Oilers v. Avalanche - Isaiah 40:26-31
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 31, 2012 4:00 PM MST
in Game-Day Threads
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PrintSkate on your outdoor rink and look around.
Who created the ice and snow that are needed for this great game?
Each flake falls at its appointed time,
like a disciplined army that human wisdom is unable to predict.
The snow and ice are a symbol of God's great power and strength,
they are elegance unsurpassed yet have the power to destroy.
How can you say that God ignores your cries for help?
Are you unwilling to hear?
Do you refuse to understand?
Yahweh is eternal,
the Creator of the heavens and the earth!
There is no situation too small,
no game too meaningless to avoid his gaze.
He is the one who gives strength to the weak;
he is the one who gives power to the powerless.
Would you rather trust in youth?
Even the young grow tired or get injured or leave for money!
But those who trust in Yahweh will be delivered.
They will fly through the playoffs like eagles through the air,
they will resound with praises at every goal,
and rejoice with thanks at every save.
Colorado Avalanche (26-23-2) @ Edmonton Oilers (18-26-5)
Rexall Place, 7:30 p.m. MST
Television: Sportsnet Oilers
More analysis after the jump...
Visiting Team Scouting Report:
The Avalanche are a much better team this season than they've been for several years. Their Fenwick percentage with the score close is much improved, going from 47.6% last season and 46.9% the year before that to 51.3% this year. You'd think that, along with a top ten power play (at least in terms of PP%) would be good enough to cement them in playoff position. Unfortunately for the Avalanche, the goaltender that they spent their first-round pick acquiring has been awful. He's one of six goaltenders in the league to have played in at least 20 games and post a save percentage below .900. The Avalanche have made up for that somewhat with a 7-0 record in the shoot-out, but if they hope to make the playoffs, they'll either need to get better goaltending from Varlamov or give more starts to Jean-Sebastien Giguere.
Expected Lineups:
Edmonton Oilers (18-26-5):
Hall - Gagner - Eberle
Smyth - Horcoff - Hemsky
Petrell - Belanger - Jones
Cornet - Lander - Eager
Smid - Potter
Whitney - Petry
Peckham - Sutton
Dubnyk
Colorado Avalanche (26-23-2):
Mueller - Stastny - Jones
Landeskog - O'Reilly - Hejduk
Winnik - McClement - Kobasew
McLeod - Galiardi - Van Der Gulik
Hejda - O'Byrne
Quincey - Wilson
O'Brien - Johnson
Varlamov
By the Numbers:
- So Philippe Cornet is in the NHL and Magnus Paajarvi isn't. Definitely not something I would have guessed before the season, and even today, I was very surprised to hear that Cornet got the call. He does have 20 goals so far in the AHL, but he's also shooting 30.3%, which is awfully high, though I'm sure he's not complaining that he's been able to ride some sharp shooting all the way to the NHL. Tom Renney even talked about giving the young man power play time earlier today, presumably in front of the net, which is where he usually plays for the Barons. As a late-round pick, Cornet isn't going to get too many chances like this in his career. Here's hoping he can take advantage.
- Lennart Petrell is also up with the big club after a brief stint in Oklahoma. He didn't have much offense there either in terms of goals and assists, but he did register 2.78 shots per game in his nine AHL games, good enough for tops on the Barons so far this season.
- Ryan Whitney made his return to the lineup before the All-Star break, playing 18:27. That total was about three minutes less than any other defenseman on the team, and it's fair to say that Whitney looked somewhat limited out there. But it's not like he was so bad that he doomed the team when he was on the ice. The Oilers had six scoring chances for and seven against with Whitney on the ice in that one, and I'm still hopeful that with more consistent game action his play will improve substantially.
- I'm not about to argue that the Oilers are good team, but over their last ten games, they've gotten a bit of a raw deal during five-on-five play. They've earned 48.7% of the Fenwick events, 46.7% of the Corsi events, and 42.3% of the scoring chances. All of those numbers are bad, but all pale in comparison to 30.8%, which is their five-on-five goal percentage over that same stretch.
- Ryan Smyth, Shawn Horcoff, and Ales Hemsky are back together, and after several days of rest, I'd like to think that they'll be a formidable line tonight. In that we may have less than a dozen games left to enjoy watching Hemky play in Oiler silks, I plan to enjoy them. Let's hope these three can help to make that process just a little bit easier.
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77
No sign of a return of Gilbert then ?
by southampton viking on Jan 31, 2012 4:12 PM MST reply actions
incredibly low actually. penalty kicks are generally scored on 75-80% of the time
by DarrenV on Jan 31, 2012 7:29 PM MST via Android app up reply actions
In that we may have less than a dozen games left to enjoy watching Hemky play in Oiler silks, I plan to enjoy them. Let’s hope these three can help to make that process just a little bit easier.
Huh. That was more painful to read than I thought it would be. I grimaced halfway through
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
A fairly knowledgeable hockey friend of mine (Habs fan, poor bastard) was asking what was up with the talk of a Hemsky trade.
