The Copper & Blue - Game 41 Coverage: Oilers vs Hurricanes - The Homestand ContinuesA site for fans of the Edmonton Oilers. Someday we'll get to write about an Oilers playoff game. Hopefully sooner than later.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/13253/copper-fave.jpg2016-01-04T22:42:50-07:00http://www.coppernblue.com/rss/stream/104757812016-01-04T22:42:50-07:002016-01-04T22:42:50-07:00Game Recap: Oilers 1 - Hurricanes 0 (OT)
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<figcaption>Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>It's a shame that a game this good had to come to end.</p> <p>Through the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.coppernblue.com/">Oilers</a>' first forty games of the season I'd managed to completely avoid writing a game recap. But since I don't want people to think that I'm not a team player, I volunteered to take on the task for tonight's game between the Oilers and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canescountry.com/">Hurricanes</a>.</p>
<p>Once you've written a few dozen of these they can start to be a little tricky - honestly, how many different ways can you write that the Oilers sucked? As a fan you obviously want to see a good game, and if you're writing the recap that works out great as it gives you plenty of material. If that's not in the cards then a lopsided affair, especially if the Oilers are on the receiving end, tends to be loaded with postgame material too. This game may not be as much fun to watch but beggars can't be choosers. And then there are games like tonight where a whole lot of nothing happens, these are no fun to watch and even less fun to write about.</p>
<p><iframe src="http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/embed?playlist=2015020586-X-h" frameborder="0" width="640" height="395"></iframe></p>
<p>In the game's first 20 minutes the two teams combined for 15 shots, nine for Carolina and whopping six coming from the Oilers. The only thing that really even resembled a scoring chance was a <span>Jordan Staal</span> shot through traffic that hit the post on <span>Cam Talbot</span>'s blocker side. There wasn't even a penalty called. Nothing happened. At all. I don't know what the worst period of hockey played in the NHL this season was, but this one had to be in the top three.</p>
<p>Before it was even over I was joking that instead of writing a game recap I'd just recap a Grateful Dead show instead. This led to a Twitter conversation about <i>Festival Express</i> (if you haven't seen it you need to rectify this immediately) and the Dead's lone Alberta performance - July 3, 1970 at McMahon Stadium - which only served to make things worse as now I was thinking about alternatives to the hockey game I was supposed to be watching. Random fact: Robert Hunter and Jerry Garcia wrote the Grateful Dead song "<a href="http://artsites.ucsc.edu/GDead/agdl/aswe.html">Might As Well</a>" about that train ride across Canada.</p>
<p>The second period was an improvement over the first because, well, it would have been hard not to be. Still the game remained tied at zero, and the teams again failed to combine for even a shot a minute - another nine for the Hurricanes and eight for the Oilers (don't knock it, that's a 33% improvement over the first period). The Oilers had the first powerplay of the game when <span>Brock McGinn</span> was called for a high stick on Leon Draisaitl. Jordan Eberle and <span>Taylor Hall</span> both had a decent scoring chance and I think the Oilers might have had a shift where they recorded two shots. Still it was no screaming hell but like I said, it was an improvement over the first period.</p>
<p>The final 20 minutes of regulation were not much different that the 40 minutes that had come before. Shots and scoring chances were minimal; the Oilers best chance came on a backhand shot from Eberle in the slot. Both teams had one powerplay. The Oilers managed just a single shot with the man advantage, and then when <span>Brad Hunt</span> was sent to the box for hooking with 3:21 remaining everyone cheering for the Oilers got that familiar sinking feeling that this would be when the game's first goal would be scored. That's not what happened though, meaning that this classic wasn't over just yet, it was time for a little three-on-three.</p>
<p>And finally the game had some pace, it's amazing what a little open space can do. After "testing" <span>Cam Ward</span> with 22 shots in the first 60 minutes of the game, the Oilers sent five his way in less than three minutes of overtime, the fifth and final one being a one-handed stab at the puck by <span>Andrej Sekera</span> that beat Ward between the legs. An ugly goal and an absolutely fitting way to end this game.</p>
<p><b>Up Next</b>: The Oilers don't play again until Friday when they host the <a href="https://www.rawcharge.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Tampa Bay Lightning</a>. They wrap up this six game homestand against the <a href="https://www.litterboxcats.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Florida Panthers</a> two days later.</p>
https://www.coppernblue.com/2016/1/4/10713410/oilers-hurricanes-game-recap-talbot-shutout-sekera-overtime-winnerryan_batty2016-01-04T17:00:03-07:002016-01-04T17:00:03-07:00Game Thread - Oilers vs. Hurricanes
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<figcaption>41 points for #4, good for 4th in the league | James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Halfway through the 2015-16 season, Oilers look to avenge a November loss to the Hurricanes with a victory tonight. </p> <p>The bad news is that the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.coppernblue.com/">Edmonton Oilers</a> sit in last place in the Western Conference with a grand total of 35 points. The good news is that even though they're on pace for just over 70 points this season, they sit just four points out of third place in the Pacific Division. If the cutoff is 90 points in the Pacific, the Oilers are going to need to start winning some more games. They'd do well to start tonight against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canescountry.com/">Hurricanes</a>.</p>
