The opposing view: Nucks Misconduct

Tickets - TiqIQ

Happy Trails, Ryan Smyth

Here's where I normally put a little blurb about the last game. Due to the nature of today's game, I'll keep it fairly brief. The Oilers lost to the Kings by a score of 3-0. It was one of the more uninspiring games I've seen all year. That's quite a thing to say when your team has lost a combined 53 games on the season, but to say it wasn't very good isn't an understatement. Viktor Fasth had 45 saves, and with only 17 shots on net, it should come as no surprise that the Oilers were unable to score.

Today is Ryan Smyth's last game as a player in the National Hockey League, and as a member of the Edmonton Oilers. I was all but certain he'd be an Oiler for at least another season, as he's easily one of this team's twelve best forwards. Unfortunately for us, it's not going to be that way, and Ryan Smyth will walk away from the game after today.

Ryan Smyth is saying

That's Oilers forward David Perron on number 94.

Perron should know that 94 is an eight-time 20+ goal scorer on this team. Smyth is in front of the net, looking for a tip. He's looking for for a garbage rebound. He's looking to swat JS Gigeure's goalie stick handle for an advantage.

The guy's got places to be.

• With a power play goal in tonight's game, Ryan Smyth would become Edmonton's all-time leader in power play goals with 127. It's not a Stanley Cup, but it'd be a small consolation prize to a guy who deserves it.
• Smyth is ranked fifth in goals scored all time on the Oilers. Those ahead? Guys named Gretzky, Kurri, Anderson, and Messier. It's a fair crowd to have your name mentioned in.
• Everyone's got a Ryan Smyth moment. For me, it was when he caught a Chris Pronger slap shot against the Sharks in mid-May of 2006. Everyone who was alive and watching the game remembers the moment when the bottom of his face was bloody and missing a fair amount of teeth. A few shifts later, there was 94 out on the ice like it never happened. And then he helped set up the winner. Not bad for a night's work.
• I wish Ryan Smyth the best in wherever life takes him next year. As much as I bitch and complain at what a dysfunctional mess this team has become, I feel a thousand times worse for a guy who would give his right arm for the team to be competitive. Ryan Smyth has been juggled this year more than a flaming bowling pin. Play wing? Great. Centre? He'll do it. Top six? Yes. Bottom six? Yes. Scratched? If he must.
• You deserved better, Ryan Smyth.