Thursday, April 26, 2012

Round #2 NHL Playoffs 2012



2nd Round
Western Conference:
(2) St. Louis Blues vs. (8) Los Angelas Kings
Prediction: Blues in 6
(3) Phoenix Coyotes vs. (4) Nashville Predators
Prediction: Coyotes in 7

Eastern Conference:
(1) New York Rangers vs. (7) Washington Capitals
Prediction: Rangers in 5
(5) Philadelphia Flyers vs. (6) New Jersey Devils
Prediction: Flyers in 5

1st Round
Western Conference:
(1) Vancouver Canucks vs. (8) Los Angelas Kings
Prediction: Kings in 6
Actual: Kings in 5
(2) St. Louis Blues vs. (7) San Jose Sharks
Prediction: Blues in 5
Actual: Blues in 5
(3) Phoenix Coyotes vs (6) Chicago Black Hawks
Prediction: Coyotes in 7
Actual: Coyotes in 6
(4) Nashville Predators vs. (5) Detroit Red Wings
Prediction: Red Wings in 6
Actual: Predators in 5

Eastern Conference:
(1) New York Rangers vs. (8) Ottawa Senators
Prediction: Rangers in 5
Actual: Rangers in 7
(2) Boston Bruins vs. (7) Washington Capitals
Prediction: Bruins in 5
Actual: Capitals in 7
(3) Florida Panthers vs. (6) New Jersey Devils
Prediction: Panthers in 7
Actual: Devils in 7
(4) Pitsburgh Penguins vs. (5) Philadelphia Flyers
Prediction: Flyers in 7
Actual: Flyers in 6

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Fresh Off Another Big Lottery Win



Welp, the Oilers won themselves another lottery and for the third straight year, get the pleasure and the privilege of drafting first overall. It seems that 99.8% of Oilers fans tell us that drafting Nail Yakupov would be the smart and right thing to do and if we don't, we will end being a bunch of dolts and burn in effigy. Drafting the best player isn't creative nor is it always the right move. If that was the case, then Team Canada would just take the 20 highest scorers and let them go play. There is so much more that goes into building a team than goals and points.

Let's have a look at the depth chart as it stands with the addition of Yakupov:

Hall-NugentHopkins-Eberle
Yakupov-Gagner-Hemsky
Smyth-Horcoff-Jones
Paajarvi-Lander-Eager
Belanger Hartikainen

Smid-Petry
Whitney-Schultz
Sutton-Potter
Peckham

Dubnyk
Khabibulin

The good news is the Yakupov has a spot that you can plug and play him in even though he is put into a power forward slot. He's a sparkplug and can play the role but doesn't have a imposing frame. He played on his off wing on the right side in Sarnia, meaning he will have to shift over to the more conventional left side, meaning he will be an up and down winger. Its either that or you put Yakupov on the RW, move Eberle to LW and have Hall play on the 2nd line where Hall will have little impact with Gagner and Hemsky. Yakupov has a lot of the same skill set Taylor Hall does, not that it is a bad thing but with so many other holes on the team, the expected improvements of the team will be severely limited.

The bigger problem lies in the rest of the team:

-The centers are littered with question marks. RNH is a first line offensive center, but now the question is how the other 3 C's lineup behind him. Horcoff is coming off a dreadful year where he got eaten alive playing the toughs. It would be a happy day of the Oilers could get out from under that contract, but since he and the owner are tight, I don't see him going anywhere, in which case he'll get the toughs again next year, at least until Anton Lander can take over that spot. Sam Gagner had some progress this year transitioning to a shooting 2-way C from a playmaking C but still has a ways to go and I wouldn't feel comfortable having him play the toughs. There isn't much upside in Eric Belanger's game to have him be much more than a part time player. A Jarret Stoll is badly needed back on this group. To help play the toughs, give Hemsky a shooter to work with, a RH shooter on the point so we don't have to waste a spot on Corey Potter. Stoll would be a swiss army knife that the Oilers so badly need.

- The wingers, in large part, lack strength. A Jordin Tootoo, an Adam Burish, a David Moss, a David Jones, would all help out here, and be an upgrade on an aging Ryan Smyth, whether he wants to be back or not. Considering the Oilers have no desire in trading, Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, and now Nail Yakupov, to go along with Ales Hemsky getting a new, shiny, contract extension, there is very little wiggle room for the Oilers to work with. The Oilers don't do a good enough job of burning the other team's energy quotient, which is the reason they have a heckuva time coming back in hockey games. If they had harder nosed wingers, that would make the kids' stars shine even brighter.

- The defense is a mess, we all know it. Just not enough mobility or offensive acumen from this group. To go with the fact that they don't defend that well either, makes this group rather porous. If the centers were better, they could mask this group's weaknesses a little better. While I think drafting a Dman isn't the answer to immediately solving the woes on the backend, they do need to overhaul this batch. They need to look under every rock to find a piece they need. If Taylor Fedun makes a full recovery, he could be a player that could have a big impact on this team. A healthy Fedun and a Justin Schultz signing and the Oilers could be in business back there.

- Goaltending. If there is one player I could say to go play elsewhere, its Nikolai Khabibulin. Devan Dubnyk played well enough down the stretch to deserve one of the spots. But the other spot should go to someone that is at least as good as Dubnyk if not better and then have them battle it out for goaltending supremacy. Josh Harding would be a good fit as long as the money and term are right.

So the idea of to Yakupov or not to Yakupov, is still very much up in the air for me. The Oilers would be better served in drafting a pure center. And all of this talk of putting Taylor Hall or Magnus Paajarvi at C? Shush. Thats like taking a mint porche and trading it in for a brokedown family sedan. Let those two fly off the wings. If you want a center bad enough, draft Mikhail Grigorenko.

Remember in the early '90s when every was ridculing the Nordiques for how bad they were? The Oilers have entered that territory.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Round # 1 NHL Playoffs 2012




Western Conference:

(1) Vancouver Canucks vs. (8) Los Angeles Kings
Prediction: Kings in 6

(2) St. Louis Blues vs. (7) San Jose Sharks
Prediction: Blues in 5

(3) Phoenix Coyotes vs (6) Chicago Black Hawks
Prediction: Coyotes in 7

(4) Nashville Predators vs. (5) Detroit Red Wings
Prediction: Red Wings in 6


Eastern Conference:

(1) New York Rangers vs. (8) Ottawa Senators
Prediction: Rangers in 5

(2) Boston Bruins vs. (7) Washington Capitals
Prediction: Bruins in 5

(3) Florida Panthers vs. (6) New Jersey Devils
Prediction: Panthers in 7

(4) Pitsburgh Penguins vs. (5) Philadelphia Flyers
Prediction: Flyers in 7

Lottery Draft 2012

So now that it is official that the Edmonton Oilers have won the Lottery Draft and they will pick 1st overall for the third straight year I begin to wonder what they do with that pick.

