Oilers v. Kings - Psalm 102:11-14
by Scott Reynolds on Nov 25, 2009 1:30 PM MST
in Game-Day Threads
Email
PrintLos Angeles Kings at Edmonton Oilers, Nov 25, 2009 7:30 PM MST
The Kings have reproached us all day long;
they use our name as a curse:
"Be careful Lubo! Or we'll send you to Edmonton!"
Our playoff hopes are fading!
Our beers are mingled with tears!
O Yahweh, because of your indignation
and your wrath,
you lifted our hopes last spring
only to throw us away.
It seems that all of our days are filled with darkness;
yet another season where hope withers away like grass.
But we acknowledge that you, O Yahweh, sit as king forever!
Though the Kings of Los Angeles may rise and fall,
your reign will endure forever!
And one day you will rise up and have compassion on Edmonton,
when it is once again time to show us favour.
Even the smallest pieces on this team are scrutinized by your people,
Even those who will never see a game are lavished with attention!
Los Angeles Kings (13-9-2) @ Edmonton Oilers (10-11-3)
Rexall Place, 7:30 P.M. MDT
Television: Sportsnet West
Visiting Team Scouting Report: The Los Angeles kings are a pretty good team this year. If it wasn't for suspect goaltending (Jonathan Quick's save percentage is currently .894 overall putting him ahead of only three goalies who have started at least ten games this year, bonus points for those who know the other three without looking it up) the Kings would likely have an even better record so far this year. Someone really ought to let Dean Lombardi know that his team is too good to tank now and that he should get a decent goalie.
Since Ryan Smyth has gone down to injury the Kings - who also lost defender Rob Scuderi in the same game - have put a no-effort useless Russian with Alex Frolov. The Kings have scored only two goals in each of the two games they've played since the switch. This is probably because with Frolov on the first line the Kings don't have much even strength scoring in other parts of the lineup (Oiler fans remember Jarret Stoll's booming shot on the PP and... well... his shots didn't go in quite so often at EV) which allows opposing coaches to get good defensive matchups reasonably easily, especially when the Kings are on the road. The Oilers, however, aren't interested much in matching lines, so we can probably expect to see Crawford Terry Murray (thanks Shepso!) sneak Kopitar's line out against the Oilers third and fourth lines on occasion this evening.
Expected Lineups:
Edmonton Oilers (10-11-3):
Penner - Gagner - Hemsky
Jacques - Brule - Horcoff
Moreau - Cogliano - Stortini
Reddox - Potulny - O'Sullivan
Gilbert - Souray
Smid - Visnovsky
Strudwick - Staios
Deslauriers
Los Angeles Kings (13-9-2)
Frolov - Kopitar - Williams
Parse - Stoll - Brown
Ivanans - Handzus - Midnight Meat Train
Purcell - Richardson - Harrold
Jones - Doughty
Johnson - O'Donnell
Drewiske - Greene
Quick
Behind the Numbers:
- Anze Kopitar leads the NHL in points with 33. The next King on the list is Ryan Smyth with 23 (in 22 games).
- Ryan Smyth should have only played for 1 team over his career but is instead now playing for his 4th team in 4 seasons. It's also his 4th team in 15 seasons.
- Robert Nilsson is a team worst -12 in only 12 games so far this season. His only goal of the year was into an empty net.
- Ryan O'Marra is having by far his best season in the AHL this year with 5 goals and 3 assists in 20 games.
- Alex Plante has played 18 games so far in the AHL and has totaled 3 points and 22 penalty minutes as well as a -4 rating. His 0% shooting percentage likely isn't sustainable over the long haul (though we've been saying that about Ladislav Smid for over 2 years now).
103 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Ryan O’Marra is having by far his best season in the AHL this year with 5 goals and 3 assists in 20 games.
LOOK OUT MESSIER
by Benjamin Massey on Nov 25, 2009 1:33 PM MST reply actions
One somewhat interesting stat is that both teams have identical records on the powerplay: 24 GP, 22/100, 22%
Also of interest is that Sheldon Souray has posted 2-3-5 in his last 4 GP. A welcome offensive boost from the blue, which until now has consisted of Lubo and a little early production from Grebs. Gilbert, counted on for offence, remains an underachiever with just 1-4-5 in 24 GP.
Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
The end of the Phoenix game was worrisome. The last couple of power play, including the 5 on 3 were spent forcing the puck to Souray
.
