The Copper & Blue - Full Coverage - Oilers at Blackhawks: Road Trip BeginsA 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.jpg2013-02-26T00:01:20-07:00http://www.coppernblue.com/rss/stream/37919352013-02-26T00:01:20-07:002013-02-26T00:01:20-07:00Another Loss For The Oilers, Another OT Point
<figure>
<img alt="The Hawks captain dominated the Oilers tonight." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/G_2Gqlfrr8DyXk7ehilR5v8Gw8U=/0x102:4000x2769/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/8731075/162671511.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>The Hawks captain dominated the Oilers tonight. | Jonathan Daniel</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Despite having the lead after two periods the Oilers were unable to hold off the Blackhawks. The did force the game to overtime though so at least the Bettman point is a small consolation.</p> <p>Someday the <a href="https://www.coppernblue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Oilers</a> hope to be the <a href="https://www.secondcityhockey.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Blackhawks</a>. That's the point of the <strike>intentional losing</strike> rebuild that the fans are currently enduring. But the day that the Oilers in any way resemble the Blackhawks is still a long way down the road. Right now the Blackhawks are the hottest team in the NHL having not yet lost in regulation and are miles better than the Oilers in every way imaginable. Matching up these two teams in Chicago and having the Oilers play without <span>Taylor Hall</span> and with <span>Nikolai Khabibulin</span> almost seemed unfair.</p>
<p>And for the most part it was. Chicago was clearly the better team and, as expected, controlled the game for most of the night. But the Oilers hung around and forced yet another game past the 60 minute mark - the eighth time they've done so this season. In the end the Oilers would lose in overtime but they still gained a point that I don't think many expected them to come away with. It certainly could have been worse.</p>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">The Highlights</h4>
<p style="text-align: center;"><object width="640" height="383" id="embed" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000"><param name="movie" value="http://nhl.cdn.neulion.net/u/videocenter-v1/embed.swf">
<param name="quality" value="high">
<param name="allowFullScreen" value="true">
<param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always">
<param name="flashVars" value="hlg=20122013,2,273&server=http://video.oilers.nhl.com/videocenter/&pageurl=http://video.oilers.nhl.com/videocenter/&nlwa=http://app2.neulion.com/videocenter/nhl/">
<embed name="embed" pluginspage="http://www.adobe.com/go/getflashplayer" src="http://nhl.cdn.neulion.net/u/videocenter-v1/embed.swf" mce_src="http://nhl.cdn.neulion.net/u/videocenter-v1/embed.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640" height="383" quality="high" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" flashvars="hlg=20122013,2,273&server=http://video.oilers.nhl.com/videocenter/&pageurl=http://video.oilers.nhl.com/videocenter/&nlwa=http://app2.neulion.com/videocenter/nhl/"></embed></object> </p>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">The Numbers</h4>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.boysonthebus.com/2013/02/25/game-notes-oilershawks-feb-25/">Courtesy of Michael Parkatti the numbers from tonight's game</a> are, in a word, ugly. This piece from his story sums up the night quite well:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>The Hawks almost tripled the Oilers in shot attempts. Think about that. Not just a player got tripled, or a line. The entire team almost got tripled. The Hawks managed to get 58 shots off at even strength at the Oilers’ net, while the Oilers managed just 21 of their own at the Hawks net. I love that I read Cam Charron’s piece from earlier today about how bad teams get outshot, because this one just goes to prove that.</p>
</blockquote>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">First Period</h4>
<ul>
<li>The first penalty of the game proved to be a high event couple of minutes with each team scoring a goal. The Oilers, who were killing the penalty, struck first when <span>Duncan Keith</span> tripped over the blue line turning the puck over to <span>Lennart Petrell</span> who actually beat <span>Ray Emery</span> with a backhand but had the puck go off the post and back out where it was <span>Jeff Petry</span> who grabbed the rebound and scored the first shorthanded goal of his career. The Oilers were going to need a lot of breaks to beat the Blackhawks and they got a couple on this play.</li>
<li>As I said though, the lead wouldn't last long with <span>Patrick Kane</span> tying the score 62 seconds later. <span>Marcus Kruger</span> and <span>Nick Leddy</span> would get assists on the play but this goal was all Kane. He took the puck just above the circle in his own end and rushed through the neutral zone. After moving the puck to Kruger he followed the play and picked up the return pass before skating around <span>Ladislav Smid</span> and beating Khabibulin with a back hand. Really an impressive goal from the formed first overall pick.</li>
