Oilers v. Wild - 1 Corinthians 16:1-4
by Scott Reynolds on Apr 5, 2010 7:00 PM MDT
in Game-Day Threads
Email
PrintMinnesota Wild at Edmonton Oilers, Apr 5, 2010 7:30 PM MDT
Now, let me speak to you about watching this team, alcohol and collecting money. It's a simple technique designed both to curb alcoholism in our communities and draw us together when the time is right. Every time the Oilers lose a game, each one you must set aside the exact amount of money you spent on alcohol into a separate fund. If you spend ten dollars on beer, then set aside ten. If five dollars, move five. If twenty, then twenty, each according to his means. By doing so, we will be encouraged to drink less and be forced to save more. That way, when the playoffs finally come you will not need to take an unexpected collection in order to fly to Detroit or San Jose or Minnesota. Instead, you will go and find enough money in your "staying sober" fund, and this depraved team will have left you an unexpected gift! And of course, if it seems advisable to bring a friend, I can be wonderful company.
Minnesota Wild (37-35-7) @ Edmonton Oilers (24-46-8)
Rexall Place, 7:30 P.M. MDT
Television: TSN
More analysis after the jump...
Visiting Team Scouting Report:
The Wild needed a huge run to end the season to qualify for the playoffs but haven't been able to put it together. Since beating the Oilers on March 16th, the Wild have a record of 3-6-1 and have been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. At 13th place in the Western Conference, you'd think they would be in line for a great draft pick but right now they're actually sitting 22nd overall which would give them the 9th overall pick (unless they manage to pull out a lottery win). The Wild would almost certainly be a playoff team in the Eastern Conference. The 8th seed there has 84 points to Minnesota's 81, but Minnesota also had to play a Western Conference (i.e. harder) schedule. I think R.J. Umberger sums up the difference between the Conferences when he's willing to say this about the Washington Capitals:
"I don’t think any team in the West would be overmatched by them. They play the wrong way. They want to be moving all the time. They float around in their zone, looking for breakaways and odd-man rushes."
Now, I don't know if this is exactly true of the Capitals but when you have the 14th place team in the West talking smack about the best team in the East and it's not completely unreasonable, well, that's all you need to know right there. Neither the Blue Jackets or Wild are better than the Capitals but they're both a lock to be better teams than whoever the Capitals' play in the first round.
Expected Lineups:
Edmonton Oilers (24-46-8):
Moreau - Horcoff - Pisani
Penner - Potulny - Cogliano
Nilsson - Pouliot - O'Sullivan
Jones - Comrie - Stortini
Gilbert - Whitney
Strudwick - Chorney
Johnson - Arsene
Dubnyk
Minnesota Wild (37-35-7)
Brunette - Koivu - Miettinen
Latendresse - Brodziak - Havlat
Nolan - Wellman - Clutterbuck
Boogaard - Almond - Kobasew
Zanon - Zidlicky
Burns - Barker
Scott - Schultz
Backstrom
Behind the Numbers:
- Ignoring the lockout season of 1994-95 the Oilers have never accumulated less than the 60 points they managed in 1992-93. With
5556 points on the board and onlysevensixfivefour games to go it's looking more and more like a new franchise record will be set. The lowest point total since the lockout belongs to the 2006-07 Philadelphia Flyers who earned 56 points in their 82 games. But I figuretwoone pointsin the nextsevensixfivefour games should be something the Oilers can accomplish. - In March the Minnesota Wild signed Casey Wellman to a two-year entry-level contract at 1.35M per season. He's burning off the first year right now playing in the NHL (Jeff Petry would do the same if he were called up which is one of the reasons he won't be seeing Edmonton) and he'll be an unrestricted free agent after next season. Damn. Not sure it's worth developing that kid. The Wild also signed defender Nate Prosser to a one-year entry-level deal which he's playing off right now. He'll at least be an RFA.
