GDB 48: It couldn't possibly get any worse...
Robin Brownlee
January 30 2009 02:44PM
Having had to wear Tuesday's 10-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres like a bad haircut and endure the musical taunting of a smart-ass radio station from The City of Cows since Tuesday, the Edmonton Oilers get a chance to redeem themselves, not a minute too soon, when the Minnesota Wild come calling at Rexall Place tonight.
Niklas Backstrom? Pfft. Derek Boogaard? Say hello to my little friend (insert photo of Steve MacIntyre speed-bagging Jimmy Vandermeer or Allan Watt scowling as he works the speed dial here) (ed note: no such photo exists... yet).
After 72 hours of torment, the Oilers get the opportunity to prove that Tuesday's "debacle of monumental proportions" was a fluky, freakish one-off never to be repeated. Same thing for that, ahem, 9-2 starching from the Chicago Blackhawks... never mind.
What better circumstances to do it in than against a Minnesota team that arrives with the exact same record, 24-20-3 for 51 points, and is probably still reeling from Tuesday's 6-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs... never mind.
That aside, the Oilers come into this HUGE FOUR-POINTER with untold confidence and a flawless 0-10 record against Backstrom after having lit him up like a cheap cigar in a 5-1 loss in Minnesota Jan. 15... never mind.
What could possibly wrong?
Second look for Potulny
Look for Ryan Potulny to be back in the line-up tonight on the second line between Robert Nilsson and Erik Cole. After tallying three assists in four games during his first stint, Potulny is eager to show well again after being recalled from Springfield.
"Hopefully, things can go the same way they did last time," Potulny said of getting another crack alongside Cole.
"I guess there's a little bit of pressure, but it's a good pressure. Any time you come up you’re going to put pressure on yourself. You have to do whatever role you're put in. I'm just going to go out and play hockey."
If coach Craig MacTavish wasn't pulling any fast ones with his lines this morning -- like his little bit of mis-direction over Zack Stortini's readiness to play the last time out -- the line-up should look as follows:
Forwards
Penner – Horcoff - Hemsky
Nilsson – Potulny – Cole
Moreau – Cogliano – Pouliot
Macintyre – Brodziak – Reddox
OUT: Stortini
D-men
Souray – Gilbert
Grebeshkov – Visnovsky
Smid – Staios
OUT: Strudwick
Dwayne Roloson will get the start in goal against his former teammates despite getting yanked after allowing three goals on eight shots against Buffalo.
-- Listen to Robin Brownlee every Thursday from 4 to 6pm on Just A Game with Jason Gregor on TEAM 1260.
Oh man! I can't wait to not watch this game!
I'm not paying for it. No matter how much I think they'll come out swinging.
...well....maybe I could buy it...it's only like 15 bucks or w/e...I could just not buy that Golden Girls Season 3 DVD collection and have enough skrill for the game....
...or not...
Man...I dunno!
Gametime decision.
@ The Towel Boy's hindsight...:
Thanks, you've made my decision even more cloudy.
The Towel Boy wrote:
Listen to it on the radio. Rod Phillips has the ability to make a real snoozer seem exciting. That is what I do for Wild games since i hate watching them.
time to break out the magic 8-ball, dude... and if you have one of those round black decision-making things, give that a try, too
The best episodes of the Golden Girls are where Blanche acts like she's 19, Rose acts stupid, Sophia calls Blanche a slut and men pretend like they'd actually (edited but done so laughing - WG) Dorothy.
On tonight's game, Roli has been sucking the last few games and if he doesn't show up, it doesn't matter. The Oilers bailed him out in wins vs Phx and CBJ but he needs to be way better than he has been of late.
Hit up Tap 25. That way if it all goes downhill you can begin the drowning of sorrows with the $15. If things go well you throw the $15 on black and make enough to buy EVERY season of Golden Girls.
Potulny bangs in all of the shots Cole puts off the post tonight.
The Towel Boy wrote:
why pay to watch oil lose to the wild AGAIN
free internet link - http://atdhe.net/live-tv.php?i=11453625
PPV to boot!!!
All that said, we have about a 5% chance to win.
Then again they blew my mind last game.
Dennis wrote:
I don't know that I have seen that episode....
Wanye SO SORRY
OK Nation. The site was down and we feel terrible and we tried as hard as we could to rustle up some tickets for tonight's game to reward you for your patience. We failed.
BUT we did get some tickets for the game on Sunday against the Predators. "But Wanye - isn't that during the superbowl?" But nothing Nation. We did the best we could with the servers and we did the best we could with the tickets.
Ticket contest
Email me at wanyegretz@gmail.com and tell me something funny that will get my mind off the internet always being broken. Tomorrow morning we will award two club access seats to the game against the Preds AND a parking pass AND a $25 GC to Hudson's Downtown - where you will pick up your tickets.
That's it - you cheer Wanye up.
*rustles for secret whisky bottle hidden in fake right leg*
@ Deep Oil: careful, you'll have Watt blowing his top seeing that link!
That's funny Freeze. I was just thinking the same thing. Mr. Wart will be firing off an e-mail to the Nation ordering them to remove it.
