The cold mornings are on us now, starting the car involves a few extra minutes for warm up and the search for mittens and toque is unnecessary (any self-respecting Albertan has all the winter wear in a feature place in the home by now). The Christmas turkey has been consumed (well, mostly) and the Boxing Day game made us suitably grumpy. Now, on to Calgary and the battle of Alberta. A win would be outstanding, but the Oilers are not healthy and they carry a noxious power play into the province’s second city.
THE PACIFIC
The Oilers are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games—music!—but Calgary is 8-2-0 and have the look of a team coming together in a big way. Last night’s game saw some fine performances (Cam Talbot, Mark Letestu and his line, Andrej Sekera, the Leon line) and some wobbly ones. The coach put a positive turn on things:
-
Todd McLellan: “I
liked a number of our players coming out of the Christmas break. I
thought they had a little jump in their stride and made some plays. And
then there was about five or six that I thought was pulling us down
anchor-wise. And hopefully they give us better games tomorrow.” Source
That should light a fire under the ass of every man who had a poor night in Vancouver, but injuries and lack of depth are a big deal for Edmonton currently. We can get upset at turnovers, bad passes or shots going in from bad places, but there also needs to be the recognition that some very important pieces are injured. Sucks, but it is true.
Connor McDavid (@cmcdavid97) discusses his recovery, dealing with injury in his first season https://t.co/W5NzZoCb57 pic.twitter.com/O1Qu2eHXfI
— TSN 1050 Toronto (@TSN1050Radio) December 22, 2015
I CONFESS
I miss watching Connor McDavid and I am tired of waiting. I understand patience, being less than independently wealthy my whole life means years and years of patience are a part of me. I can wait, but don’t expect me to be happy about it, and the timeline remains vague and distant. Remember the night the Oilers beat the crap out of the Flames? October 17th. More than two months ago. And tonight, we Oilers fans have to watch Calgary—healthy and successful despite icing a grown man named Dougie—with all the bells and whistles. Edmonton brings a posthumous power play, a second line that can’t get out of their own zone, and a third pairing the 1974-75 Washington Capitals may have passed on.
It might be time for the Oilers to roll out new video of McDavid skating on a lake.
THE GAME IS A FOOT! ?
Oilers prospect goalie Eetu Laurikainen is heading back to North America from Finland. Ben Scrivens seems like a goner after the freeze.
— Brennan Klak (@nhlupdate) December 27, 2015
Hmm. Ben Scrivens rumored to Canadiens. A Cornell goalie in Montreal… Why does that sound so familiar?
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) December 27, 2015
UPDATE: F Zack Kassian told by Canadiens not to report to AHL until further notice. https://t.co/PelfUatzA7 pic.twitter.com/TlMnX5bRoq
— SportsCentre (@SportsCentre) December 26, 2015
Peter Chiarelli may be about to make a mid-season deal, sending away Ben Scrivens for Zack Kassian. Are you all ready for this? In some ways, this is a confusing deal—Edmonton has too many forwards now, no idea what happens when Nail Yakupov, Connor McDavid and Rob Klinkhammer return. Then again, Kassian probably plays in Bakersfield for a time and he would replace Bogdan Yakimov (in minutes, not position) in the lineup. Interesting days, trades are allowed beginning midnight.
PROJECTED LINEUPS
Oilers lineup courtesy of DailyFaceoff.com
Flames lineup courtesy of DailyFaceoff.com
QUICK HITS
- Bakersfield also plays tonight, rookies Kyle Platzer and Joey Laleggia are beginning to spike offensively.
- I would not be at all surprised if the Habs-Oilers deal turns out to have additional pieces.
- The Habs were always linked to Nail Yakupov, wonder if that was discussed.
- Oscar Klefbom and Brandon Davidson are missed more than my Lee jeans from the 1970s.
- The Oilers power play makes me sad. If this continues, I may start missing the MacT power plays! Speaking of, what ever happened to Mike York? Toby Petersen?
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
Let’s face it, the Oilers are a scrappy bunch that are playing much better structural hockey under coach Todd McLellan, but their depth is stretched thin with them currently without Rob Klinkhammer, Connor McDavid, Nail Yakupov, Andrew Ference and Oscar Klefbom. And since they played and lost last night and are playing a rested Flames team, they’ll probably do their best to slow the game down and keep things low-event. It’ll be tough, though, considering that the Flames have last change and can likely minimize the amount the Oilers can victimize the Wideman/Engelland defensive pair.
