Oilers v. Canucks - Romans 16:17-20
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 24, 2012 4:30 PM MST
in Game-Day Threads
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PrintI must appeal to you one more time, my dearest friends. Watch out for people who try to cause your fandom to be divided and upset your faith by trying to teach you things that are contrary to the truth we brought from God. If someone says, "You really ought to cheer for the Canadian teams! Let's bring the Cup home!" don't listen to him! If you can't bring yourself to mock these people, just stay away from them entirely. They are not serving God, and do not actually care about the Oildrop. They are trying to deceive the weakest among us who "just want everyone to be happy" or who are still in the infancy of their commitment during this time of great trial.
But I know that most of you reading are obedient to God's call for faithfulness, and that makes me very happy. I just want to remind you so that you continue to walk in the way of wisdom and so remain innocent of any wrongdoing. And do not worry, dearest friends, the God of peace will soon crush the Canucks, first by removing them from the playoffs, and then by purging their Satanic influence from our most holy organization. May the grace of God be with you always.
Edmonton Oilers (18-26-4) @ Vancouver Canucks (29-15-4)
Rogers Arena, 8:00 p.m. MST
Television: Sportsnet West
More analysis after the jump...
Home Team Scouting Report:
Yeah, yeah, the Canucks are really good again. As many of you know, I live in the Lower Mainland so I get to hear about the Canucks all the time. I also have many friends who would consider themselves fans of the Canucks. One of these friends was unwise enough to invite me to watch Game Seven of the Stanley Cup Finals with his family. Some of his kids are young, so sure enough, there were some tears (didn't even need tear gas!). As a compassionate person, I tried my best to bring some joy to this dark moment by laughing. Alas, that didn't seem to make things better. At least I tried. As for this year, I can only hope that the tears aren't reserved for me.
Expected Lineups:
Edmonton Oilers (18-26-4):
Hall - Gagner - Eberle
Hartikainen - Horcoff - Hemsky
Smyth - Lander - Paajarvi
Petrell - Belanger - Jones
Smid - Petry
Peckham - Potter
Whitney - Sutton
Dubnyk
Vancouver Canucks (29-15-4):
Sedin - Sedin - Burrows
Booth - Kesler - Higgins
Raymond - Hodgson - Hansen
Malhotra - Lapierre - Weise
Hamhuis - Bieksa
Edler - Salo
Ballard - Rome
Luongo
By the Numbers:
- The Oilers have had a lot of injuries this season, but there's been no doubt about who's been getting the toughest assignment. Ales Hemsky, Shawn Horcoff, and Ryan Smyth rank first through third in all three of Gabriel Desjardins' different quality of competition metrics among Oiler forwards. The results over the last while haven't been very good at all, but it's not like there are a lot of options.
- For most of this season, David Booth has had one of the worst PDO numbers in the league. Even now, he's still near the bottom with a PDO of 94.4 during five-on-five action, but the points are now beginning to come. Since coming to the Canucks, Booth has 15 points in 22 games, including six in his last five.
- That being the case, it's interesting to see Tom Renney put Teemu Hartikainen on a line with Horcoff and Hemsky. Those are pretty good linemates to get coming out of the minors, but he sure can't expect to get much in the way of protection. Hartikainen set a personal best for ice time this season with 13:56 last night against the Sharks, and will no doubt be looking to earn enough ice time for a new season high tonight.
- Henrik Sedin is currently seventh in the NHL scoring race with 52 points. Sedin is one of five players looking to finish in the top ten for the third year in a row. The others are Alex Ovechkin (currently 38th), Brad Richards (81st), Steven Stamkos (4th), and Martin St. Louis (32nd).Ovechkin currently has the longest active streak with four consecutive seasons in the top ten.
- Jordan Eberle was just named to the All-Star Game, and it's tough to argue that he absolutely doesn't deserve to go. He is, after all, leading the Oilers in scoring and up over a point per game (the last Oiler to hit the point per game mark was Ales Hemsky in 2009-10, but he only played in 22 games that year). Still, I can't shake the fact that Eberle is going while Taylor Hall stays home. He hasn't scored as many points, but it seems to me that Hall has been the best Oiler forward this season, an impressive accomplishment for a player who just turned 20 in November.
