GDB 54: Voulez vous le win?
Jason Gregor
February 11 2009 12:27PM
For the first time since December of 2005 the Canadiens visit Rexall Place.I could sit here and write a novel about how moronic it is for an original six team not to play in another Canadian city for that long, but that would be about as insightful as people who think fighting is the biggest problem in the NHL.
Speaking of the obvious, the biggest concern for the Oilers right now is they can’t score.
Horcoff: One goal in his last 17 games. Cole: One goal in his last 11 games and no points in last six. Cogliano: No goals in his last 15 games. Penner: Two goals in his last 16 games. Gilbert: One goal in his last 34 games. Grebeshkov: One goal in his last 13 games.
That is half of your top two lines, and all of them get ample PP time. People can talk all they want about the likes of Reddox and Brodziak needing to be better, but it is clear that the supposed top-six forwards and scoring D-men aren’t getting it done offensively.
Tonight the lines will be back to “normal"
27 10 83 12 89 26 18 13 78 85? 51 46
Steve MacIntyre spent lots of time on the ice after practice skating with Fernando Pisani, so you would think he is the healthy scratch tonight, but MacTavish wasn’t divulging who would be on the fourth line. It sounds like a game time decision whether he will play.
As Brownlee pointed out yesterday, MacIntyre and Laraque have been exchanging text messages lately. Comparing notes on other tough guys around the league has been the gist of most conversations from what I understand. Does this mean they have a gentleman’s agreement not to fight? Possibly, but they also know their role and if 33 dresses and he or George take a run at someone I’m sure they both still know their role.
Roloson will start in net again, and MacTavish hinted he wants to get Deslauriers a start on the upcoming road trip, but hasn’t decided where yet. You would think it would be in Phoenix against the struggling dogs on Monday night.
Lidstrom his idol
Ladislav Smid has a two-game point scoring streak going, which ties a career high, but he is still looking for that elusive first goal of the season. In fact, he hasn’t scored in his since March of 2007, a span of 118 games.
Smid jokingly blamed it on his childhood idol Nick Lidstrom. “I switched to an Easton stick two years ago, because Lidstrom uses one, but I haven’t scored a goal these sticks yet. I might have to go back to Reebok.”
“I blame it on the forwards. None of them have set me up with a tap-in goal. Look at me, I’m not going to do it by myself and they know it, yet they haven’t helped me out,” laughed Smid.
“But I’ve been thinking about my celebration. It will be a big surprise and it will happen this season. Count on it.”
Good prank
At the beginning of the season, Ryan Rishaug from TSN traveled to Dallas to do a story on Sean Avery. Avery and the Stars agreed to it ahead of time and he flew down, but when he got there Avery snubbed him and said he wouldn’t do it. Rishaug and his camera guy got Avery on camera walking away saying, “I don’t want to talk, I hate TSN.”
Well, with Avery out of his counseling rehab, Rishaug got taken pretty good from a TSN counterpart who will remain nameless. This morning Rishaug got a text saying that Avery wanted to make up with the reporter that he blew off earlier this season, and here is his number. 1.413.497.0025
Rishaug gets all excited. Redemption is sure to be his as he grabs his pen and notepad, gets comfortable at a table and dials the number.
“Thank you for calling the psychiatric hotline…”
Listen to the entire call. Classic. I think Oiler fans can relate since their team shows multiple personalities from game to game.
I'm going to be at the game tonight and I am not looking forward to having to deal with a building half full of Habs fans. Please let the good Oilers show up tonight.
"I don’t expect you to grasp something that can’t be monitored with statistics"
@ Jason Gregor:
Is it possible for you not to act like a complete f*cking as*hole all the god damn time? Do you wonder why people rag on you? People come on here to read your insight and get the opinion of a journalist in the know, not get ripped on by some bald freak with an inferiority complex. Grow the F up Gregor.
Last PPV game, someone posted a link to watch it free online. A link for tonight's game would be much appreciated since I refuse to pay more than I already do to watch this team crap the bed. I share season tickets and already pay too much to watch this sad excuse for a team K-Blow built.
