GDB 40: Groundhog Day at RX1
Jason Gregor
January 09 2009 12:56PM
Let me apologize for the lameness of this post. Like Jason Arnott, “I just wasn’t into it tonight.” That is how I am today. I rarely complain about the weather, but I’m sure sick of this -57 crap every morning, and going to the Oiler locker room feels like Groundhog Day.
Same story over and over, except Phil Connors was able to save the kid from falling from the tree, stopped a guy from choking, learned to play the piano and ended up with sexy Rita.
Today I got none of it. I won’t be helping Dustin Penner learn to show up even 60 per cent of the time, Ales Hemsky is still hurt, the music will still be sub par at the game tonight and I’ll be sitting by Rishaug not some hottie in the pressbox.
There was one difference today. It was an optional practice, on a game day no less, and Robert Nilsson showed up with all of his teammates except Shawn Horcoff. Horcoff will dress, and while MacTavish didn’t want to reveal who will be his right winger, I discovered it will be Liam Reddox. MacTavish likes to play Horcoff against the other team’s top line, so Reddox gets the call. YIPPIE.
MacTavish did admit that this team is still in a state of flux when it comes to their system.
“There is a bit of transitional period where you go from a team two years ago that was going to be physically reliable and had a certain amount of power to our game and we could rely on that. Now we are transitioning more to offensive puck moving team, and it has been a slower transition than what we would have anticipated based on what we saw last year. I still feel we are making good progress in that regard, and I look forward to a healthy team to see what we have.”
FYI Craig, you will be at the halfway point of the season on Sunday. Outside of Hemsky, and Horcoff’s wonky back your team has been healthy. Of course, Hemsky makes a world of difference. This team isn’t good enough to absorb his absence, and because no one else can score changing up the lines makes little sense.
But I’m kind of torn with his statement. I can go ballistic and say, “What you talking about Craig,” or I could applaud the coach for being patient with young guys and sticking to their strengths. Because it is clear the Oilers don’t have the horses to play anything resembling a power game. Well, the former is where I stand.
I said at the start of the year, 40 games is where I would evaluate this team, and here we are hours away from game 40 and this team is still as inconsistent as ever. Jekyll and Hyde have nothing on the Oilers. They didn’t take advantage of an extended stay at home and now they are in chase mode again. Win five or lose five in a row, at least do something unexpected. How about a line brawl? Or score eight goals. Do something, anything that would be outside of the same old same old routine of the past three seasons.
But just like the Groundhog Day, a win or a loss tonight won’t change a thing. The coach isn’t going anywhere, the players have yet to learn to be consistent, the music will still be sucky tonight, and I will spend a Friday night at the rink with Rishaug. How depressing. (Let’s hope the camera guy at least puts a few of Edmonton’s finest on the big screen tonight).
And yes, Dwayne Roloson will start tonight.
@ Wanye Gretz: It's like the time I saw Jason Arnott at Cowboys and called him a douchebag. True story.
Is the site crazy slow to load for anyone else or just me and my commodore 64?
Pants down gentleman there's a lady in the house.
Amber McCormick wrote:
HEY HEY!
I knew a girl who saw Darren Dutyschyn (spelling?) in a bar and asked him if he was wearing lipstick.
TRUE STORY
Or did I mean pants up? Actually I like the original version better.
@ Wanye Gretz: You're lucky, I work on a suped up Coleco Vision.
baggedmilk wrote:
LOLOLOLOLOL
@ Wanye Gretz: He does wear lipstick. I think it's Tarty-Tart-Tart #74
Hey guys did I miss anything? No?
*Continues to address anthrax filled envelopes to Gene Principe*
suntory hanzo wrote:
No idea. I havent been there in close to a decade, all I remember is seeing my buddy who wasnt paying attention to the stage get hit in the face by an arrant ping pong ball. Ah, good times.
Amber McCormick wrote:
You should upgrade to the ADAM
@ baggedmilk: Oh please, if you pull your pants up then I'll feel I have to pull mine up... too complicated. We're all friends here
THIS TATOO ON COLE IS NOT NEWS GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH
put Cole back with Gagner...
