Oilers v. Sabres - Isaiah 60:1-3
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 3, 2012 4:30 PM MST
in Game-Day Threads
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PrintArise, Edmonton! May your young stars shine for all to see!
For the glory of Lord Stanley will be your crown!
Soon, a great darkness will touch every city in this league,
and God's favor for Edmonton will be obvious to all.
Fans of every team will look at you with envy in their hearts,
and opposing players will wish that they could switch sides.
Edmonton Oilers (16-19-3) @ Buffalo Sabres (17-17-4)
First Niagara Center, 5:00 p.m. MST
Television: Sportsnet Edmonton
More analysis after the jump...
Home Team Scouting Report:
The Buffalo Sabres spent, spent, and spent some more this past summer, but like so many big spenders before them, things haven't turned out as they expected. The club spent $4.5M per year for six years on winger Ville Leino who has scored just 10 points in 29 games. They spent $4M per year for four years to retain Drew Stafford who has just 6 goals and 19 points in 37 games despite getting more ice time per game than any other season. And they spent $4M per year for ten years to sign Christian Ehrhoff who leads the team in ice time, but isn't getting the tough assignments at even strength, isn't dominating in terms of possession, and isn't among the league's elite power play scorers from the blueline. If we look at salary instead of cap hit, those three players will earn $20M this season, and won't come anywhere close to providing that kind of value. All three established new career highs for points and goals last season, and now all three are overpaid. These are the kind of buys the Sabres avoided for so many years, but with money in hand, they just can't help themselves. It's like a curse, and Oiler fans recognize it well because Kevin Lowe had it too.
Expected Lineups:
Edmonton Oilers (16-19-3):
Hall - Gagner - Hemsky
Smyth - Belanger - Eberle
Lander - Horcoff - Jones
Eager - Green - Hartikainen
Smid - Potter
Peckham - Petry
Sutton - Teubert
Khabibulin
Buffalo Sabres (17-17-4):
Vanek - Hecht - Pominville
Gerbe - Roy - Stafford
Boyes - Adam - McCormick
Ellis - Gaustad - Kaleta
Regehr - Leopold
Weber - Gragnani
Brennan - McNabb
Miller
By the Numbers:
- The loss of Tom Gilbert is huge for the Oilers. He plays more minutes than anyone on the team and is particularly important at even strength (where he leads the team in ice time) and on the penalty kill (where he's second). He plays against the best players that the opposition has to offer and still has one of the best Corsi numbers on the team. Those certainly aren't going to be easy minutes to replace.
- The loss of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is also huge. Nugent-Hopkins runs the power play for the Oilers, and that's been an area of significant improvement. He's also second on the team with 35 points in 38 games, a 76-point pace over a full season. His replacement, Josh Green, has 74 points in 334 career games.
- With Nugent-Hopkins out of the lineup, Ales Hemsky should recover some of the power play time that he's lost this season. With just 2:26 in five-on-four ice time per game, Hemsky is seventh on the Oilers. The last time he finished anything but first on the team by this measure was 2007-08, and even then he was third and clearly on the top unit.
- The Oilers have had seven different defensemen play in at least fifteen games so far this season, and so far exactly none of them have had more end-zone starts in the defensive zone during five-on-five play. The closest to even is Tom Gilbert who has been on the ice for 172 offensive zone faceoffs and 168 defensive zone faceoffs.
- Things aren't so even up front. The Oilers have had fourteen different forwards play in at least fifteen games, and there are four who have more end-zone starts in the defensive zone than they do the offensive zone during five-on-five play: Eric Belanger, Ryan Smyth, Shawn Horcoff, and Ryan Jones, with Jones having the toughest ratio on the team.
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Smid – Potter
Peckham – Petry
Sutton – Teubert
This gives me the same kind of feelings of hopelessness and misery as those starving children commercials.