Hopefully tonight is only a Debacle Of Miniscule Proportions.
@ Mike: the way things are getting censored around here they may do it voluntarily. wouldn't want to cut into Hudson's revenues. ;)
@ freeze: I'm friends with one of the Nation owners, and they have no stake in Hudsons. OilersNation is independent.
freeze wrote:
Yeah - that's exactly right. Go look at all the comments on here this week and tell me that they are edited.
freeze wrote:
atdhe.net is the favorite PPV standby for the guys at LT's. I imagine it's a lifesaver for Jonathan. If you have a decent internet connection and a big computer screen, the feed is pretty good.
I watch it just to imagine Oilers Brass steaming at not getting my $15. Even if I go to a game, I'll leave the feed on just to make a point. Mua-hahaha!
@ Craigsworth: the smart ass comment was more that their sponsors would get on the horn ala Watt.
@ Wanye Gretz: that came from the edit on Dennis. tongue planted firmly in cheek wanye...
@ Wanye Gretz: seriously, I respect what you are building on here.
Wow, looking at the line-up for tonights game really, really depressed me. Is it just me, or are we missing a credible roster player or two, someone that hasn't played in the minors over the last 3 years? I am depressed, I got no confidence in this roster right now. (except Hemsky, go Hemskey! http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=bYUvdrpVgWY
David S wrote:
Katz may just borrow some more money and buyout OilersNation and replace RobinB and JasonG with DanT and BobS - this way Oiler media control will be complete.
freeze wrote:
Oh man - I'm sorry. I am a bit testy today.
*hangs head*
Deep Oil wrote:
By my careful calculations the OilersNation is worth $0.74 cents and a moustache comb. Having said that - the OilersNation will have to be taken from my cold dead hands and is not for sale.
Unless the moustache comb is Oiler blue.
@ Wanye Gretz: me too. brutal week. luckily I get to drink expensive, watered down, tasteless beer tonight!
PLEASE WIN TONIGHT!!!!!
Wayne, you my friend are quite funny today.
@ freeze:
Oh please win tonight. It will make all the pain go away.
@ APE:
I'm glad my rage entertains you. Standby for a doozy idea I have if the Oilers gas another one tonight.
Just a heads up from the last blog - fan 960 pulled down GOLA - it is still up at
GOLA GOLA GOLA GOLA
YOUTUBE - http://ballhype.com/video/fan960_goalla_oilers_get_blown_out_10_2_greaseville/
GAME DAY!!!
Smokin' Ray wrote:
It is now!! No one can announce that but you smokin ray. :)
Am I being too negative or could Potulny's comments be taken as a bit of a shot at being sent down last time???
“Hopefully, things can go the same way they did last time,” Potulny said of getting another crack alongside Cole.
I do what I can...
Just a thought but if we come back and win tonight, wasn't the 10-2 loss kind of pointless. The way I see it a couple more of those losses and maybe, just maybe we get to see some changes management and coaching wise. (Not talking about Tambo here). And then see them unload some of our stupid salaries, Try to get into the Tavares sweepstakes. Or at least a good pick in a decent draft. And Rebuild with some of the very good youth that we already have. A.K.A. Chicago, Boston, and Washington. However I wouldn't mind seeing them beat the crap out of minny though, can't stand those life sucking losers.
Just checked out the gag song and it's really fornication funny.
Seriously, does this club have a sense of humour? Then again, I guess I know the awnser when you consider that Lowe talks about how he'd like to throttle people.
Like I said, this org's not likeable.
Cam wrote:
Rod phillips is Done, his voice is way to old and shakey. Fred is no better yet, he sounds like he has a barney burger in his mouth all the time, (edited by WG)
Dennis wrote:
Maybe this will make the Oilers realize Yes they are the laughing stock of the NHL, Even Atlanta laughs at them. Lowe must Go, take your boys on the bus with you.
Pokie Reddik wrote:
Dude, stop sniffing the glue at work...Rod phillips rules and it is a shame that he is stepping down. Better than listening to that loser "Bryan,3 plays behind Hall"
@ R-DAWG:
True! I love Rod Phillips. He is still the best
The boys at JSBM are doing an uncensored game day nation. It was really funny last game so check it out. I do both, but it's good when I have to say F**k You MacTavish to letter rip at JSBM. LOL
http://www.jeanshortsandbaggedmilk.com
*nervously looks at clock*
...the game of reckoning is nearly upon us.
It's make or break time people.
GOILERS!
*slowly creeps into the room, hoping no one will notice, takes a seat in a dark corner, and lights a cigarette*
jeanshorts wrote:
Well well well. Look who came back...
*bursts into emotional tears and wipes nose on sleeve*
Game time!
Q: PPV against the Wild on a Friday Night. Is there anything with higher ratings?
A: No
HOJA found time to leave their tour of nowhere to sing the Anthem????
AW SNAP PUFFY!
During this anthem is the only time in Nilsson's career he isn't the biggest wuss on Rexall Ice
You are on both JSBM and here Wanye?
haha you are everywhere like Visa
Fight! Fight!
OHHHH nice hit!
I don't care - I love Staios