Oilers v. Avalanche - Psalm 30:8-12
by Scott Reynolds on Feb 17, 2012 4:30 PM MST
in Game-Day Threads
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Printwe begged you for mercy saying,
"What is there to gain from our misery?
Are you trying to make us bitter?
If we refuse, will fans of any other team praise you?
Will they rise up to tell of your faithfulness?
Hear us, O Yahweh, and have mercy;
listen to our desperate pleas.
our gallows humor into real joy;
give us reason to sing your praises,
and we will never be silent!
O Yahweh, great God of Edmonton,
free us from incompetence and we will give you thanks forever!"
Colorado Avalanche (28-26-4) @ Edmonton Oilers (22-28-6)
Rexall Place, 7:30 p.m. MST
Television: Sportsnet West
More analysis after the jump...
Visiting Team Scouting Report:
The Oilers last played the Avalanche on January 31st. Before that game, the Avalanche were 9th in the Western Conference, just one point back of Minnesota in 8th. But they lost to the Oilers, and then went 2-2-2 in their six next games. A couple of other teams banked a bunch of points over that same stretch (Phoenix and Calgary in particular), and now the Avalanche are down to 11th in the Conference, five points back of Los Angeles and Phoenix who are tied for 7th and 8th. Also working against them is the split of home and road games. Of the eight teams vying for three spots, the Avalanche rank near the bottom of the list:
That certainly makes Calgary's bid for a playoff spot look pretty good (they're currently 9th), especially because the Flames have been so good at home (16-8-2), which only makes things tougher on the Avalanche.
Expected Lineups:
Edmonton Oilers (22-28-6):
Hall - Gagner - Eberle
Paajarvi - Horcoff - Hemsky
Smyth - Belanger - Jones
Eager - Lander - Petrell
Whitney - Gilbert
Smid - Petry
Barker - Sutton
Dubnyk
Colorado Avalanche (28-26-4):
Jones - Stastny - Hejduk
Landeskog - O'Reilly - Olver
Winnik - McClement - Porter
McLeod - Van der Gulik - Kobasew
Hejda - O'Byrne
Quincey - Johnson
O'Brien - Wilson
Varlamov
By the Numbers:
- The Edmonton Oilers have four of the worst forty Corsi performers in the league among players with at least ten games played: Lennart Petrell (-25.7/60; 3rd worst), Cam Barker (-18.4/60; 21st), Ryan Whitney (-16.1/60; 32nd), and Anton Lander (-15.5/60; 36th). Lander and Barker are in a group of six in that bottom forty who make the list despite starting more often in the offensive zone. The others are Devante Smith-Pelly, George Parros, Eric Boulton, and Rod Pelley. So basically, a couple of overwhelmed rookies, a couple of one-dimensional goons, plus Barker and Pelley.
- The worst Avalanche player on the list is Ryan O`Byrne (-8.5; 142nd), but he has taken 65.1% of his end-zone faceoffs in the defensive zone while playing mostly on one of the top two defensive pairings, so that number is actually pretty good.
- 175 players have taken at least 100 shots so far this season in the NHL. Jordan Eberle is one of them with 122. He also has the highest shooting percentage at 20.5%. Since 2005-06, just 11 players have finished a season with at least 100 shots and a shooting percentage better than Eberle's. Five of those seasons came in 2005-06 when there were more power play shots than usual, but the post-lockout record belongs to Mike Ribeiro who shot 25.2% on 107 shots in 2007-08. The all-time record belongs to Charlie Simmer who shot 32.7% on 171 shots in 1980-81.
- Six and a half of the best thirteen shooting percentage seasons happened with the Oilers. Jari Kurri has three, Craig Simpson one and a half (he spent the last part of one of those seasons with Pittsburgh), Wayne Gretzky one, and Esa Tikkanen one.
- The Avalanche have a shot differential of +1.9 per game, good enough to tie for 8th in the league. They're also the only team in the top ten not currently in playoff position. The Oilers are currently 29th with a shot differential of -4.6 per game, which is just slightly better than the Minnesota Wild's -4.7.
