GDB 59.0: VIA CHICAGO

7 years ago

“We love HOME games; have Liquor Depot deliver in under an hour. Click, pick, sit back and watch the game.”

The Edmonton Oilers play the Chicago Blackhawks tonight, sitting in second place in the Pacific Division. We discussed a turn north seemingly forever, and it has finally arrived. Here’s a question: What’s next?

CURRENT STANDINGS

This is an outstanding table for Oilers fans. I think it is important to let this wash over you, to digest it slowly. The Vancouver Canucks are in a terrible spot, icing veterans every night, dead in the water, and with a general manager who isn’t certain of his direction. Sound familiar?

Los Angeles, a team that has pocketed Stanley a couple of times after the Oilers drafted Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, are a full 10 points behind your Edmonton Oilers. The Calgary Flames, who routinely put the boots to the Oilers for the entire century, a scrambling like madmen to make the second season as a wild card. Anaheim, one of the truly substantial teams in the division, lost last night to fall behind Edmonton (tied, but Oilers with a game in hand).

The goal differential suggests the Oilers should be intimidated by no one in this division. Edmonton boasts the leading scorer in the NHL, the No. 6 goalie based on save percentage, and more youngsters (like Matt Benning) emerging as a bona fide support group.

Early days, and the Oilers have miles to go and nothing is decided yet. That said, take a look at the standings in the Pacific Division. Spend a minute or two today. Remember the barbs from Flames and Canucks fans, the endless selling at deadline time, the addled decisions by the suits. Then look at the standings again. Edmonton Oilers fans can walk with head held high and with a bit of swagger today.

It is important to recognize the change in the weather. The storm is over. The sun is finally shining in our town.

LINEUPS

Oilers

Blackhawks

Lineups (subject to change) are courtesy of DailyFaceoff.com

NOTES

The last time Chicago played a game in anger was last Saturday, and NHL teams coming off those long layoffs have been getting crushed. The tweet from Mark Potash above is incredible. We should look for the Oilers to strike early and often tonight.
Sidney Crosby had a big night on Thursday, scoring three points. Connor McDavid responded with three of his own against the Flyers. This is going to be an incredible race.
Jason Gregor wrote about two more trade deadline options yesterday, and I think Patrick Sharp makes a lot of sense if you follow Peter Chiarelli’s established history. Chiarelli will value Sharp’s experience and past success, and should the Oilers trade for Sharp—and place him on a line with Connor McDavid—we could see a spike in goals for the veteran.
Jesse Puljujarvi is beginning to make enough noise down on the farm to get noticed. The big Finn scored again last night, and is 4-1-5 in his past five games.
If Cam Talbot plays, and wins, today, he will reach the 30-win plateau before game 60. Since the turn of the century, only one goalie (Tommy Salo) has reached that number. Salo won 36 in 2000-01 and 30 in 2001-02, both of those numbers would appear to be in danger.
Connor McDavid has 47 assists so far this season. That number ranks No. 6 among all Oilers players in seasons beginning in 2000. Ales Hemsky and Shawn Horcoff (51), Taylor Hall (53), Ales Hemsky (58) and Doug Weight (65) all had more points in a season than McDavid has now. If we assume 97s current pace, he will finish around with around 66 assists. Considering this is a lower scoring era, McDavid’s assist total will be the most impressive of the century among Oilers players.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

Colin Likas: While Bowman has said the Blackhawks are standing pat, their constant
cap-circumvention moves through this season suggest otherwise. They’re
shifting money around and seeing what different groups of guys can do
while no doubt talking with other NHL teams about potential pieces. Source

At the top, I asked what’s next? The answer is an active search for help at the deadline. Peter Chiarelli won’t mortgage too much of the future, but his line at the recent media avail about owing it to his team (to tinker) rings true. I think the ‘Hawks and Oilers may be in play for the same players (Patrick Sharp, Thomas Vanek) but Chicago may be more aggressive than Peter Chiarelli this time. It is going to be a fascinating trade deadline for Oilers fans, followed by almost no interest in the draft lottery. The times they are a-changin’.

TONIGHT

(Photoshop: @TomKostiuk)

GAME DAY PREDICTION: The Oilers start like wildfire, scoring twice in the first 10 minutes of the game. Chicago gets one back late in the period as Patrick Kane’s magic foils the road team.

OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: The two teams trade goals in the second period, Connor McDavid potting his 20th goal of the year.

NOT-SO-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION:

Up 3-2 to open the period, the floodgates really open and Edmonton wins 6-4 in a wild one. Edmonton leaves town with two points and their sights on the top of the Pacific Division.