Oilers v. Flames - Mark 1:9-13
by Scott Reynolds on Feb 21, 2012 4:32 PM MST
in Game-Day Threads
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PrintWhen the Oilers came from the WHA, they were baptized into the glory of Lord Stanley. As each player looked up he saw the Holy Spirit coming down upon him in the form of champagne, and they heard a voice from heaven saying, "You are my team and I love you; with you I am always pleased."
After five such celebrations the Holy Spirit carried the team into the wilderness where they would reside for forty years, tempting fans yearly to abandon the love they had for their team. But God's angels were with them, helping them to endure.
Edmonton Oilers (22-30-6) @ Calgary Flames (28-22-9)
Scotiabank Saddledome, 7:00 p.m. MST
Television: Sportsnet West
More analysis after the jump...
Home Team Scouting Report:
When the Oilers played the Avalanche I mentioned that Calgary is in a very good spot relative to some of the other playoff contenders in the Western Conference because of their schedule. The Flames have a massive number of home games left!
The only team close to them by that measure is Minnesota, and the Wild just aren't very good. Overall, the Flames aren't very good either. Their Fenwick percentage with the score close is 46.9%, which is actually worse than the Oilers (47.3%). But the Flames, like most teams, are much better at home than they are on the road. There, their Fenwick percentage with the score close is 53.1%, good enough for seventh in the NHL. With that in mind, it looks to me like the Flames (along with the Blackhawks) have a very good chance of making the playoffs, which leaves just one more spot for the other six clubs.
Expected Lineups:
Edmonton Oilers (22-30-6):
Hall - Gagner - Eberle
Paajarvi - Horcoff - Hemsky
Smyth - Belanger - Eager
Petrell - Lander - Hordichuk
Whitney - Gilbert
Smid - Petry
Sutton - Potter
Dubnyk
Calgary Flames (28-22-9):
Tanguay - Jokinen - Iginla
Kostopoulos - Cammalleri - Comeau
Byron - Horak - Kolanos
Bouma - Stajan - Jackman
Bouwmeester - Butler
Giordano - Hannan
Brodie - Sarich
Kiprusoff
By the Numbers:
- When I saw that Krys Kolanos was in the Calgary lineup, the first thing I did was confuse him for Chris Kontos, which reminded me of Fernando Pisani and the spring of 2006. But we're not in 2006, and Fernando Pisani played a few games in Sweden before calling it a season, and with just 41 points in 144 NHL games at the age of 30, Krys Kolanos is no Chris Kontos.
- But on the good side of the ledger, Rem Murray is still going strong with HC Innsbruck of the Austrian National League, which is the second-highest pro league in Austria. Murray led the league in regular season goals with 31 in 32 games, and finished second in points with 68.
- Another notable former Oiler who spent time in the Austrian National League is Michael Henrich who finished fourth in league scoring in 2004-05. Henrich is now playing in Italy's top league with Asiago. Henrich's 34 points in 35 games is good enough for 22nd in league scoring, but is down from last season when he finished eighth in the league with 49 points in 40 games and helped Asiago to a Serie A championship.
- That 1998 draft was pretty disappointing for the Oilers, but there are still five Oiler picks playing pro hockey. Henrich is playing in Italy; Alex Henry is in his fourth season with the Hamilton Bulldogs (and is earning $200,000 to play there); Oleg Smirnov is having an unproductive season (two points in twenty games) with HK Ryazan of the Russian Major League (VHL); Maxim Spiridonov is a pretty good player in the KHL (14 points in 36 games this season, but he had 50 in 56 in 2009-10); and Shawn Horcoff is the much-maligned captain of the Edmonton Oilers, a team-worst -20 on the season and now at -43 for his Oiler career (regular seaosn), which clocks in at 10th worst in Oiler history.
- That last point makes Horcoff sound pretty bad, but he's one of three current Oilers in the bottom ten. Ladislav Smid is -44 for his career, and Sam Gagner is -45. As Tyler showed earlier today, the Oilers are just a bad team.
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That last point makes Horcoff sound pretty bad, but he’s one of three current Oilers in the bottom ten. Ladislav Smid is -44 for his career, and Sam Gagner is -45. As Tyler showed earlier today, the Oilers are just a bad team.
