Sam Gagner's NHL takeover is in full swing and neither the Chicago Blackhawks nor the Detroit Red Wings, two of the best teams in the league, have been able to stop it. His name is now appearing on walls in Islington and it's only a matter of time before he leaves Cream.
The Edmonton Oilers have scored 15 goals in their last 3 games - Sam Gagner has been on the ice for 14 of them, including the last 12 in a row. Gagner has 12 points in the last three games, 11 in the last two. Even strength, power play, shootout -- it doesn't matter -- to say Gagner is on fire is to underestimate how hot Gagner is burning.
Devan Dubnyk stopped 35 of 39 shots against the Wings and has stopped 186 of 199 in the last five games for a .935 save percentage. There are two reasons the Oilers have points in their last five games and three straight wins - Sam Gagner and Devan Dubnyk.
Fans who have turned against Gagner over the last two seasons and have demanded a trade this season must be annoyed by the fact that Gagner is scoring like he's playing in the 1980s.
Fans who have turned against Ales Hemsky and have demanded a trade must be annoyed by the fact that Hemsky was obliterated by Nicklas Kronwall, yet returned to set up the game-tying goal.
Hemsky and Shawn Horcoff again took another tough matchup - Henrik Zetterberg's line. They didn't give up a point.
Gagner even won the possession war against the Red Wings tonight, the only Oiler to do so and he didn't have the luxury of zonestarts, though he did have the luxury of 3rd-toughs.
Gagner must be on top of the world - he's got 13 shots on goal in the last two games.
If you didn't think Gagner was a top-line or second-line centre before the last two games, but now think he is based on 34:27 of ice time, close this window now.