When Pekka Rinne went downwith a hip injury on October 22nd, many expected the Predators to stumble down the standings. Rinne started nine of their first ten games compiling a 4-4-1 record. Carter Hutton started one game prior to Rinne’s injury and he won. When Rinne went down the Predators expected Hutton to be their starter, however, he has struggled in seven starts, going 3-3-1 and allowing at least three goals in every game except one.
Twenty-two year old, Marek Mazanec has taken the job from Hutton. Mazanec was drafted in the 6th round of the 2012 draft, and after playing five games in the AHL he was recalled to Nashville when Rinne was injured. He’s played exceptionally well going 5-3 with a solid 2.01 GAA and 0.935 SV% and two shutouts.
The Predators always find a way to stay competitive. Over the past 73 games they’ve lost their 2nd best D-man, Ryan Suter, and their starting goalie and had to replace them from within. Most teams would be crippled losing key pieces like that, but the Predators are only six points out of the playoffs with a game in hand.
They don’t use injuries or free agent losses as an excuse. They just keep finding ways to stay competitive. Head coach Barry Trotz rarely ices a lineup that has as much skill as the opposition, but he and GM David Poile find players who buy in and work hard every night.
The Predators don’t complain they just find ways to stay competitive.
Tonight is a good challenge for the Oilers to see if they can match the work ethic, competitiveness and discipline of the Predators. The Oilers have more offensive skill than the Predators, but they haven’t learned how to beat teams when their skill isn’t effective.
They could learn how to be competitive from the Predators tonight, and hopefully match their intensity as well.
LINEUP
Hall-RNH-Eberle
Yakupov-Gagner-Hemsky
Smyth-Gordon-Perron
Jones-Arcobello-Joensuu
Ference-Petry
Grebeshkov-J.Schultz
Belov-N.Schultz
Bryzgalov
Wil Acton, Luke Gazdic and Corey Potter are out while Ryan Jones, Marc Arcobello and Denis Grebeshkov draw in. I’m curious to see if Dallas Eakins gives him 4th line more minutes, and how Arcobello plays with only 9-11 minutes. It is very difficult for most guys to stay in the game, when they play limited minutes, and if Arcobello can excel in that role I doubt he comes out of the lineup very soon.
QUICK HITS….
- The only way Shea Weber gets traded is if he asks for a trade. He is the face of the Predators and after losing Suter, and paying Weber $26 million dollars to play 130 games by the end of the season; the Preds have no interest in moving their star D-man.
- If Mazanec continues to play this well, he might be someone the Preds could shop to acquire some offence. They have been great at developing young D-men, but for some reason they can’t develop any young forwards.
- The Oilers are 5-9-1 in their last 14 visits to Nashville. If they don’t work hard tonight, they will get beat.
- Joensuu needs to play with more intensity. He has done nothing since scoring on opening night. He’s had flashes, but since returning from injury he hasn’t had the same jump in his game.
- The RNH line has to rebound after a dreadful performance at home. They didn’t generate many chances, and seemed frustrated early on. They have to find ways to produce when their tic-tac-toe plays aren’t working.
GAME DAY PREDICTION: Preds work hard, and defeat the Oilers 4-3 in OT.
OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: Arcobello scores and those who were irate he was a healthy scratch for four games, feel some vindication. Oilers fans need something to feel good about.
NOT-SO-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: Ryan Jones has been frustrated sitting in the pressbox, and he tries to make a statement to the coach by having a spirited tilt with Nick Spaling in the first period. It is a pretty even tilt, until the end when Jones lands an off-balance right hand that hits Spaling on the button. Jones who rarely says much on the ice, will sit in the sin bin with a huge grin on his face while he and the timekeepers talk about his time with the Predators.
MONTH OF GIVING RETURNS….
My third annual Month of Giving begins today on my show. In the past two years we’ve raised over $106,000 for Christmas charities to help those in need. I’m starting a bit early because I will miss a few days with the birth of our first child in the next few weeks, but I wanted to ensure we come close, or surpass, $53,000 again.
