GDB 16.0: OIL CHANGE NEEDED
Jason Gregor
February 21 2013 01:20PM
"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." For years many attributed this quote to Albert Einstein, however, there is no proof he actually uttered those words.
"Insanity is repeating the same mistakes and expecting different results," first appeared in the basic text of Narcotics Anonymous which was copyrighted in 1982. Brownlee can attest this is very true, having tried to kick the habit for years, and I wonder if Ralph Krueger is starting to wonder the same thing about his hockey team.
Tonight the OIlers play their 16th game of the season, which is 1/3 of the abbreviated 2013 season, and they haven't been able to improve their five-on-five scoring.
In the first 7 games they scored 7 ES goals, and in the last 8 they also scored 7. Through 15 games they have shown zero improvement. Sure, they have produced some quality chances, but scoring chances won't win you games; you need to score goals.
I applaud Krueger for showing patience and not firing up the McBlender every few games, but at some point he can't keep hoping guys will produce. The line of Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jordan Eberle should be producing more goals, and eventually they will, but how long can Krueger wait?
That line has fired 57 shots on goal during the past five games, but they've only scored four times and one of those was an empty net goal. On 56 shots with a goalie in net they've combined for three goals and a woeful 5.3 SH%. Eventually they will start scoring more, but if Krueger doesn't try something to generate more scoring this team could find themselves out of the playoff hunt sooner than they'd like.
The Oilers had an optional skate this morning, but after chatting with a few people it sounds like Krueger will rotate the bottom three lines tonight.
Yakupov-Gagner-Hemsky
They've played together for most of the year, but they've had limited success at ES. It was smart to move Yakupov away from Eric Belanger, because he wasn't generating anything, but this trio hasn't produced enough to be assume that they will automatically produce.
Smyth-Belanger-Eager
I like moving Eager up the lineup and giving him some more icetime, but if the Oilers don't score early tonight, I wouldn't hesitate to move Eager into the top-six and try to get some energy and net presence.
Hartikainen-Vande Velde-Paajarvi
Hartikainen and Paajarvi are struggling to find some consistency, and I'd look at slotting them in amongst the top-six as well. Both of them need to watch film on Ryan Jones in the offensive zone and try to do what he does.
THEO DEBUTS
After a four game conditioning stint, mixed in with a subtle message to be more focused, Theo Peckham makes his season debut tonight beside Mark Fistric. He will add some much needed abrasiveness and Krueger is hoping his attitude and style will help his offensive players. "To augment our skill you need guys who are difficult to play against. That's what Theo brings to our lineup," said Krueger.
N.Schultz-J.Schultz
They have been a solid pair, but if J.Schultz is going to be considered an offensive D-man he needs to start generating some points five-on-five. Schultz is tied for 22nd in scoring by D-men with eight points, which is very good for a rookie; however he is 142nd amongst D-men in ES scoring with only one point.
Smid-Petry
I'd like to see much more from Jeff Petry. He has no points in 15 games despite playing over 21 minutes a game. At some point he needs to generate something offensively..
Dubnyk
Nikolai Khabibulin has been great in his three appearances this year, and I had no issue with playing him v. Los Angeles. The backup needs to play at some point, but Dubnyk is their starter and he needs to have a bounce back game and after an average first period v. Colorado and third period v. Dallas.
GAME DAY PREDICTION: The Oilers are 14-26-5 v. the Wild since the 2005 lockout, but they are 10-10-2 at home. If this team has any hope of staying in the playoff race this is a game they need to win. They will reward their loyal fans with a 3-2 win.
OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: Despite adding Zach Parise and Ryan Suter fans still think of the Wild as a boring team. Even though they've played some very exciting games the past few seasons, the Wild are still not a team that has Oiler fans excited to see. Rexall will not be electric tonight.
NOT-SO-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: After Joey Moss gives birthday boy Ryan Smyth (37) the gears by calling him "older than dirt," he tells Smyth what he got him for his birthday. "Before the game I called my good buddy Wayne Gretzky and asked him to bless your stick. I held it in my hands as Wayne said his blessing," Joey told Smyth.
