Oilers v. Blues - Mark 1:7-8
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 5, 2012 4:30 PM MST
in Game-Day Threads
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PrintNugent-Hopkins announced: "There is someone coming who is even greater than me, so much so that I would consider myself unworthy to even bend down and tie his skates. I have dazzled you with skill, but I must leave for a time so that the one who is coming soon will come to us and will bring the Holy Spirit with him!"
Edmonton Oilers (16-20-3) @ St. Louis Blues (22-12-5)
Scottrade Center, 6:00 p.m. MST
Television: Sportsnet Edmonton
More analysis after the jump...
Home Team Scouting Report:
I thought that this team would make the playoffs last season, but the team got horrendous goaltending (Ty Conklin posted an .891 even strength save percentage on over 400 shots), and that pushed them down the Western Conference standings. Now, this year the hockey gods have smiled on them, and Brian Elliott (of all people) is second in the NHL in even strength save percentage (.947) after a career of sub-par performances. That combined with veteran additions like Jason Arnott and Jamie Langenbrunner, as well as the successful return of David Perron from injury have made the Blues one of the top teams in the Western Conference. Unfortunately for them, they're one of three superb teams in their division, which likely means a very tough first-round date with either the Red Wings or Blackhawks when the playoffs finally arrive.
Expected Lineups:
Edmonton Oilers (16-20-3):
Hall - Gagner - Hemsky
Smyth - Belanger - Eberle
Lander - Horcoff - Jones
Eager - Green - Hartikainen
Smid - Potter
Peckham - Petry
Sutton - Teubert
Dubnyk
St. Louis Blues (22-12-5):
Perron - Backes - Stewart
D'Agostini - Berglund - Oshie
Sobotka - Arnott - Langenbrunner
Porter - Nichol - Crombeen
Colaiacovo - Pietrangelo
Jackman - Shattenkirk
Farichild - Polak
Halak
By the Numbers:
- Josh Green was -4 in his debut with the Oilers, which led some fans to wonder about Tom Renney's logic in line-matching and even Green's recall in the first place. In my view, there's plenty of room to wonder about Renney, but a lot less with regard to the recall if the Oilers are just taking the guy they think will play the best. Green has played a lot of games in the NHL, so he won't be put off by the speed of the game, and he actually leads the Barons (min. 10 GP) in points per game with 0.89.
- The other call-up, Teemu Hartikainen, still leads the Barons in shots per game with 2.83 so far this season. That's a big increase from last season when he registered 2.07 shots per game in 72 games during the regular season and playoffs.
- I mentioned in the last game-day thread that Ales Hemsky has lost a lot of power play time relative to previous seasons with an average of just 2:24 per game, by far his lowest total since the lockout. That being the case, you might expect him to pick up some extra minutes at even strength, but that hasn't been the case. Hemsky has averaged 14:23 in even strength ice time per game so far this year, which is very close to his average in each of the last four seasons (14:16; 14:08; 14:18; 14:31).
- Jordan Eberle has fallen into second place in the category of points per sixty minutes of five-on-five ice time. The big surprise for me is that Boston's Brad Marchand is the guy that passed him, but Marchand is having a fantastic season. He's got 31 points in 36 games and is second in the NHL with a +26 rating playing mostly alongside Tyler Seguin and Patrice Bergeron on a line that looks for tough matchups more than it avoids them.
- The league's +/- leader? Brad Marchand's linemate, Tyler Seguin, who's also having a fantastic year and has registered 33 points in 35 games playing on the wing, which is just a little bit ahead of Taylor Hall's 27 points in 31 games. If I had to pick one of the two players today, I'd still go with Hall, but at this point, I think it's fair to say that both teams have come out of the 2010 draft winners.