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Some of his kids are young, so sure enough, there were some tears (didn’t even need tear gas!). As a compassionate person, I tried my best to bring some joy to this dark moment by laughing.
Epic.
The Edmonton Oilers – Rebuilding through character assassination since 1998
It was pretty great. The best part was how quickly he was over it. The breakdown happened in the second intermission, and the third period was used for processing. We were playing knee-hockey together twenty minutes after the game ended.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 24, 2012 8:12 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
I used it now, didn’t I!
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 24, 2012 8:25 PM MST up reply actions
Huge underdog
Betting line for Oilers Canucks game tonight is -325 for the Canucks. I can’t remember seeing such a line as big as this for hockey over the past couple years…
You’re talking single game I presume? Playoff series have been steeper
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
You never know. Didn’t the Oilers wax Vancouver something like 5-0 last season?
Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.
by Ben Johnston on Jan 24, 2012 7:51 PM MST up reply actions
I don’t gamble enough to know what the implied odds are there. Is that something like 80% Vancouver win?
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 24, 2012 8:33 PM MST up reply actions
Lines
Hall – Horcoff – Hemsky
Hartikainen – Gagner – Eberle
Smyth – Belanger – Paajarvi
Hordichuk – Lander – Jones
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Except for Hordichuk, that’s not actually a bad lineup. Almost makes me wish I was hanging around for the game.
Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.
by Ben Johnston on Jan 24, 2012 7:51 PM MST up reply actions
It took 1 year and a half to try Paajarvi on the right side, but other than that, it’s kind of strange seeing Hartikainen as the protection for the line
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Nice write-up, Scott
Can’t go wrong with laughing at children’s tears.
Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.
So glad there’s barely a delay between the Oilers’ radio feed & the Van Sportsnet feed. These Van announcers are hideous homers and Garrett should go join Weekes in finding another profession.
Go OILERS!
Weekes was awful, but the CBC sure didn’t do him any favors by replacing him with Daryl Reaugh. That guy is excellent.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 24, 2012 8:26 PM MST up reply actions
I think so too, but the vast majority of Edmonton tweeters hate him
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Insult or compliment?
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 24, 2012 8:29 PM MST up reply actions
I think Reaugh is the best color man in the game. It’s not even close.
by RiversQ on Jan 24, 2012 10:20 PM MST via iPhone app up reply actions
Fox would be the best if he didn’t try to speak a mile a minute.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
The LAK guy. Davidge is the CBJ guy. He’s also excellent. Tyson Nash is getting better too. He’s limiting his ooohs and ahhhhs about fights and has really begun to explain the game.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Hartikainen didn’t look too good along the boards there. Made the hit, but didn’t show much awareness of where the puck was, and then got beat in the subsequent battle.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
Looked pretty slow on that last shift too, though to his credit, he did win a battle and then get the puck out of the DZ so that the Oilers could make the change.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 24, 2012 8:40 PM MST up reply actions
Last night I noticed something – when he’s prepped and ready, he’s excellent. When he has to battle on someone else’s terms he’s not as strong.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
There’s an issue with raising the kid’s level of comp too early.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Yeah, this match-up with the Sedins is just killer.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 24, 2012 9:15 PM MST up reply actions
Yeah, but only if the opponents get scoring chances.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 24, 2012 8:57 PM MST up reply actions
The fans have a very strange relationship with Luongo. A lot of people here really dislike him.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 24, 2012 9:09 PM MST up reply actions
They’ve been usurped by the NUUUUUUUUUUGE chant every time Hopkins touches the puck
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
and it’s tough to argue that he absolutely doesn’t deserve to go.
