Who saw that coming? Final Score: 6-3 Oilers
Are we all on the same page that it was kinda weird for the Sharks to call someone up from the AHL just to get retribution on 21-year old Darnell Nurse? I mean, isn’t Roman Polak a giant human being in his own right? How emasculating is it to have your team call up a guy even smaller than you to come in and defend your honour? I realize that Polak has a broken nose but then wouldn’t it make sense to wait on the fight, step up anyway, or at least have someone fight that was actually there? We all knew that a fight was coming but I think it’s weird that they called someone up to do it.
As for the game itself, it was weird in more than one way and I think most of you would agree with me. The Oilers went from having only four shots total, in the first period, to scoring four goals in the second. We have officially reached that point in the season where it becomes virtually impossible to predict what to expect from the Oilers. Before the game had started, the Oilers actually found themselves in 30th place in the NHL. Since the Leafs had won their game tonight the Oilers had temporarily reclaimed their rightful place on the throne of the tank empire. Many have challenged us, but few have the will to match our dedication to being some variation of horrible despite collecting all of the first overall picks, but that’s beside the point.
I don’t think any of us would have expected the Oilers to beat the Sharks by three goals, but it certainly was a pleasant surprise. After finding themselves down by two goals after the first period Gene was interviewing Logan Couture and he kept taking jabs at the Oilers to the point where it was getting annoying. We already know the Oilers suck and to hear chiclets keep running his mouth was unnecessary. To have the Oilers respond (doubt they would have known what he said) by pumping the Sharks for six goals in the final 40 minutes was the most beautiful screw you, and, as an added bonus, San Jose will have to wait for another day to clinch their playoff spot.
And all of this happens on the night when the Sharks call in the NHL’s version of hitman to beat up a rookie. Well played, San Jose.
The wrap.
THE BRIGHT SIDE
- The Oilers hit 30 wins on the season for the first time since 2011!
- Connor McDavid extended his point streak to six games as he set up Patrick Maroon with a wide open net. McDavid now has 43 points in 40 NHL games and is tied for 4th in rookie scoring. He. Deserves. The. Calder.
- Three points tonight for Patrick Maroon as he got a goal (his 7th), two assists, and was mixing it up physically all night long. Not to mention the shade he was throwing in his 2nd intermission interview with Gene. He’s been a huge add (PUN!) since coming over from Anaheim. It’s still early but he seems like a good bet by Chiarelli.
- Taylor Hall scored a big goal and added an empty netter for his 24th and 25th goals of the season. He’s been getting chances but the pucks haven’t been going in. Taylor Hall is not part of the problem people, and I can’t believe I have to say that more than once.
- Nail Yakupov had a solid night and picked up an assist on Patrick Maroon’s goal. Yak also looked respectable in his own end. If these are his last few games as an Oiler I will certainly miss him.
- Jordan Eberle scored his 24th goal of the season by doing some nice puck tracking in the offensive zone. He followed the puck towards the net and fired it home after the initial point shot bounced off Patrick Maroon.
- Lauri Korpikoski scored his 10th goal of the season by doing what he does and getting to the front of the net. Mark Letestu stayed hot as he got an assist on the goal which brought the Oilers back to within one, in the second period.
- How about Darnell Nurse stepping up to the plate and fighting the Sharks’ ringer even though Haley had no matter of Darryl beating the tar out of Roman Polak? After the fight was over, Darryl went on to have a pretty solid night as both he and Adam Clendening were +4 on the night. I’m no fan of +/- but that’s impressive.
- I don’t know that this would be a memorable win for Cam Talbot but he made the saves he needed to make to get his team the win. To see Talbot hit 20 wins after a slow start is a small win on a tough season. Talbot has been a bright spot since December and it was nice to see that the team gave him enough offense to get a win tonight. Talbot finished the night with 23 saves and an .885 save%.
THE FACE PALMERS
- The Oilers hit 30 wins on the season for the first time since 2011!
