GDB 9.0: HOME ICE ADVANTAGE -TOUGHEST TIMES
By Lowetide
8 years ago
The Los Angeles Kings bring their own brand of crazy to Rexall tonight and Oilers players and fans are ready. We’ll probably see another epic battle between Taylor Hall and Drew Doughty, and that steaming pile of Dustin Brown will no doubt be on the job site on time and in ill humor.
The last time we saw our Oilers, they were getting walked early and often by the fast-train Washington Capitals. The Los Angeles Kings offer a different kind of hell, bringing a tough, physical and borderline dirty game to our town. The Kings feature a man named Dustin Brown, who is famous league-wide for being a dirty player.
EXHIBIT A
SNAPSHOT
Brown is at this point launching himself into Couture, contacting his head and injuring the San Jose Sharks forward.
- Greg Wyshynski: It looks suspendable. But based
on the rules the NHL has established, and based on the rulings the
Department of Player Safety has previously made, it’s a check that falls
into the nebulous area between being a dangerous play and being a hit
that warrants suspension. That said, Brown will reportedly receive a warning from the NHL to not do … whatever this was, again. Source
Dustin Brown is in our town and he WILL be on the ice tonight against the Oilers and their young skilled players. What’s more, Kings fans, well known for their good sportsmanship, are looking forward to seeing their man out against Edmonton’s young Connor McDavid.
Battle of California: Edmonton fans wouldn’t shut up
about him. They became even more detestable. McDavid had yet to do
anything even. And after showboating in a few games he already has
convinced morons on comparing him to Wayne Gretzky. It’s an egomaniacal
teenager on the loose impressing himself onto a fan-base of northern
hillbillies. It’s a wretched combination that we all cannot wait to
stop. Fortunately that’s where Dustin Brown comes in. Source
I had to correct a few spelling mistakes but that’s pretty much the prose being written by Ryan Dunn over at the Battle of California—good sense of humour by Mr. Dunn, EXCEPT there’s that blasted video evidence of Brown’s evildoing. So, funny to a point, but I doubt Logan Couture is laughing.
FILTHY
The Oilers have Luke Gazdic for tonight’s game and it appears more help may be in the way in the coming months. Consider this:
Kale Kessy, Mitchell Moroz, David Musil. Flights to Edmonton will be booked during the Peter Chiarelli era, mark my words. As a longtime Bruins fan, I can tell you the agitation factor of this Oilers roster will increase over the coming months.
LINEUP….
The Oilers plan to dress Iiro Pakarinen based on reports from yesterday’s practice. He’s an aggressive sort who should add to the physical element from the Oilers side tonight.
QUICK HITS
- Matt Hendricks and Griffin Reinhart are both injured and no return date has been mentioned. Both men are capable of playing in a tough game and their absence is bad timing. Griffin Reinhart did skate this morning.
- Connor McDavid leads all rookies in goals (five, tied with Anthony DuClair) and is second in points. As much as we anticipated this great young player, he’s been even better than hoped. A sublime talent and he’s so fast it’s startling. Whatever suffering Oilers Nation endured 2006 SCF G7 evening through lottery ball drop, Connor McDavid’s presence in an Oilers uniform seems worth it. We are collectively Andy Dufresne raising our hands to the rain in heaven. Hallelujah!
- The Oilers PP is at 17.2% and that’s good enough to be tied for No. 18 overall. If they can improve it—and Todd McLellan is legendary for effective power plays—some of these early losses will turn into victories or at least overtime.
- The Edmonton Oilers are 3-5-0 to start the 2015-16 season, compared to 3-4-1 in 2014-15. They went off the rails in November and December, something Todd McLellan will move heaven and earth to avoid this year. Tonight’s game may not seem important but avoiding losing streaks this season is job one for the coach. This is a home game — a good result is vital.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“The Kings play the Oilers in Edmonton tonight, so that means one thing and one thing only… awful Oilers fans will be on Twitter!”
TONIGHT
GAME DAY PREDICTION: Oilers play a tight game, checking hard and not allowing the Kings a lot of space. It goes to overtime, Edmonton prevailing 3-2 on a Taylor Hall penalty shot.
OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: Dustin Brown tries to check McDavid but catches the turnbuckle, rendering himself unconscious. He actually plays better in that state, scoring one.
NOT-SO-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: In the third period, Todd McLellan switches up his pairings, running Andrej Sekera and Oscar Klefbom together—and it works!
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