I didn’t much like the ’07 Cup run. Pronger holding the Cup overhead was like an exclamation point on a terrible, terrible year.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 3, 2012 7:27 PM MST up reply actions
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AsId-qVIb4#t=01m24s
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Cannonball!
12-2 shots. Buffalo using the Wild strategy.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
by Derek Zona on Jan 3, 2012 5:23 PM MST reply actions 1 recs
His reaction time was extremely slow.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I thought that one was real bad. From that angle even a perfect shot shouldn’t go in. Khabi was Khandcuffed.
Oilers fan through thick, thin and anorexic. Writer for The Cult of Hockey.
by Bruce McCurdy on Jan 3, 2012 10:04 PM MST up reply actions
The concept of 'Oiler shoulder'
Obviously, this is a bit reactionary right now due to a rash of shoulder injuries. Nonetheless, it is very concerning when it is your top players getting them (Hemsky, Hall, RNH, Horcoff, etc).
What I am wondering is if there is anything that can be done from a medical engineering perspective? Specifically, a material that can absorb enough energy to prevent compression shoulder injuries. Katz needs to have his men look into this. Perhaps they can call NASA to have something designed that won’t interfere with player movement.
Anyone know how the Oilers rate of shoulder injury compares to the rest of the league?
Maybe Hemsky took his dessert at lunch.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I can’t believe Josh Green survived that 1st period. Played surprising well despite a few hiccups.
Tending The Farm in OKC!
by Neal Livingston on Jan 3, 2012 5:52 PM MST via Android app reply actions
If Hall-Gagner-Hemsky can be this good…Smyth-Hopkins-Eberle?
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
As a protected line, that’s not bad
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Smyth is probably more of a pain in the ass near the net though, right?
by Passive Voice on Jan 3, 2012 6:33 PM MST up reply actions
Edmonton’s fourth line out against Buffalo’s second. Genius coaching.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I’m not one to complain about officiating but that was a bad call.
by RiversQ on Jan 3, 2012 6:10 PM MST via mobile up reply actions
I don’t typically complain about it either. That was pathetic. And it nullified a damn goal.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I’d have called it incidental contact – no goal personally.
Mike Weber Pressbox Incarceration Status: Free to roam the blueline.
"Ville Leino may stink but he’s still way better than Matt Ellis."
Looked like he caught Miller’s skate but i’m watching on the 1990 quality tv because MSG is cheap.
Mike Weber Pressbox Incarceration Status: Free to roam the blueline.
"Ville Leino may stink but he’s still way better than Matt Ellis."
I like this “run the power play through Petry” strategy
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
If that wasn’t tipped, that’s one of the most perfectly placed shots I’ve ever seen.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I love that toe drag. Eberle plays the game like it’s NHL 94.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Edmonton’s being dominated right now. This is more of what I expected.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Though, Eager is on the ice. He’s so terrible
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
JW in a debate with Gregor about Tambellini’s statements to Matheson. Gregor immediately goes to how solid Barker is.
Why does the media have such love for that turkey?
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
His talent is so subtle it’s like it’s not there.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
by Derek Zona on Jan 3, 2012 6:47 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
This is a one line, one defenseman team right now.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
… and the one defenceman is Ladi Smid. Whoda thunk it?
Oilers fan through thick, thin and anorexic. Writer for The Cult of Hockey.
by Bruce McCurdy on Jan 3, 2012 10:06 PM MST up reply actions
It’s stunning. The guy started the season as a weak four (though strong with puck movers) and is a steady, not great, two right now.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Gagner finally gets some linemates who can do things with his passes and he’s tallying points. Shocking.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
How good would Anton Stralman look right now?
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
That fucking guy? So ostentatious. I hear he’s got “I play hockey” tattooed on his dick, and he’ll slap you in the face with it. That’s not an Oilers defenceman.
by Passive Voice on Jan 3, 2012 6:57 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
Poor Smid — no one to give the puck to for the outlet.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
In other news Petry is leading all oilers with almost 19 minutes of minutes of ice time so far.