@ Wanye Gretz:
Wanye, I have never felt so proud as I do right now. Congrats on having a woman proposition someone on the site. This is a big day for ON and I have never been happier. Over internet high fives to all of you.
Two feeds
http://atdhe.net/live-tv.php?i=11920236
http://atdhe.net/live-tv-2.php?i=809
the link is in my name
Thanks a ton Jack. Way to stick it to Alan Watt!
awww no props for me for dropping the website in 11 posts ago? j/k. So glad its the actual PPV this time. watching states feed is weird. No Nascar adds taking up 75% of the screen every 5 minutes during the game. seriously how many hockey fans are Nascar fans?
KID LINE!!! WOOOOO!!
I got 1 so far.
Gregor: The level of competition has nothing to do with the death of that player; the fact is that anytime a guy falls down without his helmet on, it increases the likelihood of him incurring a major head injury and hopefully the league can learn from Sanderson's death.
I know there's minimal risk in fighting but at least we have hard and tragic proof of what can go wrong. On the other hand we can argue all night if fighting leads to anything on the scoreboard and no one will ever win that argument because it quite simply isn't quantifiable.
And I know we haven't see the longterm of playing without fighting but if you're worried it will lead to more dirty hits, I'll say go zero tolerance on high hits and hitting from behind.
Regarding the snarky comments from Gregor and Brownlee, this is why some of us like to poke holes in some of their old pet theories.
For example, it isn't so much that I like safe guys as it is that I like guys who are on the ice for at least as many goals for as they aren't against;)
Holy giveaway's Batman
Weird Jumbo Donair didnt be tough
Hemmer!!
@ freeze: The kid is sick
anybody know how to watch this game on the net? i don't mind paying the ten bucks but don't have a digital cable box yet. am getting one on monday. anyways - how do you watch this on the internet?
ET LE BUT!!!!!!!!
That was gross
@ esa tikkanen:
www.atdhe.net
thanks go to Jack Bauer for that
I guess it's out turn to run up the score...
YEAH!!!
COGS!!! WOOOO!!!
Keep crashin' the net boys!
What is happening here? explosive offensive? stortini 3 goals.... I must be dreaming
OilersNinja wrote:
He's trying to catch Gagner.
@ OilersNinja:
scroll up on the comments and click on Jack Bauer's name and it will link to it
That was for you Esa
@ Smokin' Ray:
Haha.....very true
I cant stand Rob Brown, he sounds like nails on a chalk board with bad hair plugs.
@ OilersNinja:
I could not agree more - FMNF
Weird goatboy coughs it up
HEMSSSSSSSSKKKKKKYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
that was terrible
Carey Price has been put on suicide watch for this intermission.
ANd my god that was an ugly defensive break down on that goal there.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA LOOK AT ROB BROWN!!!!!!!!
I hope there is intermission Bob Stauffer
20 bucks says he is eating a bucket of chicken right now
And there he is
Gene to Stauffer "You should be out of breath."
I'm starting to warm up to this Principe guy.
Stauffer is sweating now......lots
Maybe it's my grainy internet feed, but is Stauffer holding a ham sandwich or a microphone?
@ jeanshorts:
How??? his one liners are terrible
whoa.... that broad was hot
@ OilersNinja: I concur
GO OIL keep it up
haha stortini is a scoring a machine
If Stortini pots two tonight...I'll lose it.
Great acting Job, I sense a Gemini for that guy
@ The Towel Boy:
Why is that? Zack Stortini has huge offensive upside he is just trapped in the role of wannabe tough guy.. I am just kidding, I would jump off the high level if he pots 2 tonight,
@ RBK:
You mean Roloson?
@ OilersNinja:
Haha...yeah, if MacT would play him on his natural wing.
*shakes head in shame*
That slew footing Bullsh*t should be an automatic 5 and a game. Plekanics is so dirty it's unreal.
@ The Towel Boy: Roli will be nominated but that guy will win
That was a dirty dirty play. Make 'em pay on the PP.
@ jeanshorts: CHeap euros
That PP was ..umm..annoying ...I guess is the word.