GDB 02: SHARK HUNTING
Jason Gregor
January 22 2013 01:28PM
The Oilers are 19-8-5 (actual ties) in home openers including a perfect 3-0 v. the San Jose Sharks. They beat the Sharks 3-2 in a shootout in 2008, 3-2 in 1993 and 5-2 in 2003, so with it being 2013 it only seems fitting they open their home schedule v. San Jose.
I know technically this is the 2012/2013 season, but their home opener is in 2013 so just go with it.
Both teams won their season openers on the road, Edmonton in Vancouver and San Jose in Calgary, and both will try to become the 9th NHL team to start the season 2-0.
Shawn Horcoff, Sam Gagner, Taylor Hall and Ben Eager weren't on the ice for the optional morning skate. Eager's eye is swollen from his fight against Zack Kassian on Sunday and he won't play tonight. The other three were just resting.
LINEUP
Hall-RNH-Eberle
Yakupov-Gagner-Hemsky
Smyth-Horcoff-Hartikainen
paajarvi-Belanger-Petrell
Smid-Petry
N.Schultz- J.Schultz
Whitney - Potter
Dubnyk
Danis
"We'd like to incorporate him into the PK tonight," Krueger said about Paajarvi. When I asked Krueger about having more forwards involved killing penalties he said he plans on using more, but felt they weren't ready for the season opener. He wants to ensure his young guys are well-versed and completely understand the system.
In Vancouver, Krueger and Steve Smith didn't want to disrupt the ryhthm of their defence and they didn't try to hard to match lines. When I asked Krueger his strategy for home games," I look at each game as a different story. A lot of it will depend on how the game is unfolding."
Ladislav Smid liked the strategy in Vancouver because it allowed the defenders to stay in a consistent flow. He also joked that it was nice not having to defend the Sedins every shift. Smid and Jeff Petry both relish the opportunity to try and shut down the opposition's best line, and tonight they expect to see a lot of the Joe Thornton/Patrick Marleau/Joe Pavelski line.
Krueger was very complimentary of Corey Potter today and explained why he has him ahead of Fistric. He likes his body positioning and how he moves the puck. I'm curious to see when Fistric will draw in. The Sharks have a big team, but they aren't overly physical which is why Krueger replaced Eager with Paajarvi. Paajarvi was amped up to play and he is hoping to make a good impression early in the game.
SHARKS
Marleau-Thornton-Pavelski
Clowe-Couture-Havlat
Wingels-Handzus-Galiardi
Mclaren-Desjardins-Burish
Stuart-Vlasic
Boyle-Irwin
Murray- Braun
Niemi
Joe Pavelski is the only right-handed shot in the Sharks top-six, and he's enjoying playing the wing with Thornton and Marleau. "Joe demands the puck a lot, so I've had to alter my game a bit and learn to dish it off, but it is easy because I know Joe will get it back to me in a better position."
The Sharks are without Brent Burns and Jason Demers, and Matt Irwin looked very good in his first NHL game in Calgary. "We put him with Boyle from the first day of camp to make him feel comfortable," said Sharks' head coach Todd Mclellan. "We wanted to instill some confidence in him early by putting him with Boyle and on the PP with Thornton. I saw his confidence grow all week and he looked good in game one."
GAME DAY PREDICTION: The Oilers are a perfect 4-0 in home openers/season openers v. the Sharks. They've won all three home openers in Edmonton and they also beat the Sharks in San Jose to open a season. The Oilers speed will be an issue for the Sharks and they win 4-2.
OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: It will feel like a playoff game for fans. The building will be loud, the Octane will unveil a few new routines and with an 8 p.m. start many fans will be a tad "louder" when the game starts. Nail Yakupov scores his first NHL goal and follows it up with a triple fist pump.
NOT-SO-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: When they Oilers start announcing winners of the signed Oiler Jerseys, at least three diehard Oilersnation readers will win. They will instantly brag about it, rightfully so, in the comments section. And knowing Nation readers they will pick guys a jersey like Kurt Brackenbury #15, Stan Weir #21, Dave Brown #32, Jim Dowd #34 or Marty Reasoner's #19. The Nation readers set trends, they don't follow them.
GET OFF YOUR WALLET
You have five days left to win a $5,000 shopping spree at United Cycle or any of the 99 other prizes in the Nation's First Annual hockey draft. It is only $20 bucks with a portion of the funds going to charity. Bragging rights are on the line boys and girls, so enter today. We are almost sold out.
