GDB XLIX: West meets sort-of West
Jason Gregor
January 20 2010 02:22PM
What a difference twelve wins makes. The Canucks have 28 wins compared to the Oilers’ 16 and it was apparent in their practices this morning.
The Canucks were joking around, laughing, playing shooting games and having some fun competitions while the Oilers didn’t even have a full squad on the ice. Dustin Penner and Shawn Horcoff didn’t skate and the Oilers skate was very brief this morning.
However, you get the sense that the Oilers will be ready to compete tonight after their worst performance of the season on Monday. Even the Canuck players were talking about how they expect the Oilers to be in a feisty mood tonight.
The Canucks with Ryan Kesler, Shane O’Brien, Kevin Bieksa, Alex Burrows, Rick Rypien and Darcy Hordichuk are feisty most games, but expect more emotion tonight than the past few games we’ve watched at Rexall Place.
This is the fifth meeting of the season between these teams and so far it has been a homer series. The Oilers won at Rexall on October 19th 2-1, while the Canucks have won three straight games at home v. the Oilers by scores of 2-0, 4-1 and 7-3.
The Canucks have been resting after a stellar 6-2 win over the Penguins on Saturday and they are rolling going 6-2-2 in their last ten. Henrik Sedin continues to be the surprise of the NHL leading the league with 67 points. Henrik is averaging 1.39 points per game, while his brother Daniel is averaging 1.3 and has 39 points in 30 games.
The Sedins have killed the Oilers in their career and along with Alex Burrows they are the hottest line in the NHL.
In the last ten games they’ve combined for 44 points. Henrik has four goals and 17 points, Burrows has eleven goals and fourteen points while Daniel has three goals and thirteen points. As a team the Oilers have scored 19 goals in the past ten games while the Sisters and Burrows have potted 18.
That shows how good they’ve been as a line, while also demonstrating how unproductive the Oilers have been as a team.
The good news is that normally at least these two teams put on a good show. The Oilers will be pissed off tonight and the Canucks are always ready to play a chippy game so we should see some fireworks tonight.
Roberto Luongo will start for the Canucks while Devan Dubnyk will get the call for the Oilers. Also Pavel Demitra will play centre tonight for the Canucks on their 2nd line.
Welcome back Comrie
For the first time in over two months Mike Comrie skated with his teammates this morning. Comrie is feeling better and is hoping that he is four or five good practices away from returning to the lineup. The Oilers would welcome him with open arms.
He’s played 16 games, but admitted that in the last four games he probably shouldn’t have played because he had no energy, but he still managed five goals in 16 games which put him on pace for 25. He is excited to get back on the ice and talked about helping the young guys deal with some scoring issues. He mentioned how important is was for him to have Doug Weight, Ryan Smyth and Anson Carter around when he was young and how they gave him some tips to be more offensive.
I think it’s fair to say that Sam Gagner, Andrew Cogliano and Robert Nilsson could benefit from having Comrie’s advice not to mention watching how he is able to score despite his size.
Trade talk is heating up
I mentioned last week how Anaheim and Ottawa have an interest in Ethan Moreau, and that hasn’t changed, although no deal is set in place. But the Oilers have taken more calls and made more calls this week regarding Moreau, Sheldon Souray and Steve Staios. There is some interest out there, and it will be a matter of finding out how serious that interest is.
Staios’ injury might prevent a deal, but he is feeling better and if he can return and play ten games before the Olympic break he could be dealt. Some quiet whispers that once again the Kings might be interested in Souray and maybe even Moreau but right now they are only whispers. It does sound like there is legitimate interest in some of the Oiler veterans.
You’d like to think that that might light get them to play a bit better because Souray and Moreau haven’t played very well for the past ten to fifteen games.
Also, check out what the enemy is saying at CanucksArmy.com.
Nice as in Raawr nice? Or nice as in bring home to your mom nice?
Or... Nice as in let JS bring her home nice since we all know he likes to take the ladies home and not sleep with them...
Awwww, love you to papa.
*hugs*
@Wanye
You actually got a girl to have sex with you?
"I think it’s fair to say that Sam Gagner, Andrew Cogliano and Robert Nilsson could benefit from having Comrie’s advice not to mention watching how he is able to score despite his size."
We're talking about women, right?
ZZZZIIING!
Game, set and match to David S.
Game Day Prediction: The Oil play like garbage the first two periods. With the Canucks up 8-1, Pat Quinn decideds it's time for a bag skate. The Oil spend the third period skating suicides.
Not sure what even to comment on the GDB's these days. Here's hoping this game is physical and fight filled*. Score? Who gives a sh!t.
