GDB 61: San Fernando es muy bueno!
Jason Gregor
February 26 2009 11:44AM
The Oilers will get a lift tonight when Fernando Pisani returns to the ice for the first time since Nov 17th, a span of 42 games. He will skate with Moreau and Cogliano, while Stortini returns to his usual spot on the fourth line with Reddox and Brodziak.
His teammates wasted no time trying to make him feel part of the team again.
Moreau said jokingly, “It's easier for him to come back compared to a skilled player.”
When Mark Connolly and I asked Pisani about that he replied, “He should know. Have you seen the puck after he handles it? It's chipped up badly,” laughed Pisani.
Pisani is well-liked in the room, and Moreau went on to say how much of a boost it should be for the team.
Pisani does play a simple game, and since he doesn’t play very physical his conditioning shouldn’t be an issue.
Grebeshkov will not play tonight, but thinks he might be able to go on Saturday.
The last time the Blue Jackets were in town, it was the Ales Hemsky show. He scored twice, had two assists and basically beat the Blue Jackets himself. Hemsky has been okay of late, but he needs to amp up his game again. The Blue Jackets have been a good match up for the Oilers offensively this year, and they sounded like a confident bunch at the skate today.
Of course that doesn’t guarantee a solid effort, but for unexplained reasons this team has been able to ramp their game up at this time of the year before, excluding 2007.
Spotlight on coaches
Ken Hitchcock goes for win #501 tonight. He became only the 12th coach to win 500 games when the Jackets beat the Leafs last Thursday.
Pat Burns is next in line with 501.
Here is the top ten.
- Scotty Bowman: 1244-574-323
- Al Arbour: 782-577-248
- Dick Irvin: 692-527-230
- Mike Keenan: 660-539-163
- Pat Quinn: 657-481-180
- Bryan Murray: 620-465-154
- Billy Reay: 542-385-175
- Ron Wilson: 539-452-158
- Jacques Lemaire: 528-405-172
- Jacques Martin: 517-406-175
Pretty exclusive company for Hitchcock, but the Oilers are hoping he waits to tie Burns for at least another two days.
But wait, there's more!
And what were the Penguins thinking? Why not just sign Ryan Malone to the $4.5 million contract in the summer. Is Chris Kunitz better? Of course not. Ray Shero must have something else up his sleeve or Ryan Whitney has completely lost his game. I’m betting on the former.
Fernie is hung like a chipmunk! MUHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Glad to hear Wanye's goat is close; he's the piece that I was really worried the Oil would miss down the stretch if he didn't heal fast enough. Obviously Lubo's loss hurt the team, but if we can keep it to just him, we still have the depth to put on the run we need.
FMNF
Where does Slats fit into that list? He had alot of winning years as coach. Is he close to 500?
Could this game be a turning point in the buyers/sellers at the deadline debate? If we can't win a home game against Columbus with huge playoff implications it may be time to pack it in.
I predict Oil will win 3-2, and I base that on absolutely nothing.
@ Mike Krushelnyski: I predict Oil will win 3-2, and I base that on absolutely nothing.
That's how my prediction meter works too.
In the past Hitchcock would preach to his players that if they played the body against the Oilers, the Oilers would wilt away.
I don't want to turn this into Reddox bashing because he is clearly the safest option but damn, this seems like the perfect game to get Jacques back into the line up to see what kind of hunger the kid has in saving his career.
Stortini back down to the 4th line with Jacques on the opposite wing and the 4th line actually looks physically intimidating against a team that isn't exactly the broadstreet bullies when it comes to accountability.
Anyone else get fired up by that picture? What just me?
@ baggedmilk:
if by fired up you mean creeped out...then yes I did.
@ Rick: Rick, I'm usually on the 'what the f**k is Reddox doing here' bandwagon but I thought he played pretty well last game. He did something positive every shift and made a great shot block near the end of the game. I do agree that we need to see if JFJ is part of the future for the Oilers at some point.
JFJ's time with the Oil has come and gone, just like Schremp. He's just waiting for someone to pull the trigger on his next chance. Barring a big trade, Reddox is going to be on the Oilers fourth line for a long time.
Good time for him to get back, maybe they can move him, Moreau or Staios at the deadline to a contender. They would be much more valuable to, say, Philly or Washington, than to Edmonton, particularly Moreau and Staios.
Reddox will be on the third line next year and chip in 10 to 20 goals for the next 10 years in the NHL. The guy is quick, hits and has some offensive upside.
5-2 Oiler win. Penner with 2, Cole with 2 and Reddox gets one shorthanded.
Homie wrote:
Whoa, cool. I didn't know Craig MacTavish posted here.