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I don’t know a whole lot about Nail but from what I’ve seen in interviews, etc…would he be a good fit in the dressing room? How would he handle losing many games…in a row….over and over?
by SoCalOil on Jan 5, 2012 5:31 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
Certainly it’s way better than “poisoning the well”
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
This is Kevin Lowe’s legacy.
by RiversQ on Jan 5, 2012 6:31 PM MST via iPhone app up reply actions 1 recs
Beauty!
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 5, 2012 6:25 PM MST up reply actions
Josh Green was -4 in his debut with the Oilers, which led some fans to wonder about Tom Renney’s logic in line-matching and even Green’s recall in the first place.
Prodigal Oiler 2: The Greenening opened to very poor reviews the other night, but here’s hoping that a day off will have given both Green and Harski a chance to get their feet under them a bit.
And give Renney a chance to realize what he’s doing.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Hall is just so much easier to cheer for than Seguin. Hall is a winner and was worth every bloody loss we endured in ‘09-’10 to get him. If there was another Hall in this year’s draft, I would be content to sacrifice another half-season to get another player of his mettle (but only one more half-season).
Seguin is a good and effective hockey player who doesn’t get me out of my seat. End debate.
Look at Hemmer with his crusty, jammy high sticks.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I liked the drop pass from Hemsky to Hall. If those two work well together, we could have an incredible line for years. Or a couple of months. Whichever.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 5, 2012 6:26 PM MST up reply actions 2 recs
Eric Belanger should have to take a bag skate.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I like how Hall took off from the top of the zone after he tipped it there. Gretzky used to terrorize defensemen with that move.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I didn’t see his face, but I can only imagine his eyes were the size of cantaloupes.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 5, 2012 6:27 PM MST up reply actions
I was thinking Hall, but probably both.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 5, 2012 6:30 PM MST up reply actions
That was so familiar, yet so distant. Heh.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
The only time the puck gets into the Edmonton zone is when Hall-Gagner-Hemsky are on.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Just as I say that, Hartikainen with a lesson is behind the net play and looks up to dish to….
….yeah
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Ben Eager on the third line makes me cry.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Shots 8-1 and that reflects the tilt of the ice quite nicely.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Dubnyk will have to make 50 saves to win.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
That was a funny little play. Potter looked like he was going to give up the inside like he did in Minnesota then remembered he couldn’t do that at the last possible second.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
He’s really bad on those. He had another one against the Sabres and looked just as bad.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Ryan Smyth with the flying body block on Backes and then the reverse … chest lock.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Are the Oilers really the 2nd best powerplay team in the league? Imagine if we had a legitimate powerplay quarterback.
Depends what you mean by best. They have the second best shooting percentage five-on-four and the 24th best shot rate.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 5, 2012 6:39 PM MST up reply actions
Where do we rank in terms the traditional measure – pp goals scored / pp opportunities? Are we really the second most “efficient” powerplay in the league?
by John Chambers on Jan 5, 2012 6:42 PM MST up reply actions
They are indeed, which is another object lesson in percentages and shot rates. Looking to see what happened, the percentages are usually king. Looking to see what will happen, the shot rates are much more valuable.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 5, 2012 6:46 PM MST up reply actions
The sublime passes of RNH have accounted for a few first-shot scores. That accounts somewhat for the high scoring rate vs. the low shot rate. This trend will surely continue for the foreseeable future (but not for the next 3-4 weeks).
I think the shot count increases when we obtain a powerplay quarterback … if we see that in our lifetimes.
by John Chambers on Jan 5, 2012 7:04 PM MST up reply actions
That accounts somewhat for the high scoring rate vs. the low shot rate. This trend will surely continue for the foreseeable future
What odds are you giving that it will continue?
