Oilers vs. Blue Jackets Post-Game: All Hail The New First Line

• Edmonton Oilers: 6
• Columbus Blue Jackets: 4

Oilers Three Stars, According To Me

1. Dustin Penner.  I’m not sure if everyone’s abandoned the ‘Penner’s fat and lazy’ story line that has been overplayed for the last two years, but it’s pretty clear that after a five point (two goals, three assists) effort and a standing ovation from the crowd at Rexall, the average fan is more than willing to give him a fresh slate.
2. Lubomir Visnovsky.  Visnovsky had three points on the night and played a calm, cerebral game while the rest of the Oilers’ puck-moving defence corps (Gilbert to some degree, but especially Grebeshkov) were busy with brain cramps and giveaways.  He also scored the game winner.
3. Ales Hemsky.  It’s not every night that the third star manages five points, but Hemsky recorded a goal and four assists tonight, and looked as good as he’s looked since, well… the Columbus game last year.

Turning Point

Random Thoughts

• Brutal, brutal night for Denis Grebeshkov.  He was a big part of the reason that Columbus had a four to one lead to start the game.
• I’ve been calling on Sam Gagner to replace Shawn Horcoff on the top powerplay unit for roughly a year and a half, and with his performance tonight maybe he’ll get a prolonged look. 
• The Oilers powerplay scored three goals (including Nilsson’s empty-netter) against the league’s best penalty-kill.  Entering this game, Columbus had scored three short-handed goals while allowing only one powerplay goal against.
• Dustin Penner shot the puck 11 times tonight.  That’s more shots than J-F Jacques, Andrew Cogliano, and Ethan Moreau have had all season.
• Horcoff and Moreau were playing together late.  Despite Quinn’s aversion to matching lines, I wonder if this team may be moving toward a designated hard-matched checking line.

From the Press Conference

Comment of the Night