Nail Yakupov seems to be a slam dunk as the first overall pick, but I wonder if it is the best choice for the Oilers going forward. Being 5.11" and 190lb he isn't exactly the largest player to put on the skates. He is a dynamic player but do the Oilers need another small forward? If they are going to take that pick are they going to have the kahunas to let him season for a few seasons before they bring him up to the big show or are they going to make a decision on another of their small forwards and move someone to make room?

Nail Yakupov profile

Currently on the right wing there is Eberle, Hemsky, Smyth, and Eager. Considering they recently signed Hemsky and Eberle isn't going anywhere anytime soon, there is only room on the third or fourth line for him. I would think that Smyth can be replaced and even Eager can be moved if a player of similar size and strength is put in his place, so really the only spot available to him is on the third line in replace of Smyth. I don't know what the defensive capability of Yakupov is, but I doubt that he will be able to step into the big show as a rookie and fill that role. I am all for moving Hemsky and addressing other holes in the lineup, but I don't think Tambellini has the ability to pull that trigger.

This doesnt take into account the talent that should be coming up through the system soon. MPS is the first that pops into my mind. Tyler Pitlick is also on that list. So are the Oilers going to give up on these two (at least) by making a decision to take Yakapov at the draft?

I personally think that the Oilers might do well by trading that pick and getting a proven player that they can use today rather than taking a gamble on another smaller player and "hoping" that all the hoarding pays off.

There are some hard decisions for the Oilers to make, and yet again I cringe when I think that Tambo might still be at the helm to make those choices. My guess is there are no moves whatsoever and they take Yakupov. No plan involved, just follow the idea that you "take the best player available" and unless there is a plan going forward to address the rest of the issues that mentality is just a waste of another year...


oh well, I guess we will see what happens.

until next time.

Monday, April 9, 2012

And The Winners Are.....2012

My predictions for awards for 2012.

HART TROPHY:

1) EVGENI MALKIN, PIT
2) Steven Stamkos, TB
3) Claude Giroux, Phi

NORRIS TROPHY:

1) ERIK KARLSSON, OTT
2) Zdeno Chara, Bos
3) Alex Pietrangelo, Stl

VEZINA TROPHY:

1) HENRIK LUNDQVIST, NYR
2) Jonathan Quick, La
3) Mike Smith, Phx

SELKE TROPHY:

1) PATRICE BERGERON, BOS
2) Patrick Sharp, Chi
3) Carl Hagelin, Nyr

CALDER TROPHY:

1) GABRIEL LANDESKOG, COL
2) Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Edm
3) Adam Henrique, Nj

LADY BYNG TROPHY:

1) JORDAN EBERLE, EDM
2) Loui Eriksson, Dal
3) Jason Pominville, Buf

JACK ADAMS TROPHY:

1) KEN HITCHCOCK, STL
2) Dave Tippett, Phx
3) John Torterella, Nyr


EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR:

1) DALE TALLON,, FLA
2) Mike Gillis, Van
3) Glen Sather, Nyr

Sunday, April 8, 2012

The Oilers Year In Review 2012



Grading:
A = Spectacular Season
B = Surpassed Expectation
C = Met Expectation
D = Below Expectation
F = Miserable Season
NG = No Grade

1. Taylor Hall - Prediction - Will lead the team in goals. WRONG IDIOT Taylor Hall was 2nd in goals with 27 while Jordan Eberle led the team with 34. Hall's season was spattered with injury as he only got into 61 games, but with season ending shoulder surgery and the beginning of next season in doubt, it has put his stardom on hold for the time being.
Grade:B POTG:5 GOTG:1

2. Jordan Eberle - Prediction - Will score 25+ goals. RIGHT GENIUS Jordan Eberle ended the season with 34 goals, led the team in goals, assists and points. For my money, the teams MVP. Eberle has really taken a step forward in his development this year and the sky is the limit for him.
Grade:A POTG:9 GOTG:3

3. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - Prediction - Will not get more than 30 points on the Oilers. WRONG IDIOT The Nuge ended up 3rd in scoring on the Oilers and ended up with 52 points on the season. A solid rookie campaign that will at least get him nominated for the Calder Trophy. Sky's the limit for this kid. Solidifed himself as the 1st line center going forward.
Grade:A POTG:4 GOTG:0

4. Ryan Smyth - Prediction - Will score 20+ goals. WRONG IDIOT Smyth ended the season at 19. When it looked incredibly likely Smyth would hit the 20g mark, he faded badly down the stretch, as if we watched him age before our eyes. What seemed like a slam dunk that he would be back next year is now in question. I still think he will be back next season because the market on LW on the UFA front is pretty slim. Smyth was the only Oiler to play in all 82 games.
Grade:C POTG:5 GOTG:2

5. Sam Gagner - Prediction - Leads team in assists. WRONG IDIOT Ended 3rd in assists on the Oilers with 29. Gagner had a very up and down year. Had an 8 point night in February but had himself a very inconsistant season. Ended up leading the team in plus/minus with a +5 rating along with Andy Sutton. I have a feeling Sam Gagner will be moved in the offseason.
Grade:B POTG:9 GOTG:7

6. Shawn Horcoff - Prediction - Will be a plus player. (+/-) WRONG IDIOT Horcoff ended up a team worst -23. Had himself a very subtle, bad year. Only showed up as GOTG once, but didn't do nearly enough to help this team win hockey games. The failures of the team lie on Horcoff's inability to break even playing the toughs at even strength. A tough season for Horcoff and the team is left wondering how to deal with him and his contract. Questionable leadership abilities also factor into the grade.
Grade:F POTG:3 POTG:1

7. Magnus Paajarvi - Prediction - Will play 82 games. WRONG IDIOT Paajarvi managed to only get into 41 games this season. part of it spent in OKC, others in the pressbox. Tough season for Paajarvi statistically as he finished the season with 2 goals for the Oilers. Like I've said before, the importance of Paajarvi isn't measured in goals and assists but moreso in wins and losses. Next season, Paajarvi should be a mainstay on the Oilers, playing in a variety of roles. They really missed his speed down the stretch.
Grade:D POTG:2 GOTG:3

8. Ales Hemsky - Prediction - Will be traded by the trade deadline. WRONG IDIOT Much to my chagrin, the Oilers re-signed Hemsky to a 2 year contract. Even by Hemsky's standards, he had a terrible year. 10 goals, 36 points, -13 in 69 games. Now that Hemsky is here for the foreseeable future, the Oilers will have to build a line around him.
Grade:F POTG:2 GOTG:3