GOOD KARMA...UPDATE
I`m doing my show live at the Pint off Whyte today and at 2:10 Jessie strolled in and handed me a pair of tickets to tonight`s home opener. He wanted to give to a diehard fan. What a guy.
I will be giving them away at 6:30 p.m. You have to be here to win. Good luck.
That pic is from the Oilers Octane calendar. Highly recommended reading.
On an unrelated note, is it getting hot in here or what?
Really doesn't matter all that much but I must say I would totally favor a big physical guy that likes to hit because hey I like to see people getting hit. I miss Andy already. Nothing like a giant to lay out some hits.
Maybe a Bernie Nicholls #9.
Nail with 2 goals and 1 assist, J Schu with 3 assists. Oilers win 7-2.!..
Holy #@$% do some of them media fellas ask Nail stupid questions. Some of them don't even ask questions, they tell him things.
I can't wait for B.Eager to come back.
Same. I liked Potter's game for like 3/4 of last year, but I won't be too heartbroken seeing him sliding in and out as the 6/7 DMan. And the bonus for Fistric over Sutton is Fistric can actually somewhat skate at NHL speeds!
If Fistric can bring what Sutton did, and I think he can, then he's a perfect #6 defenseman. I still think if Potter's not getting big PP time he should be in the pressbox. Fistric will be a better evens player IMO
Hold on. THAT GIRL IS ON THE OCTANE?????????? I thought that was just one of those stock model shots where they photoshop Oiler colours onto it!!
* Immediately moves back to Edmonton*
Go ask Ryan Clowe if he's soft! My guess is Clowe Could beat Hordichuck in a fight.
Just ask Strudwick or YouTube it if you like.
Also a good one to watch..........Would love to have this guy on te Oilers!
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2M8dSW6Mhoo&feature=relmfu
I was more thinking of Marleau and Thornton as big soft guys. Much respect for Clowe and Pavelski. Both multi-dimentional players
Whatever, i think you like to read your own posts. I am not trying to question RK , and perhaps i didn't read all the posts elsewhere, i was uninformed by my own doing and lack of research. Quit being so stuffy dude, i get the point. Demanding, yes oh for sure, i was demanding roster changes. Do you have Ralph's Number by chance ? You know, there are many on this site that are just average fans making comments , informed or not, like myself in this case. Its twits like you with nothing better to do that tick me off. What part of " I HOPE THERE IS ANOTHER REASON" didn't you get ? Now i understand some other Posters comments about you. Now go away please... is that Absurd enough for you ? LOL
Happily the boobs stayed the same size...
I'd get a Bryan Marchment sweater. Rememeber when he collapsed Mike Gartner's lung with a hit? OLD TIME HOCKEY!
that was Boris Mironov wasn't it?
I honestly think Marleau is underrated overall as a hockey player, he hits, he fights and is always in the play.
I totally 100% agree with Thornton, no use for the guy.
The wikipedias says Bryan Marchment. DIRTIEST PLAYER IN THE GAME!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryan_Marchment#Reputation_as_a_player
I would be too afraid that he would chirp me and I would be forced to feel the shame of not understanding a single thing he said.
#30 Jacques Plante jersey?
http://s19.beta.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%20Blog/EdmontonOilers74-75.jpg.html
http://s19.beta.photobucket.com/user/spyboy1/media/TSG%20Blog/PlanteOilers.jpg.html
Remember when he tripped at the same time the penalty box door opened and he cracked his dome on the edge of the boards? One of the scariest things I've seen in a game...
That chick is my dream girl /story
You know another interesting thing about putting MPS into the lineup, almost every line has an element of speed in it. A bigger not so physical opponent, this forces them to work harder and could lead to more penalties and/or odd man rushes. Not such a bad move when you think about it. Ya Hordi is big and tough and will fight but no one on the sharks is really like that so why not put a player in that could throw the opponent off balance. Just a thought
I ran into Ralph Krueger in a line up at a Mac's store yesterday. He made me believe I could do it.
Good thinking!
Pretty hard to stock someone from another city.
I like a lot of what Krueger is doing but I have to disagree with his assessment of Potter's play. I know the Sharks aren't overly physical but with Eager out, I would have rather seen Fistric draw in. Oh well. Also, I would kind of like to see Magnus and Teemu swap lines. Add some speed and checking ability to that 3rd line while telling Harski and Petrell to work hard on the forecheck and wear down the Sharks dmen.