Smyth is Gretzky's second biggest fan, behind Joey, and his face lit up after hearing Joey's story. Smyth walks back to the dressing room with a huge smile on his face staring at his stick imagining what Gretzky said, and it inspires him to play like a young Ryan Smyth. He scores tonight, gets a huge ovation from the fans and after the goal you see him high-fiving Moss behind the Oilers bench.
RECENTLY BY JASON GREGOR
Pecker and FISTric go together like a Nail and Hemmer.
Hopefully this is the fist in a long streak of w's in our favour against a team that traditionally has owned us.
Excited is probably the wrong word, but I'm interested to see how Peckham does tonight. I used to be a big fan, not so much over the past few years though. Hopefully the conditioning stint knocked some sense into him.
Him and Fistric could be a very mean pairing.
I definately agree with giving Eager an opportunity in the top-6 if the lack of ES scoring continues. He's played well so far this year, and the reality is that he's the only player in this lineup (unfortunately) who's a legitimate forechecking threat. Move Eager up, Yak down, and maybe split up the 1st line.
OGDP.... after a two shot on net first period performance by the Oilers, Ryan Whitney tweets something sarcastic prompting a Millhouse (the corporate spokesman) response.
Whitney mercilessly rag dolls him and subsequently gets his A back and a contract extension.
What the hell is your NSOGP?
For the love of God........please have Wayne Gretzky bless all the Oilers sticks!
JG if you know Joey Moss please have him expand this blessing to all the Oilers players.
If Tom Gilbert score the game winning goal I'm gonna lose it!
God, I hope so. Peckham/Fistric is about as close to "tough to play against" as this team has come in the past 5 years.
They're still letting each other down in that dressing room. 2-zip Minnesota.
Best NSOGDP evaaaaaa.
can olers get Chris Kreider6'3" LW and Brian Boyle 6'8" centre form Rangers for Hemsky and Whitney.
Oilers will outdo themselves tonight and set another franchise record for shots on goal. Nuge hatty.
I'd even throw omarks rights and a 2nd rounder in there to make that happen.
OGDP's
Peckham fights Konopka and is done for the season with a concussion.
One of the kids get Clutterbucked.
Geez, the oilers have had incredible inspiration in there corner for many years and today is no exception. Joey moss is all class and I certainly hope the oilers at some point give him a chance to drink from the holy grail 1more time ;)
Have you seen the tree branch Smyth plays with? If Wayne had to play with that POS that Smytty does, Keith Gretzky may have had more points. Best thing Joey could do is hide those twigs. Tough Love.
.... Don't be no cloud on a sunny day, Mon!
LOL, every conversation needs a dose of reality.
Optimism/hope appears to be high, reality is often different. Tankin for MacKinnon wheels are in motion.
How crazy would Rexall go if Fistric laid a huge open ice hit on Clutterbuck?
We can only hope.
I'd be in my glory, and Eager plows Gilbert oh ya
Brownlee had a narcotics problem?
Anyhoo, Go Theo! Crack some Wild skulls! (not literally of course, concussions are apparently very bad for you).
Anyone who thinks that adding Eager to the top 6 (which would mean moving out Hemsky, Yak, Eberle or Hall) is going to increase 5 x 5 scoring needs to stop listening to Don Cherry.
If you need some quotations, try these: http://www.quotationspage.com/subjects/patience
FAIL
Hey Gregor, do you know if anyone caught Joeys gift giving on camera? Oil Change crew? That would be great to see.
What did Hemsky do to you that you want him gone. This team needs veterans, not rookies. Another palyer fans are trying to run out of town.
So now fans are wishing injuries on the Oilers players. How classless.
@Jasmine
I think the intent was humour. But who knows.
@Jasmine
You must be new here...
Fistric and Wreckum, which ones the puck mover. Is the writing in the wall for Whitney. I imagine Wreckum plays about 12 minutes tonight and tries to murder Clutterbucket and takes a couple bad penalties. I hope he's in a growly mood since he's been but on his liquid and salad diet. Go Teddy Peckman. Make Grapes proud young man.
