GDB 82.0: Closing time (8pm MST, CBC)

6 years ago

My friends, it’s Hockey Night in Canada and our boys in orange are taking on the Vancouver Canucks in a highly anticipated matchup that ~~has major playoff implications~~ will see both Henrik and Daniel Sedin playing in their final NHL game.

For the last time this season, the Edmonton Oilers will hit the ice and close out what amounted to another soul-draining year for both the fans and the organization. The wins were few and far between, the mistakes were plentiful, the disappointment was real and the tickets were still full price. Needless to say, that’s a grab bag of sadness for a team that was supposed to be challenging for a conference win. If you’re reading this right now, I don’t have to tell you that the Oilers came up just a wee bit short on that one. In fact, before I left the office yesterday, we were actually mulling over the idea of throwing another draft party which is a spot that we never thought we’d be in after the McLottery Gods graced us back in April of 2015. Frankly, saying this was a tough year just doesn’t cover it.

On the bright side, tonight’s game will still be of note despite neither team making the playoffs by a country mile as both Henrik and Daniel Sedin will play their last ever NHL game. For Canucks fans, losing Hank and Daniel is the end of an era that was mostly good to them, but for Oilers fans, seeing the twins retire is cause for celebration as they torched our team on way too many nights and they did it for almost two decades. Frankly, it was time for them to go and I say that as a compliment. The downside, of course, is that this game will mean the world to Canucks fans and that likely means that our space barn will be filled with those horrible blue jerseys. All I can say is that I hope you season ticket holders gouged them on the price.

Anyway…

As for the Oilers, tonight marks the last time that we’ll see our boys in game action for the next six months and that’s a realization that bums me out to the highest degree. Actually, I’m pissed off and I’m annoyed about it too. Having the Oilers miss the playoffs again is like being given a million dollar cheque that was stale dated by 12 months — it sucks on every level. If time travel was possible then we could all cruise back to April 2017 and get the party started again, but we can’t go back in time so we’re all stuck here with nothing left to do but cheer against other teams in the playoffs, not care at all, and hope for a lucky lottery bounce to #MakeItFive. That’s not the McExistence we were expecting and to come up this short goes beyond frustration. Needless to say, the changes that will happen in the coming months should be very interesting.

But before we get to that, there’s still a game to play and we’d like to see our boys close things out with another win. Fingers crossed. Lastly, I want to thank all of you that keep reading the site, commenting, and playing along with us on social media. It’s been a tough year for all of us and I wanted to end this off by showing my appreciation for all of you. It’s one hell of a community that we’ve built here together and game days wouldn’t be the same without you guys. Thanks, Nation.

NUMBERS TO KNOW

This morning, the only numbers that really matter are the 15 people who lost their lives and the 14 others injured in last night’s Humboldt Broncos bus accident. Right now, there are a lot of families and friends that have had their world turned upside down and they can use all the support they can get. As such, we’ve partnered with Print Machine to launch these Humboldt tees with 100% of the profits being donated to the victims of this horrible tragedy. A GoFundMe was also set up to help support the victims of this tragedy in their time of need and I encourage you to donate if you can. If not, please consider sharing the link on your social profiles and help spread the word.
With one game remaining on the season, Connor McDavid’s 83 even strength points have him tied with Henrik Sedin (2009-10) for the highest total since Jaromir Jagr had 95 back in 1995-96. Basically, this is a long-winded way of me saying that Connor would probably have 200 points if the Oilers’ power play wasn’t complete garbage. McDavid put up his 31st multi-point game (three assists) against Vegas on Thursday night which was his 14th three-or-more point game of the season.
As you all know, tonight will mark the last time that we will ever see the Sedins playing in an NHL game and, as an Oilers fan, I’m excited to see them go. Those two guys torched this franchise for so many goals over the last two decades that it’s almost a relief to see them finally retire and I say that as the highest compliment I could give. Coming into tonight’s game, Henrik and Daniel Sedin have combined for 168 career points against the Oilers which gives them the highest combined total for any two teammates against the franchise.
Tonight will be Cam Talbot’s 196th game as an Oiler which ranks him in fifth place all-time. Talbot just notched his 30th win of the season on Thursday night which gave him back-to-back seasons of 30 wins or more for the first time in his career.
In 10 career appearances versus the Oilers, Jacob Markstrom has posted a 5-4-1 record to go with a .910 save% and 2.94 GAA.

LINEUPS…

Oilers

Nuge-McDavid-Rattie
Khaira-Draisaitl-Puljujarvi
Lucic-Strome-Caggiula
Slepyshev-Cammalleri-Kassian

Nurse-Larsson
Sekera-Russell
Auvitu-Bear

Talbot

Canucks

Sedin-Sedin-Gagner
Goldobin-Horvat-Jokinen
Gaunce-Sutter-Dowd
Leipsic-Gaudette-Virtanen

Edler-Stecher
Del Zotto-Pouliot
Sautner-Biega

Markstrom

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING…

From Canucksarmy:

Here’s hoping we all get one final night of Sedin magic to hold dearly. We were spoiled two nights ago and it felt so damn good we didn’t want it to end. 60 minutes from puck drop it will all be over and reality will set in that Henrik and Daniel Sedin will never play another shift for the Canucks. Thank you Sedins for giving this fanbase hope again. Hope as you grew with the team, hope as you reached your peak and hope that you’ve molded the current young team into the next Stanley Cup contender.

TONIGHT…

Photoshop: Tom Kostiuk

GAME DAY PREDICTION: Despite the fanfare leading up tonight’s game, the Oilers ruin the Sedin party with three more McPoints and a 4-2 win.

OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: The Sedins both get a point in their final NHL game because the Oilers are caring hosts and, more specifically, that’s just kinda what the twins do against us.

NOT-SO-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: Milan Lucic doesn’t score tonight, but he does set the Sedins up with a beautiful pass in the slot that they convert to a goal. Hometown boy just trying to lend a hand.

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Source: NHL, Official Game Page, 4/7/2018 – 12:00 pm MST

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