- Martin Havlat was brought in to Minnesota in the off-season to help replace Marian Gaborik. Gaborik has appeared in 72 games so far this season, has scored 41 goals, 83 points and is a +14. Havlat has also played 72 games but only has 18 goals and 54 points to go along with a -17. That's a pretty big downgrade, probably bigger than the Wild were counting on, and one of the big reasons Minnesota isn't going to make the playoffs.
- After Jacques Lemaire left the team the Wild talked about playing a new more exciting style. It's surprising, then, that the Wild have actually improved in the "shots against" department from last season. They allowed 30.7 shots against per game last year compared to 29.4 this year. The shots for are almost even with last season, up only 0.2 shots per game from 27.5 to 27.7.
- Charles Linglet's NHL debut was not overly successful. His shot rate was -33.6/60 and his Corsi rate was -39.26/60 to go along with a tidy -2 at EV. He also hasn't looked particularly good by eye. It's only two games and he admitted to being nervous in the first one but early returns do not suggest a Peverley-esque find by the Oilers.
122 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
# After Jacques Lemaire left the team the Wild talked about playing a new more exciting style. It’s surprising, then, that the Wild have actually improved in the “shots against” department from last season. They allowed 30.7 shots against per game last year compared to 29.4 this year. The shots for are almost even with last season, up only 0.2 shots per game from 27.5 to 27.7.
They have good defense and good goaltending…
Oh, and nothing about Brodziak? 38.9% Zonestart?
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I’ve written about Brodziak every other time we’ve played the Wild, including less than a month ago so I figured I’d try something else.
by Scott Reynolds on Apr 5, 2010 7:55 PM MDT up reply actions
Pretty pass by Chorney.
That’s a 30 by Penner.
The first since the man from Banff.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
What happened on that goal anyway? Did everyone in the arena fall asleep at the exact same time? Like that show on NBC about everyone on earth falling asleep at the exact same time or something.
It was a weird goal – it ended up back under Backstrom after coming out, right?
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
What a good hit by Arsene. Scott is an idiot for jumping him. It was clean for pete’s sake.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Don’t jump Arsene for clean hits.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Really bad outlet pass by Whitney there. He’s lucky that didn’t end up in the back of the net.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Look at that NHL teams – he’s a demon on the PK!
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Seriously though, how angry would we all get if they give him an extension on July 1st. Could happen.
by Scott Reynolds on Apr 5, 2010 8:15 PM MDT up reply actions
You need some veterans in a rebuild. Community leader. Could happen.
by Scott Reynolds on Apr 5, 2010 8:38 PM MDT up reply actions
I know you’re trolling me and I’m still getting angry.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Also, I’m pretty sure that every commercial with Gary Thorne yelling about Bourque is trolling me as well.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
That was the most blatant uncalled hook of the year on Penner’s move to the net.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
For reasons I cannot figure out
I’m watching this game on GameCenter. Apologies for the lack of analysis the Oilers look good in taking advantage of a Wild team that didn’t start caring about this game until the last minute or so.
Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
In Lou We Trust - The New Jersey Devils SBN Blog
I think the last game we outchanced someone was against the Devils. Maybe you should watch the Oilers more often :)
by Scott Reynolds on Apr 5, 2010 8:17 PM MDT up reply actions
The Devils played like an AHL team that night, but yeah. That wasn’t surprising, just disappointing.
Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
In Lou We Trust - The New Jersey Devils SBN Blog
Just out of curiosity, does anyone actually keep track of scoring chances by game? I’d be interested in such numbers.
Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
In Lou We Trust - The New Jersey Devils SBN Blog
Dennis King usually keeps track of them for all of the Oiler games. Kent Wilson does Calgary, I’ve done about half of Colorado’s season, Olivier has done les Canadiens (it’s in French!), JLikens has done some Wild games and Slava has done most of the Maple Leafs’ season. You could probably piece together 12 or 15 Devils’ games from the results there but no one has tracked the Devils specifically.
by Scott Reynolds on Apr 5, 2010 8:35 PM MDT up reply actions
You should next season though, John. It’s a worthwhile exercise.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
All I know is that the TV broadcasts sum them up, I just wish they actually posted them somewhere.
