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.
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.
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.
What's happening with those tickets? Thanks.
You sire ARE ON FIRE!!!
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
Smid cant go behind the net on a 5 on 3
Our normal TV crew from Sportsnet is so much better than TSN. Personally I find Chris Cuthbert's voice to be grating. ... so CFL.
As long as Neimi is playing goal for the Sharks.....it's still tied 2-0.
We use to call them scratch n win girls back in college.
All Hail, Nail!
yak taking a page out of laraque celebration book
YAKUPOV!!!!!!!
F Me what is up with the D/ Dub tonight
our star rookies were horribly exposed there... darn. Hopefully it just fires them up.
About Dubs-- does he look like a solution or a problem? Or are we going to try to win every game 6-5?
in case anyone is wondering woman's tennis is on TSN2 for a few mins.
Dubnyk is a disaster tonight.
Thornton line in mid season form. Might not matter who's playing goal for our Oilers tonight.
ELPH
Anyone know a site I can watch the game on?
http://forum.wiziwig.eu/forums/29-NHL-Icehockey?s=edec9233efab67ff4ff7e193fea5ca5b
They post feeds for every game every day... Only for use if you have no access to TV, Radio and are unable to use CentreIce.
Maybe we can find him a job with the power company? #whosethenewguy?
WE WANT 10!!!!
I'm thinking that Danis is going to get put in for period two but ya I agree san jose seems like mid season.
I sure as hell wouldn't want to be the oilers in this dressing room between the period.
lol
Well two things I've noticed:
Yak upon should keep his stick on the ice unless waiting for one timers and the oilers are still terrible
That is all, carry on
6-1 SJ after one??? Dubnyk's GAA will take a kicking after this... gasp... Do we put a call into Van or Ottawa and see what they want for a goalie?
cue DSF in
3
2
1
they could put anyone in net, it wouldnt matter a lick with the coverage around him.
though, at this rate, joey moss better find a place to hide before he gets the green light to go in