- It is pretty stupid that the Sharks called someone up from the minors just to fight 21-year old Darnell Nurse. That organization should reevaluate its priorities because that’s bush league. Wait until Polak can fight for himself or get someone that was actually there to step it. Quite frankly, the Sharks look like huge assholes.
- The Oilers only had four shots on the goal in the first period. Four. The Sharks had two goals.
- I can’t be the only one that thinks the refs are terrible. I can’t be the only one that thinks the refs are terrible. I can’t be the only one that thinks the refs are terrible. I can’t…
- The Oilers allowed two power play goals on four chances and you know that’s something that McLellan will bring up in their next meetings. The Oilers penalty kill has actually been solid all night and I’m sure they can tighten it up for the last few games.
- How did the Oilers only get one power play all night? (yes, I know that Maroon scored on a delayed penalty call)
- 45% in the face off circle tonight. This is something the OIlers will definitely need to improve on going forward, and I’m not sure there’s a secret to it apart from gaining strength and experience.
SCORING SUMMARY
| 1ST PERIOD | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 03:47 | SJS | Tommy Wingels (7) Slapshot – ASST: Roman Polak (14), Nick Spaling (8) | 1 – 0 SJS |
| 11:41 | SJS | PPG – Joe Pavelski (35) Slapshot – ASST: Joe Thornton (54), Logan Couture (19) | 2 – 0 SJS |
| 2ND PERIOD | |||
| 01:39 | EDM | Lauri Korpikoski (10) Tip-in – ASST: Adam Clendening (5), Mark Letestu (14) | 2 – 1 SJS |
| 08:18 | EDM | Taylor Hall (24) Wrist shot – ASST: NONE | 2 – 2 Tie |
| 09:03 | EDM | Adam Clendening (1) Wrist shot – ASST: Patrick Maroon (14), Darnell Nurse (7) | 3 – 2 EDM |
| 12:26 | SJS | PPG – Patrick Marleau (21) Wrist shot – ASST: Joe Thornton (55), Brent Burns (40) | 3 – 3 Tie |
| 18:04 | EDM | Patrick Maroon (7) Wrist shot – ASST: Connor McDavid (29), Nail Yakupov (13) | 4 – 3 EDM |
| 3RD PERIOD | |||
| 12:54 | EDM | Jordan Eberle (24) Wrist shot – ASST: Patrick Maroon (15), Andrej Sekera (22) | 5 – 3 EDM |
| 19:54 | EDM | EN – Taylor Hall (25) Wrist shot – ASST: Andrej Sekera (23), Leon Draisaitl (31) | 6 – 3 EDM |
BEST OF THE TWEETS
@OilersNation I heard a rumour that nobody even bothered to bring pucks to the building tonight.
— Ryan McByks (@IAmByks) March 25, 2016
Oilers schedule:
Oct. – Optimism
Nov. – Despair
Dec. – Trade ‘Em
Jan. – Need Grit
Feb. – More Grit
Mar. – *dying for stories*
Apr. – Draft!— Travis Yost (@travisyost) March 25, 2016
Just getting started on this #oilers game…..why couldn’t Polak look after himself? He is no angel out there.
— Jason Strudwick (@Jason_Strudwick) March 25, 2016
@OilersNation pfff we have TWICE as many shots as they have goals! ?
— Lance Herman (@LanceHerman79) March 25, 2016
Well the highlight of the game is still @GenePrincipe almost ripping a sharks fans beard out of his face! @jsbmbaggedmilk @JSBMjeanshorts
— Josh Waters (@Josh_Waters97) March 25, 2016
@OilersNation Reimer screwing over his current team and his former team all in one night.
— JoelJ (@JoelJolicoeur) March 25, 2016
@OilersNation pic.twitter.com/0ClB0yPTMj
— Higgs-Distortion (@Higgsdistortion) March 25, 2016
30 wins for the Edmonton Oilers! @JSBMjeanshorts @jsbmbaggedmilk
— Josh Waters (@Josh_Waters97) March 25, 2016
I assume McDavid can actually break the sound barrier but doesn’t out of respect for his opponents
— Matt Henderson (@Archaeologuy) March 25, 2016
I love when we make a team wait to clinch playoffs that bring up a goon to head hunt one of our rookies.