Sure, but only because of Horcoff and Hemsky.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Wow, you look at Calgary’s 3rd and 4th lines, and the bottom 3 in their defense pairing and you think, geez, there isn’t a whole lot of notable talent there. A half decent d-corps, a scoring line, and a good goalie can pretty much get you into playoff contention.
Unless Dubnyk has Khabibulin-like sweating problems or just blows up, I don’t think we’ll see him.
Although, it’s the Oilers, who knows?
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I just realized that Krys Kolanos assisted on the Hannan goal. Yes, that Krys Kolanos; I didn’t think he was still around.
The Edmonton Oilers, keeping opposition fans happy for the last 6 years
You didn’t read Scott’s pregame notes!
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Charlie Simmer is hilariously bad.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I’d love to hear the rationale of moving Paajarvi back to Belanger’s line.
“You’re doing too well! Back to the dregs with you!”
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
by Derek Zona on Feb 21, 2012 7:33 PM MST reply actions 1 recs
Eberle should’ve slid that to Hall.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmxcmpR1GQA#t=0m52s
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Dustin Byfuglien is just horrible.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Ben Eager showed more ice awareness on that backcheck on Iginla than Cam Barker has ever been able to demonstrate in his entire career.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Hemsky went straight at the net on that rush up ice and took the D with him. Hall still got blocked.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Silly goal. That line is so funny. The guys doing the dirty work down low are Sam and Frodo.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Tambo is Gollum, clearly.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
by Derek Zona on Feb 21, 2012 7:43 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
Is Ben Eager pretending to be a hockey player?
The Edmonton Oilers, keeping opposition fans happy for the last 6 years
Can’t believe Renney put MPS back on a line with Belanger. Actually, I take that back….I can believe it. I don’t get it.
Dear Lord the Flames look awful
The Edmonton Oilers, keeping opposition fans happy for the last 6 years
not as awful as the Flames announcers… good god, they called Gagner Paajarvi three separate times… two of them during shots that clearly show the back of Gagner’s jersey
by Bananahammer on Feb 21, 2012 8:12 PM MST up reply actions
Even if they didn’t have their names on their backs, how the hell do you mistake Gagner for Paajarvi?
Nil desperandum.
Perhaps they are in awe of the rebuild and get it all messed up.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
by Derek Zona on Feb 21, 2012 8:24 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
For the love of God, trade him NOW!!!!
The Edmonton Oilers, keeping opposition fans happy for the last 6 years
by OilLeak on Feb 21, 2012 8:15 PM MST reply actions 1 recs
Are you mad? We’d be lucky to get 3rd pairing defenseman in the AHL for Hemsky. Give that man away along with some smelling salts in hopes he wakes the fuck up!
The Edmonton Oilers, keeping opposition fans happy for the last 6 years
Smyth’s production has really tailed off. Even Tambellini might not overpay for Smyth now. Probably not, though.
i'm sure he will anyways...
with all that Hemsky money free’d up
by Bananahammer on Feb 21, 2012 8:22 PM MST up reply actions
On the Hemsky goal: Whitney’s play to step up behind the Horcoff forecheck and rub out the man, forcing the turnover was excellent.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Tambo sitting in his office “Damn hobbitses, I cants trade him now”
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
by Derek Zona on Feb 21, 2012 8:27 PM MST up reply actions 4 recs
Tambo is wondering if he can pry JF Jacques from Anaheim.
The Edmonton Oilers, keeping opposition fans happy for the last 6 years
not funny...
and thats coming from a troll
by Bananahammer on Feb 21, 2012 8:31 PM MST up reply actions
Eberle wasn’t trying to pass. He was trying to deke in tight for the turn and shoot. His hand got hooked and slid off the stick, losing control…right to Gagner.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
No. Watch again.
Ice level replay from the left point.
He goes to deke to turn for the shot. His hand is hooked off of the stick.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I like it when the Oilers actually reward me for watching. This outburst should keep me soundly on the hook for at least another 10 games.
the Flames are trying to follow the Minnesota model of playoff getting in-age
by Bananahammer on Feb 21, 2012 8:33 PM MST up reply actions
Wow. Even the Chicago game wasn’t like this.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
He has since the all-star break, he just can’t buy offense. His speed is back, at the very least.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Petry and Smid are the goods.
The Edmonton Oilers, keeping opposition fans happy for the last 6 years
Yeah, so according to Bob Stauffer, time to trade Gilbert.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I’m serious. He is now openly advocating a Gilbert trade because Petry is ready.
