GDB 61: THRIFT SHOP!

9 years ago

We’re now at the point in the season where individual games don’t pack the potential punch of earlier games. Now, we’ve long since kissed the playoffs goodbye but we’re also reaching the point where no one can catch the Oilers and the Oilers can’t catch anyone (save the Big Smoke). What does that mean? For the Oilers, it means they’re turning their roster into a thrift shop. For Oilers Nation: Have fun! Enjoy the wins, forget about the losses and for goodness sakes don’t let this season depress you one moment more! Enjoy the warmth of the sun, your significant other in a spring dress, turn up the tunes and hope for a big :$. In the language of Nail, ))))))) !

If there’s one thing experience tells you it’s this: Getting down over things you can’t control is a bad bad bet. It’s true, the serenity pledge is all about it. Here, let’s run that one:

Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

It has to be expensive, throwing Oilers jerseys on the ice and then suffering a beer in the face and what’s more people are starting to get angry about it.

I hate to see that. I understand frustration (although honestly, am miles too cheap to throw a jersey away) and this march through another losing season is painful. However, the jersey throw and reaction last night is a good place to put an end to that sort of thing. It’s so ‘last year’ as the kids say (when I say that, please understand I have NO idea what kids actually say these days).

Anyway, I worry about people. This is tough, being a fan is supposed to be fun and this isn’t a whole lotta happy. So, tonight, if the game starts to frustrate you, remember sunshine, good times, a warm embrace and the magic in a pretty girl’s smile. Accept the things you cannot change. It’s a thing. Sermon fin.

I’m reading a lot of “well, let’s hear from the Todd Nelson fan club NOW!” after losses, and folks that’s badly missing the point. Nelson has the Oilers 10-11-3 since he took over, the power play is better and the goaltending/shooting percentage seems to be headed in a good way.

However, this is a team that can’t ice Taylor Hall tonight, nor David Perron and possibly not Jeff Petry. The club has added Derek Roy and Oscar Klefbom is playing well, but doesn’t the coach deserve some credit here?

Dallas Eakins and Todd Nelson have taken a solid beating online from fans this year and I’m at a loss to explain it. Did we not agree that the center position was poor? What was that line? Two centers and mud? I think that was it. The memory plays tricks on us, but let’s agree on this: tonight’s Oilers team is badly outgunned from the opening face-off until the final siren sings. Blame Todd Nelson? Get outta town.

TALE OF THE TAPE

Le holy. Miles of difference in won-loss but not too much in shots for/against. There’s a story in this season, it involves goaltending, shooting percentage and special teams. We’ll talk after the season but I’ll say this today: If you’re picking a team to spike next season, the Oilers should be in the conversation. That said, sign Jeff Petry, get a starting goaltender and stop playing teenagers, please and thanks. This team has the jacks and kings but keeps tripping on finding the sixes and sevens.

LAST 10 GAMES

22 goals, last 10 games. Doesn’t cut it. 36GA by the way during the same 10 games. Remember that when people are ripping Taylor Hall in the summer. The man pushes the river.

LINEUPS….

The projected lineups from DailyFaceoff… We’ll update these as they change.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING…

From Anaheim Calling…

The Ducks have been in a major slump. Even the national news has covered it. (And when the national news even acknowledges the Ducks’ presence, that is a big deal). The slump appears to have been broken by a 6-3 victory over the Flames last night, but for us, beating the Flames is like breathing and probably doesn’t mean much. Furthermore, as we all know, the Flames lead 2-0 until Andrew Cogliano sparked a five goal rally from the Ducks (another example of that pesky we-need-a-major-goal-deficit-to-start-playing-like-we-care trend that the Ducks seem to exemplify). So, basically, don’t get too excited about last night.
All pessimism aside, the Ducks are in an excellent place to repeat last night’s gaudy score. Tonight’s game will be the Oilers‘ eighth in 13 days, and the club is coming off a dispiriting 4-0 loss at home against the Minnesota Wild in which they managed a meager 15 shots. For other teams, a 4-0 drubbing at home might set the stage for a huge comeback game the next night. But since these are the Oilers (with their 17-33-10 record), don’t count on it. Someone remind me why Justin Schultz voluntarily elected to go to this team?

TODAY…

GAME DAY PREDICTION: The Oilers get a solid effort from Richard Bachman but fall 3-0 to the superior Anaheim Ducks.

OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: HNIC broadcast says “Oilers” and “bad” in the same sentence 400 times, JUST IN CASE we don’t get it.

NOT-SO-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: HNIC broadcast doesn’t actually mention the Oilers during any of the intermission segments of the game.