GDB XLIII: Good news and bad news
bingofuel
January 05 2010 11:00AM
Things just aren't improving in OilersNation. There's talk of dumping this player or that player to free up cap space, Pat Quinn cancelled the traditional team mini-vacation in favour of bag skates, and perhaps worst of all, the Oilers will be competing with the World Junior Gold Medal Final for viewers tonight. You have a choice, faithful hockey fans: watch a sure-fire exciting match up with Canada's juniors taking on the USA... or pay $16 to see if the Oilers can down the Coyotes (because standard def is for chumps).
Is it too early for whiskey?
The good news
There is a light at the end of today's dismal tunnel, and despite what some of you might think, it's actually Oilers hockey. Now I'm not one to recommend you skip the World Juniors Gold Medal Match — if it's anything like the game Canada and the US played on New Year's Eve, it's sure to be heart-stopping — but consider the Oilers and the Coyotes:
- Oilers record against the 'Yotes: 31-10-3-5 since 1996. At home, the Oilers like beating the desert dogs, with a record of 18-4-2-1.
- If Steve Staios gets two points tonight, he'll have racked up 200 career points.
- The last time the Oil played the Coyotes, Deslauriers earned himself a shutout.
- Scott Upshall is probably out for this game.
The bad news
Where there is light, however, there is darkness. Unless you've somehow found a way to harness the power of the sun directly to light whatever tunnel you're talking about. But in all likelihood, you'd just burn yourself and everyone around you.
So my theory on light and darkness still stands.
Here's why you should be worried, and maybe not spend your cash on PPV:
- The Coyotes are shit-hot right now — currently fifth in the league, and 6-2-2 in their last ten.
- According to the Oilers' own game notes, Ilya Bryzgalov is in the business of eating pucks for breakfast, and spitting them back out at the opposing team's players... generally speaking.
- The Mighty Oil aren't so mighty right now, with a record of 1-9-0 in their last ten.
- At least half a dozen Oilers are still injured or sick or playing hooky.
Reality check
The question is what Oilers squad are we going to see tonight? Will it be the team that had a 5-game winning streak on the road (man, those were the days), or are these Oilers so dismayed at their own performance (and rightly so) that they'll continue to shit the proverbial bed at RX1 tonight?
It was mentioned yesterday that the Oilers need to go at least 32-8 to have a playoff shot this season. Another question, then, is do they deliberately shit the bed now and for the end of the season? Can brass actually mandate a true, impassioned Dive For Five?
You might get your answer tonight at 7pm. Part of me still hopes the answer's a win. An unlikely win, but a win nonetheless: 3-1 Oilers.
Oh, and Canada takes gold tonight, but it's not going to be easy: 5-3 with an empty-netter.
Pisani is in tonight and JFJ is out per Corey Graham.
Pisani!!!! The oilers are saved!!! Playoffs are in sight!!!
6-1 Yotes. Jdd scores on himself twice.
Do Pierre and Gord have the inside scoop on whether or not MPS will be coming to the NHL next year? I thought he was more likely to go back to Sveeden, ya?
I bet Pierre has a poster of MPS in his room right in between his Phaneuf and Nash posters.
@Dan the Man
Unlikely. Pierre only loves the Canadian Bacon, not the Swedish Meatballs.
@Dan the Man
Don't forget the Eberle poster~
Nice reference ;-)
Ovechkin named Captain for Caps
Have you heard McGuire talk about MPS? Pierre has serious man love for MPS and would be very interested in his Swedish Meatballs.
you have a better chance getting kidnapped by a gang of midget pirates and forced into the dirty underground world of midget pirate porn
Anybody got a working link for the oilers game?
Horcoff back on the first line huh?
*Hangs head in shame*
I know! WTF?
Eberle with 2 clutch goals to tie the game. WOW
WOOOOOOO!!!! Way to go Eber!
Sully with the tying goal.
Well that was short lived. Sigh!
Man JDD is a sieve.
Sam, Penner and Nilsson seemed like the best first line we've had in a while. Putting Horcoff on the first line os pretty much giving the game away. Especially since all you have to do to score on JDD lately is put it on net.
This is freaking RIDICULOUS!!!!!!!!!
@David S
That's the one thing that irks me right now about Quinn. He keeps breaking up lines that are working well. I hate how people have to move around just to get Horc going. Why not put Horc on the third centering Stone and Pies, or move Potulny there and leave Horc on the second?
Sad to see the Canadian boys lose it in a hard fought battle.
AND Gagner with Stone. 2 lines effectively nullified with a player switch.
The tank job is in effect.
Live feed? I really feel the need to have my soul further crushed.
*high fives David S*
Where the deuce is my BCB?!?!?
Try this...
http://www.justin.tv/theblanetwork
Oh bless your black heart.
I know, sh*tty line combos. Gagner does have like 5-6 shots though, but I can't see that line scoring a lot. Nor can I see Pens and Nilsson scoring with Horc. They're already at like -3.
Eberle's double clutch goalabilities could be handy around now.
I fully undersatnd the Fall for Hall, but can't cheer against these retards.
GOAL! Vindication!
LOL, ok well Gags just proved me wrong. The people on that feed are just whining about the goaltender interference call. Pffff!
Wow! Goaty Donairs!
Damn, now Horc just proved me wrong too. LOL, oh well I'll take it.
Ha ha!
A fire hydrant could score 50 with Gagner.
Oh good lord - is the Phoenix feed explaining what the painted lines on the ice are for???
Yup, fight like hell for that hockey market Gary!
Gagner: "F0ck!!!!!"
Kid is LIT UP!
Grams of coke? OH SNAP!
So I'm thinking Gagner, Nilsson and Penner might be a better line than Pisani, Gagner and Stone.
WTF?????
@David S
Hahaha, I love that kid. He's so hilarious to watch after a goal! It's not even his own and he's got the biggest sh*t eating grin. Good on him.
Well, I did agree and then the bogus lines scored two goals. However, I'd still take the first iteration of that top line than the one on the ice tonight.
Uh oh. Staios was "hit in the meat". ~GOODBYE PLAYOFFS~
Now Staios is out.
Welp. There goes the season.
Poor Stevie, that's gotta hurt.
Holy crap Ryan Stone is a WEAK link.
Is it bad that the first thought I had after seeing Staios limp off was "I sure hope he's still healthy enough to trade at the deadline."
POINT!!!!!!
Dammit.
Sadly, that was my exact thought. I also hope Moreau can stay together enough to get dealt.
Oh, and that the Hobgoblin retires. (nothing personal, but that contract is ugh)
And Esa Tikkanen un-retires. CRUST!
Man I wish we had a goalie like Bryzgalov.
WTF Pies?! ARGH!
Welcome back Pies. Nice to see the captain-like OT penalty.