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.
The Towel Boy wrote:
He hit him so hard his credit score changed.
COMIC GOLD
Oh My. Staios made an actual good play! Everyone mark it down on your calenders!
jeanshorts wrote:
Quiet hater!
You drinking tonight Wanye?
RBK wrote:
Is Bud Light considered drinking?
The Towel Boy is boozeless...
*spies a jiffy marker on the desk*
...hmmmmm
The Booger doesnt want to go with Smackentyre huh.
SCORE SCORE SCORE SCORE
OHHHH man!
WOOO
A goal! ....and they don't even have 8 yet!
This can't get any better.
So, if we score first, instead of spotting a 3-0 lead, we have a better chance of winning? Is that how it works?
The Towel Boy wrote:
Boozeless? WHO SAW THIS COMING????
Jack "slacking off at work" Bauer wrote:
It will happen I bet
Gah. It appears my feed is 2 minutes behind everyone else. Just like my motor skills.
Its your boy Moreau with another penalty
I Am The Law wrote:
There have not been any timeouts in the first minute eleven. That's a good sign.
JS - I'm in FSN feed too. NHL Gameday hates me. I don't think I've seen an actual Edmonton crew broadcast all year...
Jack "slacking off at work" Bauer wrote:
He just wanted to hang with Staios and remember the good old days when sophmore players gave a crap.
I Am The Law wrote:
That is probably a good thing.
Ha ha bloody nosed Cutterbuck. Suck on that you nerd.
@ jeanshorts:
Yeah...but we're Gene Principeless...so, it's all good.
@ Wanye Gretz:
...ohh...you. >:|
@ Wanye Gretz: I only heard about the Buffalo game. At the time, I was actually stuck in Buffalo during a snowstorm. I didn't think Buffalo would crush my soul twice at the same time...
@ I Am The Law:
Medicine Hat broke my heart twice in an hour once. It happens to the best of us.
You missed the Oilers scoring twice against Buffalo. It was so sweet.
Marc Andre Bergeron hey? You left some pants in the dressing room when you were traded. Size extra small right? Knees all worn out?
Penalty kill- already 600% more successful than last game!
Jeanshorts welcome back!
@ I Am The Law:
Give you a hint on the Buffalo game - that shot from the point Roli just stopped would have gone in.
Twice.
oh no...hemmer...
Holy crap SOMEONE PROTECT HEMSKY
Is he alright? FSN went to commercial dammit!
@ Jack "slacking off at work" Bauer:
Oh, but I was never gone......
*trips over a chair as he tries to back away into the shadows*
Oh good. A discussion on testicular cancer. Thanks Gene.
Wow, FSN is pimping the 2009 World Poker Tour season. Something else that's more popular in this nation than hockey... *sigh*
The Towel Boy wrote:
We are witnesssing a terrible interview like Wayne said
Wow is anybody listening to 630 ched? Rod Phillips doesnt even try to hide his bias. "Somebody better take out Mikko Koivu"
OK MacIntyre. Go end the life of Schultz. Who cares if you get life in prison
See, If that piece of trash maggot scum isnt going to fight any of our guys, then someone should take their stick, and break it over his face. Robin Regiher proved you wont even get suspended for it!
Wanye Gretz wrote:
Wayne this is the NHL. You end someones career by almost paralysing them from being, you get traded, not thrown in jail.
The FSN guy just said that Souray has won the hardest shot in the ASG. I can't recall, but I don't think that's true. Anyone?
Wanye Gretz wrote:
We're talking about Mark Schultz right?
Jack "slacking off at work" Bauer wrote:
And that is why I have an Oilers garbage can in my room.
TRUE STORY
jeanshorts wrote:
No it was Chara. Stupid FSN
Rolli is looking like 37 year old Rolli out there!
That Schultz scum can drive himself off the same cliff in the same van as Dion Phaneuf, Kevin Bieksa, and Matt Cooke.
Smack with the block. I love that big teddy bear.
MacInyre blocked that with his orbital bone.
The puck is cracked
Jack "slacking off at work" Bauer wrote:
And Celine Dion.
LOOK AT THE BLOCK ON MACINTYRE!
God Reddox is keeping tossed around out there. PUT HIM ON THE FIRST LINE!
Reddox is a top line player in the NHL.
*drools*
Oh yes! We get to know more about Cal Clutterbuck in the first intermission!
DREAMS DO COME TRUE!
Oooh, Clutterbuck is going to talk about Family Guy in the first intermission...
I don't even know what to say to that...
Wanye Gretz wrote:
My dream fwd line would be reddox - peterson - reasoner.