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Khabby Out?
I could have sworn I saw Khabby penciled in earlier, I like the switch seeing as Khabby spent the first two minutes of the Leaf game asleep in the net…this game is winnable, imho.
The all-time record belongs to Charlie Simmer who shot 32.7% on 171 shots in 1980-81.
That’s just a ridiculous number. It’s been remarked on before, but man there were some bad goalies around in the early 80s.
For a big chuck of that Ribeiro season he was around 40%.
In theory, there is little difference between practice and theory, but in practice there is!
Tactical contributor to the Copper & Blue and just as boring on the twitters... @dawgbone98
Hey look, the Wild suck. Shocking.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
It’s cause they’re hurt.
In theory, there is little difference between practice and theory, but in practice there is!
Tactical contributor to the Copper & Blue and just as boring on the twitters... @dawgbone98
Of course. If they were healthy, they’d be top 4.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Hey, there’s only about 16 teams in the league who can make the playoffs without getting .930 goaltending… lay off them.
In theory, there is little difference between practice and theory, but in practice there is!
Tactical contributor to the Copper & Blue and just as boring on the twitters... @dawgbone98
.930 doesn’t matter. They believe in their 1/8 pole Jack Adams winning coach!
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I’m really hoping the Oilers finish ahead of them in the standings, if only to see some heads explode.
Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.
by Ben Johnston on Feb 17, 2012 7:41 PM MST up reply actions
That’s silly. But them finishing in the lottery isn’t. They’ve sucked since October.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
It’s unlikely, but with 25 games to go, the Oilers are 9 points back with 1 game in hand, and the Wild are 4-10-3 since the start of the year. It could happen.
Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.
by Ben Johnston on Feb 17, 2012 7:51 PM MST up reply actions
The WIld are one of the worst teams in the league since I first said they were one of the worst teams in the league
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I only show up for the game 3 minutes after face off.
by eddy the lip on Feb 17, 2012 7:43 PM MST up reply actions
Barker punched him while Peckham was sleeping
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
by Derek Zona on Feb 17, 2012 7:46 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
That makes it sound unsportsmanlike. Peckham was awake when Barker started chasing him.
by eddy the lip on Feb 17, 2012 7:48 PM MST up reply actions 2 recs
we all could use a good laugh.
The Edmonton Oilers, keeping opposition fans happy for the last 6 years
Early penalty troubles here. While I have a lot more faith in the PK than I did last season, this is not a good sign.
This is what happens when Barker and Sutton are in your top 6.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
QUALGRIT? Games run?
Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.
by Ben Johnston on Feb 17, 2012 7:52 PM MST up reply actions
Avalanche players with names starting with “Q”.
There’s been one.
by eddy the lip on Feb 17, 2012 7:53 PM MST up reply actions
Ha ha…no, really, what was it?
Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.
by Ben Johnston on Feb 17, 2012 7:54 PM MST up reply actions
Hey, they even gave the stats guy’s name! I tell nothing but truth.
by eddy the lip on Feb 17, 2012 7:56 PM MST up reply actions
…
Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.
by Ben Johnston on Feb 17, 2012 7:56 PM MST up reply actions
The next time I hear someone complain about the quality of TSN or CBC’s commentary, I’m going to punch them right in the face.
Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.
by Ben Johnston on Feb 17, 2012 7:57 PM MST up reply actions
Or pull their Minnesota jersey over their head.
by eddy the lip on Feb 17, 2012 7:58 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
Oh, what the FUCK.
Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.
by Ben Johnston on Feb 17, 2012 8:03 PM MST up reply actions
Should really register behindthenut.ca and track these…
by eddy the lip on Feb 17, 2012 7:55 PM MST up reply actions
Serious question. Is there a worse player than Barker in the NHL who actually plays meaningful minutes for a team? I guess you could argue goons like Hordichuk are worse, but they’re not on the ice long enough to hurt their team much.
He’s the worst player on the Oilers. He’s worse than Khabibulin.
Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.
by Ben Johnston on Feb 17, 2012 8:05 PM MST up reply actions
Cam Barker is the worst non-goon in the NHL. It’s not close.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Has been for about six games now.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Don’t worry guys, Ryan Rishaug was on Gregor’s show this afternoon and told us that Barker used to be really good in the NHL. Just needs a run of 3 good games to find a suitor to want him as a depth defender for the playoffs.
To be fair, it’s possible (maybe even likely) that one of the ~22 GMs whose teams still have a shot are silly enough to like Barker.
by Passive Voice on Feb 17, 2012 8:25 PM MST up reply actions
Ryan Rishaug was on Gregor’s show this afternoon and told us that Barker used to be really good in the NHL.
Another journalist who needs sources to do his job.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Dubnyk looked slow on that one, the puck was almost in the net before he slid over.
The Edmonton Oilers, keeping opposition fans happy for the last 6 years
In Colorado’s net.
Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.
by Ben Johnston on Feb 17, 2012 8:48 PM MST up reply actions
Normally it wouldn’t be, but Barker’s on the ice.
Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.
by Ben Johnston on Feb 17, 2012 8:49 PM MST up reply actions
The highlight was Barker aiming carefully and shooting the puck about 20 feet into the air at the end.
Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.
by Ben Johnston on Feb 17, 2012 8:52 PM MST up reply actions
Man I wish we had Ryan O’Reilly, I can’t believe he was drafted 33rd overall in 2009.
The Edmonton Oilers, keeping opposition fans happy for the last 6 years
by OilLeak on Feb 17, 2012 8:47 PM MST reply actions 1 recs
I loved the bit where Hall charged in, shot the puck, and went after his own rebound at top speed. That kid is awesome.
Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.
Wasn’t it the last game he did that, then backhanded it in? Just crazy fast.
by eddy the lip on Feb 17, 2012 9:13 PM MST up reply actions
Time for my favourite bad song ever.
Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.
by Ben Johnston on Feb 17, 2012 8:55 PM MST up reply actions
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2H5uWRjFsGc
Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.
by Ben Johnston on Feb 17, 2012 8:59 PM MST up reply actions
Or maybe not… :-(
Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.
by Ben Johnston on Feb 17, 2012 8:58 PM MST up reply actions
Actually, the NLL is a lot of fun to watch live. The players beat the hell out of each other.
Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.
by Ben Johnston on Feb 17, 2012 8:58 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
It’s a great sport! Although I wish they wouldn’t play music while the play is actually going on (do they still do that?).
Yeah, but to be honest, I like it for the spectacle, not the sport, so it doesn’t bother me.
Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.
by Ben Johnston on Feb 17, 2012 9:01 PM MST up reply actions
that doesn’t necessarily surprise me, but I’m only reminded of its existence every, like, six months.
by Passive Voice on Feb 17, 2012 9:01 PM MST up reply actions
Well, this one isn’t out of reach yet, but my goodness the Oilers have to get some pressure going on Varlamov.
They’ve had some decent chances. Varlamov’s been scrambling a few times.
Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.
by Ben Johnston on Feb 17, 2012 9:22 PM MST up reply actions
I haven’t been able to pay terribly close attention this game (apparently paying sufficient attention to your better half is more important :) ), but there’s been a bit of struggle going on. Good chances, little sustained.
by eddy the lip on Feb 17, 2012 9:24 PM MST up reply actions
So, we’re special? :)
Still can’t get over how good our special teams our, and how much other suck we’ve had.
by eddy the lip on Feb 17, 2012 9:31 PM MST up reply actions
There’s so much squandered potential. If we had a real starting goaltender, and a pair of top-four defensemen, and a credible third-line centre…
Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.
by Ben Johnston on Feb 17, 2012 9:33 PM MST up reply actions
Hall is so much fun to watch. He’s got crazy moves.
As the season progresses, it seems like he’s picking his chances for that, too. At the beginning, seemed like half the time he’d try something like that, he’d try and drive through the entire other team, and cough it up. Just by my eye, but I think it’s been an educational season for him.
by eddy the lip on Feb 17, 2012 9:30 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
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