GDB 26.0: ENDING ON A HIGH

11 years ago

The Oilers end their franchise-high nine-game road trip tonight with a date in Denver, and they will look to salvage the trip with a victory. A win would make them 3-4-2 on the trip and keep them within five points of the playoffs.

If the playoffs are the goal, tonight is a must-win when you look at the standings.

A win tonight would give them 25 points in 26 games, meaning they’d need 29 in their final 22 games to make post-season if we agree that 54 points is the magic number to get in.

Outside of the daunting task of needing to go 14-7-1, 13-6-3 or 12-5-5 in their final 22 games, their playoff push could be derailed by too many 3-point games. So far this year the western conference is having a significantly higher amount of 3-point games than in previous seasons.

2012

Western conference played 615 games.

465 ended up as 2-point games.       75.6%
150 ended up being 3-point games. 24.4%
98 of (150) went to a SO.                      15.9% (of total games played)
52 of (150) were decided in OT.            8.5% (of total games played)

Eastern conference played 615 games and oddly enough had the exact same amount of 3-point games.

465 ended up as 2-point games.       75.6%
150 ended up being 3-point games. 24.4%
85 of (150) went to a SO.      13.8% (of total games played)
65 of (150) were decided in OT.          10.6% (of total games played)

With the same amount of 3-point games each conference ended up with five 100-point teams and the 8th seed in the East had 92 points, while the 8th seed in the west had 95. The 8 playoff teams in the east combined for 68 three-point games and 802 total points, while the 8 western teams had 83 three-point games and combined for 815 points.

In 2011, the east had 150 games go to OT, while the west was just below at 147. (24.1% of league games).
In 2010, the east had 156 games go to OT, while the west had 145. (24.5% of league games).

2013

So far this season, however, there has been a significant difference between the two conferences.

The Eastern conference has played 190 games.

152 have ended as 2-point games.   80%
38 ended up being 3-point affairs.     20%
19 of (38) went to a SO.            10% (of total games played)
19 of (38) were decided in OT.            10% (of total games played)

The Western conference has played fewer games, 185, but they’ve already seen way more go to OT.

128 have ended as 2-point games.   69.2%
57 ended up being 3-point affairs.     30.8%
33 of (57) went to a SO.            17.8% (of total games played)
24 of (57) were decided in OT.            13% (of total games played)

Right now the west has 10% more of their games ending in 3-point affairs.

The league as a whole is up a bit as 25.3% of the games played have gone to OT, but the west is significantly ahead. It could just be an anomaly to start the season, or the teams or more even or playing to get to OT. Either way, if the west stays at 30% it will be much harder for the Oilers to climb up the standings.

LINE UP

Hall/Horcoff/Hemsky
Jones/Nugent-Hopkins/Eberle
Paajarvi/Gagner/Yakupov
Brown/Smyth/Petrell

Smid/Petry
Whitney/J.Schultz
N.Schultz/Potter

Dubnyk

Usually you don’t switch anything anything after beating the best team in the league, but Krueger suggested he’d put Jones in for Hartikainen. Krueger also hinted that there was a slight flu bug going around, so maybe Hartikainen is sick. The Oilers need to compete as hard as they did in Chicago and they’ll have a chance. If they revert back to losing battles and not making smart plays at the offensive blueline they will lose.

OVERTIME

If I’m the OIlers, I’d move Eric Belanger before the deadline. It is obvious by his play on the ice that he isn’t happy here, and the Oilers don’t need that in their dressing room. I think he’d have some value. He’s a veteran who can kill penalties and win faceoffs.
How much is Ladislav Smid worth? Is he better than Johnny Boychuk in Boston? I see them as similar players, although Boychuk benefits from playing with Chara. Boychuk’s cap hit is $3.36 million. Matt Greene is $2.95 mill. Johnny Oduya makes $3.38 mill. On a good team Smid is a very good #4, and the Oilers desperately need him. He’ll probably get $3.5 mill in free agency so if the Oilers offer between $3.1-$3.5 million I think that is fair. You?
Anton Lander has been assigned to OKC. Smart move. He needs to play more than 9 minutes a night.
If you have a moment take the time to vote for New Sarepta (my hometown) in this contest. It will give them a great night out, but more importantly some money to upgrade their arena. I’d appreciate it if you voted just once at least. Daily would be even better, and likely give you good karma to win something on my show. Thanks.

GAME DAY PREDICTION: After Sunday’s entertaining and unexpected affair, we won’t see as much offence tonight, but it will be close. Oilers keep slim playoff hopes alive with a 4-3 OT victory.

OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: Duchene has six points in three games vs. Edmonton this year and he maintains that pace with a goal and an assist. Nugent-Hopkins matches Duchene’s production and scores his first goal in 12 games.

NOT-SO-OBVIOUS PREDICTION: After being on the receiving end of numerous heavy hits from Ryan Wilson in the OHL and NHL, Hall returns the favour when he lays out Wilson with a clean hit behind the net. The hit sets the tone for an exciting third period.

YOU WIN, CHARITY WINS

Do you play Hold ’em? How good are you? Now is your chance to find out.

Here is your chance to helps end MS and win your entry ($10,000) to the WSOP main event.

The 2nd annual Gregor Charity Classic goes Saturday, April 13th.

Century Casino, Oilersnation.com, Darci Huhn with Travel Only and The Jason Gregor Show have teamed up for a fun day of chirping, card playing and fundraising.

WHEN: Saturday April 13th. Registration at 11:30, tourney at 1 p.m.
WHERE: Century Casino, 13103 Fort Road
WHO: 100 Texas Hold Em Players
WHY: To Help End MS and win a seat at the WSOP main event

COST: $185 per person (15% goes to MS Society)

Please be advised of the following stipulations for the tournament:

· All participants must be 21 years of age.

· The grand prize is based on a minimum occupancy of 80 participants, with only 100 spots available. If all spots are not filled, the grand prize will be adjusted to the pre-determined cash prizing.

· The grand prize awarded is a seat in the World Series of Poker Tournament Main Event, valued at $10,000 USD, in Las Vegas July 7^th – 16^th, 2013. The last 9 players of the tournament will return to Las Vegas in November 2013 for the final table. All events will be held at the Rio Hotel.
The grand prize includes airfare, courtesy of Darci Huhn with Travel Only and accommodation for one.

· The grand prize is non-transferable. The 1^st place grand prize winner of the tournament will accept the prize as awarded and be expected to participate and represent Century Casino and The Jason Gregor Show in the World Series of Poker Tournament.

· The remainder of the cash prizing for the tournament will be broken down as follows, based on full occupancy:

1st place- $10,000 entry fee into WSOP main event.
2^nd place – $2,000.00 cash and $500 donation in name to MS Society.

3^rd place – $800.00 cash and $200 donation in name to MS Society

4^th place – $640.00 cash and $160 donation in name to MS Society.

5^th place – $560.00 cash and $140 donation in name to MS Society.

6^th place – $480.00 cash and $120 donation in name to MS Society.

7^th place – $400.00 cash and $100 donation in name to MS Society

8^th place – $320.00 cash and $80 donation in name to MS Society

9^th place – $240.00 cash and $60 donation in name to MS Society.

10^th place – $210.00 cash and $62.50 donation in name to MS Society.

** 1st place prize is not redeemable for cash. If you can’t go then the 2nd place winner can go in your place and you receive their prize.**