Oilers v. Avalanche - John 4:39-42

by Scott Reynolds on Dec 9, 2011 4:30 PM MST in Game-Day Threads

Many Edmontonians believed in Smyth because of the reports from others that he played with tremendous effort, and was scoring many goals. When they came out to see him for themselves, they saw him flipping pucks over the glass to children, and radiating joy for the game, and so they begged him to stay in the city, even if those in charge refused to pay him the going rate. So he stayed for two more years at a lower price, long enough for him to know that he might be part of a winning team, but short enough for him not to become a burden. Then all the people cried out, "Now we believe, not just because of how he handles himself on the ice, but because of the sacrifices he has made to stay with us! Now we know that he is indeed the heart and soul of this team!"

Colorado Avalanche (13-15-1) @ Edmonton Oilers (13-12-3)

Rexall Place, 7:30 p.m. MST
Television: TSN

More analysis after the jump...

Visiting Team Scouting Report:

After several years of being outshot by their opponents, the Colorado Avalanche have turned the tables in a big way this season. The Avalanche are seventh in the NHL in shot differential per game at +3.5, and the six teams ahead of them are (in my opinion) six of the very best teams in the NHL (Detroit, Pittsburgh, San Jose, Chicago, St. Louis, and Vancouver). Granted, in Colorado's case, a lot of that outshooting is because they've spent so much time playing from behind, but this certainly isn't the team that relied oh-so-heavily on goaltending for success, which is a good thing, because if they were, that .899 save percentage from starter Semyon Varlamov would have them deep into the lottery.

Expected Lineups:

Edmonton Oilers (13-12-3):

Smyth - Horcoff - Hemsky
Gagner - Nugent-Hopkins - Eberle
Eager - Belanger - Jones
Paajarvi - Lander - Hordichuk

Smid - Gilbert
Whitney - Petry
Peckham - Teubert

Khabibulin

Colorado Avalanche (13-15-1):

Landeskog - O'Reilly - Hejduk
Duchene - Galiardi - Yip
Winnik - McClement - Kobasew
McLeod - Hunwick - Jones

Quincey - O'Brien
Hejda - O'Byrne
Elliott - Johnson

Varlamov

By the Numbers:

Theo Peckham and Andy Sutton are both tied for seventh in the NHL with 15 minor penalties each. That's a bad thing for both of them, but it's especially impressive (or depressing) in Sutton's case because he's only played 16 games. That's enough to make him the league leader in minor penalties per game (min. 10 games).
With Andy Sutton getting suspended, Colten Teubert is going to be back in the lineup. So far, coach Tom Renney has given him the Chorney treatment, wherein he plays his rookie season in a decidedly unsheltered environment. Among Oiler defenders, no one has a tougher end-zone start percentage than Teubert, who has taken 58.7% of his end-zone draws in the defensive zone.
Jordan Eberle actually leads the entire league in points per sixty minutes of five-on-five ice time (3.49/60). And yeah, no doubt a part of that is coming from good luck, but a bigger part is coming from him being a darn good player at twenty-one.
Eric Belanger and Ben Eager both scored their first goals of the season in the Oilers' last game, which leaves poor Magnus Paajarvi alone atop the list of "forwards with the most time on ice without a goal". Paajarvi has now played 290 minutes without scoring.
Colorado's penalty killing has been outstanding so far this season. They've allowed just 38.5 shots against per sixty minutes of five-on-four ice time, which is good enough for second in the NHL. That success is being masked by an 80.2% penalty killing percentage, which puts the Avalanche in 23rd. The culprit is (as you might expect) goaltending. Semyon Varlamov and Jean-Sebastien Giguere have combined for a PK save percentage of just .829, which is about forty points below average.

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Comments

Wow, that is an interesting line-up. The way I see it is, there is a tough match-up line, the soft parade line, and two lines that will absolutely get their heads beat in tonight.

Also, Teubert/Peckham? * Cries * I’m expecting the worst tonight. Is there any way Renney can play Gilbert/Smid for the whole game?

The Edmonton Oilers - All we do is win!!

by OilLeak on Dec 9, 2011 4:47 PM MST reply actions

Sure, but only if you can somehow convince Bettman to let players bring oxygen tanks onto the ice.

Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.

by Ben Johnston on Dec 9, 2011 5:26 PM MST up reply actions

Ethan Moreau on waivers, per Bruce at Cult of Hockey.

by Chunklets on Dec 9, 2011 5:00 PM MST reply actions

Forget Teubert – Peckham; Paajarvi – Lander – Hordichuk is going to be UGLY. Poor MPS must be wondering what the hell happened.

Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.

by Ben Johnston on Dec 9, 2011 5:27 PM MST reply actions

Eager on 3rd line…so finally some concrete evidence of horrible coaching decisions. I don’t think Renney should be fired, but this is incompetence.

by George Roop on Dec 9, 2011 5:28 PM MST reply actions

I’m seriously beginning to believe that Renney is throwing the season on purpose again.

The Edmonton Oilers - All we do is win!!

by OilLeak on Dec 9, 2011 7:09 PM MST up reply actions

started out so promising

by Passive Voice on Dec 9, 2011 8:56 PM MST up reply actions

Eager looked pretty alright on the third line in the end.

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

by Bruce McCurdy on Dec 9, 2011 10:57 PM MST up reply actions

ya seriously

by One_Roy_Save_On_The_Calendar on Dec 10, 2011 12:58 AM MST up reply actions

Here we go boys.

Paajarvi imitates Hall, 2 G

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

by Derek Zona on Dec 9, 2011 7:32 PM MST reply actions

Uh, you’ve seen his linemates, right?

Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.

by Ben Johnston on Dec 9, 2011 7:34 PM MST up reply actions

Lies

Bob McKenzie: “Cam Barker was playing well…”

Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.

by Ben Johnston on Dec 9, 2011 7:35 PM MST reply actions

I just started to post the same. W.T.F.

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

by Derek Zona on Dec 9, 2011 7:36 PM MST up reply actions

For some reason I thought TSN was streaming the game tonight, but it appears not. Anyone have any suggestions other than just listening over the radio? What a disappointment for my Friday.

by dessert1111 on Dec 9, 2011 7:38 PM MST reply actions

Am I seeing things, or are we back to that goddamn diamond penalty kill?

Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.

by Ben Johnston on Dec 9, 2011 7:44 PM MST reply actions

Let’s all watch Whitney struggle to skate. Don’t worry, the Edmonton media is cutting him some slack before they get around to writing about it.

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

by Derek Zona on Dec 9, 2011 7:44 PM MST reply actions

he actually looked more agile tonight, still slow tho

by One_Roy_Save_On_The_Calendar on Dec 10, 2011 12:59 AM MST up reply actions

Great shot by (I think) Horcoff. Set up a gigantic rebound that could have been buried if RNH had been just a step or two faster. And then Smyth manages to draw a penalty.

Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.

by Ben Johnston on Dec 9, 2011 7:48 PM MST reply actions

GAGNER!

What a beauty!

Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.

by Ben Johnston on Dec 9, 2011 7:49 PM MST reply actions

What an effort.

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

by Derek Zona on Dec 9, 2011 7:50 PM MST up reply actions

OK, on second viewing, it was pretty ugly. But still!

Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.

by Ben Johnston on Dec 9, 2011 7:50 PM MST up reply actions

People love ugly goals like that when it’s Smyth.

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

by Derek Zona on Dec 9, 2011 7:59 PM MST up reply actions

I love them from Gagner, too! A goal’s a goal.

Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.

by Ben Johnston on Dec 9, 2011 8:02 PM MST up reply actions

Hobbits rule!

by Chunklets on Dec 9, 2011 7:49 PM MST reply actions

This is going much better than the Carolina game.

Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.

by Ben Johnston on Dec 9, 2011 7:59 PM MST reply actions

So far, so good! :) Now, if they can just keep it going…

by Chunklets on Dec 9, 2011 8:02 PM MST up reply actions

What a gorgeous setup by Peckham. He shot that perfectly.

Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.

by Ben Johnston on Dec 9, 2011 8:03 PM MST reply actions

This game is bizarre. The Oilers are being dominated but keep counter attacking

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

by Derek Zona on Dec 9, 2011 8:14 PM MST reply actions

Ben Eager – the Mike Bossy of the beer league Northwest

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

by Derek Zona on Dec 9, 2011 8:15 PM MST reply actions

And there’s Ben Eager making himself useful!

by Chunklets on Dec 9, 2011 8:15 PM MST reply actions

EAGER!