He gives a bunch back
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
http://twitter.com/SportsnetSpec/status/162023471226957824
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Bieksa is a classic spot-picker, but he’s an outstanding defenseman.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 24, 2012 9:11 PM MST up reply actions
http://twitter.com/mc79hockey/status/162024350113992704
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Admittedly, I don’t recall the specific play, but it is his first game back. No matter how he looks tonight, I don’t think it’s time to write him off, although we’re long past the time to count on him for top four minutes.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 24, 2012 9:13 PM MST up reply actions
I have massive issues with my ankle from multiple injuries to it. It’s always in pain and no matter what I do, it will always be weak, and I will never have the speed I once had.
Whitney’s injuries are on par or worse than what I have been through.
He’s done, trust me.
Not to be a jerk but… Whitney’s a professional athlete. I’m sure you’ve tried hard to rehab your ankle, but it’s not like you had millions of dollars hanging in the balance. (Unless you did, in which case, that really sucks.)
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 24, 2012 9:26 PM MST up reply actions
I wish I had the millions of dollars for that.
Here’s the thing about ankles though. There is very little to the ankle. It’s bone with a few ligaments running through it, and very little muscle at all. Unlike with a knee where you have muscles all around it to compensate for injury that you can strengthen, an ankle literally has nothing around it to strengthen it. Once your ligaments are shot, they are weakened and will never go back to 100%. Surgeries are far from guaranteed to be fully successful, and sometimes make it worse.
I’ve gone to many doctors and talked to many physical therapists about these issues to try and correct things. It’s been what, 2 years? for Whitney and he is still in massive struggle mode. The guy can barely move out there and is in pain everytime he moves. I know exactly what that feels like. I don’t need to be a professional athlete with millions to know that.
The guy is done
I guess I see a difference between “done” and “not as effective as before”. I don’t think he’s going to retire this summer, and I don’t think the Oilers are going to farm him, so we should get a pretty good idea of what he’s capable of over the next year and a half. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see him end up as a capable third pairing guy who has some ability on special teams.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 24, 2012 9:47 PM MST up reply actions
And the millions thing was more in reference to his future earnings. That should be a pretty powerful motivator.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 24, 2012 9:48 PM MST up reply actions
As a guy with ankle issues and knows a guy with ankle necrosis, Darren is on top of things here.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I rewound the PVR as soon as the light went on. Sick.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Stauffer’s been banging the drum all night about the desirability of playing Eberle with Hall, and fair enough. That goal goes in, and we get “I’ve been saying all along that they should be playing Horcoff with Hall.” Yeesh, Bob.
….except Belanger. Hall’s point production will plummet
by gvblackhawk on Jan 24, 2012 9:18 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
You know how they talk about some guys having “economy of movement”. Hartikainen is the opposite of that.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
He’s playing his 5th game in 7 nights – does he get time off over the all-star break, or do they send him back down for the weekend?
Yeah, that’s a lot of hockey. Probably a lot of flights in there too. And I figure he heads down for the All-Star break.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 24, 2012 9:32 PM MST up reply actions
When’s the AHL all-star game, or has it happened already? I’m thinking that Harski probably doesn’t get a break that weekend either… :)
Right after the NHL All-Star weekend. And yeah, I think you might be right.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 24, 2012 9:44 PM MST up reply actions
The defenders got caught napping on that one. Hansen was way behind them.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 24, 2012 9:33 PM MST up reply actions
Sutton and… don’t remember.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 24, 2012 9:49 PM MST up reply actions
That was a shitty line change. Whitney tried to sneak off for Sutton on the long change while Peckham snoozed on the other side.
Oilers fan through thick, thin and anorexic. Writer for The Cult of Hockey.
by Bruce McCurdy on Jan 25, 2012 1:19 AM MST up reply actions
My goodness, that’s probably the fourth post for the Canucks.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 24, 2012 10:01 PM MST reply actions
http://twitter.com/TheRealDMoser/status/162037579208867840
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Ouch…that hurts. I think letting the guy develop in the minors for a couple more years might tell a different story.
by gvblackhawk on Jan 24, 2012 10:06 PM MST up reply actions
TheRealDMoser reminds me too much of Damien Cox.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 24, 2012 10:16 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
I like how he calls himself TheRealDMoser, like he’s a celebrity who’s had his Twitter account hacked before
by gvblackhawk on Jan 24, 2012 10:17 PM MST up reply actions
What an awesome dangle from Sutton!
