The Edmonton Oilers have the best fans. Full stop. Oilers Nation stepped willingly into the elevator shaft of rebuilding X years ago (your mileage may vary) and they’re still taking the LRT or driving down to Rexall through the wind, hail, sleet and snow. Edmonton Oilers fans possess faith eternal, they are worth celebrating all days. Today, the organization takes the time to say thanks.
Edmonton Oilers fans will make that trek tonight, getting on the gear and taking selfies and generally making the most of an eternal darkness surrounding the team and wins. If the club had to rely on wins for fans, they would have moved long ago.
Faith. Glory. Hallelujah.
Why are fans going tonight? Well, it might be the sheer power of Taylor Hall in flight, the anticipation of Jordan Eberle with the puck on his stick in tight, Nuge dogged on the stealth back check, Nail with the hammer from the high slot. Several female members of my family have taken a liking to Oscar Klefbom (purely a hockey attraction, I’m certain) and I’ll be watching for more good arrows from Martin Marincin, Anton Lander and others from the department of youth.
Even after a long, cold, bitter winter, Oilers fans have the faith of a child. This is us. We are prairie and we are cold and we are snow past the fence line. We are the northern most major city, well, pretty much anywhere, we are unique and we are proud of the great things that represent us, including, even now, the Edmonton Oilers. We’ve known hard times and we’ve celebrated good times and we do not break the bond.
Faith. Glory. Hallelujah.
The Edmonton Oilers live in a city with self-made women and men who searched for a foot in the door and built empires with only that and miles and miles and miles and miles of blood, sweat and tears. We live and die (literally) in this city and the beloved Oilers belong to the people and they deserve better starting long before now.
There’s not a person breathing who can disagree full stop. In a city filled with builders, the Edmonton Oilers’ hockey ops stand in stark contrast with the people who live here.
They’re out of time.
TALE OF THE TAPE
The Oilers have met their match in terms of save percentage so if they can produce 35 shots they should score enough to win this game. The club is banged up something awful though.
LINEUPS…
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
From Defending Big D: As for Edmonton tonight – they
score goals. Lots of them. 4, 2, 4, 4, 4, 3, 5, 1, and 4 in their last
nine games (3.44 per). Luckily they also allow them by the truck-full-
4.11 GA/G in the same stretch. They’re also putting an
absolute ton of rubber on opposing netminders right now – averaging 35
shots over their last ten games, including three-straight 34-shot
performances entering this one, and two 47 shot outings (against
Columbus and…Chicago?).
So there’s danger here. The
Oilers have nothing to lose and they want to get get up and down the
ice. The Stars thrive in that environment but can get tripped-up in
transition if things get a little too unstructured.
TONIGHT…
GAME DAY PREDICTION: The Oilers roar out of the gates and hammer Dallas good early, going up 1-0. They flag in the middle period, and lose 4-3 on a night it’s hard to fault lack of effort.
OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: The big line gets put back together and pot two in the final frame to make it close.
NOT-SO-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: Game broadcast suggest Oilers’ management not developing and should be traded for a goalie.
Unless my math is off, 1 + 2 = 3. Losing 4-3 to the Stars would totally add up. You left brains just need a little abstract thinking today, or some beer. Just saying.
“The Edmonton Oilers live in a city with self-made women and men who searched for a foot in the door and built empires with only that and miles and miles and miles and miles of blood, sweat and tears”.
This…. Describes a lot of us. We keep diggin…..and we love our sports. Just keep digging Oilers, and we’ll keep supporting.
If Mac T wants to be a star in this city………all he has to do is get us some real defenceman. I suspect all the fans in the city would soon forget the 10 long years……….of death, doom, destruction, despondancy, and despair.
No more tall, skinny, fast college grads Mac T……..real defenceman!
Seeing as Justin Shultz didn’t deserve a nickname in the first place, and that nick is no longer in our organization could we stop calling him jultz or jshultz and just call him Shultz… I know what we could call him… Still starts with a sh too!
Seriously this guy is bruuuutal though.
That’s the best GDB of all time.
That’s the best GDB of all time.
I know LT gets paid more than Mike Babcock but jeez he does write a sweet GDB huh? Maybe you could extend his contract to include a few more of these beauties.
We wait.