This year I’ve gathered some excellent auction items:
- Michelle Derk from Remax Elite has donated her “seller’s commission” on a house.
- A high efficiency furnace or Central air conditioning system including permits and installation and removal of old furnace from G&H Heating and Cooling.
- I have some dinner packages with Eskimos and Oilers…
- Rush VIP package…MFC VIP package…
- Signed Messier jersey, and other signed jerseys…
- Golf packages, jewellery, Oil King Suites…Gold seats to Oiler games
- $1,500 GC for Dinette and Patio Showcase..
- $1,000 GC from United Cycle…
- Shopping spree at Derks clothing and dinner….
- And more…
TODAY’S ITEM….
- A one year lease on a brand new 2014 GMC Sierra SLE courtesy of Petersen Buick GMC.
It is a 1500 4×4 Double Cab…
Heated front bucket seats…
Back up camera…
Intellilink…
You can get in Black, Stealth Grey or Silver.
You need to start your one year lease by the end of January, 2014.
You can bid by calling 780.444.1260 or 1-800-243-1945 between 2-6 p.m. today during the Jason Gregor Show.
Thanks in advance to all who will bid on these packages over the next few weeks. 100% of the money raised goes directly to the charities, and know that you will be making some people’s lives much more enjoyable during the holidy season.
I’m hoping we can reach $60,000 this year.
- GDB 25.0: A TOUGHER TEST
- GDB 24.0: THREEPEAT
- GDB 23.0: GOING STREAKING
- TUESDAY TIDBITS…BEATING THE ODDS
- GDB 21.0: STARTING OVER
- GDB 20.0: HORCOFF RETURNS
- YAKUPOV WANTS MORE ICETIME
- TUESDAY TIDBITS: TOUGH STARTS…
The make up of this team would dictate that they should play the cycle game to take advantage of their slick puck handling and the kids have some wicked shots from close in, that is if they ever decide to shoot.
Again they don’t cycle, because they can win enough puck battles along the boards to start the cycle game.
Instead they choose to play a run and gun off the rush, only to loose the puck on entry or
played off onto corner or side boards, again loosing the puck often, with the play going the other way rather quickly.
They seldom get playing from the back end off the cycle… at times the D man will make a play off the rush , but that’s about it.
It’ll be interesting to see how we bounce back from a loss. So far this season losses have just lead to more and more losses. We need to get back on the wagon. I don’t like the matchup but Bryzgalov is only afraid of bear in the forest so he won’t let the Predators intimidate him. 1-0 Oil.
I actually like Louis Debrusk as a colour guy but he has to cut down on the length of his comments. He keeps talking over the play too much.
Also, what a boring game.
3-2 oil. Oil talent level wins out over discipline and defense. The key is the pres goalie is due for a regression to the norm.
Zzzzzzzzz
Does Nashville remind anyone else of the Devils back in the day? Playing kitty by the door, no risks, no excitement. Oh where the he$l is QSB been lately?
Arco showing why he SHOULD be in the lineup…Jschultz is havin a tough one so far
I like Bryzer’s calm feet and positioning so far… might encourage the defence to play with a little more fearlessness… good to see Arco back, using his feet and drawing penalties… go, Oilers!
Damn that was pretty…Nuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuggggggggeeee
Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well well well that was a bit of a shocker!
One play that illustrates the two teams.
Bryz bobbles the puck and a Nashville player crashes the net with barely pushback by the Oiler players.
Then at the other end, Ryan Smythe gets in the Nashville goalie’s kitchen and 3 Nashville players check him knocking the net off.
One team uses physical play, the other hasn’t used physicality as intimidation in years.
And as I was typing The Oilers score twice. Shows what I know.
Totally agree with you… Oiler D are softest
cup cakes of all defensemen in the league. They could not clear the front of the net if you gave them bobcats instead of hockey sticks.