*And we win those fights.
GOFIGHTS!!!
What do you think? Rypien v Stone?
I hope not, for Stone's sake.
I think stone may be in trouble there. But I'm sure he'd go, he's a gamer. More likely see storts and him dance again. Forearm shivver!
This season has brought many positive situtions: a. who would of thunk Oil would be guaranteed a top pick in the draft b. who would of thunk Dubie would play better than JDD. Solves problem for next year as to who to sign c. who would of thunk Oil would miss Hemsky as much as they do. He is truly their lone superstar d. who would of thunk Ethan has played his last season as an Oiler e. who would of thunk Sourey has authorized leaving as long as it's to a West coast team. Frees up cap space. f. who would of thunk majority of people wish Horcoff was sent to the minors. LOL g. who would of thunk Penner is as good as he is. h. who would of thunk "Here's Bobbi" is as good as he is i. who would of thunk we would see the veterans game go south so fast j. who would of thunk Sam isn't ready for the NHL k. who would of thunk Oil make TSN headlines as often as they have. What great exposure.
I hereby donate my Haiti relief money to buy WT some punctuation. And meds.
Just so I can prepare - how the hell does one pronounce Seguin?
suh-GWEEN? SEG-win? suh-GIN?
I can't handle this crap. Hall it is!!!
Game Prediction: 14-1 for the bad guys. David Maley with the only Oilers goal.
YEAH!!! GOOD NEWS!!!
I think it rhymes with again...as in "Lose again for Seguin".
@Wanyes bastard child
Trust me, if I brought Lindsey Lohan home I'd DEFINITELY not sleep with her.
IFYOUKNOWWHATIMEAN!!
Cause you have two twin beds?
@SirFozz
Cause I don't own a bed.
Oops, I meant cause you have two twin mats in your dungeon basement apartment?
No.. what do you mean?
ahhh yes, to boldly go where hundreds of dirty peen has gone before..
like tossing a hotdog down a hallway
*makes inappropriate joke about JDD's five-hole*
Your mom must have not been looking over your shoulder on that one :P
That save % on DD is Epic.
****tries to get mind out of gutter....little success****
Fckin refs..
Where's Auger when you need him...
Can we just start calling DD "JUGGZ"?
i was thinking funbags, but juggz works
Wait, I know! How about.. DU MAURIER!
*crickets*
PS I just walked in the door half-way through the first period. That's the first game day prediction I've made that's actually come true.
Wow, and just for me the Oil are going to win this one.
If a team does the exact opposite of what you expect the second you're 100% sure you know what's coming next, does that make them consistent or inconsistent?
Let it be known. January 20, 2010. I openly and loudly cheered for an Edmonton Oilers goal.
We should totally trade Sam Gagner.
Aaaaaaand Gilbert loses his man. Again.
Why I oughta...
It just looked right, to me, to see Horc playing on the 3rd line. And that 3rd line seemed calm. Moreau wasnt running around being an idiot. Horc didnt look like he was anchoring his linemates down.
Additionally, the offensive guys like Gagner and Cogliano also looked comfortable playing with each other.
Maybe this marks the end of puting square pegs in round holes
I'm pretty curious about what it is that Gregor has to say about the ethics thing.... Consider me captivated.
Amazing things happen when you hit the net.
Pouliet couldn't get good wood, hehehehe
Until the penalty, that was a good stretch of hockey.
X2
@jeanshorts
Yah to someplace warm!!
I sure hope so...Horcoff as a shutdown centre and NO pp time will go a long way IMO...I've wanted to see this for a long time....
@Crash
It just looks good. That line understands its role and knows how to execute it. As a result they even get offensive opportunities. It just makes sense to me to keep him down on the 3rd.
@Archaeologuy
I think the Oil have been more offensive than opportunistic this year. AMIRIGHT?!?! HEY-O!!!
*hands Principe a dollar*
I know and who even cares if they produce offense as long as they do a decent job shutting down other teams lines...this way we can have the guys that know how to create offense stay in those roles...my hope is this will finally mean that Gagner will stay our top line centre as he is our most creative center...Gagner looks good again tonight and nice to see Cogs getting some top line action.
*Gene takes the dollar and says "Well, I guess when it comes to humour, the Buck stops here."*
@Archaeologuy
The only problem with this is it could kill our drive for one...I'd really like to have Taylor Hall here.
@Crash
The night is young yet.
We need losses remember? He can play there next year.
Oh I know, but having the lines the way they are now is an improvement IMO and increases our victory chances going forward....