I anticipate much more energy from the Oilers tonight. They played well in Vancouver but I feel like they can play with more energy yet. I think they'll be ready and win 4-3. No Yak goal yet, but the young Schultz nets two PP goals. Eberle adds a goal and I am even calling for a rare goal from Smid tonight.
GO OILERS GO!!
I hope Yak doesn't pass the puck as much as last game. I know he's trying to fit in, but I'd love to see him shoot over and over.
And it's just as difficult to stalk someone from another city, too.
I would be the envy of all my friends with my shiny new Shane Doan jersey, with the "Doan" crossed out and "Kelly" scratched in beside it. (#1995)
This is interesting: http://espn.go.com/new-york/nhl/story/_/id/8869595/nino-niederreiter-seeks-traded-new-york-islanders-source-says
Yak for Nino and Brock Nelson?
The Oilers add size at wing and C and the Islanders get someone they can turn into the next Yashin.
True...Well if he celebrated too much I'm sure TSN will deem it hotdogging...or probably not since he is now playing for a Canadian team.
Game Day Prediction: A pumped Oiler squad triples up a Sharks team tired of bad Edmonton hotel food. 6-2 final.
Obvious Game Day Prediction: All three Oiler first overall picks find their name on the score sheet. When 93 scores I will spill my beer NUGEing and ignore my hypocricy for hating Canuck fans who LUUUUUO.
Not-So-Obvious Game Day Prediction: It is Nick Schultz who makes a big splash tonight with a lazer from the high slot, a huge hit, and an uncharacteristic fight. Later in the showers, Justin will crack a line that hangs around for the rest of the season; "I see your Schultz is bigger than mine."
No. That would not be enough return for Yakupov. Only an established top level player would make a Yak trade happen.
Hearing arena deal is done? Announcement by city council tomorrow.
It may be a tad bit hard to get that jersey signed.
Great goalie though.
No way, he was doing an awesome jobs creating space for himself and teammates, and still got a few good scoring chances.
No worries, the goals will come. Remember how long it took Hall and RNH to get their first goal?
Oilers 5, Sharks 4.....Yakupov with the deciding goal.
If the Oil are looking for another option to play between Hemsky and Yakupov, they have a quicker of foot from point a to b, more physical to go with his good hands, they need look no further than Eric Belanger. He looks as though he's one of the fittest guys to show up at camp. Thought Erics foot speed suited Hemsky and Yakupovs game moreso than Gagnams.
Oilers win 4-2 with Yakupov scoring the game winner.
Also Nail Yakupov is now known as N64
Wasn't he always known as that since he changed his number? Or was that just me?
German Titov. Number 13.
That N64 has no future.
Yakupov will be wearing No.10 in September of 2013 (after Horcoff is bought out). No need to dwell on the short lived 64. If i were inclined to be hanging an auto'd Yakupov jersey in the rec room, it would surely be with a #10 on it.
What's happening with those tickets? Thanks.
You sire ARE ON FIRE!!!
@Cpro
You look like Jay Cutler: if he wasn't an athlete.
Horcoff will not be bought out. Getzlaf will be signed this summer and Horcoff will be TRADED.
@DieHard
NUUUUUGGGGGGGEEEEEEEEE
Getzlaf will not be signed. Horcoff, Gagner, Paajarvi, prospect, and two 1st round picks will be traded for Malkin. If not, then, Horcoff, Gagner, Paajarvi and a prospect or a pick for Thornton.
Actually if you have any of those in stock I will take two, please. I think business would go through the roof at Ye Olde Auto Glass Shop with that inventory.
I'm nowhere near a TV tonight, does anyone know where to watch the game online? Center Ice?
Tomatoe Tomato, either way he's toast.
Rather have Jamie Benn. Younger and cheaper......Getzlafs best days are behind him.
@grahaeme
http://www.thefirstrow.eu/watch/164733/1/watch-edmonton-oilers-vs-san-jose-sharks.html
Be careful what you wish for, cuz you just might get it.
Take a look, but don't touch.....28'ish, not married, not sure how many layers of makeup on that skullymaiden. Objects in the mirror/photo may appear better than they really are.
Whoa, hittin up the local karaoke joints to find anthem singers now.
Thanks man, you're a godsent