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
That ’Nuge will continue to make sick passes. This is a trend we will enjoy for some time.
by John Chambers on Jan 5, 2012 7:24 PM MST up reply actions
That was really awful. Need to get the shock collar off of Khabibulin’s neck and attach it to Dubnyk.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
This is like watching a wildlife directory and rooting for the broken wildebeest
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
When my parents were in Africa they saw a crocodile stalking some wildebeest, and one of the younger ones was struggling to get through the water. Apparently the women cheered for the wildebeest and the men cheered for the crocodile. All that to say, cheering for the Oilers helps us all to better understand maternal instincts. At least, that’s what I’ll tell my girlfriend the next time she tells me to turn the hockey game off.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 5, 2012 6:50 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
Was the little wildebeest wearing an 83 sweater?
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
by Derek Zona on Jan 5, 2012 7:04 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
And lucky to be in it at the same time.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Shoulder check that hit him at least partially in the head and came from the blind side.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 5, 2012 7:09 PM MST up reply actions
Yeah, I can see where Shanahan might take a look at that, particularly if he thinks the player was defenceless.
Won’t matter if he was defenceless. That will be a “intentionally targeting the head” suspension. 3 games.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
CANNONBALL!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AsId-qVIb4#t=01m24s
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Taylor Hall, from the point absolutely wire that top corner. Had to be 50 feet at least
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I love undeserved leads!
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 5, 2012 7:17 PM MST up reply actions
I’ll take nearly any lead at this point.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Dubnyk’s been amazing except for his walk to the boards.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Dubnyk went for a lazy summer’s evening walk to the far boards to play a puck. Seemed like he forgot he was in a hockey game. Gave the puck to the Blues, had to sprint back to the goal, went sliding through the crease as the puck went back the other way on him and in.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
He’s been ridiculously good except for that HUA
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Still can’t believe they gave him a major though.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 5, 2012 7:25 PM MST up reply actions
Gotta love Hitchcock.
“My fault on the first goal, I had the wrong guy out on the faceoff”
Amazing.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Hitch isn’t always that way. The guy is definitely a storyteller.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 5, 2012 7:24 PM MST up reply actions
I can’t believe the Blue Jackets fired him and kept Steve Mason.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 5, 2012 7:23 PM MST up reply actions
I can actually understand that to some extent, but even if you think that holding on Mason is a good idea, why fire Hitch?
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 5, 2012 7:34 PM MST up reply actions
My god Ales. Hold onto the damn puck man.
by David S on Jan 5, 2012 7:27 PM MST reply actions 1 recs
Gagner is getting robbed over and over.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
He’s been so good lately. That was excellent.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Crazy sequence. I was almost surprised that Eberle hit the mostly open net.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 5, 2012 7:31 PM MST up reply actions
I thought a Blues leg would fall off and block the shot.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Backes and Smyth really don’t like each other.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
So… how many twenty-shot periods have the Oilers had this year?
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
I don’t know, as many periods as they have had with over 10 min of PP time?
by RiversQ on Jan 5, 2012 7:48 PM MST via iPhone app up reply actions
Definitely not a good night for the stripes.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 5, 2012 7:37 PM MST up reply actions
Smyth was definitely high-sticked. But he also interfered with Perron.
He’s going to be public enemy #1 after this.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
That’s one of the silliest things I’ve read here.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Smid and Peckham on he ice at the same time? Not sure I like that.
The Edmonton Oilers - All we do is win!!
Apparently it was even more lopsided through two periods.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 5, 2012 8:09 PM MST up reply actions
Which means the Russians outshot them in the third. 39-4 Sweden through two and 12-11 Russia in the third.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 5, 2012 8:16 PM MST up reply actions
Well would you look at that
I turn the game on, and the opposition scores.
Some things never change this year.
Not a good start to the third.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 5, 2012 8:04 PM MST up reply actions
The Boston Bruins are now 147 goals for while allowing only 69. Those are ridiculous numbers.
The Edmonton Oilers - All we do is win!!
Might as well just hand them the Stanley Cup again this season.
The Edmonton Oilers - All we do is win!!