GAME DAY PREDICTION
GAME DAY PREDICTION: The Oilers come out strong early, as the Flames try to find their legs. A meandering shot from Nikita Nikitin gives the good side a 1-0 lead after one.
OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: Calgary applies pressure at every turn in the second, scoring three goals and chasing Anders Nilsson. Edmonton’s power play grabs a late goal to make it close entering the third period.
NOT-SO-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION:
Talbot shines in his second straight night of work, stopping 20 third period shots and stoning the Calgary power play. Edmonton’s own chance late with the man advantage does not cash and it ends 3-2 for the Flames on another frustrating night.
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We got Jultzed twice tonight. Bye bye 2 Pts.
Here we go. It’s all schultzs fault. 4 other guys standing around and like new age said, little flamers skating around untouched. You wanna blame anybody for wasting points it should be Chiarelli for not improving this defence. There’s a playoff spot being gifted to him and he’s just gonna let it slip away……
Not saying it’s ALL shultzs fault. He just leads in that category.
By a lot.
Really? He passed the puck into his own slot!! Right on to the stick of CGY leading scorer. Do you know how hockey works? I would have ripped it off the boards.
Well of course you would have. It’s easy to make that play from your couch on nhl16. Aye carumba….. special teams killed the oilers that period. It wasn’t just schultz. Watch the game bro. Not just one player. I will admit that turnover was bad but why lander or whoever that was that hot potatoed it back to him did that is beyond me. Again bro. Watch the game.
Yes, I would have. I have a good level of hockey IQ, that was a split second play where you have to get it outta danger. Only option for me would have been boards or behind the net. Just cause you suck at hockey bradley?
If I had the skating ability, I could easily play in the show. Skating ability is what keeps most guys out. Its the only thing a puss like Jultz has going for him.
I could play in the show too. Just my skating, puck handling, shooting and passing ability would need to be a bit better…then I’d be in!
Wow ok Bobby Orr. Chill out. Why don’t you hire a skill coach and get in the league if you’re so good. Teach schultz a thing or two. Then go take webbers job! Wow just wow.
You’re just an awful troll or an incredible moron. Either way piss off.
Love that story! Thanks bro!
You saying bro explains everything I need to know about you.
You must be really good at hockey… except for that skating thing…
Exactly.
Jultz is in his fourth of playing defence in the NHL. Its a 3 – 3 game in the last minute of the 2nd period – he should rip it off the boards or hammer it out.
Its a no-brain dumbass play that I have seen wayyyyy to many times from Shultz.
I’m tired of watching this team lose PC – make it stop soon.
You think its just a coincidence hes on the ice for all 4 goals against. The announcers think hes crap ON thinks hes crap. And you STILL defend him?
This is gonna sound crazy but i think you MIGHT be wrong.
Completely agree with this! It’s not Schultz fault. Everyone knows he sucks. Why hasn’t chiapete given the team a better option to play?? What is Schultz even doing dressed in an oiler uniform?!? That’s on Chia’100%
If you can’t find a team who will trade for Schultz, send him to the minors. Stop wasting the season giving minutes to Schultz.
What bradleypi short for? Oh yeah. Bradleypissant. How you cannot see Schultz as a weakass player tells me you are a freaking moron. Count your daily trashes bozo.
Holy relax! I don’t think Schultz iz solely to blame for 4 goals against. It’s a team game bro. So chill out. The Oilers are still in it. Yeesh!
Told you Johnny Hockey would light the Oil up like Christmas Trees.
Don’t the Oil ever get tired of being the Flames b*tch? That last 10 game record…ouch.
Don’t you get tired of being your wife’s boyfriends biatch?
oh justin being jultz again! #norrispotential
I doubt that John Shannon knows how to skate.
He doesn’t. True statement.
Shultz cannot be deffended any longer. Bench that useless fggt.
I think the national sportsnet desk is catching on to what we have been seeing with Shultz.
I’m at a loss as to why he’s getting so many minutes. Is it possible he’s being showcased?
