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.

A sportswriter since 1983, Brownlee covered the Oilers for The Journal 1989-2000 and The Sun 2000-2007. Brownlee writes for Canadian Press and Oilersnation. More important, he is Sam's dad.

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Reply #101 Jack "slacking off at work" Bauer January 30 2009, 07:39PM

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There is your boy Moreau

Reply #102 I Am The Law January 30 2009, 07:39PM

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Nice job Moreau!!!

Reply #103 The Towel Boy January 30 2009, 07:39PM

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ohhhhh

El Capitano

Reply #104 Wanye Gretz January 30 2009, 07:39PM

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Oh yeah CAPN

Boom goes the dynamite

Reply #105 Wanye Gretz January 30 2009, 07:40PM

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@ The Towel Boy:

Can you imagine that line? So much defensive effort....

Jack "slacking off at work" Bauer wrote:

There is your boy Moreau

He does OK

Reply #106 The Towel Boy January 30 2009, 07:40PM

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ohh here we GO

Reply #107 Jack "slacking off at work" Bauer January 30 2009, 07:40PM

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Oh here we go!!!

Reply #108 jeanshorts January 30 2009, 07:40PM

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WEEEEE! MOREAU IS THE BEST PLAYER EVER!

*smashes his face into the side of the Moreau bandwagon as he attempts to jump back on*

Reply #109 I Am The Law January 30 2009, 07:40PM

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Let's get ready to RUUUMMMBLEE!!!

Reply #110 jeanshorts January 30 2009, 07:40PM

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ITS HAPPENING!!!!!

Reply #111 The Towel Boy January 30 2009, 07:40PM

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come on PUNCH or something.

Reply #112 Wanye Gretz January 30 2009, 07:41PM

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Attaboy MacIntyre! You aren't dead. That's something.

Reply #113 jeanshorts January 30 2009, 07:42PM

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Well. That was like the first time I had sex. It didn't go like I had imagined. But it was pretty sweet either way.

Reply #114 Wanye Gretz January 30 2009, 07:42PM

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jeanshorts wrote:

*smashes his face into the side of the Moreau bandwagon as he attempts to jump back on*

EPIC

Reply #115 Wanye Gretz January 30 2009, 07:43PM

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jeanshorts wrote:

Well. That was like the first time I had sex. It didn’t go like I had imagined. But it was pretty sweet either way.

And it also involved two large men!

Reply #116 The Towel Boy January 30 2009, 07:44PM

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@ Wanye Gretz:

haha.

Reply #117 RBK January 30 2009, 07:44PM

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@ Wanye Gretz:

LOL

Reply #118 Blog log January 30 2009, 07:44PM

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Why is Strudwick playing in place of Smid? When will anyone in the Oilers organization realize that Smid is good?

Reply #119 jeanshorts January 30 2009, 07:45PM

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Wow. The FSN feed just had one of those popup ads on the screen for Nascar, and it took up 3/4 of the screen.

CARS GO VROOOM!!!

Reply #120 Wanye Gretz January 30 2009, 07:46PM

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Blog log wrote:

Why is Strudwick playing in place of Smid? When will anyone in the Oilers organization realize that Smid is good?

You sir/madam/robot are quite right. The way they treat Smid is BS. He used to be a regular and he hasn't fallen off at all yet is treated like crap.

Reply #121 The Towel Boy January 30 2009, 07:46PM

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jeanshorts wrote:

Wow. The FSN feed just had one of those popup ads on the screen for Nascar, and it took up 3/4 of the screen. CARS GO VROOOM!!!

It's a gentleman's sport fit for royalty.

Reply #122 jeanshorts January 30 2009, 07:47PM

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Does anyone remember that one time, I think it was in the playoffs or something, and MA Bergeon slammed into his own goalie, and the goalie got hurt and it kind of cost the Oilers the cup? Remember that? Yeah.

Reply #123 Wanye Gretz January 30 2009, 07:47PM

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Staios is a god damn Champion. He is being interviewed by Mean Gene.

Reply #124 The Towel Boy January 30 2009, 07:48PM

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jeanshorts wrote:

Does anyone remember that one time, I think it was in the playoffs or something, and MA Bergeon slammed into his own goalie, and the goalie got hurt and it kind of cost the Oilers the cup? Remember that? Yeah.

...hmmm...not suuure...could you expand on this story?