9. Eric Belanger - Prediction - Will score more SH goals than PP goals. WRONG IDIOT Its hard to get a goal prediction right when he only scores 4 goals all year. He had 1 PPG and 1 SHG. When Horcoff failed at containing the toughs, they gave Belanger a shot and met with a lot of the same results. Tough, tough year for the vets.
Grade:F POTG:0 GOTG:2

10. Ryan Jones - Prediction - Will score 15+ goals. RIGHT GENIUS
Jones chipped in with 17 goals this season. Jones had a very up and down season. Energy is one of those things that comes and goes through a season, when he was on, he brought it, when he was off, he was invisible. Solid contribution from a 3rd liner. Was only 3 hits behind Petrell for team lead at forward.
Grade:B POTG:3 GOTG:0

11. Ben Eager - Prediction - Will get suspended at least once. WRONG IDIOT Eager got fined for smashing a camera in Vancouver but did not get suspended. Eager and Paajarvi were the two most misused forwards on the Oilers this season. Just not enough action for either one of them. That being said, Eager needs to up his hits total. No reason he shouldn't be close to the team lead on forward, regardless of ice time. In limited icetime, he still managed to pot 8 goals this season.
Grade:C POTG:4 GOTG:3

12. Darcy Hordichuk - Prediction - Plays in 50+ games. WRONG IDIOT Hordichuk managed to only get into 43 games this season. Hordichuk managed to get himself known on the ice even he was a 2 minute per game player. Hordichuk was full of try but the Oilers need to upgrade on this spot.
Grade:C POTG:1 GOTG:2

13. Linus Omark - Prediction - Will have the worst plus/minus on the team. WRONG IDIOT Omark didn't get into enough games to do enough damage to his plus/minus. He finished -5 in 14 games. Towards the end of the year, the Oilers had lost all faith in Omark and wouldn't be surprised, at all, if he was moved in the summer.
Grade:D POTG:0 GOTG:2

14. Gilbert Brule - Prediction - Will not end the year with the Oilers. RIGHT GENIUS Brule did not get into a game this year with the Oilers. Played most of the year in OKC and then claimed off waivers by Phoenix around the trade deadline where he finishes off the season.
Grade:NG

15. Anton Lander - Prediction - Will be in the lineup opening night. RIGHT GENIUS Lander did make the team out of training camp, played 56 games and then played the rest of the year in OKC when the games down the stretch didn't mean much for the Oilers. I expect Lander to be a fixture on the Oilers next season. Might have been over his head a smidge in the bigs but for the most part kept the ice pretty clean in his own zone.
Grade:C POTG:1 GOTG:2

16. Teemu Hartikainen - Prediction - Plays in 40+ games for the Oilers. WRONG IDIOT Hartikainen got into only 17 games this season. The Oilers seem hellbent on icing a smallish lineup all season and unwilling to part with any of them, so Hartikainen saw a good chunk of the season with OKC. On callup, Hartikainen played in a top 6 role for a good chunk of his stay. Hartikainen would be better served as a 4th liner or extra forward heading into next season, both for him and the Oilers.
Grade:C POTG:1 GOTG:0

17. Curtis Hamilton - Prediction - Plays at least one game for the Oilers this year. WRONG IDIOT. Curtis Hamilton spent the entire season with the OKC Barons.
Grade:NG

18. Tyler Pitlick - Prediction - Plays at least one game for the Oilers this year. WRONG IDIOT Tyler Pitlick spent the entire season with OKC Barons.
Grade:NG

19. Ryan Whitney - Prediction - Has the highest plus/minus on the team. WRONG IDIOT Whitney had the second worst plus minus on the team at -16, tied with Corey Potter. Whitney mobility was severely hampered to a lingering ankle injury. Really toughed out a season but really took a step back this season. Tough Season for Ryan Whitney. Played in only 51 games this season.
Grade:D POTG:1 GOTG:3

20. Tom Gilbert - Prediction - Will be 2nd on the team in defenceman points. WRONG IDIOT May have gotten there, but ended up getting dealt at the trade deadline for Nick Schultz. Ended up with 17 points and that would have been good enough to put him 4th in Dmen scoring.
Grade:C POTG:1 GOTG:3

21. Ladislav Smid - Prediction - Will be a healthy scratch at least once this season. WRONG IDIOT Smid became a rock solid, shutdown Dman rthis season. Led the team in both hits and blocked shots. Only missed the final 4 games on the year due to a neck injury. One of a handful of players that finished on the plus side of the ledger with a +4. Good stuff, considering he was playing the toughs all season.
Grade:B POTG:4 GOTG:5

22. Cam Barker - Prediction - More than 50% of his goals will be on the PP. WRONG IDIOT Barker scored 2 goals and 1 of those was on the powerplay. Barker was pretty underwhelming this season, to the point, where he was a healthy scratch for most of the games down the stretch.
Grade:F POTG:0 GOTG:4

23. Andy Sutton - Prediction - Will have more than 100 PIMS. WRONG IDIOT Sutton finished the season with 80 PIMS. Being suspended on 2 different occasions cut into those numbers. Sutton re-upped a one year deal meaning he will be back with the Oilers next season. Plays a tough, honest game that the Oilers have sorely lacked for many years. Led the team in +/- with Sam Gagner at +5.
Grade:B POTG:3 GOTG:3

24. Theo Peckham - Prediction - Will play more games than Ladislav Smid. WRONG IDIOT Smid got into 78 games while Peckham only played 54 games. Tough season for Peckham as he was not in the coaches good books for most of the season. Healthy scratch on many occasion before being knocked out with a concussion to end the season. With Sutton coming back, I'm wondering if thats the end of Peckham in an Oiler uniform.
Grade:D POTG:0 GOTG:7

25. Jeff Petry - Prediction - Will be in the lineup opening night. RIGHT GENIUS Petry did make the opening night team, largely because Whitney started the season on the IR. Petry had a 10 game stint in OKC but played largely with the Oilers this season. Petry had moments of greatness and moments of weakness off and on throughout the season. You can see the tools are there, they just need to be refined. Thought process needs to be a little stronger in his game.
Grade:C POTG:2 GOTG:7

26. Corey Potter - Prediction - Will play in 10+ games for the Oilers. RIGHT GENIUS The Oilers had a need for a RH shooting Dman and Potter fit the bill. Potter got into 62 games this season. I still don't think he's much of an upgrade on Kurtis Foster other than the fact he's cheaper, but he managed a 2 year extension out of the Oilers anyway. Potter finished the season at -16.
Grade:D POTG:2 GOTG:2

27. Taylor Chorney - Prediction - Doesn't play in any games for the Oilers. WRONG IDIOT Chorney got into 3 games this season, much to my chagrin. Chorney seems to have more lives than a cat.
Grade:NG