Nah. The thing about the playoffs is it’s essentially the tournament of small sample sizes.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Chris Butler was -7 tonight.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 5, 2012 8:14 PM MST up reply actions
I’m pretty sure it’s not you – it’s Lowe and Tambellini
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
They’ve killed a team for six years.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Why on Earth would DeBrusk think that Oshie was going to get an offsetting penalty there?
by RiversQ on Jan 5, 2012 8:07 PM MST via iPhone app reply actions
He’s a relentless homer that allows his bias to creep into almost every on-air sentence.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
One first-class goalie and two NHL D-men.
One first-class goalie and two NHL D-men.
One first-class goalie and two NHL D-men.
*Rocks back and forth in fetal position.
4th line on the ice with 14 to go.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
That doesn’t strike me as being particularly unusual during the regular season.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 5, 2012 8:13 PM MST up reply actions
If the Blues can keep Shattenkirk, Pietrangelo and Polak together for awhile, they’re going to be filthy.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
It’s like the Blues are on a power play.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Wow. Great rush by Eager… if only Hemsky showed that kind of commitment.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
I was mostly jesting. Seems like he’s been mostly his regular self. A few absolutely outstanding plays and a blunder or two that makes you want to spit nails mixed in with a bunch of shifts where you don’t notice much either way.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 5, 2012 8:24 PM MST up reply actions
Not sure what you mean. I feel like that’s been my experience watching him for years.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Jan 5, 2012 8:28 PM MST up reply actions
Fuck the world.
Manager at Vancouver Whitecaps and western Canadian soccer website Eighty Six Forever and infrequently-posting flunky at Edmonton Oilers blog The Copper & Blue.
Yeah I’m getting tired of him costing the Oilers games.
The Edmonton Oilers, keeping opposition fans happy for the last 6 years
The way he boarded Tom Gilbert was totally uncalled for.
Manager at Vancouver Whitecaps and western Canadian soccer website Eighty Six Forever and infrequently-posting flunky at Edmonton Oilers blog The Copper & Blue.
by Benjamin Massey on Jan 5, 2012 8:30 PM MST up reply actions
Apparently, Darren took over Carcillo’s mind and body and took matters into his own hands, or so the story goes
The Edmonton Oilers, keeping opposition fans happy for the last 6 years
7th rounder and a 5th defenseman
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I just realized.
Ladislav Smid is our best defenseman.
by DarrenV on Jan 5, 2012 8:25 PM MST reply actions 1 recs
I just realized.
FUCKING LOTTERY
Manager at Vancouver Whitecaps and western Canadian soccer website Eighty Six Forever and infrequently-posting flunky at Edmonton Oilers blog The Copper & Blue.
by Benjamin Massey on Jan 5, 2012 8:27 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
Lies. You knew we were lottery before this season started.
The Edmonton Oilers, keeping opposition fans happy for the last 6 years
I know gravity exists but there’s no replacement for the realization when you fall out of the airplane.
Manager at Vancouver Whitecaps and western Canadian soccer website Eighty Six Forever and infrequently-posting flunky at Edmonton Oilers blog The Copper & Blue.
by Benjamin Massey on Jan 5, 2012 8:32 PM MST up reply actions 3 recs
The penalty kills were not good.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I’m not sure why you’ve got it in for Hemsky tonight. He was extremely effective. His line was the only line generating anything at even strength.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
This game needs more
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmxcmpR1GQA#t=0m52s
Cannonball
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
4 posts for the Oilers. That’s silly.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Why isn’t Whitney on IR? If he’s consulting his doctors, he should be on IR.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
How so? He was tremendous tonight except for his walk.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
How many Stanley Cups has he won? Thought so.
Manager at Vancouver Whitecaps and western Canadian soccer website Eighty Six Forever and infrequently-posting flunky at Edmonton Oilers blog The Copper & Blue.
by Benjamin Massey on Jan 5, 2012 8:43 PM MST up reply actions
Defeat snatched from the iron grip of victory… Thank God I’ll never see this again since I have just gouged my eyeballs out of their freakin’ sockets. Now, what to do about my ears?
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