Oilers v. Blackhawks - Mark 1:29-34
by Scott Reynolds on Feb 2, 2012 4:30 PM MST
in Game-Day Threads
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PrintWhen Tambellini left the draft with Lowe and MacGregor, they came back home to Edmonton. Now, the Oilers were a repulsive team, and the whole city was very concerned. So Tambellini went to the fans, and spoke encouraging words to them about the team improving, and about following a plan. The whole city was reassured and prepared a feast in Tambellini's honor.
When January arrived, it was clear that the team had been cursed by demons and struck down by disease. The whole town gathered to ask Tambellini what needed to be done. So Tambellini went out to them and said, "Do I want a lottery pick? No.... but.... the cure for any sickness is a first overall pick; and if the team has a demon, it can be cast out by the power of a first overall pick. What we need to do now is get another first overall pick. And then all will be well."
Chicago Blackhawks (29-15-7) @ Edmonton Oilers (19-26-5)
Rexall Place, 7:30 p.m. MST
Television: TSN
More analysis after the jump...
Visiting Team Scouting Report:
Like last season, the Chicago Blackhawks are one of the better teams in the Western Conference. Unlike last season, they're pretty much guaranteed a spot in the playoffs now. So what does this team need the most at the deadline? I'd say help between the pipes should be the top consideration. Both Corey Crawford and Ray Emery have been less than average so far this season, and neither has the track record to suggest a bounce-back is imminent. The only trouble is finding a decent fit. It depends on who's selling, but of the goalies likely to be available to them, Evgeni Nabokov and Josh Harding probably make the most sense. The most hilarious option would be a team like Tampa Bay acquiring Cory Schneider and then flipping him to the Hawks. At any rate, the club really could use an upgrade.
Expected Lineups:
Edmonton Oilers (19-26-5):
Hall - Horcoff - Hemsky
Cornet - Gagner - Eberle
Smyth - Belanger - Jones
Petrell - Lander - Eager
Smid - Petry
Whitney - Potter
Peckham - Sutton
Dubnyk
Chicago Blackhawks (29-15-7):
Stalberg - Toews - Kane
Sharp - Morrison - Hossa
Shaw - Bolland - Kruger
Brunette - Mayers - Frolik
Keith - Seabrook
Hjalmarsson - Leddy
Montador - O'Donnell
Crawford
By the Numbers:
- Devan Dubnyk is having an absolutely incredible season, and has most definitely exceeded my expectations. He is one of just twelve goaltenders in the league that has faced at least 450 shots at even strength and come out with a save percentage of .930 or better. That also brings him up to .919 for his career. Yeah, he's struggled big-time on the PK this year - his .828 save percentage in that situation is fifth-worst among goalies who have faced at least 100 short-handed shots - but the sample there is much smaller. With Dubnyk's contract up at the end of the season, I think the Oilers are in a strong position to get good value. I'd be happy to see a short-term deal at low money (one or two years at about $1.5M), and even happier with a longish-term deal at middling money (something like four years at no more than $2.5M). I don't know that Dubnyk would be interested in the longer deal, but I've got to think that it would be tough to leave a $10M deal on the table.
- Philippe Cornet earned both an assist and a second NHL game with his play against the Colorado Avalanche. That puts him in a tie for 4,886th in career regular season scoring and makes him one of 5,247 players to score at least one point during an NHL regular season. That alone is a pretty amazing accomplishment, and something that no one can take away from him.
- Ales Hemsky is on pace for his worst offensive season since the lockout. Some of that is because of reduced power play time, but his even strength points per game has also reached a new low. After posting years of 0.41, 0.48, 0.55, 0.49, 0.64, and 0.66, Hemsky is down to 0.35 this season.
- It's unbelievable to me that Nick Leddy is turning out to be a pretty good hockey player. At 20 years old, he's already third on the Blackhawks in time on ice with 22:39 per game, and is averaging almost half a point per game. So where did he come from? The Chicago Blackhawks acquired him along with Kim Johnsson during the 2009-10 season from the Minnesota Wild for Cam Barker. Leddy was born in Minnesota, was drafted by the Wild out of a Minnesota high school program, and was playing at the University of Minnesota at the time of the trade. In that Johnsson was a good defenseman at the time (he was felled by a concussion shortly after the trade), I just assumed that Leddy must have been the bustiest of first-round busts to get included in that deal. Nope!
- In case you forgot, Cam Barker stinks. Of course, you wouldn't know it from his team-leading +3 rating. Hopefully Barker can put a few good games together when he gets back in the lineup so that the Oilers can trade him to the Wild at the deadline for Mikael Granlund and Jonas Brodin.