<li>The second assist which was awarded to Leddy on the Kane goal is a great example of everything that's wrong with second assists. Kane skates what, for argument sake, amounts to the length of the ice, makes a pass, takes a return pass, and scored the goal. Leddy who last touched the puck seven seconds earlier before Kane, Kruger, and Kane again gets credited with an assist for I have no idea what. As is typically the case in play like this the on ice officials aren't to blame though because they didn't credit the assist, it came well after the fact from an off ice official.</li>
</ul>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Second Period</h4>
<ul>
<li>It's a well know fact that <span>Daniel Carcillo</span> is a piece of garbage. He took out <span>Tom Gilbert</span> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.coppernblue.com/2012/1/2/2678447/daniel-carcillos-dirty-hit-on-tim-gilbert">last season</a>. In the first period tonight he took a run at Petry well after the puck was gone and then did the same going after <span>Nail Yakupov</span> in the second period. In both cases the referees looked the other way and amazingly on the Blackhawks broadcast <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2013/2/25/4030386/ed-olczyk-mad-nail-yakupov-ducking-oilers-blackhawks">Ed Olczyk goes so far as to criticize Yakupov</a> on the second play saying he should be penalized for ducking the hit and putting Carcillo in a dangerous position. Seriously.</li>
<li>Yakupov has had his struggles this season at even strength especially in his own end of the rink. And that's fine, he's a rookie after all. But one aspect of his game which is already at an elite level is his shot, specifically his one timer. It was on display for all to see tonight with the Oilers on the power play late in the second. On the play Yakupov gets off a one timer on a cross ice pass from <span>Sam Gagner</span> that is so fast you need slow motion just to see the shot. He'll figure the rest of the game out, in the meantime I suggest that he just keep shooting because, if nothing else, it's a ton of fun to watch.</li>
</ul>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Third Period</h4>
<ul>
<li>The Hawks really established dominance in the second period and didn't skip a beat heading into the third tying the game at two on a goal from Victor Stalberg. The play was initially reviewed but the puck clearly crossed the line. I don't in any way agree with starting Khabibulin tonight but I won't blame him for the loss either. On this particular play though I would suspect <span>Devan Dubnyk</span> doesn't allow a goal. One of the many ways in which Dubnyk is a superior netminder to Khabibulin is how he sets his lower body on the goal line preventing exactly the kind of goal that Khabibulin allowed.</li>
<li>Under the heading of strange coaching decisions the Oilers left Yakupov on the bench for the last eleven and a half minutes of regulation and all over the overtime period. By now this shouldn't be a shock, we've seen it a number of times and there is some logic behind trying to protect the Bettman point, but when <span>Ryan Jones</span> and <span>Ben Eager</span> are lining up against <span>Marian Hossa</span> in the third period of a tie game you've got to wonder if Yakupov shouldn't be given a chance too.</li>
<li>These last two games should have made it crystal clear to any one who didn't already know that the Oilers need Hall in their lineup. The Ryan Smyth - <span>Ryan Nugent-Hopkins</span> - <span>Jordan Eberle</span> line was not very good tonight. By Michael's numbers they were awful. I really like Smyth and I think he's been a much better player since returning to the wing but he was clearly not the guy to replace Hall. Why the coaches wouldn't try and win the game by giving Yakupov a shot with an offensive faceoff is beyond me. Instead they were happy to settle for overtime.</li>
</ul>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Overtime</h4>
<ul>
<li>Watch the game winner and tell me what Petry and Smid are doing. Petry, after getting beat one-on-one by <span>Patrick Sharp</span> makes the bizarre choice to go behind the net while Sharp cuts across the crease; this effectively takes him out of the play. With Petry out of the play Smid is left trying to defend both Sharp and Hossa and so he of course goes down on one knee - his new favourite play - to try and block the pass attempt (he also went down on one knee on the Kane goal in the first period) which is a fine play if he actually breaks up the pass but is deadly for the Oilers if he doesn't break it up which is exactly what happens. Now Gagner is left trying to come from the hash marks while Hossa bangs at rebounds in the crease. Not surprisingly Gagner didn't get there in time.</li>
</ul>
https://www.coppernblue.com/2013/2/26/4030750/chicago-winning-streak-oilers-lose-3-2ryan_batty2013-02-25T16:30:06-07:002013-02-25T16:30:06-07:00Game Thread: Oilers @ Blackhawks
<figure>
