Oilers Collapse, Lose 5-3 To Flames Thanks To Tom Renney

by Derek Zona on Dec 4, 2011 12:10 AM MST in Game Reports

The thing about a great rivalry between two crappy teams is that the game stinks no matter how much the media and fans talk about passion and hate. Even worse is a great rivalry in which one team is really bad and just gets beat on continually. Tonight's Battle of Alberta is an example of the latter. The Flames have been beating on the Oilers for a couple of years and it's just not fun to watch.

This time around things seemed like they were going to be different. The Oilers scored twice in the first three minutes, then watched as the Flames scored twice in the next four minutes. It didn't get better in the second period either. The Oilers were outshot 27-18 through two periods with Sam Gagner - Shawn Horcoff - Ales Hemsky accounting for 7 of the 18 shots. Throw in Ryan Smyth and Jordan Eberle and the other 13 skaters only took 7 shots through two periods.

The third? Well, the third was a bloody mess.

Corsi / Fenwick

Scoring Chances
Shift Chart
H2H Ice Time

Game 25 Recap: Tom Renney Snubbed For First Star of Calgary Flames Win

Head To Head Scoring Chances
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The Good

Sam Gagner has been very good for a couple of weeks now, but tonight was his best game of the year. He's as fast as he was during the pre-season and he's clicking with Horcoff and Hemsky. The best part of his 2011-12 game is his desire to shoot the puck. His shot rates and shot attempt rates are up this season, and though the pucks aren't finding the net, they will if he keeps firing.

Ales Hemsky and Shawn Horcoff continued their excellent play tonight. They're creating chances, playing extremely well in transition and they, along with Gagner, have been excellent in their own zone. Gagner has become the top line's shooter and it's working well for them.

Nikolai Khabibulin's pads. When he had to make a pad stop tonight, Khabibulin was incredible and he had to be, considering the toreador defense in front of him.

The Bad

Andy Sutton took two terrible penalties tonight, a stupid roughing penalty in the first period and a ridiculous high stick in the second. On the high stick, he swatted upwards at a chest-high puck and missed. There aren't many legal things a stick can hit at face-level.

The power play was terrible tonight. The Oilers went 0-6 with 1 shot on goal with the man advantage. The Flames employed a highly-aggressive penalty kill strategy and attacked Hopkins on the half-wall very efficiently. Part of the problem was any time Hopkins took the time to survey the ice, the penalty killers jumped out on him to take away his passing lanes. In the future, Hopkins has to counter that by shooting very quickly, even before his teammates are fully set up. The penalty killers must respect his shot and willingness to shoot.

Nikolai Khabibulin's five hole was so easy to score on tonight, it must've looked like a soccer goal to the Flames.

The Ugly

Ryan Whitney....I don't want to beat a dead horse, but Ryan Whitney is moving like a dead horse right now. Never has Colby Cosh's "Barbaro" moniker for Whitney been more appropriate. He shouldn't be on the ice.

The Edmonton sports media is never one to cross the Oilers' organization, but they are collectively falling down on the job with regards to Ryan Whitney. He's not been able to skate since his first game back and no one is asking about it. One of the team's radio monkeys threw out some conditioning excuse, but anyone who has watched Whitney get beat in every way imaginable on the ice knows that he's injured. He's physically unable to move right now. So what does the media do? They do what the Edmonton media always does - nothing. Great work, people.

Tom Renney coached his worst game of the season tonight. The Oilers are at home, so he has the last change. He allowed the Ryan Nugent-Hopkins line to play against the Roman Horak line for two periods, even though that line beat the Hopkins line handily. Hopkins' scoring chances through two periods were 2 for - 7 against.

Even worse was his use of the 4th line. He rolled the 4th line out four times in the 3rd period, though twice it was without Hordichuk. Their second shift ended with the Derek Smith goal after Darryl Sutter got the Jarome Iginla line on the ice. Renney then threw Lennart Petrell and Ryan O`Marra out with 5 minutes to go. The two were pinned in their own end for most of the shift. Let's recap the decision making. Lennart Petrell is probably the worst (non-goon) even-strength forward in the league. Darcy Hordichuk is a goon. Ryan O`Marra is an AHL player. He was up against a team who outplayed his own team to that point, but he was still up by one goal. Why did he throw out one of the worst lines in the league? Why did he leave them out there, even when the opponent sent out his best player to take advantage?

Couple all of this with his insistence on sending a crippled Whitney out on his second pairing and it was an awful night. Much of this loss can be attributed directly to Renney's shortcomings. I don't give out Golden HUAs, but if I were to do so, Tom Renney would win in a landslide.

The Copper & Blue Three Stars:

★★★ - Ales Hemsky

★★ - Shawn Horcoff

★ - Sam Gagner

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Comments

On Sutton: the first penalty was bad. On the second one, one replay showed he missed and the guy faked it. You can’t hit someone in the face that hard and not draw blood.

Petry sucked as well. Couple of really bad clearing attempts.