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Scott, this verse was brilliant.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Out of the frying pan and into the fire!
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I’d be happy to see a short-term deal at low money (one or two years at about $1.5M), and even happier with a longish-term deal at middling money (something like four years at no more than $2.5M). I don’t know that Dubnyk would be interested in the longer deal, but I’ve got to think that it would be tough to leave a $10M deal on the table.
Those are both incredibly rich deals for a guy with 78 games.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
It is, but St. Louis signed Elliot at 1.6 over 2 seasons.
The Edmonton Oilers, keeping opposition fans happy for the last 6 years
I’m pretty confident that he can be average. The longer term deal in particular has a lot of upside if he’s better than that.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Feb 2, 2012 11:17 PM MST up reply actions
That left to right move seemed to take for damned ever, but her got there.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Never been the quickest lateral moving goaltender, but getting better.
The Edmonton Oilers, keeping opposition fans happy for the last 6 years
I know. I actually hate that behind the goal view of Dubnyk for that reason.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I know. I actually hate that behind the goal view of Dubnyk for that reason.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Jamal Mayers, guy who shouldn’t even be in the league
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I have at least one otherwise intelligent Blackhawks fan friend who swears by Jamal Mayers.
by Passive Voice on Feb 2, 2012 8:18 PM MST up reply actions
The little things like get absolutely mauled on the ice?
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
The Hawks are playing like a team who remember getting manhandled in their last match with the Oilers.
Only demonstrably core players should get contracts longer than two years.
A four year contract for a backup goaltender is silly.
Seems like he could be a starter. We don’t have enough data to make a call there, but that would be the upside on it from my perspective. If you wait until you know, then you probably have to pay.
The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.
by Scott Reynolds on Feb 2, 2012 11:20 PM MST up reply actions
It’s great that they’re trading Hemsky and Hall is growing into Hemsky.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
This sounds like a justification for the deal…
by Passive Voice on Feb 2, 2012 8:12 PM MST up reply actions
Top 4 defenseman.
The Edmonton Oilers, keeping opposition fans happy for the last 6 years
by OilLeak on Feb 2, 2012 8:05 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
I’d love to know how he passed the damn fitness test.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I’ve read in a couple of places that he was doing a lot of fitness/dietary work while he was out injured.
Yeah, obviously. Looks like Cam Cogliano out there. This town’s media needs an enema.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
This has to be the least mobile defense ever.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Aside from the first minute, they certainly appear to have found some more energy.
by TakeoutArtist on Feb 2, 2012 8:53 PM MST up reply actions
http://twitter.com/DeanHrehirchuk/status/165275884402638849
I… I don’t know what to say
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Brent Seabrook looks like Steve MacIntyre
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.
Gagner’s pass was insane. He took a glance over his right shoulder as he went to the corner to get the puck. Almost fumbled that too.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Hall had 3 turnovers in the first period – will he get the Hemsky treatment by the media?
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Still waiting to see where he is after the deadline to see who my team is.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
If they move him, they had better damn well be getting a sold d-man in return. Established NHL d-man.
Marcus Kruger just beat both Corey Potter and Ryan Whitney in succession in puck battles first up along the side boards with Potter, then down behind the net with Whitney.
Marcus Kruger. By himself.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I think the ref only called it because Barker’s elbow was up near Shaw’s head.
by TakeoutArtist on Feb 2, 2012 8:59 PM MST up reply actions
Agreed, but it was a terrible call.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
What was Sutton doing there? He was staring at the puck.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
“Have you ever really looked at the puck? Like, really looked at it, man? It’s freaky. Oh hey, that Kane guy has it again…”
by Chunklets on Feb 2, 2012 8:54 PM MST up reply actions 2 recs
Excellent individual effort by Belanger to get that clear. Took the man to the ice, spun to deflect the puck and spun the other way to clear.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Ryan Smyth just pulled off a Penner like screen.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
The man can play the pivot with decent linemates. We’ve known this for three years.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
by Derek Zona on Feb 2, 2012 9:01 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
http://twitter.com/dprime_/status/165284205281017856
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Especially if one of those forwards is Ales Hemsky. A really sloppy shot selection set that whole chain of events in motion.
How was it awful? It got through, though partially blocked.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
He needed to drive that shot with authority. Those muffins are easy to block. He’s been doing it all year. Probably because he has so little shoulder strength, but still…
Unless Hemsky has stick handled through three guys and deked the goaltender out of his jock, and there is an empty net, he doesn’t care. Shooting is for wusses!
Stauffer was talking about 4+ years at $5M/yr. I honestly don’t know what GM would be stupid enough to go for that given what we’ve seen this year.