<p>Carolina took care of the Oilers back in November when four different Hurricanes scored en route to a 4-1 victory for the Hurricanes. <span>Anders Nilsson</span> took the loss in net and only <span>Benoit Pouliot</span> was able to put one on the board for Edmonton. <span>Cam Talbot</span> gets the nod for the Oilers tonight, while <span>Cam Ward</span> will get the go for Carolina.</p>
<p>Game time is 7 PM MST.</p>
<p> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Projected Lines</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span>Taylor Hall</span> - <span>Leon Draisaitl</span> - <span>Teddy Purcell</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span>Benoit Pouliot</span> - <span>Ryan Nugent-Hopkins</span> - <span>Jordan Eberle</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span>Matt Hendricks</span> - <span>Mark Letestu</span> - <span>Lauri Korpikoski</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span>Rob Klinkhammer</span> - <span>Anton Lander</span> - <span>Jujhar Khaira</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span>Darnell Nurse</span> - <span>Justin Schultz</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span>Andrej Sekera</span> - <span>Brandon Davidson</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span>Brad Hunt</span> - <span>Eric Gryba</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Cam Talbot</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Anders Nilsson</p>
https://www.coppernblue.com/2016/1/4/10712076/game-thread-oilers-vs-hurricanesJeff Chapman2016-01-04T15:10:33-07:002016-01-04T15:10:33-07:00Predict the Score: Oilers vs Hurricanes
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<figcaption>James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Play our predict the score contest and you could win.</p> <p>After two months on guessing who would score first it's time to for a new contest, and since I'm not that creative I'm going to borrow a format that we've used before. Rather than guessing who will score, we're just asking you to predict what the score will be. It's a contest so simple that even a <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.matchsticksandgasoline.com/">Flames</a> fan could do it.</p>
<p><b>How Do I Play?</b> Please put your prediction in the subject line with Edmonton listed first. <b><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.coppernblue.com/">Oilers</a> x - <a href="https://www.canescountry.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Hurricanes</a> y</b></p>
<p><b>How Points Will Be Awarded? </b>5 points for a correct prediction. 2 points if you only get the Oilers' score right. And 1 point if you only get the opposition's score correct.</p>
<p><b>What You're Playing For?</b> A <a href="https://nhlshop.775j.net/c/482924/587269/9674?u=http%3A%2F%2Fshop.nhl.com%2FTaylor_Hall_Edmonton_Oilers_Men_T-Shirts%2FMens_Edmonton_Oilers_Taylor_Hall_Reebok_Orange_Name_And_Number_T-Shirt&sharedid=sbnation.com" target="_blank" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener">Taylor Hall jersey shirt</a>.</p>
<p><b>Who's In First Place?</b> Check back for updated standings later this week.</p>
<p><b>When Does The Contest End?</b> After the last game in January.</p>
<p><i>Your prediction must be submitted by game time. Submissions posted after game time will be deleted.</i></p>
<h4>Tonight's Matchup</h4>
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<table border="0" width="345" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="text-align: center; width: 258pt; border-collapse: collapse; table-layout: fixed;">
<colgroup> <col width="115" span="3" style="width: 86pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 4205;" class="xl633586"> </colgroup>
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<td width="115" height="20" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt; width: 86pt;" class="xl633586"></td>
<td width="115" style="text-align: center; width: 86pt;" class="xl633586">Oilers</td>
<td width="115" style="text-align: center; width: 86pt;" class="xl633586">Hurricanes</td>
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<td height="20" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;" class="xl633586">Overall Record</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl633586">16-21-3</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl643586">16-17-6</td>
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<td height="20" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;" class="xl633586">Last 10 Games</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl633586">3-6-1</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl643586">5-3-2</td>
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<td height="20" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;" class="xl633586">Goal Differential</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl633586">-21</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl633586">-18</td>
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<td height="20" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;" class="xl633586">Expected Starter</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl633586"><span>Cam Talbot</span></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl633586"><span>Cam Ward</span></td>
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https://www.coppernblue.com/oil-spills/2016/1/4/10711708/predict-the-score-oilers-vs-hurricanesryan_batty2016-01-04T11:52:14-07:002016-01-04T11:52:14-07:00Game 41 Preview: We've Made It Halfway
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<figcaption>James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Welcome to the halfway point of another season of Oilers hockey.</p> <h4>What You Need To Know</h4>
<p>Puck Drop: 7:00 MST<br> How To Watch: Sportsnet West<br> Team Records: Oilers 16-21-3, Hurricanes 16-17-6<br> Goals For per Game: Oilers 2.45, Hurricanes 2.36<br> Goals Against per Game: Oilers 3.05, Hurricanes 2.79</p>