It’s be difficult to do them whilst watching a game live. But I’ll think about it.
Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
In Lou We Trust - The New Jersey Devils SBN Blog
Dennis can do it live, I need the DVR.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Gamecenter has been very helpful in my own endeavor.
by Scott Reynolds on Apr 5, 2010 8:44 PM MDT up reply actions
I’m amazed no one really covered him or challenged Mikko Koivu for the pass.
Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
In Lou We Trust - The New Jersey Devils SBN Blog
I don’t see any logic whatsoever in trading a proven PPG player for a 17 year old kid who may, but probably won’t come close to being that good.
Wait, isn’t that what Brian Burke said about the Kessel trade?
OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO bursts into flames
Well, Burke traded two first round picks, one of which absolutely everybody except the most delusional Leafs maniacs knew would be a lottery pick. The Leafs have absolutely come out worse in that trade so far.
Second, trading Hemsky for a pick is trading hope. It’s trading any chance of not being in the lottery for at least another season and maybe another two. You don’t Relentless Rebuild by gassing every decent player in his prime.
by Benjamin Massey on Apr 5, 2010 8:35 PM MDT up reply actions
except the most delusional Leafs maniacs
I assume you’re including Burke in this? I doubt very much he figured his team for a lottery club coming into the season. Or if he did, his summer doesn’t make a hell of a lot of sense.
by Scott Reynolds on Apr 5, 2010 8:37 PM MDT up reply actions
Burke is as delusional a Leafs maniac as there is.
by Benjamin Massey on Apr 5, 2010 8:38 PM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
Burke is THREE STEPS AHEAD OF EVERYONE.
(Nah, I agree, his summer was a head-scratcher. Enjoy Komisarek’s contract, Leafs fans.)
Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
In Lou We Trust - The New Jersey Devils SBN Blog
Wait a minute – the Wild dress both Scott and Boogaard?!
Are the Klitschko brothers not available as their 3rd defensive pairing?
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I’m trying to imagine Glass-Jaw Wladimir Klitschko playing in the NHL and getting boarded by Matt Cooke. He would die. Seriously. He would be the Russian Bill Masterton, except if Masterton’s head actually exploded and showered everybody in the first few rows with debris.
by Benjamin Massey on Apr 5, 2010 8:47 PM MDT up reply actions
And then Don King would sign Matt Cooke to a fight.
Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
In Lou We Trust - The New Jersey Devils SBN Blog
One of those Redwoods is apparently dating that 3 foot tall chick from Heroes. The logistics there just don’t compute in my head.
Spend a lot of time thinking about their “logistics”, do you?
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I’m sure she has a stool or something.
Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
In Lou We Trust - The New Jersey Devils SBN Blog
I’d really like to see Ryan Jones without complete crap for linemates.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
You are lucky that Bruce isn’t here to defend his boy.
by Scott Reynolds on Apr 5, 2010 8:55 PM MDT up reply actions
Hey!!!
Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
"Never be ashamed of who you are" -- Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg
by Bruce McCurdy on Apr 5, 2010 11:41 PM MDT up reply actions
This Keith’s commercial with the whiny singer/song is as annoying as Canucks fans.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
This game has now become exactly what I expected – poor defending met by poor attack – on these past few shifts. Keep it up?
Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
In Lou We Trust - The New Jersey Devils SBN Blog
If your team is mathematically eliminated from the playoffs and you have a fractured foot, you should probably be told to stop playing. Why are the Wild letting Zanon go out there?
I have no idea, but Ferarro didn’t pick up on that – normally he would shred a team for that stuff.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Greg Zanon blocked a shot and has been limping on the ice. He’s playing with a hairline fracture in his foot. I don’t know who thought that would be a good idea.
Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
In Lou We Trust - The New Jersey Devils SBN Blog
Unless he needs some games for a pension or something, I have no idea.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
They have Zanon under contract for the next two years, so even then you’d think the team’s interest in his health would be enough to take him out.
by Scott Reynolds on Apr 5, 2010 9:07 PM MDT up reply actions
So, so glad I don’t have to write the post-game for this one. It would just be my smashing my face into the keyboard for 500 words.
