GDB 77: This is it
Jason Gregor
March 31 2009 12:03PM
Tonight is do or die for the Oilers. I know they have five more games, but if they lose in regulation tonight they won't make playoffs. We all know this but let's go on record saying: a loss puts them three back of the Ducks, and possibly five back of Nashville if they beat Columbus. Five games remaining won't be enough time to make up those points.
Unfortunately a win doesn't guarantee they make the playoffs, but for their psyche they need a win tonight. The players had another closed door meeting before practice yesterday. Having another one after a loss tonight becomes redundant, and if the message didn't sink in after yesterday's session it never will.
Rather than be upset, frustrated, annoyed, pissed off or scared, Oiler fans should embrace tonight's game. It will be the most intense game you have witnessed all season. You will race home, kiss the wife, play with the kids for a few minutes but YOU know that come 7:30 you will be planted firmly on the coach, bevy in hand, chips in the bowl, leaning forward towards the TV with your hands clenched waiting for the puck to drop.
And you know you will be filled with nervous anticipation. There will be at least two dust ups tonight, four or five big hits and hopefully many goals. Rexall Place will be loud, because even though the masses are pissed and ready to hang MacT, most of you can't bring yourself not to cheer for your team in such a meaningful game. That's being an Oilers fan folks.
Games like tonight are what make sports great. All those dud games in Nov, Dec and Sunday against the Wild are a distant memory now. Tonight all you care about is seeing a win, because at least that keeps the dream alive for a few more games.
A loss tonight and the dream is over for another season. No possible drunk chicks flashing you on Whyte, no chance the wife watches the game in just an Oiler jersey and no house parties or nights out watching the playoffs with the Boys.
It is excruciatingly simple for the Oilers: Win and you stay alive. Lose and you play out the string.
Good to see it's the Ducks
The Ducks are the perfect opponent for a game of this magnitude. They play tough, physical and have loads of top-end skill. If the Oilers dont show up tonight they will not only lose, but get humiliated at home. The Ducks bring out the emotion of the Oilers. The Oilers actually play with a pulse when the Human Rake and company come to town.
More often than not this year the Oilers have looked as prepared as your drunk Uncle emceeing a family wedding. You know the guy who thinks he is funny at the family summer picnic, yet when he gets on the mic at the wedding his stories suck, his jokes are stolen from some lame website, and the program rolls as smoothly as the Best Man's toast about the groom and his past conquests.
The Oilers will be ready to play tonight. I dont know if they will win, but tonight's effort will be one of the few times this year that they are prepared. There was a playoff energy in the locker room this morning. Players smiled when asked about the intensity, and expected physical play tonight.
Last December when the Ducks came to town the Oilers played their best home game of the year even though they lost in a SO. They out shot the Ducks 53-36, they killed off seven of eight powerplays and engaged the Ducks physically at every turn. In fact, the Ducks are only 2 for 19 on the PP against the Oilers this year. I cant explain why when you look at the Ducks firepower, but the Oilers PK is actually good against them.
The Oilers won both games in Anaheim, despite being outshot in both. Expect the trend of the home team getting more shots to continue this evening.
The Oilers just wrapped up a crisp morning skate. There wasnt much standing around, passes were on the tape, they actually scored some goals in practice and to a man they looked ready. The only concern is that even in practice, it looked like Horcoff was still struggling to finish.
The most frustrating thing to watch today was Grebeshkov in a shooting drill. He scored on three consecutive slap shots, two from the high slot and another from blueline. Why he doesn't shoot during the game remains a mystery. Though he did have three shots on goal the last time the Ducks were in town, so he might actually take a shot tonight. He has a measly 53 shots on net this year.
They didnt do any line rushes, but there wont be any lineup changes, outside of Peckham drawing in for Smid.
COLOSSAL FOSSIL SETS RECORD
Tonight Dwayne Roloson will become the oldest goalie to play in 60 games in a season. The CF will start his start his 33rd consecutive game tonight, and like most games during the previous 32 he will need to be one of their top three players if the Oilers hope to stay in the playoff race.
Enjoy the afternoon planning your playoff experience tonight, hopefully for Oiler fans you get a few more opportunities to feel the anticipation and excitement this April.
It's so quiet now that this sounds like a practice game. You can hear the guys on the ice calling for the puck. There's gonna be alot of booing tonight.
When did Hemsky become a slap shot guy?
