GDB 50: Can Robert Nilsson be the guy?
Jason Gregor
February 03 2009 03:53PM
Yesterday Craig MacTavish stated, “We haven’t an answer on that left side for awhile. We’ve tried a lot of players there, virtually everybody has had an opportunity there, and we need to find someone. Dustin is the best fit there when he is playing, and playing well.”
Tonight it will be Nilsson, and he is excited.
“Hemsky’s a great player, especially this year, and I know I will get more chances playing with him... I just have to bury them.”
Considering Horcoff has one goal in his last 15 games, if Nilsson can bury one chance that will be an improvement. As dominant as Hemsky has been since returning from a concussion, if one of his linemates starts to heat up he could be a two-point-a-game guy for a stretch.
Speaking of Horcoff, I asked him if he feels he needs to bear down more offensively.
“I probably need to relax a bit more and I think that’s been my problem lately. I’m squeezing the stick a little tight... I’ve had chances, with the crossbar last game, and if I relax that shot probably goes in.”
Pressing too hard never results in more goals, but with the coach calling out Penner, Pouliot and Brodziak to play with more jam, Horcoff needs to bear down and bury a few more chances. I know scoring is that hardest thing to do, and Horcoff never gets questioned for his work ethic, but his job is to produce and he needs to start producing more.
This team has no other options right now as far as #1 centre, so unless a trade happens Horcoff needs to find the scoring touch he had last year until his season was cut short.
Here are tonight’s lines:
- 12 – 10 – 83
- 21 – 89 – 26
- 18 – 13 – 78
- 27 – 51 – 46
Penner and Brodziak should play inspired considering what happened after practice yesterday. Brodziak explained what MacTavish said to him and his fellow doghouse dwellers yesterday.
“I have to play with more jam and more intensity in my game. Making sure I play physical every chance I get and never pass up an opportunity. I think it is a simple thing to get back in my game. Over my career it hasn’t been a real focal point of my game, but I know at this level it needs to be and it’s an element of my game I need to add. It’s something I definitely feel I can do and I don’t think I will have a problem with it.”
He also shouldn’t have a problem being ready to play tonight. With Penner on his left side, both players will have something to prove tonight, so you would HOPE they would play an inspired game. Reading between the lines with some of the conversations I had today in the locker room, it sounds like MacTavish didn’t want to just single out Penner again, so he went with two guys who haven’t been awful, but clearly can bring more intensity to their game.
Brodziak also added, “Coach said he was happy with my decisions and positional play, but just wants me to play more intensely. And maybe I’m guilty of not seeing that. It’s a little bit frustrating being called out, but realistically I know it was deserved, so I’m more frustrated in myself than anything else.”
Tidbits
Dwayne Roloson didn’t skate this morning, but he will play tonight. He faced lots of shots in practice yesterday so he got the morning off.
When asked about hearing cat calls walking off the ice after the Buffalo game, MacTavish laughed about the unique situation at Rexall.
“No one likes to walk through that when you lose a game, but like I’ve said before our fans have great perspective in terms of that. But not every team walks through the BAR on the way in and out... but we do, so those situations might occur.”
The uniqueness of Rexall Place: no other building in the league that I’ve been to has that set up, and I've been to 22 out of the other 29. It is great for young kids, and chicks trying to wheel, and outside of the odd profanity-laced tirade from some I’m-tough-when-I’m-drunk idiot it allows fans a close up look at the players. You take the good with the bad, and 90 per cent of the time the fans are supportive, but when you lose 10-2 you’d expect an odd “YOU SUCK”, or worse.
Jonathan Willis wrote:
I wish I could be that optimistic.
I have to work till seven and still trying to decide whether to pay for the game when I get home. Of course, if the recent trend is true, this should be the "up" game for the Oilers and Chicago has been playing so-so with the big win in San Jose their last game. I call it 3-1 for the Hawks who score an empty netter
Smokin' Ray wrote:
This guy is whacked!
