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'm sure it's been commented on on this site.. But I have to say, that may rank in the top 10 of sports mustaches
chrisinbanff wrote:
Kings beat Wild? CHECK!
Though someone should remind the Oilers they need to win for any of this to matter.
The Columbus broadcast crew is just livid at Moreau - they're replaying the Moreau pick from a couple of minutes ago, and there's no way that a penalty shouldn't have been called.
It'll come, and it's going to bother me when it does.
Not a good period whatsoever, especially for Roli. There's no excuse for letting in those goals.
Oil-losing!
*clap clap*
That Methot goal wasn't bad.
Cory Dakin wrote:
Gagner's is better.
For that matter, there really wasn't much he could do about the Boll goal either.
Although being in net would have been a good start.
PIcked corners on the last two shots. they were actually quite lovely... only it was scored by the wrong team. I loved roli heading the puck...
I hope trading Garon didn't make Roli too comfortable at #1... He plays better when he has something to prove
@ Cory Dakin:
He can try proving that he doesn't suck.
"It's really tougg to put it in to words because it was spectacular"
That's a good word.
Travis Dakin wrote:
LMAO... Anyone know if Sabourin is still an Oiler?
tough
@ Cam:
No word yet.
Showtime...
Ok boys.... Let's get it going.
AARRRGHHHGH
Smid to Staios.. That had offensive juggernaut written all over it
Even Brodziak has a pimp stache
Why isn't Brodziak's mustache getting and coverage?
Jonathan Willis wrote:
Well, imagine that. Moreau taking an "aggressive" penalty in the offensive zone.
Howis that a cross check...normally Moreau takes some bad penalties, but that was a BRUTAL call...he didn't even use his stick...embarrassing
It sounded Like Gene said "straight from the bong"
Jonathan Willis wrote:
If you think that is a penalty you don't know hockey. JTotal Joke.
Good kill...
Not feeling it here....
I guess Gregor's they kill aggressive penalties was right.. anyone know how Columbus is holding a lead after 40?
Mike wrote:
It's the even-up call. Moreau got away with at least two legit penalties earlier in the game - the referees know that.
I hate watching games we should win...50% of the time we suck other times we score six goals
Roli tends to play better when he sees a lot of shots.
Mike wrote:
Based on one kill - absolutely.
A penalty is a penalty. I don't care how it gets taken, the team doesn't drop to 85% PK rate when they are killing a lazy call and jump back up to 100% when they are killing an aggressive call.
And if Moreau's going to continue taking penalties, as he does, he deserves to be called on it.
@ freeze:
Roli tends to play better when he doesn't suck.
I think Columbus has outplayed Edmonton so far by a little bit... do you guys disagree?
@ Jonathan Willis:
He was talking about the team not minding to have to kill an aggressive penalty by someone playing with some mych needed edge as opposed to a lazy hooking penalty.
I think Roli, combined with his haircut and crazy eyes, would have the ultimate perv-stache.
Travis Dakin wrote:
he hehe hehe hehe...sucks!
@ Jonathan Willis: Hard to argue with that
wail on him Roli!!
Ok now things will happen.
Jonathan Willis wrote:
Not at all,the oil can't get anything set up or keep pressure...the CBJ look like the Wild right5 now.
The Columbus commentators are saying "He's wailing on Boll, but Boll didn't do anything - he got pushed in!"
Nonsense. Boll better get taught why that's a bad idea.
@ Jonathan Willis: they are certainly dictating the play. Hitch said the winner will be the one that dictates their game. We seem to have trouble playing 'our game' against defensive, checking teams.
The question now is will MacT let MacI go out and do his job
@ Jonathan Willis: How do you and why do you have the columbus broadcast?
Okay, maybe Boll was pushed a little bit.
EVERYBODY has the stache. except for Reddox. He can't grow one.
@ Travis Dakin: he has a thick one, you just can't see it.
Travis Dakin wrote:
http://atdhe.net/live-tv-2.php?i=689
I live in B.C., where all the Oilers games are blacked out (with the exception of HNIC and TSN national broadcasts).
Hence, I turn to the internet.