No probs.
Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
"Never be ashamed of who you are" -- Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg
by Bruce McCurdy on Apr 5, 2010 11:42 PM MDT up reply actions
Jones with a 3-on-1 and he decides to make no passes and go wide. His teammates on the rush are Stortini and O’Sullivan. Does this make his attempt defensible?
by Scott Reynolds on Apr 5, 2010 9:02 PM MDT up reply actions
Greatest hypothetical moment of the season bar none.
by Benjamin Massey on Apr 5, 2010 9:04 PM MDT up reply actions
Cogliano would need multiple wingmen to make that work.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Also love how the linesman protects Cogs there. Pushing one guy out of the way, then another. Take that!
by Scott Reynolds on Apr 5, 2010 9:04 PM MDT up reply actions
He pretty much has to, unless he wants a puddle on the ice to clean up.
A puddle of what – I leave that up to the reader to decide.
Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
In Lou We Trust - The New Jersey Devils SBN Blog
O’Sullivan looked pretty pissed at the end of the interview but in his defence, I can’t imagine answering, “So how’s playing for pride?” for 100th time would be too much fun.
I mean, Patrick O’Sullivan has no pride.
by Benjamin Massey on Apr 5, 2010 9:10 PM MDT up reply actions
Yikes.
It’s an interesting story though. From the Fifth Estate report:
Cherry had hear rumours about Patrick’s family, but discounted them. He met with John O’Sullivan before the draft. “I thought he was a great guy, he just seemed like a normal guy and hockey parent,” [said Cherry]. But Joe Washkurak, one of Cherry’s assistants and a member of the Toronto Police, remembers John O’Sullivan as loud and intimidating, especially to his son. He recognized the signs of abuse.
Not meaning to pile on Cherry but his reaction, I think, shows that the hockey culture at the youth level has changed pretty substantially.
by Scott Reynolds on Apr 5, 2010 9:22 PM MDT up reply actions
Or it says more about Cherry than anyone would like to think.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Or that John O’Sullivan, like many of his ilk, interviews well.
by Benjamin Massey on Apr 5, 2010 9:28 PM MDT up reply actions
I would not have guessed that Matthew Barnaby scored 111 points in junior.
by Scott Reynolds on Apr 5, 2010 9:12 PM MDT up reply actions
HockeyDB says he scored 191.
Not in a season, mind you.
by Benjamin Massey on Apr 5, 2010 9:13 PM MDT up reply actions
I would not have guessed that Matthew Barnaby scored 191 points in multiple seasons in junior.
Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
In Lou We Trust - The New Jersey Devils SBN Blog
Barnaby’s 18-year-old season: 63GP, 29G, 37A, 476PIM on a team that went 25-40-5.
Good God almighty.
by Benjamin Massey on Apr 5, 2010 9:16 PM MDT up reply actions
Guess that was enough to impress the Buffalo scouts.
Here’s his over-age year:
33 GP with Verdun – 26 G, 35 A, 217 PIM
and then he went to Victoriaville for only 13 GP – 6 G, 9 A, 87 PIM
The mind, it boggles.
Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
In Lou We Trust - The New Jersey Devils SBN Blog
No, wait, I misread it – he started with Beauport – a quiet 19 GP of 12 G, 23 A, and only 144 PIM
Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
In Lou We Trust - The New Jersey Devils SBN Blog
Matthew Barnaby played 9 years of junior?
by jeanshorts on Apr 5, 2010 9:13 PM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
At the same age as Jordan Eberle is now he went:
44-67-111 in 65 GP with 448 PIMs. Could you imagine the hype he’d receive today?
by Scott Reynolds on Apr 5, 2010 9:28 PM MDT up reply actions
The real question is who Kevin Lowe likes. Whoever the mush calls – go with the opposite.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Greg Zanon is still taking shifts
Common sense? The hell you say, there’s a third period to play and it’s only 2-1 Oilers! He could really make a difference with his damaged foot!
Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
In Lou We Trust - The New Jersey Devils SBN Blog
He’s been playing with a hairline fracture in his ankle since…
March 18th.
what in the world?
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Remind me, how is the Oilers’ PK? I’m about to witness it.
Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
In Lou We Trust - The New Jersey Devils SBN Blog
Oh, you know. Even if you don’t know, you know.
by Scott Reynolds on Apr 5, 2010 9:30 PM MDT up reply actions
Here are the scoring chances from the Blues game. See all of those “STL PP” chances?
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Ethan Moreau is a shorthanded-goal machine. MONSTER.
by Benjamin Massey on Apr 5, 2010 9:31 PM MDT up reply actions
Oh yeah, I forgot about that. That was in the first period. My bad.
Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
In Lou We Trust - The New Jersey Devils SBN Blog
Ray Ferraro has a thing for Brunette like Moreau for Staios.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
This power play. This is the worst power play I’ve seen in a while.
Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
In Lou We Trust - The New Jersey Devils SBN Blog
Again – the Wild dress Boogaard AND Scott?
WHY?
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Cogliano still needs to answer to Boogaard for that. THE CODE! and so forth. If he fights Boogaard, I’ll stop hating him as much.
by Benjamin Massey on Apr 5, 2010 9:37 PM MDT up reply actions
GRIT! TOUGHNESS! ENERGY!
I’ve run out of words.
The Oilers look good on special teams tonight.
Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
In Lou We Trust - The New Jersey Devils SBN Blog
Shameful admission: on my crappy web feed when Comrie stopped at the blue line, I somehow saw “91” as “94” and, for just a second, I was fooled.
This team would be in the Ryan Smyth version of 1st place (i.e. 7th place) with Ryan Smyth. Also, Ethan Moreau wouldn’t be captain.
by Scott Reynolds on Apr 5, 2010 9:41 PM MDT up reply actions
Boogaard wants one! BOOGAARD WANTS ONE!
by Benjamin Massey on Apr 5, 2010 9:43 PM MDT up reply actions
Moreau! He’ll be getting a hat trick tonight.
by Scott Reynolds on Apr 5, 2010 9:46 PM MDT up reply actions
He’s also back to even in +/- on his career.
by Scott Reynolds on Apr 5, 2010 9:47 PM MDT up reply actions
Well, Moreau will be on the PP for some of this for sure. When is the last time an Oiler scored at EV, SH and on the PP?
Whatever visor Penner wears automatically becomes magic.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Kurri, what a keep in by Horcoff!
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
2 more points needed and it would be fitting if they came against Colorado
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on The Copper & Blue
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
Oilers Schedule
Last 5 Games
@
Vancouver
|
Sat 04/07 | L 0 - 3 |
|
Anaheim
|
Thu 04/05 | OT - L 2 - 3 |
|
@
Los Angeles
|
Mon 04/02 | L 0 - 2 |
|
@
Anaheim
|
Sun 04/01 | W 2 - 1 |
|
Los Angeles
|
Fri 03/30 | L 1 - 4 |
In Association With
Latest Puck Daddy - NHL from Yahoo! Sports
- Monday’s Three Stars: Parise scores, Brodeur saves in Game 4 Devils win
- Zach Parise, Devils respond after a quiet Game 3 to even series with Rangers in Game 4
- Mike Rupp shoves Brodeur, sparks Game 4 chaos as Devils, Rangers coaches squabble (VIDEO)
- Devils try to even series with Rangers; watch the ‘Sandley Cup’ get built (Playoff Puck Previews)
- Sean Avery: Not in NHL playoffs, getting a handle on semi-nude modeling (PHOTO)
Latest stories and headlines from NHL.com
- Brodeur, Parise lead Devils to 4-1 win over rattled Rangers; East final tied 2-2
- Brodeur, Parise lead Devils to 4-1 win over rattled Rangers; East final tied 2-2
- Wild prospects lead Saint John past Edmonton
- Labrie stars in Admirals 1-0 overtime win over IceCaps; Norfolk leads series 3-0
- Frattin scores twice, including winner, as Marlies defeat Barons 5-3 in Game 3