28. Colten Teubert - Prediction - Plays in 5+ games for the Oilers. RIGHT GENIUS
Teubert got into 24 games this season, being the emergency callup on the backend. Registered 1 assist and a -15 in those games. Limited upside here.
Grade:C POTG:1 GOTG:1

29. Nick Schultz - Was the return on the deal that sent Tom Gilbert to Minnesota. After starting off on a good note with the Oilers, he fizzled with Whitney in the last 10 games as they faced tough competition. Schultz looks to be a fixture in the top 4 heading into next season.
Grade C: POTG:1 GOTG:0

30. Nikolai Khabibulin - Prediction - Plays at least one game for OKC. WRONG IDIOT Did not play in OKC but was worthy enough to do so as his season endled poorly. Khabibulin had an outstanding October, but fizzled badly as the season wore on. Finished the season with a 2.65 GAA and a .910S%. Only had one win in the last half of the season.
Grade:C POTG:7 GOTG:4

31. Devan Dubnyk - Prediction - Will post under .900 Save Percentage. WRONG IDIOT Dubnyk finished the season with a .914 S% and likely saved his spot on the team next season by playing so well down the stretch. I'm not ready to anoint him the starter. He needs to stiffer sompetetion other than Khabibulin going into next season. And then the Oilers can have themselves an actual goalie battle.
Grade:B POTG:10 GOTG:7

32. Yann Danis - Prediction - Plays more games than Khabibulin or Dubnyk with the Oilers. WRONG IDIOT Yann Danis got into a half a game with the Oilers this season and was lees than stellar. Doubtful he will be back in the Oilers organization next season.
Grade:NG

33. Olivier Roy - Prediction - Doesn't play a game with the Oilers this season. RIGHT GENIUS Roy spent most of the season with Stockton this season with a cup of coffee in OKC. Figures to play in OKC full time next season.
Grade:NG

The Oilers will finish 13th in the west and draft 6th overall in 2012. WRONG IDIOT The Oilers finished 14th in the west and will draft either 1st, 2nd or 3rd, depending on the lottery.

I was 8-25 in predictions. Not a good record on paper by any means, but it gives you an idea how much myself and the Oilers organization differed on many different subjects.

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Post Game: Game #82 Canucks 3 Oilers 0

Scoring Summary
1st Period
None


2nd Period
VAN Henrik Sedin 14 (PP) (Alexandre Burrows, Alexander Edler) 15:47


3rd Period
VAN Samuel Pahlsson 4 (Jannik Hansen) 3:14

VAN David Booth 16 (PP) (Kevin Bieksa, Roberto Luongo) 10:36



Penalty Summary
1st Period
2:49 Edmonton slashing - 2 min A. Sutton drawn by R. Kesler
9:29 Vancouver tripping - 2 min S. Pahlsson drawn by B. Eager
11:16 Vancouver high-sticking - 2 min A. Burrows drawn by R. Jones
11:52 Edmonton interference - 2 min J. Eberle drawn by A. Edler
17:09 Edmonton cross checking - 2 min B. Eager drawn by M. Malhotra

2nd Period
14:56 Edmonton roughing - 2 min D. Hordichuk drawn by M. Lapierre
14:56 Edmonton roughing - 2 min D. Hordichuk drawn by M. Lapierre
14:56 Edmonton roughing - 2 min B. Eager drawn by M. Lapierre
14:56 Vancouver roughing - 2 min M. Lapierre drawn by B. Eager

3rd Period
8:58 Edmonton high-sticking - 4 min R. Nugent-Hopkins drawn by S. Salo


Shots On Goal - Oilers 17 Canucks 42

Game Notes:
- Thank goodness, last game of the year. For some, its the end of year 2 of the rebuild, for others it was year 20. For me, year # doesn't matter much. All I know is that its been a good, long while since I've seen the Oilers playing a meaningful game. Right now, the Oilers must feel like they are standing on a coast looking into the ocean, trying to figure out how to get to the other side. Everyone has blueprints and plans, heck I've got plans of my own. Whats needed now is a collective, unified thought that everyone can agree on and understand, and then move forward. The Oilers came in and rolled out of this game. Couldn't produce a lick offensively, Roberto Luongo got himself a Chris Osgood shutout and the rest is history. The Oilers agitators tried to "stir the pot" but it wasn't sustained. Canucks were playing not to get hurt, Oilers were playing to get the heck out of there, and what you end up with is one ugly hockey game. Hopefully, come September, this team looks very different, from top to bottom, but the logo stays the same.

Player of the Game:
- Darcy Hordichuk. Tied for the team lead with 7 hits in under 6 minutes of action. Was the only player outside of Dubnyk who played with a pulse. It was likely Hordichuk's last game of the year with the Oilers. Tried to stir things up, but nothing was happening for the Oilers tonight.

Goat of the Game:
- Ryan Whitney. I should just stick everyone's name in a hat and pick one. I'm singling out Ryan Whitney tonight, not just for tonight, but for his end of the year play. Its been subpar and not veteran worthy. Much like that of Horcoff, Smyth, Belanger, Hemsky, Khabibulin, Gagner, and on down the line. I really get the feeling there are a lot of players on this team that just can't stand each other. It really shows in there play and playing for their teammates. A chemistry change is needed, to go along with an enima.

End of the Season, See ya in September Oilers!

So When Is It Time?




So as the season is winding down I have been thinking over the year, the management and a few other things. The main thing that keeps sticking out to me is that neither Tambellini nor Renney have contracts going into next season. Is that a sign that they wont be around or is it just a matter of negotiations that are taking longer than expected?

Well I have had a few idea's that I think should determine whether or not (or rather the order) in which these decisions should be made.

First: When is it time to start moving real talent to go from a pretender to a contender?

I know that sounds a little bit like an oxymoron, most people think that to build a good team you need to stack it full of high end talent and and run it from there. Not the case in my opinion. Sure there is a need for the talent and skill to be there, but lets be honest. A team must be built as a unit and that will include having mid level talent to fill in the ranks. Everyone must have a job to do and the top scorers (as an example), can't be expected to start shutting other lines down. There is a need to fill many different roles on a team, and sometimes there is an abundance of one type of player on a team so said team has to make decisions on who to move regardless of how "good" those players may be. I think now is the time that the Oilers need to start making those decisions. There are players like Smyth, Omark, Hemsky etc... that really don't have a place on the team anymore. They may be fine players but to fill out a lineup there are going to have to be more "Jones" type role players that can be slotted into the lineup. The Oilers have too many small skilled players. Far too many if you ask some people and regardless of how beloved they are to the fan base or to the management there has to be some decisions made.

The next thing I was thinking about was "When is it time to change coaches?"