I started listing off the players we’d let go for nothing, and that’s when it sunk in. Could be real.
by eddy the lip on Jan 31, 2012 7:39 PM MST up reply actions
I would put money on Whitney never returning to his old self.
And I am not a betting man.
by DarrenV on Jan 31, 2012 7:35 PM MST via Android app reply actions
Hemsky
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9piQu2TDvEA#t=2m48s
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
by Derek Zona on Jan 31, 2012 7:38 PM MST reply actions 2 recs
Rec’d. Although I think Hemmer is taller than Alan Ladd…
by Chunklets on Jan 31, 2012 7:41 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
Damn you, that book made me cry. (I was fourteen. I’m manly enough not to be ashamed any more. Shane was a tough bastard.)
by eddy the lip on Jan 31, 2012 7:41 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
http://twitter.com/ThomsonCam/status/164538195906797568
I’m really looking forward to this post-ASG stretch for #Oilers. I am used to death marches now.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I may need some clarification. I’ve been Seeing Lander Good a lot lately. Not that I thought he was terrible, I was just indifferent.
by eddy the lip on Jan 31, 2012 7:47 PM MST up reply actions
I don’t know, he has the talent for the odd play here and there, but he should be in the AHL, where I believe he would be ripping it up.
The Edmonton Oilers, keeping opposition fans happy for the last 6 years
I agree. Let him be a top center in OKC. When Nuge comes back, Lander should go down.
by gvblackhawk on Jan 31, 2012 7:51 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
Someone here mentioned something about a handshake agreement for an NHL spot for this year in exchange for coming over as a possibility for his place on the roster.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Well if 2nd rounders can strong-arm the GM into getting a roster spot before they are ready then Tambellini should definitely be fired.
The Edmonton Oilers, keeping opposition fans happy for the last 6 years
all things considered (given how bad these oilers are) I don’t know that getting a guy like Lander a year of NHL experience is a bad thing.
by Passive Voice on Feb 1, 2012 9:32 AM MST up reply actions
put another way, I feel like Tambo’s real crime is building a(nother) dogshit team. given that dogshit team, having Lander in the NHL seems reasonable.
by Passive Voice on Feb 1, 2012 9:34 AM MST up reply actions
I speculated that awhile back. Was it corroborated? Anyway, I can’t think of another explanation.
by RiversQ on Jan 31, 2012 11:48 PM MST via iPhone app up reply actions
That’s a scary pp unit Colorado is icing.
The Edmonton Oilers, keeping opposition fans happy for the last 6 years
Colorado is excellent up front. The GM just went insane for a goalie.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Smid just schooled Mueller, nice play.
The Edmonton Oilers, keeping opposition fans happy for the last 6 years
I’d really like to see an announcer or two start acknowldging that.
by eddy the lip on Jan 31, 2012 7:57 PM MST up reply actions
Bright side to this one – Whitney is moving better tonight than at any point this season.
On the other hand, he’s still light years away from how he used to move.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Hall and Hemsky with a couple of good chances there, and now we get to take a look at the powerplay.
Heh. Hall was cocked for a second or two waiting on Hemsky to get the puck out of the corner and feed him.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Hey, lighten up! We can totally trade Hemsky now!
by eddy the lip on Jan 31, 2012 8:09 PM MST up reply actions
Belanger scored.
It’s 2012.
The Mayans were right.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
by Derek Zona on Jan 31, 2012 8:10 PM MST up reply actions 2 recs
Damn, Varlomov is really terrible.
The Edmonton Oilers, keeping opposition fans happy for the last 6 years
He’s the difference between a playoff spot and the pickle they’re in now.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Interesting situation for sure. To make the play-offs they’ll need to play Giguere more, and the Varlamov trade looks bad. Play Varlamov and miss the play-offs and and no 1st round draft pick, which again makes the trade look bad.
These are the type of moves, which get GM’s in trouble.
The Edmonton Oilers, keeping opposition fans happy for the last 6 years
That was just weird. What I saw was Dubnyk grabbing (Avalanche forward)‘s ankle, said forward then pivoting and shooting the puck into Dubnyk’s body rather than the net.
No dissing on DD, but that just looked odd…
by eddy the lip on Jan 31, 2012 8:14 PM MST up reply actions
If he and Gilbert can take the toughs, the Oilers only need two more top 4 D!
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Andrew Cogliano with two already in Phoenix
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Completely Off-Topic
This has nothing to do with the Oilers, or hockey at all for that matter, but it’s too excellent not to share. It’s a letter from an emancipated slave to his former master, written after the aforementioned master asked the slave to come back and work on his farm.
I’m not 100% sure it’s a genuine letter, although it definitely dates from the 1860s. It’s good fun though!
I saw that….extremely interesting. Also, apparently genuine enough to be used in the syllabus of several US universities. Word on the street is that the names mentioned appear in the census.
Personally, I just think it’s too good a story not to be true.
by eddy the lip on Jan 31, 2012 8:33 PM MST up reply actions
Ah, here we go.
More info in the comments as well.
by eddy the lip on Jan 31, 2012 8:48 PM MST up reply actions
He’s got no ability on the rush against. A deer in headlights is complimentary.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Yeah, he just stood there and watched Mueller park himself in front of the net. Didn’t attempt to box out or tie up the stick. Awful.