<h4>Last Game</h4>
<p>All it took for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.coppernblue.com/">Oilers</a> to get back in the win column after four straight losses was an entirely new year, it was just that simple. Against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fiveforhowling.com/">Coyotes</a> on Saturday afternoon the Oilers played a solid game and got a late goal from <span>Jordan Eberle</span> to send the game into overtime and eventually a shootout where the Oilers came away with the bonus point. For Eberle, who also scored in the first period to snap a seven game goalless drought, this was his second goal of the night, the first time all season he’s scored two goals in one game.</p>
<h4>Tonight's Game</h4>
<p>Tonight the Oilers bring to a close the first half of their 2015/16 schedule when they play host to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canescountry.com/">Carolina Hurricanes</a>. This will be the second and final meeting between these two teams this season (assuming that June won’t include a repeat of the 2006 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/stanley-cup-final">Stanley Cup Final</a>). In their previous meeting the Oilers fell to the ‘Canes by a score of 4-1 in a game that was just plain ugly for the visitors. Despite the this being Carolina’s their third game in four nights, the Hurricanes outshot, out chanced, and out played the Oilers for a full 60 minutes. I’m sure the home crowd would be happy to not see a repeat performance this evening.</p>
<h4>What the Oilers Are Saying</h4>
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<p>You know it’s going to hurt, but you don’t do it for your own personal gains, you do it for the team. For me, there’s nothing better than coming back from the bench after blocking a shot. The guys on the bench are patting you on the back and saying, ‘great job.’ It’s about sacrifice. Other guys do it in different ways. Blocking shots is one of the ways that I help.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>That's Matt Hendricks talking about blocking shots in a piece on the <a href="http://oilers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=795707&navid=DL%7CEDM%7Chome">Oilers website</a>. I give full credit to the man willing to lay down in front of a shot, but I can't think about shot blocking any more without also <a href="https://twitter.com/kent_wilson/status/578006797975322624">thinking about killing rats</a>.</p>
<h4>What the Hurricanes Are Saying</h4>
<blockquote>
<p>I feel like our compete level was there. It was just one of those nights where it could go either way, and we came up short, unfortunately.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><span>Eddie Lack</span> on the Hurricanes overtime loss to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ontheforecheck.com/">Predators</a> on Saturday. I'd be a happy man if we could all stop talking about compete level.</p>
<h4>Parting Thoughts</h4>
<ul>
<li>With Finland's semi-final win over Sweden at the World Junior Hockey Championships this morning, <span>William Lagesson</span>'s tournament <strike>has come to an end</strike> won't be ending with a gold medal, but he could still win bronze. The lone Oilers prospect to play in the tournament has a goal and an assist and a +5 rating in six games played for Sweden.</li>
<li><span><span>Cam Talbot</span> will <a href="https://twitter.com/EdmontonOilers/status/684072692287287296">start in net tonight</a> for the Oilers. This will be his fourth straight start.</span></li>
<li><span>The <a href="https://twitter.com/MiamiDolphins/status/684051736420610049">Miami Dolphins named Chris Grier their new General Manger</a> today. Chris' brother Mike spent a few season playing for the Oilers.</span></li>
</ul>
https://www.coppernblue.com/2016/1/4/10709106/oilers-hurricanes-game-preview-how-to-watch-newsryan_batty2016-01-04T08:47:11-07:002016-01-04T08:47:11-07:00January 4, 2007 - Patrick Stefan Falls, Ales Hemsky Scores.
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<figcaption>Tim Smith/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Patrick Stefan can't hit an open net and the Oilers capitalize.</p> <p>January 4, 2007 - In a game against the Dallas Starts, <span>Ales Hemsky</span> scores his seventh goal of the season and the 44th of his career.</p>
<p>On this night the <a href="https://www.coppernblue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Oilers</a> started out well, scoring the first two goals of the game and then stretching that lead three when <span>Joffrey Lupul</span> scored in the 13th minute of the second period. But as is often the case in games between the Oilers and the <a href="https://www.defendingbigd.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Stars</a>, the Stars were far from dead. The Stars would score once before the end of the second period and then three more times during a four minute stretch of the third period to take their first lead of the game with just over 12 minutes to play.</p>
<p>The game would remain tied and eventually the Oilers would pull their goalie as they continued to look for the equalizing goal. And then it happened, after a <span>Marc-Andre Bergeron</span> turnover at the blueline, Patrick Stefan managed to fall instead of scoring the game clinching goal into the Oilers open net. That mistake opened the door for <span>Jarret Stoll</span> to get the puck up the ice and onto the stick of <span>Ryan Smyth</span>, and them Smyth found Hemsky who would score the game tying goal.</p>
<p>The Oilers would go on to lose in a shootout but this is still one of the craziest endings to a game in hockey history.</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IsnRxfH6kkk" height="315" width="420"></iframe></p>
<p><a href="http://www.coppernblue.com/oilers-history/2016/1/3/10704424/today-oilers-history-Miroslav-Frycer-detroit-rick-judson"><b><i>Yesterday in Oilers history ...</i></b></a></p>
https://www.coppernblue.com/oilers-history/2016/1/4/10707954/oilers-history-ales-hemsky-patrick-stefan-dallas-starsryan_batty