We got Jultzed two or three times tonight? Nilsson has been fighting the ouck all night. He can’t stop giving uo rebounds. P. U.
Justin Schultz is the idiot of the night, although Jeff Marek can still pull it out.
Maybe the Oilers should trade Nilsson to Montreal instead of Scrivens,he should of saved 2 of those Calgary goals.
I eventually get numb to these Flames Oiler games. I am sick of the Oil always giving these games up. How many years has this been going on already? It is not really a battle when it is this one sided.
I believe Louie Debrusk called it the “ballet” of Alberta a couple years ago. Truer words were never spoken. Lol. God this oilers team is soft.
I think Talbot’s proving he’s number one. Nilsson is playing like crap….
It doesn’t take a hockey expert to know that Jultz is not an nhl caliber player! HTF does Tmac justify playing the idiot so much?
What the hell is the matter Chiarelli and McLellan? With Schultz, Nikitin and Gryba on the D you are guaranteeing yourself a lottery pick. McLellan’s judgement sucks.
I hate the flames. They play such a chaotic game. Not sure how they can get the wins so often.
Man I miss mcdavid. What’s the predicted date back?
Quick, someone tell me how we will have a great second half when McDavid returns. I’m losing faith. We could have lost by 10 last night and Calgary could still get 10 tonight. I won’t blame Schultz, even if he is horrid. The defence without Klef and Davidson is SUBPAR.
But trading for proper defense with our assets won’t help the team?
This team can and should be able to afford to trade for proper Dman. Even Braddley is starting to come around about Schultz sucking.
When you have Schultz playing 27 minutes a game, how can you argue that defense isn’t waaaay more important than forward?
How can you say the removing of a first overall or two will not improve the team when traded for a true number 1 dman? Schultz is playing 27 minutes for us!!! Deeeeeruuhmmmmm??
I think you mean WITH Klefbom and Davidson the D is subpar. No dire spect to those guys but they are still young. Without them the D is ATROCIOUS.
I stand corrected. Thank you.
Laurent Brossait … call him up.
10 years of suck and its starting to take a toll. It used to be Iginla killing the Oilers, not its Johnny Hockey. I can’t take this sh*t anymore, I’m tired of yelling at me TV set.
Oilers up 3-1 midway through the period, give up a shorty, then a pp goal, then the obligatory Jultz play and its 4 – 3.
PC and TMac, make it stop. Please make it stop.
FFS.
I don’t know if it is just me, but it feels that the Flames players are more intense and really get into these Oiler games. But the Oil don’t get as intense for them.
Can only imagine what the score would be right now if Shultz had missed the flight.
I want to be positive, I will be positive but jesus…why do they let opposing players do what ever they like in front of their own net ?
Just wondering ??
Geez, just taking a look at a few of the comments in here, you’d think the oil lost already! (or is it just the losers commenting right now)?
Pou for a hat
Yotes won, ducks won, flames winning, gonna get a lot uglier around here. Can’t wait for the big trade announcement
trade Shultz
man to man coverage ????
“Justin Schultz turnover was a terrible play”
-Kelly Hrudey hahaha
Is Ebbs still an Oiler? Rumor has it his perimeter backhand against the grain is heating up ,maybe he should look to target the Elbow -Bone himself….lol.
Early high shots at bar level as soon as you break the blueline supported by STREAKING support might be fun to watch,you know time the support wave to ALL be streaking in leading with their sticks looking to tip in.
What on earth are you blabbering about?
Just some observations there Moose-knuckler….lol
I have ZERO confidence in this Oil team coming back. They already have one foot on the plane.
If it stays 4 to 3 until the last 5 minutes, they will start pressuring again.
The team plays when they get excited every time, and sometimes other times.
I sure hope Gudreau let’s hrudey and bell suck his dick after the game. The fking idiots can’t stop drooling over him.
I hope he lets you sniff his jock. How many Oilers popped two tonight while measuring a whopping 5’6″?
So, Sam Bennett is 6-3 220? No? Gadreau is 6-2 210? No? BRING ON KASSIAN.
Wow bennett pushing around Hendricks? And no response at all. Soft soft soft team.
I see Sam Bennett understands that hockey is a contact sport ?
Not that I’m propping him but just saying ??