Weekend Update: Thankfully

The Edmonton Oilers were not able to break their Dallas losing streak, but thankfully have put their Minnesota streak behind them after an American Thanksgiving weekend win. After 17 losses in Minnesota, the team is now going into each game in the Xcel Energy Centre with a clean slate.  Other big news for the week was also changes to the Oilers' roster.

Saturday night, the Oilers played one of their most exciting games of the year, at least until this point, beating the Chicago Blackhawks 9-2 in a game where Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored 5 assists. No 18 year old has ever done that in the NHL.

Monday night, the Oilers continued their Dallas losing streak, dropping a 4-1 decision to the Dallas Stars in a hard hitting game. This game resulted in some roster moves. Taylor Chorney was re-assigned to the Oklahoma City Barons, and Alex Plante, a bigger body was brought up. The following night, the Oilers travelled to Nashville where they made the Predators sing the blues. The Oilers came out with a dominant 6-2 victory. 

That was the only game defenceman Alex Plante would play as an Oiler on this call-up and not necessarily due to Plante's play, but rather Ryan Whitney's recovery. Yes, Whitney would play his fifth game of the season in Minnesota. Taking an early lead, the Oilers would go on to beat the Minnesota Wild 4-2.

The Edmonton Oilers have updated their Movember page, and I have to be honest, I think that Jeff Petry and Darcy Hordichuk are leading the pack, but Ladislav Smid would have the lead if only he was smiling his big smile that of course features missing front teeth.  It's not too late to support to anyone you would like to for their Movember fundraising. 

Next week's schedule looks a little like this week's only the Oilers will have a few games at home through December before hitting the road to make way for the World Juniors tournament. The Oilers will host the Predators and the Wild, both teams will likely be looking for some revenge, but the home town crowd will want nothing less than wins. 

The second episode of Oil Change Overdrive will be on Sportsnet shortly. November 25th was the first airing of this episode on City TV,  the episode will be replayed on Sportsnet Sunday night at 7PM MST. For those of you in the US, I have heard that this season will be played on the NHL network. 

Ex-Oiler Jason Strudwick is no longer available should the Oilers lose even more defenceman this season. Strudwick has just moved to Sweden to play with Sodertajle in what might be his last year of paid hockey, at least from what Studwick has said on Oilers Nation. The team that Strudwick has moved on to play with is no longer a team in the Swedish Elite League (thanks for the tip Swedish Oil Martin Lundén) and is now a part of the Swedish Second League. 

The Edmonton Oil Kings made a trade this week with the Everett Silver Tips acquiring Tyler Maxwell in exchange for a 3rd round pick in the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft and the rights to 95-born prospect Griffin Foulk. 

The Oil Kings dropped a disappointing 5-2 decision to the Lethbridge Hurricaines on Saturday, but followed that up with a 10-3 victory against the Hurricanes on Wednesday night. This victory set a modern franchise record, the team had not scored 10 goals in one game before this. Friday night, the team played a Sportsnet televised game against Oilers' prospect Tyler Bunz and the Medicine Hat Tigers. Unfortunately the entire nation was able to see a great hockey game, and that most of Edmonton doesn't attend these games. It was sad to see the home town win 3-0 to an empty looking arena. The Oil Kings are a strong team, with some amazing up and coming players and the same can be said of the Medicine Hat Tigers. 

The Edmonton Oil Kings hosted a meet and greet with some former World Junior stars that currently play for the Oilers:

Oilers' prospect goaltender and Stockton Thunder goaltender Olivier Roy was awarded ECHL goaltender of the week award for the week of November 14th - 20th. Roy represented his country last year in Buffalo in the World Juniors, but had difficulties with consistency. This year, while hoping to develop and and progress to the AHL Roy has been putting up good numbers. Currently ranked 8th in the ECHL , Roy has a GAA of 2.32 and a SV% of 0.925 so far for the season.

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The Oilers at the Quarter Pole - Copper & Blue Reynolds

Looking Up and Looking Down in OKC - Copper & Blue Reynolds

Barons Take On Rockford And Battle Of AHL-Berta II - Copper & Blue Rodgers

Cam Barker Brings People Together - Copper & Blue Zona

Is Edmonton no place for Ryan Nugent-Hopkins? - Cult of Hockey Staples

The Oilers will leak goals against with this blueline group- Cult of Hockey Staples

Devan Dubnyk Should Get More Starts - Cult of Hockey Willis

KNOW YOUR ROLE - Oilers Nation Strudwick

SUCCESS IN NET, EVERYWHERE - Oilers Nation Willis

SHELDON SOURAY: NOT DONE YET - Oilers Nation Brownlee

#2 Prospect: Anton Lander - Lowetide

#1 Prospect: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - Lowetide

Through 20 Career NHL Games RNH Trails Only Kane's Production In Recent Years - BBO

"Demotion or Development?" - Oilers Jambalaya

Oilers 2012 Draft Watch "Matthew Dumba" - Oilers Jambalaya

The Trouble With Defense - Livingston

Comparing Oiler Season Starts - Oil Patch

Shawn Horcoff on CBC After Hours - Oil Patch