Problem with Gagner is he has a slow release and a weak shot. Couple if times in the last couple of games someone with a faster trigger and a little more zip would have potted goals instead of being easily blocked.

The oilers still pass up too many shooting opportunities. SHOOT THE FUCKING PUCK!

The flames PK on the Nuge was great. Every time he had the puck along the halfboard two guys collapsed on him quickly. And it worked. Other teams will watch this and Renney better design a play to counter. They should have 2 men open when that happens and the Oil need to take advantage.

by gcw_rocks on Dec 4, 2011 9:54 AM MST via mobile reply actions

On Renny.....

Immediately after the RNH goal, he throws out the 4th line (including Hordichuk!). They get caught defending forever in their own zone. Then of all things, the D changes without the puck getting deep! And who do you think they send out? The clowns of course!

Here come Sutton and Peckham! To be fair, Sutton backed right towards the net. Peckham of course is looking for a hit instead of the puck. Iggy grabs the puck, pushes it to Smith and he scores! Oilers on the ice were 16 42 37 25 35.

Trying to lose, Renny?

by PerryK on Dec 4, 2011 10:25 AM MST reply actions

And who do you think they send out? The clowns of course!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJvUCDP9u0I

Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.

by Derek Zona on Dec 4, 2011 10:30 AM MST up reply actions

In fairness, that’s a shot Khabibulin should be stopping. Smith was wide and only had one place to shoot the puck.

Same with the Backlund goal. You can’t give up goals between your legs that are on the ice.

He’s baffling this year. He makes these great post to post stops (several in this game) and gives up 2 goals like that.

In theory, there is little difference between practice and theory, but in practice there is!

Tactical contributor to the Copper & Blue and just as boring on the twitters... @dawgbone98

by dawgbone98 on Dec 4, 2011 10:43 AM MST up reply actions

From what I have read so far, I’m glad I missed this game. The 4th line against the Flames best to protect a lead? Dear God, this can only mean one thing, Renney has been told to tank the season again.

The Edmonton Oilers - All we do is win!!

by OilLeak on Dec 4, 2011 1:22 PM MST reply actions

I had to tape it, so I got up early so I could watch it before my kids woke up. Needless to say I was a bitter, bitter man by the time the game was done.

by gcw_rocks on Dec 4, 2011 7:54 PM MST up reply actions

I don’t believe Whitney is hurt at this point, but he his definitely playing through pain. It’s going to be a good month before he rounds into shape again.

The Edmonton Oilers - All we do is win!!

by OilLeak on Dec 4, 2011 1:24 PM MST reply actions

Although Renny didn’t help his cause, the fact the Oilers could only register one shot on 5 straight PP’s does say something one way or the other.

A hard working Flames PK unit that was aggressive or a tired Oiler team? Tough game for Oiler fans to watch for a Flames fan more of shrug game.

Probably how Canucks fans will feel tonight watching the Nucks likely dominate the Flames.

by Mitch Smith on Dec 4, 2011 1:27 PM MST reply actions

A big problem with the PP was its inability to win possession right off the hop. They won just 1 of 6 draws to start those man advantages, with Horcoff getting whupped by Jokinen three out of three (and one for one on Oilers PK). Overall, Oilers went 2/9 on first draws after penalties.

I noticed the same problem against Minnesota the other night, Oilers were getting owned on the dot on special teams. That night had a very strange split of Corsi: 51-32 at evens, but 55-60 overall, meaning Oilers attempted 4 special teams shots, Minny 28! Horcoff was getting crushed by MKoivu that night, including four in a row on that overtime powerplay. In both games Oilers were giving up far more possession, shots and chances on special teams than they were able to establish themselves. Burned ’em in both games, too.

For all of his 23 minutes of ice time including a team leading 7:40 on the PP, Gagner was on the ice for a whopping 5 scoring chances for, just 3 at even strength. Ryan Whitney never attempted a shot on goal in 22 minutes. Tom Gilbert attempted just 2, neither on target. Jeff Petry at least tried to shoot, but only tested Kiprusoff with 1 of his 7 attempts. He and Whitney had a terrible time of it. I sincerely hope that 15 years from now I will say in a ‘happy retirement’ post, “I remember Jeff Petry’s worst game as an Oiler, it was against the Flames in Dec/‘11, at the time some of us were wondering if he’d ever settle down …”

Oilers fan through thick, thin and anorexic. Writer for The Cult of Hockey.

by Bruce McCurdy on Dec 4, 2011 2:06 PM MST reply actions

I noticed that too. You have to win big draws and the Oilers’ centres aren’t doing it. Not all draws are greated equally!

I was disappointed Renney didn’t adjust to the way the 2 defenders (I think it was 1 forward and 1 d-man) would rush Nuge everytime he had the puck on the halfwall. The Oilers are too predictable on the PP as well. Shouldn’t a playbook have more than one play?

by gcw_rocks on Dec 4, 2011 7:58 PM MST up reply actions

When it’s working well it takes a long time to try and change it.