Someday, like I said last year, this team is going to realize that Souray is at his best as the B option. Pull the defense away from him and then go back door for the layup. Princeton offense, fella
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I love Souray as a Plan B (for Bomb). But I also prefer to have a Plan A (for Attack the Net). I’ve been outspoken — and taken a bit of grief for it — in my desire to see Hemsky attack the box with inside moves and passes rather than feed, feed, feed, those long slow diagonal backward passes that everybody expects. Tighten up that box a bit and then feed the point.
Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
by Bruce McCurdy on Nov 25, 2009 2:14 PM MST up reply actions
It seems that all of our days are filled with darkness;
yet another season where hope withers away like grass.
This makes me sad.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
(Jonathan Quick’s save percentage is currently .894 overall putting him ahead of only three goalies who have started at least ten games this year, bonus points for those who know the other three without looking it up)
Theodore, Toskala, Osgood?
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Toskala actually doesn’t have ten starts.
by Scott Reynolds on Nov 25, 2009 2:21 PM MST up reply actions
Toskela, Osgood, Mason I would say.
Good stuff Scott btw, as always.
Horcoff with a four point night, just to shut everyone up.
Damn! Mason!
Mason, Theodore, Toskala
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
“so we can probably expect to see Crawford sneak Kopitar’s line out against the Oilers third and fourth lines on occasion this evening.”
Hate to be the jerk to correct such a well written post, but Terry Murray is the coach of the Kings now. Crawford was fired in disgrace after the brutal failure that was Dan Cloutier between the pipes. Crawford, I am sure you remember, is now coaching the Stars….
Either way, this should be a winnable game by all accounts, but this LA team is a lot better than the doormats they have been the last few years. Dustin Brown and the hilariously nicknamed Wayne Simmonds would be great additions up here. The Kings have been willing trade partners as of late. Why not try for a third go around?
that other regular writer for bringing back the glory...
Oh dang. You are of course correct good sir. I will make the change in the post. As for L.A. as a team, I think they’re probably a better club than the Oilers. They would be much better if not for their “even more ill-conceived than the Oilers” plan in goal.
by Scott Reynolds on Nov 25, 2009 3:22 PM MST up reply actions
Quick heads up: Stoll is out for tonight’s game, so 2008 5th round draft pick Andrei Loktionov got called up in his place. The lines look like this:
Purcell-Kopitar-Williams
Frolov-Loktionov-Brown
Parse-Handzus-Meat
Ivanans-Richardson-Segal
We’re very excited to see Loktionov, and you should be too.
Also, it’s 78 degrees in LA today. It’s weird weather, but I know a couple friends of mine went to the beach to celebrate the day before Thanksgiving. What’s the weather like up there?
The West Coast is the Best Coast.
Teddy Purcell
How’s my fellow Newfoundlander been playing, RudyKelly?
Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
by Bruce McCurdy on Nov 25, 2009 3:48 PM MST up reply actions
@scott, I say it’s a winnable game simply due to the ex-oilers who are out of this current kings lineup. If our former favorite mullet and Stoll were both playing, we’d probably be screwed tonight. This kings team is going to be dangerous when healthy, especially once the goaltenders both get a bit more experience. Should be a really fun game to watch.
that other regular writer for bringing back the glory...
by Stephen Sheps on Nov 25, 2009 3:49 PM MST up reply actions
Game on!!
So far so OK. Lots of hitting from the usual suspects, but it’s not exactly a team-wide thing, is it.
Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
Gagner looks to have jump tonight, that’s nice
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Excellent backcheck by Cogliano there.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Paging Mr. Gilbert, white courtesy telephone please
terrible
Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
Yeah, he gets sniped at for sloth, but it’s just his size.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
He;s one of those huge rangy guys. Very underrated.
Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
by Bruce McCurdy on Nov 25, 2009 7:57 PM MST up reply actions
I REALLY don’t like the 85-19-46 line. Nothing works on it.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Well, 85 and 46 work, but not to any effect.
Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
by Bruce McCurdy on Nov 25, 2009 7:56 PM MST up reply actions
Wow Kopitar has great instincts
Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
Doughty
Someone should lay Doughty out as a bit of revenge for last year.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
"Ethan Moreau doesn't really have a pass"
You can say that again, Louie
Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
I said the same thing. Out loud. My kid laughed.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Moreau’s stats so far: 2 shots, 2 giveaways. See header above.
Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
by Bruce McCurdy on Nov 25, 2009 8:06 PM MST up reply actions
Puck was in the net
Intention to blow the whistle as soon as the goalie touches it? Or freezes it?
No wonder scoring is down. Goal mouth scrambles are illegal now.
Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
Intent to blow is the new most popular phrase in hockey.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Horcoff did crash the net pretty hard. They called interference I thought (not the penalty, but to move the FO outside the zone).
by Scott Reynolds on Nov 25, 2009 8:03 PM MST up reply actions
Smid
Is he hurt? He’s one-handed a number of pucks and plays tonight in a strange manner.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I wonder if 22-10-13 would have anything that resembled chemistry
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Jacques
There he is down low again.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
27-89-83
22-10-13
18-67-19
85-16-46
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
First period faceoffs
Gagner 4/4, 100%
Brule 3/3, 100%
Cogliano 2/2, 100%
Penner 2/2, 100%
Potulny 4/7, 57%
O’Sullivan 1/2, 50%
Oilers 16/20, 80%
Wow. Especially the top 3, wow.
Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
I am back
So hows the game so far? same story 1st line awesome rest not the same??
JDD with 12 saves huh!! Thats 4 periods without letting in t a goal. Nice,,,,,,I hope i am not putting too much faith in him!! right ben??
JDD with 12 saves huh!! Thats 4 periods without letting in t a goal. Nice,,,,,,I hope i am not putting too much faith in him!! right ben??
Nice jinx, Sum.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
First period Corsi
Drewiske +10
Purcell +10
Handzus +9
Williams +9
Greene +9
Kings +12
*
Strudwick -11
Horcoff -10
Souray -7
Reddox -7
POS -6
Moreau +3
Oilers -12
Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
Corsi includes shots on goal, missed shots and blocked shots so that’s why it’s a difference of 12 instead of 4.
by Scott Reynolds on Nov 25, 2009 8:26 PM MST up reply actions
They were pinned down a couple of times. Surprisingly, not when Cogliano and Moreau were out there.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Blocked Shots at Home
So awesome.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I’m commenting more on the obsession that Kevin Quinn has with the home/away splits.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Home road splits in a stat like that are almost surely scorekeeper bias. The Edmonton guy has been count-happy in that category for years.
Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
by Bruce McCurdy on Nov 25, 2009 8:42 PM MST up reply actions
I like that O’Donnell kills his own cycle by fighting.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Yeah, that was pretty weak. The play before where he dropped his stick to pick up the puck with his blocker hand only to miss it was also pretty odd. Not Deslauriers’ best game tonight despite a pretty good save percentage.
by Scott Reynolds on Nov 25, 2009 8:41 PM MST up reply actions
Keep your stick on the ice, man.
Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
by Bruce McCurdy on Nov 25, 2009 8:43 PM MST up reply actions
Dirty
Yet another dirty as hell hit.
5 and a misconduct.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Is Hemsky alive? What a time for an interview.
Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
Gene gotta earn a living, man.
I can’t believe that’s not five minutes.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
It;s only Hemsky
It’s not like he’s a star or anything.
He played the first few seconds of the PP then hit the bench. Uh oh.
Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
by Bruce McCurdy on Nov 25, 2009 8:46 PM MST up reply actions
Another dude injured on a dirty, dirty, play and it’s a two minute minor.
Should be a suspension. I’m so tired of dirty hits.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Sick and tired
Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
by Bruce McCurdy on Nov 25, 2009 8:56 PM MST up reply actions
Penner should go one-punch Handzus.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
One of these days some Oiler needs to go all apeshit on one of these dirty hits. Teams continue to take liberties, and the refs sure as hell do nothing to control it. Pathetic officiating and dirty hockey is a terrifying combination.
Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
Handzus is going to “deal with this for the rest of the game”
Only because he wasn’t ejected when he should have been.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Souray gave him a rough ride. Good, the players need to look after each other cuz the zebras won’t do it. Unfortunately, the players on both teams need to look after each other better than that. A very dangerous play by Handzus there.
Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
by Bruce McCurdy on Nov 25, 2009 9:09 PM MST up reply actions
Eh – face washes and a fight aren’t enough. Quinn needs to have someone run him.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Hemsky
The intermission team doesn’t say a word about Hemsky’s injury?
