GDB 59.0: Three In A Row?

The Edmonton Oilers have an opportunity for three wins in a row, after a pair of 4-1 wins over the Dallas Stars and Montreal Canadiens. Their opponent this afternoon is the Atlanta Thrashers, a franchise that made one of the biggest moves in a trade-filled Friday.

Given the lateness of this post, I’ll just be putting together a few quick notes on the Thrashers.

Like the Edmonton Oilers of the last few years, the Thrashers are shallow down the middle.  They sent away Rich Peverley yesterday, their top centre, and behind him there are a lot of question marks and not much certainty.  Bryan Little, rookie Alexander Burmistrov, Nik Antropov and Jim Slater have all spent time at centre this season.  It’s not an overwhelming group.

Still, most eyes today aren’t going to be on the centre-ice position.  In Atlanta, most fans will be focused on the new additions to the team.  Here in Edmonton, however, fans will probably be watching Zach Bogosian.  He’s been rumoured to be on the trading block for the last few weeks and he would fit in beautifully on the Oilers blue-line.  If the Thrashers are selling, though, it’s tough to see why they would move him.

Enjoy the game. 

GAME DAY PREDICTION: The Oilers have only won three straight once this year, but today they will have Rexall rocking once again. They won’t win 4-1, but the Oilers will get another solid goaltending performance and they’ll skate away with a 3-2 win.

 

OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: I will be in Calgary at some pub crushing pints watching the Oiler game…Reunion with some of the boys will lead to a "Wanye like" day of boozing. Every time Gene Prinicipe uses a pun we will do a shot…It will be a long Saturday.

 

NOT-SO-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: The Octane crew will unveil a new dance routine during the game. The girl in section 225 who has memorized the old routine, and dances to it in the aisle, will be rattled when she realizes she jumps up to join in and realizes she doesn’t know the moves. The new routine will involve some extra pompom usage that will energize the crowd.