In fact on one play infront of Oilers own net, Ference gets knock down rather hard… should it not be the other way around… Ference knocking down and clearing the Preds from infront of the Oiler net.
Bryz… safes the day.One thing, he sure moves a lot quicker than Dubby.
You know who could knock guys down in front of the net? Smid.
^This.
Not a Smid basher, but for his size the guy was pretty soft… more of bear hug type of player… also engaged more often after the whistle than before… great shot blocker..but so are pylons.. seriously was way to slow in clearing pucks… and not a great skater.. nice guy though.
Not often a team spots their opponent a 2 zip lead. Should be interesting to see if the Preds choose to take the whole evening off, or show up and win it in the third.
If they could spot us one more goal, Oilers would be in danger of getting atleast one point this evening.
As soon as that suck, that #6 guy is back from his flesh wound, someone needs to smack him in the head and rip him open again, open that baby up and add another 8 stitches. See if they can fit a whole 2 lbs box of salt in that wound.
Chop the head off, and watch the body fall. Oh……and cross check the Hendricks character in the throat. 15 plus hits in the third period would be a good distraction.
Isn’t that from Slapshot? Actually reminds of a time when enforcers did more than the staged fights of today. How I miss the O’reilys,Duponts,Mahovalich’s, of yesteryears. Memories……though odds are they’d be suspended more than they would play in todays game.
Lol, in those days, the Oilers came out onto the ice for pre game warm up with Star Wars music blaring.
Late seventies……..old time hockey!
Violence = good.
The golden bears basket ball team comes out with the imperial march.
Joensuu – Arco – Jones is a great 4th line! I’m loving it. They can actually cycle & keep the puck in the opponent zone!
Why did it take this long for Eakins to figure it out,people on this site suggested this combo for a 4th line on nights you don’t need Gazdic for a while. They were a factor all night.
They were a factor. Looked really good, actually.
So thats what a goalie looks like. Who knew?
Arco is playing pretty well tonight, Dallas will probably reward him by making him a healthy scratch next game.
“Rich Klune! He came in the kitchen…. but he couldn’t eat.”
Worst commentating ever! Roger’s Sportsnet, your leaders in hockey coverage!
“Eyes… wide open… with that open… net… looming?!”
Classic Sportsnet West commentary.
Is it wrong to think that if one of the other goalies was in net tonight, the score would likely be 3-2 or something close to that?
Did we just look like a real team again? Very nice game by the Bryzzer
Nobody beats the Bryz!!
this…is…so…clever…ha…ha…ha
Any chance to use a Biz Markie reference I take 🙂
Oilers playing their 4th line with less than a minute to go. Road shut-out. Decent shut-down road game.
Is this the same team?
I feel like I’m going bipolar.
Keep Bryz. Demote Joensuu. Kick Potter to the curb.
ILYA B.! ILYA B.! but gotta stay even keeled. Prozac is working. Wellbutrin keeping me happy may not need the Zanax today.
Dayum!
That could be the two points that costs the Oilers the first overall selection…..
Dayum you Kevin Lowe!
Man BryZ showed up now I’m all high on hopium again. Thank you sir may I have another ?!
WORST COMMENTATING EVER. Kevins brain keeps taking a dump whenever the oilers enter the o zone. Feel so embarassed for that guy.
Only 12 more years of them, I hope they hire Gord Miller and Ray Ferraro to do Edmonton Games.
Miller and or Ferraro are in the top tier or close. Bigger stars than a local market. Maybe ON would prefer our CHED duo?
What did we witness?
Oilers Bryz past Predators?
In my wildest dreams.
I had no idea until now that the last goalie to pitch a shoutout in their Oil debut was Jussi Markkanen on 28 Nov 2001 who was maybe not the best goalie out there, but was/is really, really, nice guy. (Useless sidenote I know, but felt like mentioning that) 🙂
In Bryz we trust. 4th line looked sexy.
You mock me and throw out a Star-Spangled Banner reference?? C’mon now….