Reply #125 Wanye Gretz January 30 2009, 07:48PM

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@ jeanshorts:

Did that happen? How unfortunate. I have no recollection of any th-

OH MY GOD ROB BROWN IS A MONSTER

Reply #126 Wanye Gretz January 30 2009, 07:50PM

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I would gladly pay $30 for PPV if there was no Rob Brown commentary. MY EYES ARE WORTH $15 extra

Reply #127 Wanye Gretz January 30 2009, 07:52PM

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Intermission Question

Who is a better kisser? Brad Pitt or Zac Efron?

mmm

Reply #128 Wanye Gretz January 30 2009, 07:53PM

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Oh Lord. Stauffer just poured himself into a suit and lumbered on camera

Reply #129 jeanshorts January 30 2009, 07:53PM

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I just googled Rob Brown, and the only pictures that came up were of this gentleman http://z.about.com/d/movies/1/0/U/A/R/stoplossprem7.jpg

RACIST!

Reply #130 jeanshorts January 30 2009, 07:54PM

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SSSSSHHHH HERE IT IS. CLUTTERBUCK!

Reply #131 Smokin' Ray January 30 2009, 07:54PM

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Wanye Gretz wrote:

Intermission Question Who is a better kisser? Brad Pitt or Zac Efron? mmm

didn't we answer that one last week?

Reply #132 RBK January 30 2009, 07:54PM

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Those buttons on his suit have no chance

Reply #133 Wanye Gretz January 30 2009, 07:55PM

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Smokin' Ray wrote:

Wanye Gretz wrote: Intermission Question Who is a better kisser? Brad Pitt or Zac Efron? mmm didn’t we answer that one last week?

Trick question: Smokin Ray wins. And the answer is "we all win" btw.

Reply #134 Smokin' Ray January 30 2009, 07:55PM

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Stauffer is NOT made for tv.

Reply #135 jeanshorts January 30 2009, 07:56PM

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Alright, first off, they have some kind of clown/circus music in the background. Good way to set the tone. Oh they have funny graphics and sound effects too. TAKE SOME NOTES OILERS MEDIA PEOPLE!

Things I learned:

Clutterbuck lives in a hotel.

He parties with James Sheppard.

Favorite TV show is Family Guy. It pushes boundaries.

Favorite Movie is The Dark Knight, Wedding Crashers, and Shawshank Redemption.

Famous Crush is Blake Lively from Gossip Girl.

Boyhood Idol is Burnaby Joe Sakic.

And now you know, and knowing is half the battle. CLUTTERBUCK!

Reply #136 RBK January 30 2009, 08:01PM

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@ jeanshorts:

My stars. All I heard was Stauffer going "BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH Cheeseburger"

Reply #137 jeanshorts January 30 2009, 08:04PM

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@ RBK:

LUCKY!

Reply #138 Yakman January 30 2009, 08:07PM

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Go Cole!

Reply #139 Jack "slacking off at work" Bauer January 30 2009, 08:07PM

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The oilers are going after Schultz huh.

Reply #140 Yakman January 30 2009, 08:07PM

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Go lubo!

Reply #141 Jack "slacking off at work" Bauer January 30 2009, 08:07PM

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YEAHHHHHHHH

Reply #142 Wanye Gretz January 30 2009, 08:07PM

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SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Reply #143 I Am The Law January 30 2009, 08:08PM

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We just chased out Backstrom? That's something...

Reply #144 Wanye Gretz January 30 2009, 08:08PM

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That instinct of Vishnovsky heading to the net and getting his own rebound is what makes him worth $7 mil. No D men do that.

Reply #145 Yakman January 30 2009, 08:08PM

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btw... long time "listener" first time "caller" y'all make me laugh...

Reply #146 Wanye Gretz January 30 2009, 08:09PM

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Yakman wrote:

Go Cole!

That's what I'm talking about

Reply #147 jeanshorts January 30 2009, 08:09PM

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TAKE THAT BACKSTROM! How does 10 and 1 feel???? Man that Vish sure has some game I guess hey? Yeesh.

Reply #148 I Am The Law January 30 2009, 08:09PM

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Moreau's sure earning that "C" tonight.

Reply #149 Yakman January 30 2009, 08:09PM

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Man, this completely screws me in my hockey pool for the week but I don't care!

Reply #150 Wanye Gretz January 30 2009, 08:10PM

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Yakman wrote:

btw… long time “listener” first time “caller” y’all make me laugh…

Please say something inappropriate to verify this statement sir.

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OilersNation

GDB 48: It couldn't possibly get any worse...

Second look for Potulny

Forwards

D-men