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Sharks @ Oilers Game 27 Preview

Oilers look to avoid twelfth straight loss. Water wet. Sky blue.

By Jeff Chapman
Alex Stalock is slated to start for the first time in a month
Alex Stalock is slated to start for the first time in a month
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports


sharks logo

@
oilers logo black text
14-10-4, 32 points, 1.192  p/g Ranks 6-15-5, 17 points, .654 p/g
Western Conference - 9th Western Conference - 14th
15th P/G 30th
3rd ST 21st
13th ES 27th
14th Goal 29th
7 PM MDT - SNW
Rexall Place
The opposing view: Fear The Fin

Tumbleweeds

Emotions are running high in Oil Country after the Oilers frittered away a 3-2 overtime loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday night.  The loss was Edmonton's eleventh consecutive loss (0-7-4), and the Oilers still are without a win against a Western Conference club this season.  Should the Oilers lose tonight, they will have gone one calendar month without a victory of any sort.  Then, they get to go back to San Jose on Tuesday to try it again.

MAKING A BAD THING WORSE

The Oilers held a fun little press conference on Friday starring Craig MacTavish.  It lasted about a half hour, and I think it was to clarify where the Oilers were on the road to rebuild recovery.  MacTavish looked exasperated (he should) and annoyed (we all are), but urged that the team was better than their record shows (I also believe this to be true, although not by much) and that the best plan of action was more or less to "stay the course".

I realize MacT's got to sugarcoat a crap sandwich here, but preaching patience is SO 2011, you guys.

The Oilers are saying

"I know our fans are uncomfortable with the timeline as we are, we're behind the timeline...I'm not in the position to sell some of our assets for fifty cents on the dollar"
That's Oilers general manager Craig MacTavish in a one-on-one with Tom Gazzola.

We're behind timeline.  Stay the course.  It's going to get better.  Lather, rinse, repeat.

The Opponent is saying
"We're not wining ideally, being down one or two goals isn't always fun, but we've been battling back and winning so it's good to see"

The Sharks battled back to defeat Calgary last night by a score of 3-2, with Patrick Marleau scoring the game winner early in the third period.  The Sharks might not be winning ideally in Patrick Marleau's mind, but they've...well, won some games.  About eight more than the Oilers, actually.  They've even defeated some Western Conference opponents, too.  Crazy, I know.

Have some of this
  • The Sharks are on a four game winning streak!  The Oilers are on an eleven game losing streak!  Who's gonna win?  Who's it gonna be?  Do you know?  Do you?  Do you?  Huh?  Do you?
  • "They're big and heavy".  - Luke Gazdic on San Jose.  So's an elephant, but hey.
  • Alex Stalock (2-2-1, .925SV%/1 SO) looks to get the start in goal for the Sharks.  He's been missing in action for about a month with a knee injury.  I've got Ben Scrivens in for Edmonton.  Your mileage may vary.
  • The Oilers did good yesterday and picked up Kyle Chipchura who was floating on the waiver wire from Arizona.  This is a good pickup, as Leon Draisaitl has struggled mightily after being thrust into the Oilers lineup. Chipchura brings immediate help to a position that the Oilers have very little depth at None of that happened.  These are the Oilers we're talking about.
  • The Oilers are winless against the West (0-12-4).  Tonight, that all changes. (drinks)
  • GOILERS
Jack Michaels with the final word.

We're gonna have some fun tonight.

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Gameday Coverage: Oilers vs. Sharks

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