It’s been a problem all year. He just freezes when he’s defending a rush against.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
http://twitter.com/kswensrude/status/164545816676147200
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I love that line. Hall and Hemsky need a little bit of sobriety.
by eddy the lip on Jan 31, 2012 8:40 PM MST up reply actions
Well according to the Colorado announcers, up to 15 Oilers could be in play at the trade deadline.
The Edmonton Oilers, keeping opposition fans happy for the last 6 years
Do any of them have the initials ST or KL?
by eddy the lip on Jan 31, 2012 8:48 PM MST up reply actions
Just think how good our AHL team will be!!!
The Edmonton Oilers, keeping opposition fans happy for the last 6 years
by OilLeak on Jan 31, 2012 8:50 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
Varlamov gives up rebounds like another Russian goaltender I know.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Dammit, Whitney caught staring at the puck again there. He’s had a nasty habit of that since he came back.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
That defense pairing has been hammered on this period. Interesting to see what their corsi’s are after the game.
Oilers are -6 right now
Potter is -11
Whitney is -12
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
He’s forgotten what the puck looks like.
The Edmonton Oilers, keeping opposition fans happy for the last 6 years
I don’t think so – he’s staring that sucker down like he thinks he’s Andrew Cogliano in the defensive zone.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Thousand yard stare.
They’ll all have it soon enough.
by eddy the lip on Jan 31, 2012 8:57 PM MST up reply actions
That Stastny turnover is the reason I don’t like setting up an attacker in the middle of the ice when the puck is high. They have to face the puck carrier and are prime for a steal when the puck comes to them.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Nashville was trailing 4-1 in their game with 11 minutes to go, and ended up winning 5-4 in regulation.
Yeah, too bad Minnesota is so injured.
Injuries clearly at fault for that collapse.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
by Derek Zona on Jan 31, 2012 9:03 PM MST up reply actions 4 recs
Quite the breakdown going on over at the Wilderness, haha.
The Edmonton Oilers, keeping opposition fans happy for the last 6 years
Ha. The Wilderness guys love you!!
by gvblackhawk on Jan 31, 2012 9:18 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
Wow. Sutton lets his man walk to the net, and on the other end, the Oilers finally catch another team in a bad change.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Hall beat up again. This time O’Byrne.
Hall:Avs
::
Hemsky:Flames
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Yessir. They’ve skipped him a time or two in the rotation.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Even still, that’s a pretty nice spot. If I was Paajarvi, I’d be flabbergasted.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 31, 2012 9:32 PM MST up reply actions
If this was a Harlequin novel, there’d be a sword pointed reckoning coming.
by eddy the lip on Jan 31, 2012 9:35 PM MST up reply actions
I have no idea what’s going on. Paajarvi is the new Brodziak.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Amazing work by Stastny on the forecheck just prior to that.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AsId-qVIb4#t=01m24s
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I’ve been avoiding that link forever, and now (bored) I discover it’s a link to The Breeders.
I can be happy.
by eddy the lip on Jan 31, 2012 9:34 PM MST up reply actions
That goal was just. So easy.
Terrible rebound from Varlamov, but nice pass from Hall to enter the zone and credit Hemsky for putting it on net.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
You could tell that Dubnyk wanted that first shot back as soon as he put it back out into the slot. Of course, Horcoff probably should have picked up Landeskog there.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
The entire team played like Potter on that rush.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
It was so bad that Quinn forgot what the score was.
by TakeoutArtist on Jan 31, 2012 9:41 PM MST up reply actions
Ryan Jones is back to being the guy always chasing the play.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Will have to take your word for it, Sportsnet’s feed has gone kaput. And now they’ve put up the Colorado feed.
by TakeoutArtist on Jan 31, 2012 9:43 PM MST up reply actions
Hemmed in during the last five minutes with Cornet, Lander, and Petrell stuck in the defensive zone. And it’s not even preseason!
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 31, 2012 9:50 PM MST reply actions 1 recs
Unfortunately it’s old hat for the Oilers.
by TakeoutArtist on Jan 31, 2012 9:52 PM MST up reply actions
Hemsky’s playing so well. Going out with a bang.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Stop it. Soon I’m going to be siding with the Phillistines.
by eddy the lip on Jan 31, 2012 9:52 PM MST up reply actions
Best. Cheer. Ever.
Your hot-delivery fatted calf is on the way.
by eddy the lip on Jan 31, 2012 9:54 PM MST up reply actions 2 recs
Why didn’t Renney call the timeout? Wtf
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Horcoff won the faceoff and Smid gets beat to the punch.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
One victory closer to a Steve Tambellini contract extension!
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
3 straight nice outings for Dubnyk, and his teammates did enough on the good side of the ledger. I was happy to see the Oilers come off a rest and play with at least a bit of jump – that hasn’t always happened this season.
I am ridiculously excited about winning a game that was earned. That was nice.
Fatted calves all ’round!
by eddy the lip on Jan 31, 2012 10:02 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
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