GDB 35: Hemsky's winded
Jason Gregor
December 30 2008 01:59PM
The Tootoo train has derailed another player, and this one hurts the Oilers. Ales Hemsky won’t dress tonight, and is highly doubtful to play tomorrow in Calgary as well. Hemsky is still a bit fuzzy after taking a clean, but hard hit from Jordan Tootoo on Sunday night.
Hemsky is playing the best hockey of his career and like his coach said, “There is never a good time to lose your best player,” so the Oilers will try to extend their winning streak without him.
The big question is who replaces him on the right side of Horcoff? Erik Cole and Sam Gagner have some chemistry, as do Marc Pouliot and Andrew Cogliano. Will MacTavish switch up the lines or will Liam Reddox take some shifts with Horcoff and Penner?
Don’t be surprised to see Reddox with Horcoff and Penner in a shut-down role against the Senators’ top line tonight.
“The thing that is great about Horcoff is the versatility that he can do almost anything in the game. We can use him in a checking assignment if we need to. We will see how the game unfolds, so we will start one way and see how the game goes and then craft the lines relative to the situation in the game,” said MacTavish.
So having Reddox with Horcoff in a shut-down role early seems likely and then if the Oilers are trailing expect to see either Pouliot or Cole skate with Horcoff. Of course don’t expect Reddox
Garon to go
Mathieu Garon will start tonight and Dwayne Roloson will go tomorrow in Calgary. Garon is looking to rebound from a sub par performance when he and the entire team stunk out the joint versus Chicago.
Garon is 0–1 in his career against the Sens with a sparkling 0.83 GAA and .964 save percentage, while the Oilers are 7-3-2 against the Senators on home ice.
Garon, who is an UFA at the end of the season, is desperately trying to find the game he had last season. If he hopes to get back between the pipes after tonight he will need to be really solid, or Roloson could easily play a the next six straight.
Musical chairs continues
For those who don’t know the Oilers room is shaped like a horseshoe. The veterans sit in the curve area at the top. Facing down the room from left to right Cole, Pisani, empty stall now that Gilbert moved, Staios and then Moreau. Down the left side it goes Souray, Strudwick, Reddox, MacIntyre, Grebeshkov, Smid, Gilbert, Brodziak, Nilsson empty stall and then Deslauriers has two stalls.
Down the right side is Horcoff, Hemsky, Visnovsky, Stortini, then an open walkway, Penner, Gagner, Cogliano, Pouliot, Garon and Roloson.
It worked for Erik Cole, so Tom Gilbert is hoping a new locker stall works for him. After Erik Cole and Steve Staios switched stalls over the Christmas break, today Tom Gilbert had a new stall between Ladislav Smid and Kyle Brodziak.
Last season Gilbert was on the left side of the locker room, in the second last stall on the left side. He was asked to sit amongst the veterans at the start of the season, but has now moved back to the left side.
“I think I needed a change. I was sitting in the veteran line, but I didn’t really fit in with those guys. It was a good experience, but I wanted to move back to the left side of the room with some of the guys I’d have more in common with. The conversations were a bit too sophisticated for me. They talked about books, world events, and kids. I’m back in the middle age group,” said Gilbert laughing.
Players are superstitious and Gilbert wasn’t fond of his move to begin with, and now that he hasn’t scored in 15 games he is hoping a move back to the left side of the room might help.
@ Gary Bettman:
That was Nashville
Fiveandagame wrote:
Not at all bad. The Oil dominated the 2nd as a matter of fact. The best part of the night was when the game was delayed 20 mins cause the lights wouldn't come back on after the intro
@ Gary Bettman: Although I am pretty sure the Sens are Scrotatiously bad.
R-DAWG wrote:
I thought you were right the first time LOL
@ Wanye Gretz: The lights wouldn't work? Yer kidding me....
I guuess thats one way to make your case for a new arena.
Fiveandagame wrote:
Ah yes another hockey dynasty in the making
Fiveandagame wrote:
Ha ha ha that's what we all said.
@ Fiveandagame:
That is a good term
What was the Nilsson fall out from him skipping the optional skate?
Did everybody kiss and make up?
Fiveandagame wrote:
He hasn't done diddly squat
@ Wanye Gretz: Wayne, what is this two game in a row leading the Justice League meetings..nice sir!
5:32 plenty of time left no need to panic
Fiveandagame wrote:
There is no better place to watch a game than in the JL. I'm usually bitter if I'm not able to attend.
Unless I'm drinking beer.
Sweet frothy beer.
If Nilsson scores does that make everything okay?
Come on OILERS the sens haven't won on the road since October!
It's weird to see Smith
WE MISS YOU GATOR!!
RBK wrote:
but according to Gene he is really motivated now. How can you tell what has changed, not seeing it.
I need beer...beer is such a good friend....
@ Wanye Gretz: Can I panic a little *kicks cat*
THAT WAS SOME PRESSURE
This has been a better team tonight
3:05 plenty of time left no need to panic
*pets cat*
@ Gary Bettman:
funching Gene...he is the biggest f*cktard
I am glad we don't have peter lombardias doing our games like those Calgary suckers have to deal with.
Lubo71 wrote:
That's my job
2:03 plenty of time left no need to panic
*pets voodoo doll of Gerber*
PS: Why is Nilsson out there
alla Towel Boy......
LETS DO THIS!!!!
@ Lubo71: 1:57 panic time...*aims kids plastic dart at cat*
NO NEED TO PANIC
*readies foot to boot dog*
panic time, empty net.....*powers up cordless drill and holds cat down
wow. 29 secs is time to panic when you are losing to a team that hasn't won on the road in what 12 games?
OFFSIDE!!! gawd damnit
Tomorrow's headline in Ottawa: And the drought is over" Alfredson says last night's victory was the turning point in our season, no need to trade Spezza
SHUUUT
wow...
Gregor wanted me to specifically invite all JL members to call him on the 1260 post game show if you want to talk JL business
Bear in mind this is all secret business and snitches get stitches
damn you oilers
like i said if you are going through hell stop in edmonton for a cheer up...*says sorry to cat*
Scrotatious.....absolutely Scrotatious....
That sucks hard
@wanye
really?
Sportsnet crap infects the fresh wound
how many times have the Oilers been the streak breakers for teams on a losing streak....teams just aren't afraid of us.
See you guys here for the Calgary game. Piece out
PEACE OUT ALSO
Gregor just said that Pouliot has a concussion and might not be back till the 7th against the Canucks
And that Brule has been called up. He really gets a lot of information!
Gilbert Brule has been recalled...
Wanye were you just on Gregors Show????
I heard that too. He said wanye then wayne it was a funny email. I think it was
Crap. The guys play like this tomorrow night and it'll be a horror show.
Gregor's show tonight ended with an avalanche of idiots. I almost felt bad for him.
Nooooooooooo!
Damn Cole and his post/crossbars.
Poo looked like scrambled eggs.
Where was the physical play?
I was excpecting a Nilsson offensive onslaught.
The Red Ox? Seriously.
oh...and I sure miss Hemmer.
Once again the oil manage to find a way to break an opponents slump. Ottawa should have been a win. It will be a tough game tonight without Pouliot & Hemsky the way Calgary has been playing lately.
3-2-1 since Chicago ass kicking...with Calgary, Dallas, Islanders & Vancouver coming up.
With Ottawa on a 12 game road drought and the oil on a 3 game win streak - simple murphy math states that the Oil lose - with no one standing up for Pouliot - no one manned up - deserve to lose this one - another step back - 0.500 is the target remember.......