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
No news is… well, in this case bad news.
by Scott Reynolds on Nov 25, 2009 10:05 PM MST up reply actions
Wow. Potulny ends the cycle. Nice work.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Get a powerplay and the puck turns into a superball.
Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
“Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball.”
SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there). Link now 100% less broken.
Why the fuck is Moreau out on the PP? Like, ever?
SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there). Link now 100% less broken.
Cuz there’s nobody left?
Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
by Bruce McCurdy on Nov 25, 2009 9:49 PM MST up reply actions
Surely there was someone who could’ve been double-shifted?
SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there). Link now 100% less broken.
Sigh…
I hate the fact that you’re probably right. :(
SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there). Link now 100% less broken.
Well, fuck.
SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there). Link now 100% less broken.
I’m still seething over the hit on Hemsky.
I think I’m more pissed that no one has done a damn thing about it.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I can’t believe Handzus ended the game healthy and playing.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I too am surprised at this. After Souray’s reaction at the end of the second period I thought for sure he was going to take Handzus out in the third.
by Scott Reynolds on Nov 25, 2009 10:04 PM MST up reply actions
I don’t care how the game went. I really don’t. From the time of that hit on, Handzus should have been run EVERY time he stepped on the ice.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I’m also convinced that some sort of reasonably immediate response (i.e. sometime in the second period) probably wouldn’t have hurt the Oilers much. I don’t know what value there is in galvanizing emotions but I imagine it’s non-nil.
by Scott Reynolds on Nov 25, 2009 10:13 PM MST up reply actions
I think the theory was that with the game close, there was no sense sacrificing someone for five minutes to make a point, especially since that guy was more likely to get suspended than Hand Job is.
That being said, I kept waiting and hoping he’d get boarded in kind. It’d be poetic justice.
SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there). Link now 100% less broken.
Fuuuuuuuuuuck you, Michal Handzus. We should get Adam Burt on the team and have him beat Handzus up three times a game.
(Obscurity of that reference: 9.9999999 out of 10.)
by Benjamin Massey on Nov 25, 2009 10:10 PM MST reply actions
Very discouraging loss. Very discouraging injury. Very discouraging performance.
Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
I think there is a good chance of this. Honestly, if Horc’s shoulder needs work, they should shut him down for the year. Also, absolutely no rushing Hemsky back from whatever ends up hurting him from this hit from behind. These two would both seem to be in the long term plans of the club and, unfortunately, the Oilers should probably be making decisions that benefit the club long term at this point.
by Scott Reynolds on Nov 25, 2009 11:17 PM MST up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
Northwest Standings
Oilers Schedule
Next 5 Games
@
Detroit
|
Wed 02/08 | 5:30 PM MST |
|
@
Ottawa
|
Sat 02/11 | 12:00 PM MST |
|
Toronto
|
Wed 02/15 | 8:00 PM MST |
|
Colorado
|
Fri 02/17 | 7:30 PM MST |
|
Vancouver
|
Sun 02/19 | 7:00 PM MST |
Last 5 Games
|
@
Toronto
|
Mon 02/06 | L 3 - 6 |
|
Detroit
|
Sat 02/04 | SO - W 5 - 4 |
|
Chicago
|
Thu 02/02 | W 8 - 4 |
|
Colorado
|
Tue 01/31 | W 3 - 2 |
|
@
Vancouver
|
Tue 01/24 | SO - L 2 - 3 |
In Association With
Latest Puck Daddy - NHL from Yahoo! Sports
- Puck Headlines: Heritage Classic in Winnipeg?; Prospal re-signs; hockey stick DVD rack
- Booze and bucks: How NHL, Michigan secured The Big House for 2013 Winter Classic
- Marek Vs. Wyshynski Radio: Staged fights, Winter Classic and Dave Lozo from NHL.com
- Lindy Ruff’s broken ribs turn James Patrick into head coach vs. Bruins
- 2013 Winter Classic plan revealed; college, OHL games included
Latest stories and headlines from NHL.com
- Matt Frattin scores winner as Marlies defeat Rochester 4-3
- Flames D Smith signs 2-year deal for $1.55 million
- Michigan board gives AD go-ahead on Winter Classic
- Flames defenceman Derek Smith signs two-year deal worth US$1.55 million
- Injured Sabres coach Lindy Ruff won't be behind bench against Boston Bruins
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