It is a rare thing for a coach to have a long shelf life. Coaches have a tendency to "lose the room" where they lose the ability to fire up their players and get them motivated. They can fall into complacency and begin to trust their veteran or "go to" players more that they should. This leads to handing out more ice time to players that don't deserve it (AKA Belanger on the PP) Or they can simply not have the ability to formulate a system that works with their players to the best possible manner.
A GM usually gets the final say on when a coach has used up their welcome. It can come when a new GM takes over or maybe if there is a conflict behind closed doors.
In my opinion a coach should really only be let go when the GM provides everything the coach has asked for in a team (and yes the coach should have the biggest say on how a team is built so it fits the system he has in place) but the coach has been unable to bring the team to the top of what it can do. It may be an indication that the coach has lost the room, or his system doesn't work but regardless, if he was given everything he needed and yet failed to provide what was asked of him then it is time to go.

Lastly "When is it time to let the GM go?"

A GM should be given a set time frame to to accomplish a specific goal. Whether that goal is to make the playoffs, go a couple rounds or make the final for a shot at the cup it doesn't matter. Once the time frame has passed the owner has to realize that either the GM doesn't understand how to build a team, doesn't have the balls to do it, or he doesn't have the capability to put his goals in motion. The old saying goes " if you have enough monkey's banging away on a typewriter for long enough, one of them will eventually write a Shakespeare". Just knowing that a GM "can" eventually make things work, does NOT mean that said GM should be allowed an unending amount of time to get it done.

If on the other hand a GM is given a set amount of time to reach a specific goal, then I think he should be allowed to use his time wholly to get it done. If the mandate is to make the playoffs and he is consistently there should be no reason to let him go. Some GM's last a very long time because they continue to get the job done when they are asked to. If the goal is to rebuild the team, then I think it gets a little more complicated but the idea is still the same. It is more complicated because rather than saying "make the playoffs" which might only take the addition of a single player to put them over the top, building a team means there has to be a set agenda, a specific team build already thought out so the GM can target specific players and there should be an end factor. A team being rebuilt still needs the goals in place for not only what they are going to look like when it is said and done, but they also have to have all the smaller goals to meet along the way.
During this time the GM should be watched like a hawk. If he say's "we will be making the playoffs this year" then no excuses should be warranted. That GM should be doing everything he can to make sure they reach that goal. Sure things might happen that an owner might overlook. Serious injuries might happen on a wide scale, but the fact that the GM didn't do anything about it when they happened means that even if he gets a pass for one season he should NOT be given another one.


So what do I think? I think that there is room to move some talent on this team to build it quicker than drafting year after year in the lottery. I also think that the coach should be given an extension. I think this should be the case, based on the fact that he was NOT given everything he needed to make the team better but he was still able to make the most of what he had and there were several players that showed in their breakout years that he is a good coach moving forward.

As for the GM, I personally have lost my patience and I think its time to move on. He has NOT met the expectations set out for him. He is behind schedule for the supposed "5 year rebuild" and he started spewing off at the start of the season that they were going to be playing meaningful games in March. He has not followed through with his promises and he really doesn't look like he knows what he is doing. If I was the owner of this team right now I would be temporarily putting Lowe in charge so we at least have someone to go down to the lottery draft and I would be making calls through the summer to find a guy that I believe would have the balls to take this team to the next level. Now that might mean that Renney ends up getting the boot anyway, and that would be unfortunate. But my job as an owner would be to find a GM that I can trust, his job is to find a coach he can trust, and the coaches job is to get a team going. It really doesn't work any other way.

We might be in for a fun summer.
Here's to hoping

until next time.

Pre-Game: Game #82 Oilers vs. Canucks



So this is it. Game #82 is mercifully here and then, "hopefully", the bloodletting can stop and the healing can begin. Losing is a habit that is difficult to stop. Once it becomes abundantly repetitive, its habits become engrained in you until the point you need an exorcism to get rid of it. The more I think about things, the more I believe the re-signing of Ales Hemsky was a Daryl Katz move. It's a move that made very little sense for the Oilers organization, but screams of a long time fan that didn't want to see his hockey hero leave. There are reasons why fans aren't management types. Its because they need to remove the "fan" out of hockey making decisions and make solid hockey decisions for now and into the future. Now the Oilers are stuck trying to create a line around Ales Hemsky, something the Oilers haven't been able to do with much success over Hemsky's entire tenure here. The Canucks come into this game, losing 3-2 in Calgary on Thursday night. The Canucks will head into the Stanley Cup Playoffs as the #1 seed in the Western Conference. High hopes and expectations for the Canucks this spring. As long as the Oilers don't walk away with two points out of this game, they will finish 29th in the NHL.

Forwards Canucks
- The Sedins haven't had the point totals they have in the past, but they have been just as effective this year.
Defense Canucks
- Canucks have 4 solid Dmen in Bieksa, Edler, Salo and Hamhuis.
Goaltending Canucks
- Corey Schneider might be pushing for the Vezina this year if he could manage to get some more games in.
Special Teams Canucks
- Oilers PP and PK are 3rd and 14th while the Canucks are 6th and 6th. Slight edge Canucks.
Coaching Canucks
- Alain Vigneault has an excellent feel for his hockey team.
Intangibles Canucks
- Essentially a mean nothing game for both teams, more of a tune-up game for the Canucks.

Oilers:
Hartikainen-NugentHopkins-Eberle
Jones-Gagner-Hemsky
Smyth-Horcoff-Belanger
Hordichuk-Vandevelde-Petrell

Whitney-Schultz
Barker-Petry
Sutton-Potter

Dubnyk
Khabibulin

Canucks:
Lapierre-H.Sedin-Burrows
Raymond-Kesler-Booth
Higgins-Pahlsson-Hansen
Weise-Ebbett-Bitz

Edler-Hamhuis
Gragnani-Bieksa
Salo-Rome

Schenider
Luongo

Game Time - 8 PM MT @ Vancouver on CBC.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Post Game: Game #81 Ducks 3 Oilers 2 (OT)

Scoring Summary
1st Period
None


2nd Period
EDM Sam Gagner 18 (Jeff Petry, Ryan Jones) 10:21

ANH Andrew Cogliano 13 (Luca Sbisa) 17:05

ANH Bobby Ryan 29 (Devante Smith-Pelly, Nick Bonino) 17:41


3rd Period
EDM Jordan Eberle 34 (Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Ales Hemsky) 13:48


OT Period
ANH Ryan Getzlaf 11 (Unassisted) 1:12


Penalty Summary
1st Period
13:11 Edmonton slashing - 2 min T. Hartikainen drawn by C. Perry

2nd Period
3:45 Anaheim roughing - 2 min G. Parros drawn by D. Hordichuk
8:08 Edmonton fighting - 5 min D. Hordichuk drawn by G. Parros
8:08 Anaheim fighting - 5 min G. Parros drawn by D. Hordichuk

3rd Period
None


Shots On Goal - Oilers 26 Ducks 17

Game Notes:
- A very bittersweet game this was. Nice to see the Oilers come out and play with some semblance of passion tonight even though it was a mean nothing game. But, on the bad side, the Ducks barely showed up and the Oilers still came away with an overtime loss. I've said it before and I'll say it again, nothing wrong with the kids on this team. And all the losses the Oilers have accumulated over the past two seasons shouldn't be blamed on "youth" or "young team". The vets on this team have mailed in the last half of the season. Horcoff, Smyth, Belanger, Hemsky, Whitney, Khabibulin, they all have underachieved this season, and this game was no different. Just not enough. Forget scoring, just not enough puck battle, not enough attention to detail, understanding that keeping the puck out of their own net is far more important than scoring goals themselves. Just not enough selfless play from this group. Oilers are either a Montreal OT loss/win or and OT loss themselves from wrapping up 29th spot in the NHL. One more game to go.