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 24, 2012 10:08 PM MST reply actions
Way to be Tubthumper!
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 24, 2012 10:14 PM MST reply actions
Way to go Hallsy!
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 24, 2012 10:18 PM MST reply actions
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AsId-qVIb4#t=01m24s
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
They’ll be on the same line soon enough.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 24, 2012 10:27 PM MST up reply actions
No. Just no.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
by Derek Zona on Jan 24, 2012 10:28 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
You bet. It’ll be Hemsky for Lapierre and Burrows.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 24, 2012 10:34 PM MST up reply actions
It’s the Oilers. Defense is an afterthought
by gvblackhawk on Jan 24, 2012 10:26 PM MST up reply actions
Another tremendous pass from Hall. He’s having a great game in the OZ.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 24, 2012 10:26 PM MST reply actions
Also did they just call Potter, Pronger?
"When you find yourself rooting for mediocrity – you might be an Oilers fan." - Neal Livingston
that’s actually an edict.
#whocontrolsthepresent
by Passive Voice on Jan 24, 2012 10:28 PM MST up reply actions
I badly wanted Sutton to dangle and score on that last rush. If this goes to a shootout, he’d better be shooting!
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 24, 2012 10:28 PM MST reply actions
It’s been awesome.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 24, 2012 10:33 PM MST up reply actions
Dubnyk has decided to get rid of the butterfly style and become a walrus.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 24, 2012 10:30 PM MST reply actions
Seems more like the seizure style that is so famous
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
When I get that GM job in Columbus, I’m trading for Gagner
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
So are you keeping Nash, or shopping him? That’s a pretty big contract.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 24, 2012 10:35 PM MST up reply actions
I’m hoping Bowman doesn’t care about percentages and I can get Frolik for a 4th
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
You’re aware that he’s the guy who acquired Frolik after the poor sap hadn’t scored for 23 consecutive games.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 24, 2012 10:46 PM MST up reply actions
Seems like Derek has this crazy strategy where he’s keeping all of his good players. Ridiculous.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 24, 2012 10:47 PM MST up reply actions
I dunno if Umberger is that good, though.
by Passive Voice on Jan 24, 2012 10:49 PM MST up reply actions
Great stickhandling from Kesler on that rush.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 24, 2012 10:32 PM MST reply actions
They have the choice.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 24, 2012 10:47 PM MST up reply actions
Gagner can possibly use the same move this time around….
"When you find yourself rooting for mediocrity – you might be an Oilers fan." - Neal Livingston
Oh, but he can! Not that it worked, but… you know.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 24, 2012 10:39 PM MST up reply actions
Weird, he’s a talented player, surely he has other moves he can pull out?
The Edmonton Oilers, keeping opposition fans happy for the last 6 years
He has two moves and a wrist shot
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Not sure if I have seen the other move.
The Edmonton Oilers, keeping opposition fans happy for the last 6 years
… or the wrist shot
Oilers fan through thick, thin and anorexic. Writer for The Cult of Hockey.
by Bruce McCurdy on Jan 25, 2012 1:22 AM MST up reply actions
There’s future Canuck, Ales Hemsky, putting it in!
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 24, 2012 10:41 PM MST reply actions
This is going until we get down to Sutton.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 24, 2012 10:41 PM MST reply actions
You’re name looks suspiciously close to Tambellini….hmmm
by gvblackhawk on Jan 24, 2012 10:47 PM MST up reply actions
Or maybe reversely relevant.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 24, 2012 10:48 PM MST up reply actions
Yes, cause that extra point could mean the difference between making or missing the playoffs. You’re a Columbus fan I take it?
"When you find yourself rooting for mediocrity – you might be an Oilers fan." - Neal Livingston
Sarcasm. No, it was the possibility of sticking it to a division leader in two consecutive games…
by T Ambrosini on Jan 24, 2012 11:17 PM MST up reply actions
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