FTR, I said that the Oilers PP would run into trouble about 4 weeks ago because they ran their PP the same way every single time.

Sure enough it sputtered for a bit, then it came back strong and Calgary did a great job showing how to stop the half wall set up.

In theory, there is little difference between practice and theory, but in practice there is!

Tactical contributor to the Copper & Blue and just as boring on the twitters... @dawgbone98

by dawgbone98 on Dec 5, 2011 8:04 AM MST up reply actions 1 recs

I guess i have this unreasonable expectation that the role of coaching is to design options (plays) for various scenarios, and to have, I don’t know, taught the players all of the options, and then maybe, you know, throw the opposition a new look from time to time. Fortunately the oilers’ special teams coaches don’t get paid to coach, because if they did that would be really frustrating. Oh wait….

by gcw_rocks on Dec 5, 2011 10:55 AM MST up reply actions

I will be very disappointed if Oilers don’t have a couple of wrinkles in the Saddledome on Saturday.

Oilers fan through thick, thin and anorexic. Writer for The Cult of Hockey.

by Bruce McCurdy on Dec 5, 2011 11:16 AM MST up reply actions

Me too. Yet I have this bad feeling….

by gcw_rocks on Dec 5, 2011 1:02 PM MST up reply actions

I will be shouting from my profanities from my seat in the Saddledome if that’s the case.

Everyone knows rock attained perfection in 1974. It's a scientific fact.
Writer for The Copper & Blue and a frequenter of the time waster that is Twitter.

by ryanbatty on Dec 5, 2011 2:55 PM MST up reply actions

It’s also a players thing too, not just coaching.

In theory, there is little difference between practice and theory, but in practice there is!

Tactical contributor to the Copper & Blue and just as boring on the twitters... @dawgbone98

by dawgbone98 on Dec 5, 2011 11:17 AM MST up reply actions

At this point in the Oilers development curve, I would hope not. The kids should be listenning to the coaches, and the vets should be showing them why listening is important.

by gcw_rocks on Dec 5, 2011 1:01 PM MST up reply actions

Or gameplanning alternatives on the fly between shifts.

SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there). Link now 100% less broken.
Robertson's Rants - Exceedingly occasional, lengthy ramblings on hockey topics, hosted at Puck Podcast. And no, my name's not Doug.

by Doogie2K on Dec 5, 2011 2:10 PM MST up reply actions

We’re talking about the PP here right?

Even if the puck is supposed to go to 93 on the half wall that doesn’t mean your first instinct is to do just that. As a player you can make a conscious decision to work the puck around first, then move it over.

If you carry the puck in on the right hand side, they have pkers there so in order to set up on the right side you have to move it left and move it back to open up the box.

This isn’t rocket surgery. If the play isn’t there you have time and space to reset.

In theory, there is little difference between practice and theory, but in practice there is!

Tactical contributor to the Copper & Blue and just as boring on the twitters... @dawgbone98

by dawgbone98 on Dec 5, 2011 3:26 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs

Gagner was on the ice for a whopping 5 scoring chances for, just 3 at even strength.

He spent his ES time matched against Iginla’s line.

Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.

by Derek Zona on Dec 4, 2011 9:30 PM MST up reply actions

Stir the Pot

I know Smyth is a God in this town and I’m a fan, but that was a bad penalty to take. You get the lead back and take a bad penalty in the O-Zone.

It should be noted in the Ugly. Or at least the bad.

Don’t get me wrong that was a bad game in many ways. Many, many ways.

PS I’ll start my car with trepidation tomorrow…

by Just-a-thought on Dec 4, 2011 8:40 PM MST reply actions

Don’t get me wrong that was a bad game in many ways. Many, many ways.

Many, many, many ways. But that was one of them, for sure. 10 minutes left in a tie game, team stfuggling for traction, and that?

Smytty has taken a few bad penalties this year, starting with a major with 5 minutes left in a tie game in the season opener. This one was as unnecessary as Sutton’s, and at a much morse time in the game.

Oilers fan through thick, thin and anorexic. Writer for The Cult of Hockey.

by Bruce McCurdy on Dec 5, 2011 11:20 AM MST up reply actions

That Renney used the 4th line at all in the third tells me one of two things. Either (as mentioned above) he’s been told to throttle the team or his guys are collectively gassed. I notice he talked about needing more practice time in the presser, but the team got the day off today. Could the recent schedule, combined with key players being asked to do more than they’re capable of be kicking the crap out of us?

by David S on Dec 4, 2011 9:55 PM MST reply actions

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Oilers Schedule

Last 5 Games

@ Vancouver Nucks Misconduct	Sat 04/07	L 0 - 3
Anaheim Anaheim Calling	Thu 04/05	OT - L 2 - 3
@ Los Angeles Jewels From The Crown	Mon 04/02	L 0 - 2
@ Anaheim Anaheim Calling	Sun 04/01	W 2 - 1
Los Angeles Jewels From The Crown	Fri 03/30	L 1 - 4