with Gilbert's game lately, he has just seemed less reliable than usual but perhaps that's just me. Horcoff, on the other hand, is a player I am almost positive that the Oilers are going to feel the pain of losing this afternoon. He's the team leader in face-offs taken and FO%, and having him out will likely be a less-than pleasant experience.

In Gilbert's absence Pekham has been called up and word is that he's been slated into the second D pairing. I really hope that in light of this Smid gets a chance on a pairing higher than the third, I think it's time to see if he can handle a higher pairing; I think he can.

The Red Wings ended a five game losing streak with a 5-4 win over the Phoenix Coyotes this past Wednesday, they'll be looking to build a win streak with a win tonight.

The Oilers won their last game 2-1 in a SO over St. Louis, they will also be looking to start a win streak to get back into the mix of the playoffs.

Feb 5, 2009

Edmonton @ St. Louis





The Oilers start their road-trip tonight in St. Louis, and this all starts off with some rather grave news.

Lubomir Visnovsky had an MRI and now he's not playing in tonight's game. This means that Jason Strudwick gets moved back on the defense... Okay, this is okay... This will be alright. Right? RIGHT?!

Calm it down... Calm it down...

Alright, well this means that there will be some shuffling on the back end, here's my suggestion:

Souray - Smid
Grebeshkov - Gilbert
Staois - Strudwick

I know. Smid on the first D pairing? Yes, I think that Souray is the kind of player that Ladislav could become within the next year or two; and if we want this to happen, which I clearly do, he needs to play with him and learn from him.

Penner apparently has been moved back up to the first line, which is completely fine with me. Nilsson is practically useless any way, and Penner at least makes some room for Hemsky when he's playing well; Nilsson is a turnover machine and he's weak on the back-check. Hemsky may turn over the puck a lot but his offensive upside far outweighs his defensive liability. Speaking of which I've seen a lot more defensive responsibility from Hemsky lately, and so long as it doesn't interfere with his offense I have no objections. Potulny is down on to the fourth line, which I personally think is kind of ridiculous because I think he plays with a lot of effort night in and night out, and this is something we could use. Reddox plays on the third line, which I suppose is okay; I want him to run around and check everything that moves. Everything.

I think the Oilers will win tonight. Provided they put in a full effort I think they come away with this one; we need to stay out of the penalty box, because their powerplay is not something we want to play with.

Feb 3, 2009

Chicago @ Edmonton



I didn't make one of these for last game. Probably because I was working and didn't have time because my new supervisor doesn't allow for a lot of free time for things like this. Any way, the Chicago Blackhawks are in town and the Oilers need to get back on track, a win tonight would help them to do just that.

Personally I feel like the atmosphere change around the club is palpable; even through the television. There is something incredibly wrong going on behind closed doors, and I think that the consequences we're beginning to see are just the beginning; the frostbite before gangrene if you will.

Penner seems to be a sore spot for our current coach, and personally I think MacT needs to stop trying to place the blame on the players. When one player is under-performing perhaps it is the player; when an entire team is playing sub-par the coaching staff has to be called into question. Things need to be dealt with, preferably before limbs start rotting.

Gagner is supposed to play tonight where he will be reunited with Cole. Meanwhile Nilsson is bumped up to the first line to play with Hemsky and Horcoff. I am not a fan of Nilsson, I think he is lazy; yet one good play on his part seems to be good enough reason to play on the first line. Last game I thought that he was brutal to watch, save for the play that lead to the goal, and I think this is a line-up change that the coach will probably regret.

In the end I hope the Oilers win, of course. I'd also like to see Hemsky get things going again, I love it when he's on his game: which lately seems to be more often than not.