Then man hates depth and LOOOOOOOVES teenagers.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
damned hobbitses
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
by Derek Zona on Feb 21, 2012 8:44 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
34-11 SOG after the 2nd. The score does not flatter the Oilers at this point at all.
Nil desperandum.
I always wondered what it felt like to be on the good side for these type of games.
The Edmonton Oilers, keeping opposition fans happy for the last 6 years
every time Kipper is pulled, an angel gets their wings
by Bananahammer on Feb 21, 2012 8:59 PM MST reply actions 1 recs
I would think score effects kicks in for the 3rd period.
The Edmonton Oilers, keeping opposition fans happy for the last 6 years
If Kreuger has a pair, he’ll push the kids hard.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I think Krueger raided the pharmaceutical cubpoard.
by eddy the lip on Feb 21, 2012 9:05 PM MST up reply actions
I guess he’s going to get that first win after all.
Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.
by Ben Johnston on Feb 21, 2012 9:07 PM MST up reply actions
That pretty much sums it up so far! If anything, the Oilers deserve to be further ahead; Kipper was great in the 1st period.
Nil desperandum.
Looking at the boxscore now. 34 shots in two periods? Is that a record for the Oilers this year?
Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.
by Ben Johnston on Feb 21, 2012 9:07 PM MST up reply actions
Paajarvi getting assertive, good to see. Hopefully we see Paajarvi break out next season.
The Edmonton Oilers, keeping opposition fans happy for the last 6 years
He did at the end of last season!
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
New Plan: sneak into locker room, change calendars.
by eddy the lip on Feb 21, 2012 9:08 PM MST up reply actions
He did, but forgot that at the beginning of the season.
The Edmonton Oilers, keeping opposition fans happy for the last 6 years
Love how that soft kid Paajarvi brought Iginla to a screaming halt.
by eddy the lip on Feb 21, 2012 9:06 PM MST reply actions 1 recs
Our 4th line makes me nervous, even in games like these.
The Edmonton Oilers, keeping opposition fans happy for the last 6 years
Any word on whether Danis will get a start while he’s in Edmonton?
Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.
https://twitter.com/#!/BruceMcCurdy/status/172163978699616257
Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.
Oh, dear, let’s try that again.
https://twitter.com/#!/BruceMcCurdy/status/172163978699616257
Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.
by Ben Johnston on Feb 21, 2012 9:16 PM MST up reply actions
Yeah, I’m really wishing I had put off going for a walk.
Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.
by Ben Johnston on Feb 21, 2012 9:19 PM MST up reply actions
I didn’t catch most of it, either. Late debugging issues :/
by eddy the lip on Feb 21, 2012 9:20 PM MST up reply actions
I feel your pain, brother.
Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.
by Ben Johnston on Feb 21, 2012 9:21 PM MST up reply actions
I missed the game of Gagner’s career earlier in the season, too. At least I got to see the 9-2 ass-whipping against Chicago.
Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.
by Ben Johnston on Feb 21, 2012 9:20 PM MST up reply actions
Of all the games I had to miss because of curling (first a league game, then the Scotties on TV). At the very least the game highlights should be fun to watch! It’s about time the Oilers put a beat down on the Flames.
You couldn’t have asked for a playoff run?
Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.
by Ben Johnston on Feb 21, 2012 9:26 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
I would have settled for house cleaning in management.
The Edmonton Oilers, keeping opposition fans happy for the last 6 years
by OilLeak on Feb 21, 2012 9:27 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
Quick! Start rubbing Eberle’s hands!
by eddy the lip on Feb 21, 2012 9:28 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmxcmpR1GQA#t=0m52s
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
by Derek Zona on Feb 21, 2012 9:27 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AsId-qVIb4#t=01m24s
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Well, it is the answer to the Ultimate Question.
Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.
by Ben Johnston on Feb 21, 2012 9:27 PM MST up reply actions
Hopefully they’ll figure out how to pull this off again – we’ve got two more meetings with Calgary (I think)!
Nil desperandum.
Just one.
Loyal fan of the Edmonton Oilers. Don't you judge me.
by Ben Johnston on Feb 21, 2012 9:46 PM MST up reply actions
he does less damage then Barker.
The Edmonton Oilers, keeping opposition fans happy for the last 6 years
he doesn’t get the opportunity to fuck up like Barker does though
by Bananahammer on Feb 21, 2012 9:36 PM MST up reply actions
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