It’s the little things.
— Megan. (@maylee9) March 25, 2016
THE NORTH X NORTHGRETZ PODCAST
This week Chris The Intern and Jeanshorts struggle through colds to bring you thoughts on all the Oiler powerplay goals, who would be protected during the expansion draft and whether or not they’d re-sign Zack Kassian. Next Baggedmilk plays a game with Chris that will make everyone feel old, before all life’s mysteries are answered in another round of Ask The Idiots!
As always you can follow North x NorthGretz on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes!
PREVIOUS EPISODES
- Episode 10 – An NxNGretz New Years
- Episode 11 – Is There A TV Doctor In The House?
- Episode 12 – Making An Interner
- Episode 13 – Guilty Pleasures
- Episode 14 – All Star Weekend
- Episode 15 – Disaster In Jasper
- Episode 16 – Contagious
- Episode 17 – Story time with Pat Hughes
- Episode 18 – The Trade Deadline
- Episode 19 – Clean N’ Jerks
- Episode 20 – Battle of Blogberta
Drew droning on about the Oilers being so improved in the face-off circle?They end the night at 45% does he even watch the games he broadcasts?
Talbot .885 save percentage.The team won one for him tonight.
Does anyone know why Halls first goal is unassisted? It looked to me like Yak dug that puck out along the boards to get it to Hall. Sharks player was reversing back further into his zone, Yak takes a whack and the puck gets to Hall. Seems like an assist is due or did the official scorer think the Shark passed it to Hall when he was trying to go the other way with the puck? Magic puck maybe?
Oil Recipe for 2017:
2 cups of top 4 D: 1 tbsp of reliable backup G: 1 tsp of health among the top 6 F and top 4 D: 1 cup of arse kicking to improve motivation each and every game e.g. period 2 & 3 where the team was the same but the motivation was completely different
: Bake from May to October at 350 F and serve hot……
Great win tonight. Feels good beating Remeda’s team. Mcdavid is un-freaken real! The oilers can expose other team’s D when they decide to. Unfortunately these games are way to few and far between. Eberle actually had a decent game.
Maroon is an awsome pick up!
It was very interesting to watch the Sharks bench last night. In the early going they were all pumped up by the fight between Nurse and their imported guy with balls enough to fight him (obviously no such player on their regular roster).
Then as the first period went on, they were laughing and joking. Generally in very good spirits. Lots of chatter. They were winning the game quite handily.
The real tell was how the bench changed as the Oilers started to assert themselves. Gone was the jocularity, their collective sphincters puckered a bit and things were not quite so rosey.
By the end of the game they were downright grumpy. And in case you think they didn’t care about last night’s game, a win would have clenched a playoff spot.
Sincerely hope the Oilers can get a little more of this chemistry going next year.
The grumpiest had to be old man Thornton who was all whiny that someone dared to put the puck in the empty net after they pulled the goalie. I guess that has never happened in the history of the NHL.
For those interested in playoff hockey.The Oil Kings won last night too.
The Sharks look like they are getting ready for their annual first round playoff exit. If they are calling up their AHL players to deal with a kid on the Oilers, what are they going to do when they have to play the Kings or Ducks in the playoffs?
Even the most anti-Yak fan has to give the guy some credit lately. He’s showing heart and hustle. I wish we could have a happy ending with the guy, but worst case is he’s upping his trade value.
Best game Yak ever played.
Interesting thing was the Shark’s bench when they came out after the first intermission. They were all smiling and joking like the game was over.
I guess it was.
Things I learned from this game:
1. Polak is not a man. (Actually learned that last time, but he confirmed it)
2. Sharks don’t have a real man in their line up.
3. Joe Thorton is a whiner. No wonder the Sharks haven’t won anything with a “leader” like him.
Not that Nurse needs much protection. He hasn’t picked his spots this year, eg. went toe to toe with Lucic. Nut WTF does Gazdic think he is in the lineup for if not to take if this sort of business and let the players play.