RLH wrote:
The coach is the boss. Try pulling that sh*t at work if your boss has to have "a talk" with some other employees. haha I guess if your goal was to save the other team mates from a bag skate you would, because you'd be the only one skating. And it would be a real bag skate
Travis Dakin wrote:
No doubt, how many times have you gone for the lonely walk up to the front office and no matter how good your work friends are they aren't going to go up with you. If you are singled out at work it not only sends a message to u but everyone at work...only difference is, is that we are talkin $70,000 vs $4.something million dollars!
A PPV? WHy does the Oilers wallpaper say SN? Can they get anything right?
We need some OilerNation wallpaper that is correct AND cool.
Wanye???
LEEEEETTTTTTTSSSSSSSSS GGGGGGGGGGGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BBBBBBBBBBBOOOOOOOOOOYYYYYYYYYYYYSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!
Whoa, Eddie Olzyck just said if he played on the East Coast, everyone would know Ales Hemsky. I like this guy.
Game day uncensored if you like to swear...
You're welcome JSBM. LOL
http://www.jeanshortsandbaggedmilk.com/
I can't put the link to JSBM anymore? I guess you angry fellas have been posting too many smutty links for Wanye. LOL
Links aren't allowed cus of the filter. I guess they get a lot of Spam (according to bingofuel)
The link isn't working, I can't get a picture, only sound
@ Xavier: You just need to wait for someone to clear out the spam filter. If any of the guys are around they tend to do it.
hooray!
Wow I just turned on the game and was shocked to see the score
Someone kill that fat fu*k
wow, the goalie gods are looking over us
@ OilersNinja: did you see the goal?
get em souray
@ Travis Dakin:
no, I am guessing moreau scored off his teeth?
@ OilersNinja: HAHA close. Actually off of Campbells teeth.
Burish's sister goes!
@ Travis Dakin: Greasy goals are needed to spark a turnaround. At least that is case on my beer league team.
If you click on my name, you can get the link to the game.
jeez samwise, keep your head up
Get him Souray!
I want a lamp lighting faceoff specialist heavy weight stay at home defencemen
Jack Bauer wrote:
Thanks JB The picture freezes constantly. Makes it hard to watch.
gilby, grip your stick tighter
PS shut up rob brown "100 out of 100 times" pathetic
Horcoff so predictable
Horcoff = hands of stone
@ Travis Dakin: I think I read that in my geology textbook
I cannot watch "tank no neck" aka Bob Stauffer pour out his suit and speak non sense
I just focus on how hot Rishaug is. He balances out the equasion. wait... I mean.... dammit.
Skidplate wrote:
note you need a FAST internet connection to access this site all the way from sweden
Skidplate wrote:
You'll need a curent browser version and SHAW cable or Telus hi-speed. It's workin' buffer-free full-screen for me. Sah-weet.
Ha ha to you Mr Watt.
Although I do have this strange urge to go down to Binny's Liquor Depot.
What did stauffer have to say other then he would like a cheeseburger?
He said we should get Tkatchuk and also that he is the biggest Dustin Penner fan on the planet. I sh*t you not.
@ Travis Dakin: He is histories greatest monster
Gagner I get it your nervous, but man that was a golden opportunity
Someone needs to tell Gagner that not even Souray could put it THROUGH the goiale. Try picking a corner.
Travis Dakin wrote:
what about penner for jason blake ????? problem for problem - new venue = opportunity to change both are LW
kind of ironic going back to burkie possible with tambo instead of klowe
poop
fiddledeedee
Lowe a great eye for talent
hxxp://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=265653&lid=sublink02&lpos=headlines_nhl
blake has a 15 game point streak
maybe he needed some time to get his timing back from the cancer...
ninja and TD - why not ????
It's a pretty common fact that cancer is a performance enhancer for athletes. Lance Armstrong, Phil Kessel, Jason Blake, the entire 1982 Minnesota Twins.
I rest my case.
Deep Oil wrote:
That is my doing Deep Oil. I picked Blake in the draft.