GDB 46: Hello, Robert Nilsson!
Jason Gregor
January 20 2009 01:02PM
For the second straight game, the Oilers offence will get a boost; the fog has lifted and Robert Nilsson will play tonight with Gagner and Cole. Nilsson skated hard yesterday, and was cautious about a return tonight, but after the morning skate he was smiling and excited to play with his father in the rink tonight.
Nilsson’s return means a shuffle: Reddox is off the second line, and based on practice he might be in the pressbox tonight. Reddox and Strudwick were the last two off the ice at the morning skate, normally a sign that they won’t play tonight. The problem with that theory is that Strudwick has been the last player off on game day many times, yet still laced them up that night.
Reddox, Brule, Strudwick and MacIntyre are the options to flank Brodziak, and none of the players were saying who was playing. I would lean towards MacIntyre and Brule being in tonight.
Hall & Oates
Many of you were stunned watching the Oilers, specifically Ethan Moreau, clapping in unison to Private Eyes, after their win against Phoenix. Veteran Strudwick explains the reasoning behind this song:
Strudwick: First off, I really liked the '80s. There was lots of good music produced, synthesizers and bad hair were a good combination. As far as Hall and Oates, we're searching for a song and right now that seems to be the go-to after the game. I like the song a lot and I think we should stick with it.
Gregor: Is it because of the clapping sequence, the unison factor?
Strudwick: We had tried harder clapping sequence, but not everyone could get it, but now this song there is only three claps every two minutes so we can keep the pace.
Gregor: You’ve been around the league a long time -- are there any other songs that were this team-building-ish.
Strudwick: Most teams after a win play the same song. Last year in New York we had a song by Eminem -- Shake Your Ass -- not sure if you are familiar with it, but it is quite a good number. The other year we had Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond, which was Jagr’s song. We’ve had quite the potpourri of music.
Moreau kicking out Pouliot
Many of you thought Moreau was a horrible leader for waving Pouliot out of the dot a few games ago, so I asked him why?
“I take it because then Cogs can stay on the left side, where he is more comfortable, and not go on the right. Really, Poulie and I laugh about it when we look at one another to see who will take it. It isn’t a big deal at all, but the main reason is so that Cogs can stay on the left where he is more comfortable.”
I asked Pouliot his thoughts on it, and if he felt being a centre he should take the draw.
“Cogs hates the right side, so it is easier for Chop (Moreau) to take the draw. If he loses it I bug him hard that I should take it next time, but we laugh about it. When he waved me out it was because Cogs yelled at him to take it so he could stay on the left. I don’t think it is a big deal, other than I can bug him if he loses it.”
Garon and contract
To clarify whether Garon got a contract offer from the team this summer, I made a phone call. Garon said he had never spoken to the Oilers about an extension, while I was told a few months back there was an offer.
The truth is that Garon’s camp called the Oilers about an extension in the summer, and the Oilers said they would look at it during the season. So Garon never turned down an extension, but they did have contact with the Oilers about it. This according to Kevin Prendergast.
My original source was correct that talks had occurred, but it was, in fact, the Garon camp that started them not the Oilers.
I said that Sportsnet is reporting this, but I just made a phone call, and the person I spoke with in the organisation, said he wasn't aware of Hemsky not playing tonight. So we will look into it...Hemsky skated the entire practice this morning, so if he doesn't go, he must have be having some post concussion symptoms again.
From some of the diggers on Twitter: Sportsnet has changed it, now saying Hemsky will play his second straight game and Reddox is out.
@ Jason Gregor: Thanks for looking into this, Jason.
HEMSKY IS PLAYING....SPORTSNET changed their story...he is in...Just got it confirmed...thought it was strange.
smytty777 wrote:
Let the record show that it originally said "Hemsky will be taken out of the line up."
Glad that is cleared up. I almost freaked out.
Jason Gregor wrote:
right on - thanks, Gregor!
I love Ales Hemsky. In a cool kind of way though. Just want to make that perfectly clear.
APE wrote:
Like the way Simon loved Simon in the show Simon and Simon?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081930/
What in the hell does the coaching staff see in Pisani!!! I find my self cursing him every game!! He's a soft AHLer in my opinion, I dont like the idea of sending Brule down when this pussy comes back!! So he had one good playoff thats it!! that will never happen again.
APE wrote:
ditto.
@ Oilersordeath: This is why they love him.
Oilersordeath wrote:
What's the weather like up your own arse?
GAME DAY!!!
atastypie wrote:
Knob Hockey. We're rolling the classics out tonight.
*clap clap*
Early power play; let's see if Hemmer can bring the magic . . .
Go Hemmer!
And nice Lubo shot!
AWESOME PP!
*CLAP, CLAP*
LET'S GO KINGS!!!
And Rangers...and Red Wings...and Sharks!
@ Cory Dakin: What in the hell?
Yeah.. That's right
Travis Dakin wrote:
We need all these teams to win tonight, as well as us, and we'll go into the All-Star Break in 5th.
@ chrisinbanff:
Oh that makes sense...
A Vancouver loss/ Edmonton win would leave me with a good feeling in my happy place tonight
@ Cory Dakin: Holla Brotha
Am I the only one that cringes when he shoots the puck? I'm pretty sure I get pity pains in my shins.
Cory Dakin wrote:
Oh welcome to the nation....
It's good to be here
Rangers beat Ducks? CHECK!
Cory Dakin wrote:
Oh you have no idea.
Good old Rangers!
The Principe is hilarious. I don't care what you people say. ha
Where is your comp set up now?
Los Angeles 4 Minnesota 1
Detroit 1 Phoenix 0
I'm lovin' it
Principe is solid gold... At least he knows people are laughing at him, and not with him.. That's what makes him awesome
Computer is in my bedroom, right beside the tv
Cory Dakin wrote:
I said that last game. Self awareness is a good quality.
Cory Dakin wrote:
Well that is perfect. Get a fridge in there for the beer and you're golden.
Well that wasn't a bad period at all. Not dominant, but not bad at all.
I've been thinking about that
You know... A tie for 5th with two games in hand on the teams they're tied with would allow me to sleep very well over the all-star break.
@ Jonathan Willis:
Things are lining up the way we need. In terms of other games.
That Ales Hemsky is some kind of awesome.
Travis Dakin wrote:
Detroit and Phoenix are still tied, but on the whole things are looking good league-wideright now.
Jonathan Willis wrote:
I concur, this team is better with Pisani in the lineup. I am also terribly curious to see his performance in the playoffs again to see if there is some magical transformation again. I am not counting on it or anything but I am curious.
@ Cam:
I was probably a little too harsh there, but some people bother me.
I mean, Pisani isn't a franchise talent by any stretch, but he's the kind of guy that is on a lot of Cup winning teams third line. It's like calling Draper a "soft AHL'er".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nR6T7fHgMc
Here. Watch it again.
How can watching one video make someone so happy, and yet so sad at the same time....
Travis Dakin wrote:
I remember watching that live. I'd just given up on the game because Carolina was money on the powerplay; that was the best point in the series, IMO.