ARMCHAIR GM UPDATE: Just a tidbit to add to news of Pisani's return and the analysis of the Whitney-Kunitz trade by Willis . . .
Steve Tambellini didn't look thrilled when news of the trade broke this morning at the rink. Good reason why -- I'm told the Oilers were interested in Kunitz and had inquired about him.
Homie wrote:
Man some people who post on this site have the best sense of humor!!!! I love it!!
Who is going to be in net for us tonight dare I ask?
Robin B wrote:
And this is one of the reasons I love OilersNation. Very cool inside info. Thanks R-Bro!
@ Jack "FMNF" Bauer: Why would you ask? Like there's doubt?
@ Jack "FMNF" Bauer:
I doubt we see JDD during the playoff push. I mean, why check and see if the backup can play before playoffs. It's not like an opponent might get checked by a diminutive d-man, into the starting goalie and injure him. That just doesn't happen, does it?
I think it's better to call it a playoff push, since it's easier to run towards something than it is to push something. It's hard enough work just watching them try to get into the playoffs.
Bruthah wrote:
I think the difference here is we don't know the backup can't play, while back then we knew the goalies weren't good enough to get us there.
Robin B wrote:
Thanks for that, Robin. Very interesting indeed, and it would appear that Tambellini is going to go after that top-six LW.
Jason Gregor wrote:
Who saw this coming?!?
Robin B wrote:
...and that?!?
I really doubt Moreau was kidding about the "skilled" coment.
Anybody think Trent Hunter would be a good fit for the Oilers?
@ Oilersordeath: If he doesn't play left wing then nope.
So I wonder how long till mact goes back to
Moreau Horc Hemsky Kids Penner Pisani Cole MAP Brodz Mac
1 game, 2 games??
Great one more floater to fit into the mix
Robin B wrote:
Haha sqirm Tambo...SQUIRM! This is what happens when you sit on your hands too long.
do you think tambo will try to bring back the reason and get the rpm line back
@ Oilersordeath: No way he comes off the island this year in my opinion.
@ Brownlee
Awesome! That's why I check out this site every day. Keep us posted with stuff like that. By the way, Eklund's trying to sell the Spezza to EDM thing again. Any merit?
Peter Pan wrote:
NOOOOO, 3% chance he scores Murtle had a great article on EK, but he does hate him
And for your pre-game reading pleasure check out this blog by Marc Crawford on the cbc site:
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/blogs/2009/02/how_about_them_edmonton_oilers.html
Spells Roloson's name wrong... surprised he didn't say anything about Alex Hemsky.
wow... lots of typos in that blog, Tommy.
@ Tommy: Ughh i cant stand Crawford as a sportscaster, maybe next CBC game he can tell us again how its odd that Smid is hitting people, cause thats not his game. Hes a "european" player.
Wow Gregor - just heard you said the rake is in TO?!?!
Who saw this coming!?!?! *puts quarter into envleop & mails to Towelboy*
Going to the game tonight, hopefully Pisani has a good game & we come out with 2 points!
Oh and is there a reason the box there says 29-25-5?
NHL.com seems to think they are 30-25-5.
Oh it is probably because the Tbay game still shows as the next game.
BUCK75 - FMNF wrote:
Thanks Mr! I'll be able to afford that Red Ryder BB Gun in no time!
Tommy wrote:
I'm not shocked he spelled Roloson wrong...but I am shocked he didn't write "Rolofson."
Was anything offered from our end in the Kunitz inquiry, if so who?
Peter Pan wrote:
From thegarden.com During his tenure with the Oilers, the club posted a 791-660-215 record in 1,666 regular season games (.539 winning percentage), capturing three President???s Trophies, six division titles and six conference championships. In Stanley Cup playoff action, Sather's teams compiled a 133-82 record in 215 games (.619 winning percentage), leading to the club's five Stanley Cup titles.
baggedmilk wrote:
Pull my finger
Bruthah wrote:
A day late and a dollar short.
Hoodlum wrote:
No Katz was away and could not contact Kunitz to convince him to come to Edmonton - great drug plan here - even the trades are needing a sales job - as Cole is out of here as soon as the regular season is done or sooner if he lucks out.
The Towel Boy wrote:
The reason there were spelling mistakes is that they use the same program with no edit function.
@ Deep Oil: You have a "wity" one-liner for every post don't you...
Jonathan Willis wrote:
Funny - they didn't want Penner back eh?
APE - FMNF wrote:
Are you making a monkey out me APE
out of me (damm edit) urrrg
BUCK75 - FMNF wrote:
Can't find any confirmation of this anywhere yet. If it's true, Gregor really has the scoop.
@ Deep Oil:
You don't need any help with that.