Player of the Game:
- Jordan Eberle. I haven't put Eberle in this spot near enough this year, so tonight is his night. Not just for tonight though, but for his consistancy he's played with throughout the year. Eberle scored the 2-2 goal late in the third to send it to overtime. Strong, strong, 2nd season for Eberle. His hands amaze me, lightning quick.

Goat of the Game:
- Ryan Whitney. Got caught naval gazing on the overtime goal. Gagner, took a shot, missed the net by 20 feet, ringed around the boards and that got by Whitney and then sent Getzlaf on a breakaway. Gagner is partly to blame for missing the net so badly, but Whitney didn't do the due diligence of taking care of the backside in case of a missed shot. Whitney's game needs to be more heady because of his decreasing lack of mobility. It's a shame to see what injury has done to Ryan Whitney's game. This year and last year have been two polar opposites.

Next Game - Saturday April 7, 2012 vs. Canucks on CBC 8 PM MT.

Pre-Game: Game #81 Oilers vs. Ducks



2 games left. What a grind this season has been. I'm sure the players are feeling the same way. So much uncertainty to end the season. Change is needed on the good ship Oilers, but it must be difficult to play and coach through it all. Some players are still battling while others can't wait to get out of town. You all know the who is who by now. It should be an interesting upcoming week. How quickly will Tom Renney get the axe? Will Steve Tambellini be at the desk on TSN at the draft lotteryon Tuesday? More than likely. Who gets shipped out? Who stays? Front office and coaching changes should and will be made on some levels, it will be interesting to see who survives the cuts. To me, it should be a complete and total purge, right from Kevin Lowe, all the way down to T.D. Forss, the head trainor. I know it won't happen but there needs to be a change in philosophy on this team. What happens from here, who knows, I have disagreed with far too many decision on all levels to know whats going to happen next. The Ducks come into this game, losing 5-4 in a shootout to the Canucks on Tuesday night. The Oilers beat the Ducks 2-1 on Sunday night in Anaheim. Its pretty much a "mean nothing" game for both sides as neither team is playoff bound.

Forwards Ducks
- With Taylor Hall on the IR and Magunus Paajarvi in OKC, team speed has taken a hit on the Oilers.
Defense Ducks
- Sounds like Jeff Petry should be back tonight, but they are stll woefully thin on the backend.
Goaltending Oilers
- Gotta give props to Devan Dubnyk here for his play over the last month. Pushing his way on to Team Canada's radar for the WHC.
Special Teams Oilers
- Oilers powerplay is 2nd in the NHL while the Ducks are 19th.
Coaching Oilers
- I'm going to give Tom Renney a prop here for having to work with an undermanned team the best he can.
Intangibles Oilers
- Oilers last home game of the season. Oilers should be wanting to put on a show.

Oilers:
Hartikainen-NugentHopkins-Eberle
Jones-Gagner-Hemsky
Smyth-Horcoff-Belanger
Eager-Vandevelde-Petrell

Whitney-Schultz
Barker-Petry
Sutton-Teubert

Dubnyk
Khabibulin

Ducks:
Hagman-Getzlaf-Perry
Ryan-Koivu-Selanne
Blake-Bonino-SmithPelly
Cogliano-Pelley-Beleskey

Fowler-Brookbank
Sbisa-Visnovsky
Beauchemin-Clark

Hiller
Deslauriers

Game Time - 7:30 PM MT @ Rexall Place on Sporstnet West.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Depth Chart: April 2012 Edition

Smyth-NugentHopkins-Eberle
Hartikainen-Gagner-Hemsky
Jones-Horcoff-Petrell
Eager-Belanger-Hordichuk
Vandevelde Omark

Whitney-Schultz
Sutton-Barker
Rodney-Teubert

Dubnyk
Khabibulin

IR - Taylor Hall, Ladislav Smid, Theo Peckham, Jeff Petry, Taylor Fedun, Corey Potter.

OKC:
Paajarvi-Green-Keller
Tremblay-Pitlick-Arcobello
Cornet-Lander-House
Tyrvainen-Martindale-Grant

Yeo-Helmer
Marincin-Plante
Marcou-Lowery

Danis
LeNeveu

IR - Taylor Chorney, Curtis Hamilton, Kevin Montgomery, Kiril Tulupov.

Rundown:
- OKC is clipping along at a 43-19-9 record, the best in the Western Conference. A playoff spot is sewn up for them, if not home ice advantage throughout. OKC is riding strong defensive play and consistant goaltending. If Tom Renney is ever moved along from the Oilers, Todd Nelson should get some strong consideration for the job. The Edmonton Oilers sit 14th in the Western Conference and as of today, would own the 2nd overall pick, lottery aside. Only the Columbus Blue Jackets own a worse record. The Oilers have been playing out the string since January for the third season in a row.

Shopping list: Oilers
- Top 6 Power forward left winger - Since the re-signing of Hemsky came about, the need is still there but the way he shoots is now changed up. A LW is something that is an order, one that can win a puck battle, one that can stick for the kids when things get tough and one that can chip 20g a year. Maybe a Dustin Penner or Taylor Pyatt. I'd like someone more rugged but the UFA options are limited.
- Waterbug offensive Dman. The Oilers need a Dman that can provide some offense and push the pace with his legs and vision. Outlet passes have haunted the Oilers this season. One that shoots right would be ideal now that Tom Gilbert has moved along. Perhaps soon to be UFA Justin Schultz or drafting Mathew Dumba would solve this problem. Or even someone like Taylor Fedun returning to 100% would also help.
- Goaltender. Devan Dubnyk has emerged late into the season as a bonafide NHL goaltender, but I still feel he'll still need to be pushed by someone. Khabibulin has shown that the tires have fallen off his career for the 2nd year in a row. Has laboured badly in the 2nd half of the season. Josh Harding is the only soon to be UFA that would fit the bill here. Likely have to trade for this.
- 2nd Line right handed shooting center. Sam Gagner is currently this player, but the Oilers need someone a little more veteranized in this spot. Someone who will know his role and not get in the way of the kids all while doing the little things allowing the Oilers to stay in hockey games and be competitive. A player that can handle playing against tough competetion would be ideal. Former Oilers Jarret Stoll or Jason Arnott would fit the bill here.
- Bottom 6 Grit & Speed on the wings. The Oilers need a better forecheck game. A more dedicated empahasis on speed on the wings need to be fortified. Jordan Tootoo and Adam Burish would both look wonderful in an Oilers uniform.