There have been a few comments as to what Gazdic should have or shouldn’t have done last night. He probably did what his coach told him. He was just there in case something stupid happened. It didn’t though. Beware of Dog!! Works every time.
He won’t be here next year (this makes me sad). Nurse, Kassian, Maroon and likely Lucic will be able to control the ring going forward.
Luke is a great guy and team mate from all that we hear and I for one appreciate his team first attitude.
Oh, McDavid
I don’t know for sure, but its possible [I suspect], that Nurse said to Gadzic ” I can handle this on my own, let me have a shot at this guy.
McLellan then nailed Gazdics arrse to the bench to avoid a circus and stick to hockey. However, it seems Kassian didn’t get the memo.
Ya but did you notice how hard they work to kill penalties that have a message attached?
Other teams will have to learn that taking liberties will not be tolerated anymore. Period. If we have to take a couple bad penalties and the odd suspension to send that message, so be it.
Yak had a good game.
I guess as Yak goes, so do the Oilers
As a Flames fan i still have to comment that the 5th Goal by the Oilers was as slick and fun as it gets. McDavids total domination of skating around not one but two Sharks D was as good as it gets. When our two teams play I hate the Oil and its fans (you guys) but that kid is so good he got a fist pump for that set up.
OK, I agree the Sharks should probably feel a little sheepish about the call up, but…
some things to consider:
Polak did NOT actually do anything to Hendricks
Nurse beat him to a bloody pulp before he could even drop his gloves
Polak was out of the game with a broken nose
on the other hand:
Nurse is a rookie…
I’m not as down on the call up. And if his jersey hadn’t got caught Nurse might have won that fight (he was coming on at the end). Such a BEAST!
Playing Gazdic was clutch. As was the fact that Nurse stood up for himself, and Gazdic was just there to say – careful jose.
Lord knows I would have liked to have seen someone beat Kassian up after that slash on Sammy Snowpants.
I like how the whole thing played out.
WRT the Gagne decapitation, Gazdic should have not asked kASSIAN to fight but give him no option. Gazdic too nice a guy to be effective.
You mean the fact that Polak stuck his stick in Hendricks skates is nothing. Check out the link.
http://hfboards.hockeysfuture.com/showthread.php?t=2044801
I always thought it was the players responsibility to drop his own gloves, not his opponents to let him. If Polak couldn’t get his gloves off that is on him.
The notion that Nurse jumped him is ridiculous. Nurse was dumping the puck in and Polak was skating right at him. No one knows if something was said but it looks like they both were going and Polak….well he Polaked.
The refs seemed to find the fight fair as no one tried to stop it until Polak went down. Or they just thought he deserved it for being such a dirty player.
you honestly think Polak got what he deserved or even more, asked for what he got?
Also – I’m just saying I like how the whole thing played out. Nurse might have been a little over eager, but understandable given his vantage point. SJ organization wanted to show they stand up for their players. and nurse didn’t hide behind gazdic, in fact was a stitch away from putting in a second beat down.
I’m not calling Nurse a dirty player at all. He attacked and he is fast and vicious and that didn’t work out so well for Polak. Because he is a BEAST. That said, I think given the evidence he probably regrets the fight. It is worth noting the folks at the NHL saw fit to give him 3 games. they clearly considered all pieces here.
Lastly, I wouldn’t call Polak a dirty player based on that play alone.
Nurse was suspended for continuing to punch an unwilling(turtle) opponent. As for Polak, just google Roman Polak dirty and look at all the hits.
i specifically referenced what he did on that play. historically dirty player or not – that was not the kind dirty play that warrants a severe beat down.
We all have access to instant replay. Darnell didn’t. He let his emotion get the best of him and he said as much.
It’s done. Move on
I used to have some respect for the Sharks. But between bringing up a no talent goon and that arrogant clown Couture talkin out his @ss, any respect I had is gone. They are on the same level as the Flames in my books now.
Chia pet actually got Anaheim to retain salary on maroon. I get that he is playing with McDavid which probably helps his point totals but that line works really well with him on it. That interview was epic. No one else should ever be interviewed. Everyone else just gives the standard hockey answers.