You have to be kidding. The guy is a .9 p/g player
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
No seriously. What in Hemsky’s game have you seen over the past year that would lead you to believe he’s worth those kinds of bucks?
$5M guys show up and play hard every night. And they’re on the positive side of the scoresheet almost every night.
I dunno. Maybe as Oilers fans we have the Hemsky googly eyes.
Hemsky’s never given effort. Never laid it out for the worst franchise in the league year after year. Ever. Never ruined his body by going to the tough areas night after night.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
by Derek Zona on Feb 2, 2012 9:33 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
Yeah. I get that. But based on recent history, my argument stands. He’s a shadow of the player you wax poetically on. What idiot pays the big bucks for a player like that?
Based on 37 games when he was rushed back from injury, versus five years.
Remember when the fans and media trashed Souray for 37 games in an injury-riddled season?
Remember when the fans and media said he was done because of 37 games?
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Potter did it again. 2 on 1 against and he defends no man’s land.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
The worst defender against rushes since…
…I don’t know.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
TSN is just ripping on Hemsky.
The Edmonton Oilers, keeping opposition fans happy for the last 6 years
And pumping up Barker’s tires. I’m sure Tambellini is just eating it up.
by TakeoutArtist on Feb 2, 2012 9:20 PM MST up reply actions
And Gagner finishes it with the goal
That should increase our chances for getting that top pair D-man, eh?
Not so much netted one as Crawford disappeared on the shot.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I just saw the replay. Complete whiff on the knuckleball.
by TakeoutArtist on Feb 2, 2012 9:35 PM MST up reply actions
4 years 25 million dollars for barker.
The Edmonton Oilers, keeping opposition fans happy for the last 6 years
Not what I want, but Tambellini on the other hand…
The Edmonton Oilers, keeping opposition fans happy for the last 6 years
After hearing Aaron Ward spewing praise upon Barker and his importance to the Oilers going forward, you can pretty well count on it now.
by TakeoutArtist on Feb 2, 2012 9:37 PM MST up reply actions
Right after getting turnstiled in the other end.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I was going to make a similar comment, Chunk. Sam’s hat trick goal was so epic that it crashed SBnation. I was just about to post a comment to speculate that Sam was closing in on the team record for points in a game, but I never thought he’d actually tie it and even have the opportunity to break it.
by TakeoutArtist on Feb 3, 2012 7:15 AM MST up reply actions
What a performance from Gagner
I heard an interesting bit of trivia. The last guy to get 8 points in a game was Lemieux in April, 1989.
Sam Gagner wasn’t born yet.
:D
First guy in 23 years, and he did it in 2 periods… I’d want to know the details of the other 8+ point games, but I’d say that’s one of the finest 40 minutes of hockey that anyone has ever had.
I just read a story on Fox Sports that is reporting that Lemieux accomplished the feat vs. New Jersey on Dec 31, 1988. Not that Fox should ever be relied on for accurate news.
by TakeoutArtist on Feb 3, 2012 7:20 AM MST up reply actions
And a quick search reveals that the last time Lemieux did it was in fact April 25, 1989 in the playoffs vs. Philadelphia. The last regular season occurrence was Lemieux’s performance on Dec 1, 1988, which was also the same game in which Lemieux scored 5 goals, each one in a different way (ES, PP, SH, EN, and a penalty shot). While not an official NHL record, Lemieux is the only player to have done this.
by TakeoutArtist on Feb 3, 2012 7:40 AM MST up reply actions
Congratulations to Sam Gagner!
It is amazing how one of these nights can get that spark of hope reignited……..now trade him for a 3rd round pick and a mediocre defense prospect!
Hall-Gagner-Eberle for the rest of the season. That line is ridiculous. I’d love to see MPS back up playing with RNH and Omark in a protected role. Would like to keep Hemsky but realize that that will be very unlikely. Sam’s fantastic night likely put the final nail in the coffin for Hemsky’s time in Edmonton (as some may feel, however incorrectly, that his presence in the lineup is now less important).
Tonight was also a real wake up call for a lot of fans as to what Gagner can bring to the table when paired with top players in his natural position. Several cynics/skeptics/haters will argue that this was a one-off fluke. But you just don’t score 8 points in a game without ‘next level’ talent…especially in the modern era of the NHL. The TSN panel was talking after the game (of course!) and all agreed that this singular performance does impact a player’s immediate value. I am convinced that the Oilers have the top 2 centermen they need going forward and should keep Gagner.
If the management can do their job properly and get the defense sorted out, the Oilers will be a playoff team next year.
Thanks again Sam.
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