Shopping list: OKC
- With Paajarvi and Lander being sent to OKC, this team looks ready to roll. Bryan Rodney was brought in to bring in some defensive depth. Yann Danis is returned to OKC after getting a cup of coffee with the big club. I look for good things from OKC in the spring. OKC struggle in the GF department but are rock solid in the GA column.

Monday, April 2, 2012

Post Game: Game #80 Kings 2 Oilers 0

Scoring Summary
1st Period
None


2nd Period
None


3rd Period
LA Slava Voynov 8 (Anze Kopitar, Brad Richardson) 0:34

LA Dwight King 5 (Mike Richards) 17:28


Penalty Summary
1st Period
3:10 Edmonton fighting - 5 min B. Eager drawn by J. Nolan
3:10 Los Angeles fighting - 5 min J. Nolan drawn by B. Eager
3:10 Los Angeles high-sticking - 2 min W. Mitchell drawn by D. Hordichuk
3:10 Edmonton holding - 2 min B. Eager drawn by J. Nolan

2nd Period
6:17 Edmonton slashing - 2 min R. Nugent-Hopkins drawn by D. Brown
9:12 Edmonton tripping - 2 min C. Teubert drawn by W. Mitchell
18:18 Edmonton hooking - 2 min A. Hemsky drawn by D. Brown

3rd Period
4:18 Los Angeles high-sticking - 4 min T. Lewis drawn by C. Teubert


Shots On Goal - Oilers 18 Kings 37

Game Notes:
- This game brought me back to my young adult life, thinking about the '90s Oilers who were grossly overmatched but always tried and hung around in hockey games. Tonight the Oilers were that team. The Oilers only scored 1 goal against the Kings in a two game set, only mustering 32 shots in that span. Kings got more than that tonight alone. Let's face it, the Oilers are undermanned right now, Playing essentially 3 AHL Dmen, and very little speed off the wings means little chance for offense against the much bigger Kings. But they tried and battled hard and at this stage thats all an Oilers fan can ask for. I personally wonder if the Oilers management understand what the weaknesses of the Oilers are. Like I mean, they tried to address those situations last offseason but brought in players that were more specialists than anything. And then once they were brought in, Tom Renney and his coaching staff decided to miscast some players, therefore lose them entirely. Juts a big time disconnect between the management, coaches and players. Eric Belanger was brought in to be a solid secondary 2-way center and what we get is nothing more than a 4th line, faceoff specialist. Cam Barker was brought in to be a PP option, bottom pairing Dman. What we get is player that gets little powerplay time and plays too much at evens. Ben Eager was brought to be an energy player that can play up and down the lineup and what Tom Renney does is treat him like a 4th line bit player. Tom Renney put his stock in too few of his players and ended up losing the whole room because of it. I'm sure thats how the story will end. Kings played desperate tonight, like a team that really wanted this game, and win it they did.

Player of the Game:
- Devan Dubnyk. Dubnyk was the only reason why this game was close. He was shelled for most of the game but the wall broke in the thrid and that was the ballgame. The Oilers mustered no offense tonight, the best they could hope for was a shootout. Dubnyk continues to cement himself as one of the goaltenders going into next year.

Goat of the Game:
- Sam Gagner. Ended up missing the net by 20 feet on a shot that ended up in a 2on1 going the other way that the Kings polished off to make it 2-0. The top 6 in general, was pretty abysmal. Very little in the way of offense and they played way too much in their own zone. Gagner had a tough time with defensive zone coverage with the bigger Kings roaming around.

Next Game - Thursday April 5, 2012 vs. Ducks @ Rexall Place on Sportsnet West 7:30 PM MT.

Pre-Game: Game #80 Oilers vs. Kings



Winning feels good, even if it is an "end of the season" nothing game. Winning also hurts, in a sacrificing the body type way. There is a lot more to winning than scoring a butt tonne of goals, smiling for the cameras while the women fawn over you. Some of it is subtle and goes unnoticed at times. A blocked shot, an effective takeout, even a successful off the glass and out so your linemates can get a line change in, are all things that winning teams develop. The Oilers are still at a stage in their development where they think of themselves in an individual sense. What they need to do is start thinking about what play is for the greater good of the team. Sad thing is, its been the vets that have been more guilty of this than the rookies. The "buy-in" needs to occur ASAP. The vets are here to take care of their own zone first, and eventually incorporate an effective transition game. This is why I think, in the offseason, the Oilers would be wise to shop for strength down the middle, some speed and strength on the wings and some speed on the backend. This would allow the Oilers to use their outside speed while still be able to clog up the middle defensively. To go along with enhancing a quicker transition game. Impressed with Chris Vandevelde's play on his recent callup. Playing within himself, knowing when to attack and when to stay back, a good sign for a center trying to bust on to the NHL scene. Vandevelde's play has pushed Belanger to the wing. The Kings are coming of a 4-3 shootout loss to the Wild. The Kings beat the Oilers 3-1 on Friday night. Ales Hemsky will be a game time decision.

Forwards Kings
- The Oilers offense has dried up while the Kings seem to have found a bit of a scoring groove.
Defense Kings
- Well balanced defense for the Kings while the Oilers are injury riddled.
Goaltneding Kings
- Jonathan Quick will likely be in the Vezina hunt.
Special Teams Oilers
- Oilers PP and PK are 2nd & 14th while the Kings are 23rd & 4th.
Coaching Kings
- Darryl Sutter seems to find ways to be able to beat the Oilers.
Intangibles Kings
- Oilers are on the 2nd half of a back to back even though its only a 45 minute drive from Anaheim to Los Angelas.

Oilers:
Hartikainen-NugentHopkins-Eberle
Smyth-Gagner-Hemsky
Belanger-Horcoff-Jones
Eager-Vandevelde-Petrell

Whitney-Schultz
Sutton-Potter
Barker-Teubert

Khabibulin
Dubnyk

Kings:
Brown-Kopitar-Williams
King-Richards-Richardson
Penner-Stoll-Lewis
Clifford-Fraser-Nolan

Scuderi-Doughty
Mitchell-Voynov
Martinez-Greene

Quick
Bernier

Game Time - 8:30 PM MT @ Los Angelas on Sportsnet West.

