Dwayne Roloson will get his second start of the season tonight. What does this mean?
This is more about Coach MacTavish being frustrated with Mathieu Garon, than it is the Oilers showcasing Roloson. Garon didn’t look good in Vancouver, and he let in a soft third goal in Colorado. The Oilers need him to be better if he’s to be their everyday #1 goalie.
Starting Roloson also is a sign that the coach doesn’t have confidence in young Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers just yet. If he did, tonight would be an ideal time to start the 24-year-old.
This is a huge game for the Oilers. A win puts them two games over .500 before their longest road trip of the season. Then all they would have to do is go 2-4-1 on the road trip and return home .500 after 15 games. If the Oilers are .500 or better after 15 games, with 12 of them on the road they will be ecstatic.
If Roloson plays well, this will muddy the goaltending picture even more, and it will also push Garon to be better. When asked what has been the difference in the last three losses compared to the first four games MacTavish was quick with a response, “Goaltending and special teams, plain and simple.”
That sounds like a coach who is expecting more out of his goalies, and his decision to start Roloson proves that.
Pisani back in
After missing two games with a sore back, Fernando Pisani draws back in centering Ethan Moreau and Eric Cole. Pisani tweaked his back on a snapshot in the morning skate in Chicago, and has been getting treatment for the past four days. He says he feels fine and it shouldn’t be a reoccurring problem.
It looks like Zack Stortini will sit out tonight, as he was the last player on the ice at practice this morning. And Jason Strudwick won’t play due to a sore shoulder.
October and November games matter
After 20 games last season, only one western team that wasn’t in the playoffs at that time (Anaheim) was able to make it in. The Oilers need to be in the playoff race come the first 20 games, or it will be much harder to make up ground. The Oilers schedule could make it easier to make up ground, but they have to be close after 20 games.
—Listen to Gregor weekdays from 3 to 6 pm on the TEAM 1260 or online at www.justagame.ca.
We are having massive computer problems here at the Nation HQ as an aside. If we go dark it's cause we have thrown the laptop against the wall in frustration.
We seem to have the Marian Gaborik Model: Pretty, shows occasional flashes of brilliance but occasionally does nothing.
Can computers get annual groin injuries?
Gilbert sure looks like he is earning every penny so far this year doesn't he?
He did just make a 4 million dollar block.
For heavens sakes. Act it out nameless Bruin drone
For 4 million dollars I would take a tooth brush and spit polish every nook of Bob Stauffer's beach body.
It just occured to me that tie Stauffer was wearing was one of those Cancer fundraising ties.
I'd buy Bobs. I bet it smells like cheese
…that's hot.
I'd pay you $400 to reenact Madonna's hit book "Sex" with Stauffer as your counterpart…
I bet it's made of cheese. Probably the only reason he agreed to wear it.
Everybody looks slow they're cloggin up my neutral zone big time. The oil arent getting any speed on the rush.
You say that until you venture south of the border and the tooth brush gets entwined in hair just as two lovers do when wrapped up in the kama sutra.
Stauffer makes an honest living as the Ron Jeremy of radio
Wanye: SOLD!
you what'd be sweet…if the new site re design had a chat room…just sayin.
Pitkannen is hurt for like 5 weeks in case anyone cares.
On behalf of the OilersNation may I say:
Good
TTB:
I'd be happy if the redesigned site was up just up and running!
A chat room is actually in the plans – but with a very special twist that we can't roll out till next season I would guess.
Who the hell let all these Boston fans into Rexall? Last time I checked we had run all the Irish out of Edmonton with flaming pitchforks.
SHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT
"We took a hell of a pitchforking. But 'twas all in good fun."
New site is going to be really sweet. Just saying.
OMG Gene.
I hear Bob is being ridden in many of the events this year.
OH MY GOD PRINCIPE YOU DIDNT
In case anyone cares, the world series is in jeopardy of being called in the 6th inning, and Philly would win the game by default because they are up a run.
So, technically, Rain would become the new World Series Champion.
wow jeanshorts…really? I don't think i'd want that to be the way I won my world series title.
I would have given anything for PPV to not have sound still listening to MC Gene there…
No effin' way! I hate rain.
me 30 seconds ago: "Where the hell is Cole? He's been quiet."
Yeah no doubt. They are trying to keep pushing this game as long as the field and the Cubans will hold up.
Yeah we've got an eye on the baseball game and another on the Oilers game. It's pouring rain, but if we stay split focused like this long enough we're going to look like Horcoff.