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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Bennett has more hits than all of the oilers put together.
Sigh. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.
I’m just enjoying watch a future great take a game by the scruff of the neck.
It is annoying. The Flames have a player like Johnny Hockey to come in here and make a difference and lead this team to the win. And the Oilers wilt as usual in these “Battle” of Alberta games. Pathetic.
Well they did beat the flames 5-2 last time they were in Cgy…
There is something for the Oil to hang their hat on. What is the record of the last 10 games between these teams though?
They are undefeated with mcdavid.
Big deal.
There is a part of me that wonders where this team would be if the balls didn’t fall the right way? After all these years of “rebuilding” this is what we have? The Oil likely would have ended up with Strome or Marner and they would be playing in the O. So…this is the team the Oil would have. And they still are a bottom 5-10 team in the league.
So. McDavid comes back. They are expecting this guy to save this mess? Please. And the Flames are not the same team – that is clear. These guys are on track to make the playoffs again. Look at them. Damn. Sickening.
What’s bothering me is how on that shorthand chance Flames have 3 on 1, 5 seconds in front of net with puck possesion, 3 shot attempts and only one Oilers in front of net.
You clearly missed the part where I brought that up earlier and got trashed and insulted for saying the exact same thing. And then was told it was all schultzs fault anyways so it doesn’t matter where the other players were. I’m surprised you noticed that too. You usually bash schultz with the best of em!
These effin losers
This Oilers team is soft, period. They need to get tougher. But that is only part of it.
Flames sportsnet broadcasters suck balls compared to Quinn and Remenda….
Roger millions is the most awkward interviewer in sports.
Rnh is pretty much invisible again tonight.
Agreed. Couple nice plays in the 1st. Classic oilers tho. 20 minute nights seem to be the norm. Sure wish Chiarelli would make a trade.
Yeah. Assisting on 2 of the 3 Oiler goals really gives a guy an invisibility cloak..
Jultz is useless.
He’d make a good ice crew girl.
Win or lose this game, there’s still five cups to drink from
Pathetic. Like a leafs fan bragging that his team has eleven.
Old Memories are like wrinkles in the front of your pants there Moose-knuckle they always fade away in time…let go and walk towards the Big Light.
Good point.
Also, remember when we built that really big mall?
That was cool…
And some eskimos won five cups in a row in something called the canadian football league.
The CFL was actually competitive with the NFL back than, in fact there was usually more money in the CFL back than.
Ummm I don’t …….. yeah sure.
What on earth are you blabbering about?
That was waaaay to easy….this has to be a Trap!
Why am I still waiting for the Oilers contribution to the B.O.A….there is no battle in this Process….butterballs were suppossed to all be worked off by now and the entire Team is playing like one.
Just an observation but using the stick first approach to seperate pucks from a possesion/transition team like the fLames isnt the ONLY way to stop them sometimes you must adjust everything and seperate pucks as efficiently with the body ,and they know their process now….lol….whoever from the Oilers used that good advice didnt read the chapter before it….lol….from the 1st minute the wrong focus has been actioned….lol….assbackwards fruit-loops,I am tired of Observing this 1/2 arsed effort .
We look like an Oildrop wearing one-eyed one legged man with a hand tied behind his back in an ass-kicking contest again tonight…lol.
Thanks Justin for taking a timely penalty.
Millions vs principe…millions comes in with a left left right combo, principe counters with a classic right punch…….line. millions doubles over laughing. Cause it’s hard to be mad at principle when he’s PUN in a million.
God what would it be like to have a Dman like gio?
goodbye playoffs!
I guess it could have been worse. The Oil could have been embarrassed like 7-1 or something.
Show some fking emotion on the bench tmac!!!
Shultzed again…..
Sigh….. If somehow we could just get him more minutes we could turn this around.
Should be in the press box.
Ya, the condors pressbox
Should be in the AHL to learn how to compete
Someone else’s pressbox
Good luck with your rebuild Coilers. lol.
I know we suck, but did you guys won the cup or something?
Gross game tired of seeing of seeing these soft players with no fight or heart play this much why am I an oiler fan
No heart, no fight.
They accepted they are an inferior team. One foot on the plane. Pathetic.
Yup same old oilers where was the drai and hall magic ? Unless the other team gives us the game we lose lol it’s so sad like Hendricks is our seasoned vet and he gets disrespected by a dude my age it’s just pathetic . Summer prediction is #5 overall pick this years draft
I’m at a loss for words. Oilers are headed for dead last again. And this is after rebuilding for 6 years. Disgraceful effort. I am as close to being done with the team as I’ve been since the 1991 dismantle.
Agree totally.
I’ve been a fan for over 40 years, and have sat through so many disappointing efforts the past 10 years I am almost numb to it.
However, tonight was one of the most gut-wrenching losses I can remember.
3-1 lead, give up a shorty against worst penalty kill in the league, give up two pp goals against worst pp in the league, let Sam Bennet run over the team with no push back, no push back in the third.
This team lacks character, too many soft players and I’m a so f*cking tired of watching this team lose.
Also, Jultz has got to be sent down or traded or something. His dumbass play is killing us. Do something PC.
can we please get 4 more nhl dmen please.
No more big slow guys who cant skate –
Reinhart, Nikitin, Greyba, Musil, Fayne
No More AHL Dmen –
Schultz, Ference, Hunt
A 5.5 foot 150lb midget beat the oilers tonight! Wow!
Yep, and he beats the rest of the league regularly. Led the Flames to the playoffs last year, notwithstanding a suspect supporting cast. Hallsy, EBS (and his knit-sweater), and RNH can only dream of such a thing. They still have their 6-mill contract extensions though, meanwhich Johnny Hockey is playing for his peanuts (and his eventual extension, which will be sick).
And not one Oiler laid a finger on him.
I guess this means the team is not road warriors .
Wow what cluster-puck of a game by the Oil….it was like they were playing a perimeter man on man basketball defense….lol.
Path-pucking-thetic.
Sorry for Nuge who came out and nailed the fLames with a couple of HEAVY RIGHT HANDS and was let down by the snowflakes again……. love ya Big Dog!!!!!
I hate Justin Schultz.
Jultz plays for the Flames right? I could honestly not tell which side he was on. Worst player in the entire NHL.
Schultz must go!!!! Nikitin must go!!!! They just don’t seem to have any idea how to play defence.
Well, another road loss.
Hall,drai, Purcell relatively ineffective again save for a Calgary screw-up.
Guess my theory is proving right.
Rnh HAS to get his game back or maybe he gets Put on the third line. Otherwise the road will be a deathmarch at least until McD is back.
The Oilers didn’t hit enough but they weren’t bad. Calgary is a very hard-working team. Playoffs are not out for the Oilers. Calgary is a good team and the sky is not falling for the Oilers.
What really pissed me off tonight is that Schultz was on the ice all the time and there was never any consequence for how bad and stupid he played. He did literally nothing right and was constantly put out on the ice after every mistake. He caused 3 goals directly and his penalty led to a 4th. He is bad by eye, bad by stats, just bad. There is no way he is being played this much to win hockey games. If the oilers wanted to win he would be gone. He is just terrible.
I would rather share a bunk bed with Jeff Marek than watch Justin Schultz play for the Oilers.
Justin Schultz can’t possibly care. He is so bad. I think the opportunity to screw this team over is what Justin Schultz asked Santa for Christmas.
This Oilers team and playoffs should no longer be used in the same sentence.
At 12:01 Zack Kassian will be announced as the new saviour, sunny ways my friends.
Kill jultz.