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Post Game: Game #79 Oilers 2 Ducks 1

Scoring Summary
1st Period
EDM Teemu Hartikainen 1 (Jordan Eberle) 0:15

EDM Teemu Hartikainen 2 (Ryan Whitney, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins) 6:04

ANH Teemu Selanne 26 (Assists: Niklas Hagman 13, Saku Koivu 25) 14:12


2nd Period
None


3rd Period
None


Penalty Summary
1st Period
15:00 Edmonton roughing - 2 min A. Sutton drawn by D. Smith-Pelly
15:00 Anaheim roughing - 2 min D. Smith-Pelly drawn by A. Sutton
15:00 Edmonton roughing - 2 min C. Potter drawn by B. Ryan
15:00 Anaheim roughing - 2 min N. Bonino drawn by R. Smyth

2nd Period
5:56 Edmonton fighting - 5 min C. Barker drawn by R. Getzlaf
5:56 Anaheim fighting - 5 min R. Getzlaf drawn by C. Barker
10:41 Edmonton slashing - 2 min R. Whitney drawn by J. Blake
10:46 Anaheim hooking - 2 min C. Perry drawn by C. Potter
10:58 Edmonton interference with goaltender - 2 min R. Smyth drawn by J. Hiller
20:00 Edmonton holding - 2 min E. Belanger drawn by S. Koivu

3rd Period
1:13 Edmonton delay of game - 2 min N. Schultz
3:18 Edmonton interference - 2 min N. Schultz drawn by J. Blake
7:06 Edmonton fighting - 5 min C. Teubert drawn by S. Brookbank
7:06 Anaheim fighting - 5 min S. Brookbank drawn by C. Teubert
15:21 Anaheim tripping - 2 min C. Fowler drawn by R. Nugent-Hopkins


Shots On Goal - Oilers 15 Ducks 33

Game Notes:
- The Oilers got back in the win columm tonight. Really had to gut this one out. Relied heavily on strong defensive play and great goaltending to get the victory. The Oilers defense, though undermanned, held up well enough even though they were under siege most of the night. It's a good experience for the Oilers to understand they can win hockey games this way. On the other side of the coin, the offense really misses the breakdown speed of Taylor Hall, or even Magnus Paajarvi for that matter. Their ability to sustain pressure in the offensive zone simply isn't there. The Oilers will just need to patchwork the offense in the last 3 games and just hope for the best. Its a team that needs to work on defensive play, at any rate, and just keeps things simple. When the team is up to full speed again, offense should be less of a problem than the defensive play. The fact the Oilers eeked out a 2-1 win bodes well for them. If and when the Oilers start their ascent up the standings, they will need to find a variety of different ways to win a hockey game. For a game that meant little in the standings for either team, it sure was a chippy affair. Ales Hemsky left the game with a sore shoulder.

Player of the Game:
- Devan Dubnyk. Dubnyk has had a good stretch of games where he has been rock solid. The Oilers pretty much sandbagged the Ducks tonight, as they built up a 2-0 lead early in the 1st and then held on for dear life at the end. With his recent strong of game, I think it warrants him getting another contract with the Oilers. Whether or not Khabibulin is riding shotgun with him is another story. Dubnyk was strong again tonight, had some flaky moments but only had one count against him. Made several point blank saves.


Goat of the Game:
- Sam Gagner. Lost his man on the only goal the Ducks scored. Had a relatively low event game. His positional play has improved tenfold, but it still doesn't stop him from being small and weak. One thing the Oilers will have to improve on over the summer is physical strength down the middle. It will help them with slot battles and in the faceoff dot. In spite of the team makeup, Gagner has had a solid year this year. Not sure he is the right fit for the Oilers going forward, but he is unquestionably an NHLer. Only he and Ales Hemsky were the only minus players on the Oilers tonight (-1).

Next Game - Monday April 2, 2012 vs. Kings @ Los Angelas on Sportsnet West 8:30 PM MT.

Pre-Game: Game #79 Oilers vs. Ducks



The Oilers head into Anaheim all battered and bruised. Physically, mentally and emotionally. All is not Disneyland for the Oilers playing out the string. After having a pretty successful road trip, taking 7 out of 8 points, the last two games at home, the offense went stonecold, putting up 2 goals over the two games. Old foes, in the Stars and Kings, styfled the Oilers offense, giving them next to nothing. Without Taylor Hall in the lineup and Magnus Paajarvi in exile in OKC, Oilers speed off the wings is sorely lacking. They have a tough time breaking down teams with good defensive posture, which seems to be over half the teams in the Western Conference these days. Like they say, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. The Oilers defensive posture has been better as of late, minus the epic mental breakdowns, but the centers aren't cheating for offense and the defense is doing its best trying to keep the play in front of them. It doesn't help that flaky goaltending rears its head far too often this season. The problem lies in since the centers aren't cheating for offense, and the wingers aren't as dangerous as they once were, the offense is going to have issues over the next 4 games. It's going to require a lot digging in the trenches and winning some battles, something that I'm not sure the Oilers will be dedicated to. The defensive corps is a mess right now. Jeff Petry and Ladislav Smid were both hurt in the last game, meaning the Oilers recalled Colten Teubert and the return of Cam Barker to the lineup. Since Khabibulin got the last start and looked flaky doing so, I'm guessing Dubnyk gets this start. Anaheim comes into this game losing 4-0 to Phoenix last night. Anaheim doesn't really have much more to play for than the Oilers do.

Forwards Ducks
- Is this Teemu Selanne's final hurrah? Unlikely leader of the team in points.
Defense Ducks
- Oilers defense is decimated with injuries to Smid and Petry.
Goaltending Ducks
- Jonas Hiller has been a bright spot and a work horse for the Ducks.
Special Teams Oilers
- Anaheim is middle of the pack in both PP and PK. Oilers continue to have the 2nd best powerplay.
Coaching Ducks
- Bruce Boudreau stabilized his Ducks team after a dreadful start. Tom Renney is dead man walking.
Intangibles Oilers
- Ducks are in the back half of a back to back. Oilers are in a front end of a back to back.

Oilers:
Jones-NugentHopkins-Eberle
Hartikainen-Gagner-Hemsky
Smyth-Horcoff-Petrell
Eager-Vandevelde-Hordichuk

Whitney-Schultz
Sutton-Potter
Barker-Teubert

Dubnyk
Khabibulin

Ducks:
Hagman-Getzlaf-Perry
Cogliano-Koivu-Selanne
Ryan-Bonino-SmithPelly
Blake-Pelley-Beleskey

Beauchemin-Fowler
Sbisa-Guenin
Visnovsky-Brookbank

Hiller
Deslauriers

Game Time - 6 PM MT @ Anaheim on Sportsnet West.