Although a proud Edmontonian, who fondly remembers scraping his car at -40, Edmonton doesn’t fall even nearly as far north as any Scandanavian capital – mild though they may be. I believe Helsinki would lay the strongest claim to furthest north major city.
I find it disturbing to look at our defence line up and realize this is year 5 of the rebuild. That is absolutely pathetic
Well for years the wife has not given me the ok to purchase the center ice package. She sees me moping around now and has given in. I will watch both oiler and islander games next year. Probably more islander games. My faith in edmonton is pretty much gone.
Lowetide says the Oilers management is out of time.
Really? It seems like they have as much time as they think is necessary. MacT, KBLowe and Howson are dismissal-proof, meaning the Oilers will stumble around for years, and fans will keep coming because we live in hockey country.
Half-empty arena is the only way to get Katz attention, but since that has not happened by now I don’t think it will ever happen.
Sorry, but Lowetide should have named this post “Lots of McTime”
In that Intact commercial,
is the guy’s name “A Nugent”
If Wayne was to hold a team appreciation night, lets say at the convention centre and charge $16 for parking, $9 beers and $5 for a slice of pizza, would anybody go?
I don’t know if I can be considered a fan. Maybe an interested observer.
I went to 2 games last year, because I felt obligated through work. None this year. I don’t wear my Oiler stuff anymore because I’m not proud to be associated with the team.
I don’t mind when the lose. I don’t mind when they win. I sure don’t like the loser point.
I try to keep up with what’s going on with them but I don’t think I can be fan till they give me some inkling that they’re (management) is trying and/or concerned.
I think the last 3 or 4 years they’ve finished the season not too badly, giving hope for next year. Then that hope is dashed by Thanksgiving.
I hope there are more empty seats than used ones.
That doesn’t sound like a fan to me.
Why would you be proud when they are/were successful.? What do you contribute that makes you proud?
I don’t need them to win to be proud. Or maybe not ashamed is the proper reference.
I just want them to start competing. Get a little smarter. I was quite disappointed with their line up going into the season, and more disappointed that that disappointment became justified.
I’m not a hockey expert by any means but even I could see something was wrong.
Holy crap !
Schultz can one time the puck!? Who knew.
MacTavish!
If Schultz can go +57 these last few games and maybe add about 20 goals and 20 assists, he might yet get the Norris.
It’s gonna be a close call , between him.. Weber, P.K. and Doughty.
I want to see Hall and Purcell switch spots for the rest of the season. Hall Roy Yak line really intrigues me.
What a hit by Hall.
Benn acted like a little b!tch after that and it resulted in a Nuge breakaway. Take the hit and move on you big baby.
“Character” hit.
I’m a little late to the oil game, I just HAD to watch calgary’s playoff hopes flushed down the crapper. I must admit that it was sweet.
How to fix Oilers defensive issue:
1: No Jultz.
2: No Nikitin.
3: Do not sign any defenseman from a bad defensive team (ex: Leafs).
4: Do not sign any aging 3rd pairing defenseman from ANY team.
5: Get ANY veteran defenseman that are not 3 or 4.
And problem fixed.
Barons shutout Stars tonight!
FFS.
This season couldn’t get any worse.
Im glad they’re not packing it in.
# character
#TANKFAIL
so… kind of felt like we eliminated the stars tonight. I know we are supposed to want to lose, but you just gotta enjoy that.
Kind of nuts how much Horcoff and Hemsky factored in the game for Dallas. Nice to see them still going.
Speaking of still going – Hallsy starting to dial in the tilt. Miller clutches out on the penalty shot for his first NHL goal.
good times.
Somebody tell the leafs that there are a couple games left
Benn is a hypocrite because he is actually the cheap shot artist.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iUDU_UmwQQ
(As an aside, watch Hemsky talking to Morrow – likely saying: “I would do something, but I think I might sign here when the media finally runs me out of town…)
He also implied the Sedins do weird things together on radio earlier in the year.
Ya, so forgive me for not caring about him being hit cleanly by a better LW…
Well written Alan!. .You are showing the love, caring and passion that we both still hold for the beloved Expos. I feel with this writing the Oil have turned a corner and renewed the positive spirit in our hearts and minds that we will finally see the start of the climb to Stanleyville.
Expo Larry
PS Remember our charter flight to Montreal for the Expo Revival!!