Seems to be our night for garbage goals. Got to be especially demoralizing for Colorado after several real good minutes pressuring the Oilers.

Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.

by Ben Johnston on Dec 9, 2011 8:15 PM MST reply actions

I’ll take that for a first period, especially after the gong-show on Wednesday night.

by Chunklets on Dec 9, 2011 8:19 PM MST reply actions

They got beat that period and got lucky to be ahead.

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

by Derek Zona on Dec 9, 2011 8:29 PM MST up reply actions

As I said, I’ll take it.

by Chunklets on Dec 9, 2011 8:35 PM MST up reply actions

Only 56 seconds for Paajarvi in the first. Send him down for a spell, already, and let him get a reset on this season.

by Chunklets on Dec 9, 2011 8:36 PM MST reply actions

That was pretty bad.

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

by Derek Zona on Dec 9, 2011 8:41 PM MST reply actions

What? The Oilers proficiency making proper line changes?

The Edmonton Oilers - All we do is win!!

by OilLeak on Dec 9, 2011 8:42 PM MST up reply actions

Khabibulin’s reaction time was glacial

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

by Derek Zona on Dec 9, 2011 8:42 PM MST up reply actions

These Peckham penalties are getting tiresome.

The Edmonton Oilers - All we do is win!!

by OilLeak on Dec 9, 2011 8:43 PM MST reply actions

But he’s better than Gilbert, right?

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

by Derek Zona on Dec 9, 2011 8:44 PM MST up reply actions

Yeah, at keeping the bench warm.

The Edmonton Oilers - All we do is win!!

by OilLeak on Dec 9, 2011 8:46 PM MST up reply actions

I miss those games at the beginning of the season.

The Edmonton Oilers - All we do is win!!

by OilLeak on Dec 9, 2011 8:48 PM MST up reply actions

Careful – Barker is close to coming back

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

by Derek Zona on Dec 9, 2011 8:48 PM MST up reply actions

So my choices are between a player that plays like he had a lobotomy or one that has his feet tied together?

The Edmonton Oilers - All we do is win!!

by OilLeak on Dec 9, 2011 8:52 PM MST up reply actions

If you’re willing to wait about 7-9 games, you can have one who’s both!

Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.

by Ben Johnston on Dec 9, 2011 8:53 PM MST up reply actions

I need a negative rec button, right about now.

The Edmonton Oilers - All we do is win!!

by OilLeak on Dec 9, 2011 8:56 PM MST up reply actions

I kid.

The Edmonton Oilers - All we do is win!!

by OilLeak on Dec 9, 2011 8:57 PM MST up reply actions

No, no, I’m all in favour of negative rec’ing Sutton. What an idiot.

Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.

by Ben Johnston on Dec 9, 2011 9:06 PM MST up reply actions

Don’t forget the Truculence!

The Edmonton Oilers - All we do is win!!

by OilLeak on Dec 9, 2011 8:47 PM MST up reply actions

The power-play’s going well tonight! By the sounds of it, that was a clever play from Gagner.

by Chunklets on Dec 9, 2011 8:53 PM MST reply actions

Thanks, Khabbi!

by Chunklets on Dec 9, 2011 8:59 PM MST reply actions

Teubert is seven kinds of fucking awful. And he might be slower than Whitney, which is saying something.

by RiversQ on Dec 9, 2011 9:01 PM MST via mobile reply actions

say what you want about Teubert ..not sure about the correct stats but when colten’s in the lineup we win…regardless of who he’s paired with

by justshootitales on Dec 9, 2011 9:02 PM MST reply actions

Well, chalk one up for coincidences then, because no Oiler starts a cycle in his own end quite like 33.

by RiversQ on Dec 9, 2011 9:04 PM MST via mobile up reply actions

Today's lesson

Correlation =/= Causation

Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.

by Ben Johnston on Dec 9, 2011 9:16 PM MST up reply actions

still take him over whitney right now

by justshootitales on Dec 9, 2011 9:18 PM MST up reply actions

Yeah, I’d take anyone over Whitney right now. He shouldn’t be playing.

Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.

by Ben Johnston on Dec 9, 2011 9:20 PM MST up reply actions

Well, Eager has bought himself 20 games on the third line

The Edmonton Oilers - All we do is win!!

by OilLeak on Dec 9, 2011 9:07 PM MST reply actions

Hobbits rule (I think I may have mentioned that already, but it bears repeating)!

by Chunklets on Dec 9, 2011 9:10 PM MST reply actions

Try telling Jason Gregor that, he loves his coke machines.

Good for Gagner, he looked great earlier in the year before his injuries.

The Edmonton Oilers - All we do is win!!

by OilLeak on Dec 9, 2011 9:13 PM MST up reply actions

He did. And I think he’s removed any doubt about his being fully recovered from those injuries – he’s been going really well the last few games.

by Chunklets on Dec 9, 2011 9:19 PM MST up reply actions

I’m not able to watch this game tonight unfortunately, but it sounds like Gagner’s season has corrected in a hurry.

by melancholyculkin on Dec 9, 2011 9:19 PM MST reply actions

He’s had a strong game. I’m also seeing Belanger real good.

Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.

by Ben Johnston on Dec 9, 2011 9:20 PM MST up reply actions

Also an encouraging sign!

by Chunklets on Dec 9, 2011 9:22 PM MST up reply actions

We were just talking about that! :) But yes, he’s looking really good on that line.

by Chunklets on Dec 9, 2011 9:20 PM MST up reply actions

Last call for predictions on Sutton

I’m guessing Shanahan makes an example of him as a repeat offender, and gives him 12 games.

Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.

by Ben Johnston on Dec 9, 2011 9:23 PM MST reply actions

I’ll say 8-10 games

The Edmonton Oilers - All we do is win!!

by OilLeak on Dec 9, 2011 9:28 PM MST up reply actions

Man, can TSN fellate RNH anymore than they already do?

The Edmonton Oilers - All we do is win!!

by OilLeak on Dec 9, 2011 9:29 PM MST reply actions

yeah i really like when they do stories or segments on role players …we hear about RNH every day

by justshootitales on Dec 9, 2011 9:31 PM MST up reply actions

Petry with the brain cramp on the icing

The Edmonton Oilers - All we do is win!!

by OilLeak on Dec 9, 2011 9:31 PM MST reply actions

Unusually sloppy by Petry on that icing touch-up.

Shouldn’t that icing have been negated when Khabibulin started to play the puck?

Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.

by Ben Johnston on Dec 9, 2011 9:31 PM MST reply actions

You know, I love TSN, but sometimes they make an awfully big production out of stating the obvious. No kidding, the Avalanche’s goal differential is significantly worse during the 0-6-1 stretch than during their 6-0 stretch? FFS

Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.

by Ben Johnston on Dec 9, 2011 9:35 PM MST reply actions

I like TSN as well, but yeah, that’s not really cutting-edge analysis, is it…

by Chunklets on Dec 9, 2011 9:43 PM MST up reply actions

Ferraro just pointed out that Whitney’s been sluggish on the ice and probably hasn’t recovered from his injuries.

Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.

by Ben Johnston on Dec 9, 2011 9:36 PM MST reply actions

In one night Ferraro has done more investigative journalism than all Edmonton MSM combined.

by BigB_09 on Dec 9, 2011 9:39 PM MST up reply actions

Is Eager looking a bit like a hockey player today ?

by southampton viking on Dec 9, 2011 9:39 PM MST reply actions

just a bit

The Edmonton Oilers - All we do is win!!

by OilLeak on Dec 9, 2011 9:41 PM MST up reply actions

Still has issues defensively

The Edmonton Oilers - All we do is win!!

by OilLeak on Dec 9, 2011 9:42 PM MST up reply actions

Nifty play by Gagner to get the puck out of the zone.

The Edmonton Oilers - All we do is win!!

by OilLeak on Dec 9, 2011 9:44 PM MST reply actions

I know that Colorado played last night, but it’s still nice to see the Oil closing things out this neatly.

by Chunklets on Dec 9, 2011 9:47 PM MST reply actions

I always think a wave is disrespectful to the players

by southampton viking on Dec 9, 2011 9:48 PM MST reply actions

Deliberately so, in soccer.

by Chunklets on Dec 9, 2011 9:58 PM MST up reply actions

Well, that was a very enjoyable night of hockey-listening! A bit of a palate-cleanser after Wedensday.

by Chunklets on Dec 9, 2011 10:16 PM MST reply actions

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