Priceless intro to Cole's tatoo by Principe.
"Cole plays with a lot of heart - and it's in that general area where you'll find the people who are most important too him."
Whatever they're paying him, it isn't enough.
Amber McCormick wrote:
Classic!
Is there a Shark named Vlasic? As in Juicy?
Jonathan Willis wrote:
"I hope Willis isn't talking about me" - Every Oilers player right now
That's weird; I thought Gene could put anything into words.
Especially adoration. He does adoration very well.
After that nice piece on cameraman it's now official
THIS GAME CANNOT GET MORE DEPRESSING
oh yeah... House of Pain
@ Amber McCormick:
Amber, I'm sorry. I couldn't hold it in. I will never forget you for as long as I live, and if you returned my calls I will return your darts.
@ Wanye Gretz: Ya, it is a bit slow...
Jonathan Willis wrote:
Just cause Gene starts every interview with "Before we start can I just say what an honor it is to meet you and how happy I am to be here?"
doesn't mean he isn't objective
I decided 2 years ago to get a new Oilers Jersey cuz they were so purdy...I was always worried about wearing my Gretzky, and my old circa 92 Klima jersey is only used when I win bets against my students. I send a friend to Edmonton because apparently (Other than Rexall which is funny) It's as if the Oil don't exist to pick me up a new pro jersey. I ask for a pro with Smyth on the back. He comes back with the $ and says he couldn't find a crested one. I decide to hold off "just in case" Smyth doesn't resign. You know the rest. SO..last year I'm visiting Edmonton on the coldest day of the millenium, and end up getting a new jersey (With Gagner...he's going to be awesome for like 15 years, right?) SO...do I basically have a 2nd Klima now? (other than Gags not being able to drink yet)
@ Amber McCormick:
Umm. They were alive, but died from shock from the fall before they hit the ice.
Wanye Gretz wrote:
Nah, by the final whistle we'll find out Pisani's bumfire has returned and he's lost another 35 lbs...
This could go either way too...
@ baggedmilk: Keep em. I can only imagine what you've done with them since. Sicko.
@ Amber McCormick:
Your taste remains and... Ahhh I won't even finish that.
@ Wanye Gretz:
I love how he never loses that "wow, I'm a 13-yr old kid meeting a superhero" attitude.
No matter how lousy the team gets, Gene loves everybody on it.
Maybe they aren't worthy of him.
If it's "Big" Joe Thornton, shouldn't it be "Big" Sheldon Souray and "Little" Danny-Boy Boyle too?
@ baggedmilk: Again...SICKO!! Yet, strangely, I'm flattered
Jonathan Willis wrote:
He looks as happy as Kipper when he spies a cigarette on the ground
Are those stats on Souray's shot taking ones that hit the net or just shots taken??
If Souray hit the net on even 1/3 of his shots I would be happier than Patrick Roy at a (holy crap baggedmilk - WG) festival.
Souray's currently credited with 124 shots on net, and 73 missed shots.
DAMNATION
Well. Anybody up for a few rounds at the Purple Onion?
@ Jonathan Willis:
You've got to be kidding? Color me surprised. That seems incredibly inaccurate.
"Sharks come in with only two powerplay goals in their past five games; they have two powerplay goals tonight."
Edmonton Oilers - the cure for what ails you. Ales - the cure for what the Edmonton Oilers do to you.
na na na na, na na na na,hey hey hey...I'm pissed!
@ baggedmilk:
High or low?
Star Wars on Spike trumps Oilers Game
@ Jonathan Willis:
Seems to be that he's missed the net way more than that. Who knew?
Why can't WE have a good hockey team??
*bursts into tears, wets pants*
@ baggedmilk:
I think the NHL counts shots that miss the net but hit the player as bodychecks. By my personal count, Souray as 38 of those so far, including the 2-for-1 in Vancouver.
@ baggedmilk:
It still works out to better than 2 missed shots per game ;)
Silver lining. Marleau still has 20 minutes to get the hat trick.
Did I fall asleep or did Strudwick get 2 for instig.