Ducks could play with 4 the rest of the night and win this one
That's it...I'm toasting this case of Bud Light.
Watch, they'll come out guns a blazin on Thursday vs the Sharks.
17 wrote:
we've seen this movie before.
socaldave wrote:
Ah En Fuego, or Spanish for a whale's vagina
Linus Omark could have scored one of the most innovative shootout goals you'll ever see.
"Omark showed off his skills in an international friendly between Sweden and Switzerland earlier today, when in the shootout he proceeded to outwait the sprawling Swiss goalie and flip it over his head and into the net."
Check it out below..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_X5FdpsWpg&fmt=18
WOW !
Glad I did not buy that new oilers jersey the one guy was talking about earlier. Not sure they view them as too cool at the Mayfair...
I wonder if Wanye is shooting icey glares towards MacT from his seat.
**sits back and waits for jazz flute solo**
I knew I would have a hangover in the morning... One way or the other... Towel Boy has the right idea.
I've gotten a combined 14 hours of sleep in the last 3 days.
I don't know why I'm watching this.
In the words of Ashley Shaeffer "ITS LIKE A GODD*MNED GREEK TRAGEDY" and I can't stop watching.
Okay, lets all chip in for a bounty on Pronger. At least some good could come out of this. Would his wife come back to edmonton if he was in ICU
Phil wrote:
which one of the Oilers will sleep with his own mother, find out, then scratch his eyes out and wander the desert as an outcast?
I'm going to bed, it's damned near Midnight out East and I can't watch another minute of these no-talent assclowns.
I sincerely hope some of the fans make their way down to the walkway by the dressing room and throw the "cheer for us" pleas from the team back in their faces.
another egg is laid at home
Archaeologuy wrote:
that it explains it, they are playing like the blind
The Towel Boy (mobile) wrote:
Or adjusting the scope of his sniper rifle...
Phil wrote:
Ashely Schaeffer of Ashely Schaeffer BMW?????
Payback wrote:
it explains why Tommy Salo so quickly dropped off
fans at RX1 should try some reverse psychology and cheer for the ducks instead.
@ Archaeologuy: I`d say Gagne, his mom is hot
Are they purposely not showing the score clock to prevent premature suicides?
@ Hoodlum: really? I'll google image that to find out.
You know, I almost feel bad for MacT. I'm sure by this point he's done all he can to try and get the players motivated, but nothing is working. I could totally see him stepping down at the end of the season. I'm amazed he hasn't done it yet.
No Ducks shots this period? It's like they're daring the Oilers to try and score.
@ Librarian Mike: impressive, how are they still managing to outplay the oilers? We really suck!
cotton eyed JOKE
MacT might not get his 300th win with the oil ever at this rate.
it's obvious at thist ime that a comeback is likely out of reach, so why not just beat the crap out of the Ducks? Hit anyone and everyone, make them freaking PAY.
FFS GREBS SHOOT THE DAMN PUCK!
Scratch that last comment.
look out, here they come!
GREBESHKOV you just made up for not shooting ten seconds earlier
the hand tapping with the bench is embarrassing
Ohh crap? 3 minutes left in the game? better start trying again - Oilers Players as MacT instantly grows 10 years older
I'd be interested to know how many goals the Oilers have scored in the last 5 minutes of the games they've played compared to any other time during the game.
Maybe this is all some elaborate April Fool's Day prank...maybe...
From Wanye's twitter... "I have been watching MacT on the bench for over 5 mins straight. Not a single person has talked to him or vice versa. #FMNF"
STORTINI BABY!!!!
Well now they've made it interesting...
DO NOT F***ING DO THIS TO ME
miracle on Gretzky drive?
I dont know whats worse, not having any hope, or having just enough to be let down in the end
17 wrote:
Just as interesting would be to know how many times they have given a goal with 2 minutes or less left in the 1st or second period
HOLY CRAP COULD WE ACTUALLY PULL THIS ONE OUT??????
Just as I was thinking "STORTINI AS THE EXTRA MAN? REALLY?" he scores.
Stortini HAS to be one of the highlights of this year. Just has to. Why we haven't used him more just slays me.
stick measurement? REALLY????????? lolololol
DAMN
What a memorable season! double digit loses, Penner the puss, Roli the goalie, and the sophmore slumps. On the bright side, at worst the oil have a 0.5% chance of getting Tavares! On the dark side the oil will be playing the same amount of playoff games as the Winnipeg Jets.