Crazy and sad that a healthy scratch for Whitney does not even deserve a mention in the GDB anymore.
You are trading Hemsky for those two? Kreider might be bigger in size, but he doesn't play any tougher than Hemsky. That would be an awful trade.
@Ducey
Yes, because no other teams have ever put a bigger, less skilled player with two skilled players.
It didn't actually happen. Or at least not that I know of.. NSOGDP is usually a-pie-in-the-sky prediction that could happen, but hasn't officially occurred.
Fistric and Peckham? Right, "mean to play against"...but super easy because neither of them has the ability to get the puck out of the zone either.
Cripes! Is the 3rd pairing only going to play PK?! Who's going to advance the puck between Peckham and Fistric?! Whitney may no longer be the player he was, but he can at least make a pass! We're going to watch a pairing stuck in the D-Zone all night!
Pie in the sky? I'll bet it happened just like you said Gregor!
I'm wishing Gilbert the best of luck. I'm wishing Peckham the beast of luck. I'm wishing Duby the best of luck. I'm wishing everyone the best of luck.
Except Clutterbuck and all those other Wild's I hate. I guess that's about all of them except Gilbert and I'll probably hate him after the game.
Oil win 5-0. Magnum gets a hat-trick.
Suter would look good in oiler blue. Any chance we can get him for Omark and a late-rounder? It would help Minny with their cap.
LA had Trevor Lewis with Richards and Carter. He's not even big and he was put with two skilled players.
I guess only coaches with Stanley cup rings are allowed to make moves like that.
Really not sure why people don't want to see a skilled player on line 3. Lets try throw 3 offensive lines at the opposition. Not like the current top 6 is creating all that much at ES.
As in you must be new here to call DSF a fan. He is more of a fan of annoying Oiler Fans.
Mark McNeil is the future of Oilers third line/second line center from time to time against bigger, tougher teams.. Make it happen Tambo!
holy man! you are one negative SOB (no real offense meant to your mother, i'm sure she was a nice lady). Is there any part of you that isn't toxic? Why don't you go back to the nuck's, wild or (insert whatever other team it is you "cheer" for) blog site & spread your stench around there? I've defended you in the past, but to come out with that statement makes me sick of you.
(congrats i guess you've done "your" job)
This year was supposed to be different with all the talent the Oilers have put together,this team is still a few years and players away from being competitive.I have no faith in Tambellini at all, to make any trades or moves.The sooner the organization gets a new GM, that's not afraid to make a trade, the sooner we will become a competitive team. Until then its going to be the same BS over and over!!!
That's exactly what I meant lol.
I think Gregor may have been answering with a hint of sarcasm.
OGDP:
Konopka is a healthy scratch tonight.
Your Wild lose.
Your Granlund barely touches the ice being on the 4th line.
What about your Coyle? Can't make the roster and is -8 in the minors.
Wild miss the playoffs.
OilersNation laughs.
We could have trouble moving the puck tonight. If Peckham really wants to impress the fans, he'll do something about Clutterbuck tonight. This could be a big swing game for both teams. The Wild are not as good as they think they are. They added two premier players to an already horrible team and expected to compete for a cup right away. I say tonight is one of our good nights and we win 3-2. GO OILERS GO!!
Then I am sure you will have no problem listing off all the other teams that currently play a tough guy in their top 6.
Remember Eager has never (in 8 seasons) had more than 17 pts in an NHL season.
I don't have a problem with him on the team, just keep him off the lines designed to score.
It's good to see Cheeseburger Peckham back in the lineup....I guess!
NSOGP. Clutterbuck nails Eberle at center ice in front of the Oilers bench with an elbow to the head which leads to Theo Peckham jumping off the bench to go clean Clutterbucks clock. The fans go nuts. Theo gets a 10 game suspension which has the fans lauding him for standing up for his team mates. Theo gets back in the good books of the team coach's and fans.
@Jasmine - I assume you are new here, and don't know the resident douche bag Canuck fan DSF. Don't mind him.
My god, the things you ignore while reading from your phone...
Either way, I'm just going to believe it really happened. It's just easier to bask in that glorious thought.