<img alt="Eberle needs to step into the Hall-Hartikainen-Horcoff void." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/yKsvY8jcI7MiM9GIJn1ohk4ZtDY=/1x0:999x665/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/8716639/20120227_kdl_af3_572.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Eberle needs to step into the Hall-Hartikainen-Horcoff void. | Bruce Fedyck-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Chicago is riding a streak like the league hasn't seen since Mario Lemieux's Penguins. The Oilers have 3 regulation wins in 17 games. It seems unlikely, but the Oilers desperately need points, and tonight works like any other.</p> <p>6-3. All the <a href="https://www.coppernblue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Oilers</a> have to do is <a href="http://www.coppernblue.com/2013/2/25/4027190/edmonton-oilers-road-trip-Brier" target="_blank">go 6-3 on this road trip</a> and they should be in 7th place when they leave Denver. 4-4-1 and they're likely still in 12th place with four teams between them and a playoff spot. It's not likely (they play the <em>15-0-3</em> <a href="https://www.secondcityhockey.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Chicago Blackhawks</a> twice in nine games) but it wasn't likely that the Oilers would come back on Phoenix. </p>
<h3>Team Reports</h3>
<p><strong>Oilers Report:</strong> <span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Teemu Hartikainen</span> is out, so the team's most consistent physical power play presence is gone. Combine that with Taylor Hall's absence, and <span>Nail Yakupov</span>, Sam Gagner and Jordan Eberle are going to have to pick up a bunch of slack. <span>Magnus Paajarvi</span> has been bumped to the Gagner - Ales Hemsky line, hopefull he can stop the bleeding that Nail Yakupov and Teemu Hartikainen haven't been able to help. Ben Eager is again on the de facto third line with Eric Belanger and Ryan Jones - that is not a line Ralph Krueger wants to expose to Joel Quenneville. </span></p>
<p><strong><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span class="sbn-auto-link">Blackhawks</span> </span></span>Report:</strong> The Blackhawks can thrown it in cruise control from here out and coast into the playoffs. A little bit of effort should keep them ahead of Vancouver for home ice in the West.</p>
<h3>Expected Line Combinations</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Ryan Smyth</span></span></span></span> - <span>Ryan Nugent-Hopkins</span> - <span>Jordan Eberle</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><font color="#292929"><span style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: #292929;"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span class="sbn-auto-link"></span><span style="color: #292929;"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><font color="#292929"><span style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: #292929;"><span style="color: #292929;"></span> </span>Magnus Paajarvi</font></span></span> </span></span></font>- <font color="#292929"><span style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: #292929;"><span>Sam Gagner</span></span></font> - <font color="#292929"><span style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: #292929;"><span>Ales Hemsky</span></span></font></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><font color="#292929"><span style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: #292929;"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Ben Eager</span></span></span></font> - <font color="#292929"><span style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: #292929;"><span>Eric Belanger</span></span></font> - <span>Ryan Jones</span><span class="sbn-auto-link"></span><span style="color: #292929;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span class="sbn-auto-link">Nail Yakupov</span></span></span> <font color="#292929"><span style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: #292929;"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><font color="#292929"><span style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: #292929;"><span class="sbn-auto-link"></span></span></font></span></span></font>- <span>Chris VandeVelde</span> -<span style="color: #292929;"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><font color="#292929"><span style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: #292929;"> <span>Lennart Petrell</span></span></font></span></span><font color="#292929"><span style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: #292929;"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span class="sbn-auto-link"></span></span></span></font></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span>Justin Schultz</span> - <font color="#292929"><span style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: #292929;"><span>Nick Schultz</span></span></font></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><font color="#292929"><span style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: #292929;"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Ladislav Smid</span></span></span></font> - <span>Jeff Petry</span></p>