The Edmonton Oilers - All we do is win!!
And handling the puck an incredible amount of time.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Radio guys say Gilbert might be in the lineup against St. Louis. Good news if it does in fact turn out that way, and he’s not being rushed back.
This is a lottery team. If they rush their best defender back, there is just no way they should ever hold an NHL job again
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
And I say that thinking Lowe could hold an excellent job as a CHL defensive scout after he if finally fired.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
That pairing has not been bad. I should’ve counted touches tonight. Petry’s handles are over 85%
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
The Peckham – Teubert pairing has only one strategy – push the other guys hard.
If that fails, they’re hosed.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Petry was -3 in this game, Oilers outshot 13-5, outchanced 8-5 when he was on the ice.
Oilers fan through thick, thin and anorexic. Writer for The Cult of Hockey.
by Bruce McCurdy on Jan 3, 2012 10:09 PM MST up reply actions
Well not by my math, not exactly. Thing about Petry is he’s ultra high-event. He has his moments every game. Unfortunately, he also has his moments (almost) every game.
If you follow me.
Oilers fan through thick, thin and anorexic. Writer for The Cult of Hockey.
by Bruce McCurdy on Jan 3, 2012 11:42 PM MST up reply actions
Why in the world are Green and Teemu out there late again?
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Sabotage
Only explanation.
Mike Weber Pressbox Incarceration Status: Free to roam the blueline.
"Ville Leino may stink but he’s still way better than Matt Ellis."
You laugh, but explain last season.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Terrible communication between Horcoff, Green and Hartikainen. They all pointed at the same guy and no one took him.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Those googly eyes are golden. Make me laugh every fricken time.
Oilers fan through thick, thin and anorexic. Writer for The Cult of Hockey.
by Bruce McCurdy on Jan 3, 2012 11:41 PM MST up reply actions
This game needs more...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmxcmpR1GQA#t=0m52s
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
This penalty kill looks familiar.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Oilers have the fourth line on with 5 minutes to go.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Unsuprisingly, Stafford scores.
Mike Weber Pressbox Incarceration Status: Free to roam the blueline.
"Ville Leino may stink but he’s still way better than Matt Ellis."
Why is he even on the ice in the 3rd period?!
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Sabres’ second line scored twice tonight. Against the 4th line both times.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Derek Zona for coach of the Oilers.
Mike Weber Pressbox Incarceration Status: Free to roam the blueline.
"Ville Leino may stink but he’s still way better than Matt Ellis."
No sir. I’ve currently got an application in for the Jackets’ GM job.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
As long as you can still hire Massey as assistant coach in charge of between-period rants.
Mike Weber Pressbox Incarceration Status: Free to roam the blueline.
"Ville Leino may stink but he’s still way better than Matt Ellis."
Ben needs to be the head coach, then we can all bask in the post game conference.
The Edmonton Oilers - All we do is win!!
I have a feeling some of the players will demote themselves to the AHL after he chews them out.
Mike Weber Pressbox Incarceration Status: Free to roam the blueline.
"Ville Leino may stink but he’s still way better than Matt Ellis."
This was a very winnable game, I think Renney has dropping acid in between periods.
The Edmonton Oilers - All we do is win!!
A little piece of goaltending truth there – it doesn’t matter what Miller does there if Potter picks a corner with a slap shot from there.
by RiversQ on Jan 3, 2012 7:23 PM MST via mobile reply actions
Stafford was pretty smart to take that puck to the corner and kill the clock instead of trying to push it past a defender at the line.
Still, in the three minutes of this one that I saw, the Oilers looked pretty darn good!
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
Given the circumstances it was a good showing. A team with zero depth on the second of back to back games is tough sledding.
by RiversQ on Jan 3, 2012 7:28 PM MST via mobile up reply actions
http://twitter.com/drunkoilersfan/status/154390459161128960
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
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