<p align="justify" style="text-align: center;"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Mark Fistric</span></span> - <span>Corey Potter</span><span class="sbn-auto-link"></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Nikolai Khabibulin</span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Scratches</strong>: <span>Taylor Hall</span><span style="color: #292929;"><span class="sbn-auto-link"></span></span>, <span>Theo Peckham</span><font color="#292929"><span style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: #292929;"></span></font>, <span>Ryan Whitney</span></p>
<h3>Broadcast Information</h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">United Center, 6:30 pm MST</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">TV - Sportsnet</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">Radio - 630 CHED</div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.tiqiq.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers-tickets/?brandid=sbnation_coppernblue" target="_blank">Tickets</a></div>
<h3>By The Numbers</h3>
<ul>
<li>The Chicago defense is loaded with names, but it's Nicklas Hjalmarsson leading them in even strength and short-handed time on ice per game.</li>
<li>The Oilers play their next 9 games in 17 days - their previous 9 games were played in 20 days.</li>
<li>Surprisingly, Chicago is not Sam Gagner's favorite victim. Gagner has 18 points in 20 career games against the Hawks.<br>Nikolai Khabibulin's .923 save percentage against the Blackhawks is his second-highest against the West. His .932 against Phoenix is his career-best against any Western team.</li>
<li>Ales Hemsky is playing just 16:16 per game. Should this continue, it would be his lowest average time on ice since 2003-04, when he was 20 years old.</li>
<li>Sam Gagner is the Oilers best regular penalty-killing forward thus far and it's not close. Not only is his shots against/60 of 34.6 the lowest on the team, his shots for/60 of 15.4 is the 8th-highest in the league among regular forwards. Put it together and he's got the <a href="http://www.behindthenet.ca/2012/new_4_on_5.php?sort=27&section=corsi&mingp=10&mintoi=1&team=ALL&pos=F">sixth-best short-handed Corsi in the league</a>. He's had a bunch of short-handed chances, including some breakaways, but hasn't been able to bury one. It's time to break onto the short-handed goals list.</li>
</ul>
https://www.coppernblue.com/2013/2/25/4029330/game-thread-edmonton-oilers-chicago-blackhawks-ending-a-streakDerek Zona2013-02-25T12:47:37-07:002013-02-25T12:47:37-07:00Harski on IR
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0UZJ_luOhaKlevM64UUftyQyPyk=/0x0:4000x2667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/8705767/162461404.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Derek Leung</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The stout Finnish winger finds himself on IR.</p> <p>The Oilers Twitter account today announced that <span>Lennart Petrell</span> was back in the lineup and <span>Teemu Hartikainen</span> has been placed on Injured Reserve:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Oilers">#Oilers</a> forward Lennart Petrell has been activated from the IR and forward Teemu Hartikainen has been placed on injured reserve</p>
— <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.coppernblue.com/">Edmonton Oilers</a> (@EdmontonOilers) <a href="https://twitter.com/EdmontonOilers/status/306087180449759233">February 25, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
<p>Petrell recovered from a concussion due to a puck to the head
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
during warm-ups against Colorado, while Hartikainen's injury has not been announced. </p>
<p>Hartikainen did suffer soreness in his shoulder after being hit last Saturday against Colorado. He played just 8:33 and didn't return. But Hartikainen skated in practice the next day and didn't miss any time due to injury. In fact, Hartikainen contributed the game-tying power play goal in Edmonton against Phoenix on Saturday, a goal which sent the game into overtime, where the Oilers eventually won in a shootout.</p>
<p>Petrell will skate on the fourth line with <span>Nail Yakupov</span> and Chris Vandevelde.</p>
https://www.coppernblue.com/2013/2/25/4028728/teemu-hartikainen-placed-on-irCopper and Blue Staff2013-02-25T12:10:45-07:002013-02-25T12:10:45-07:00Khabibulin Starts
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/xYKb2REClYdX1Fy69gb8wb4QRQs=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828215/large_coppernblue.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>The Edmonton Oilers Twitter account announced this afternoon that Nikolai Khabibulin will start against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.secondcityhockey.com/">Chicago Blackhawks</a>:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Khabibulin the first <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Oilers">#Oilers</a> goalie off the ice this morning, indicating he'll make the start against the <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Blackhawks">#Blackhawks</a> tonight</p>
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) <a href="https://twitter.com/EdmontonOilers/status/306098755617312768">February 25, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</p>
<p>Khabibulin has started the season well,allowing just 7 goals on 120 shots.</p>
<p></p>
<hr class="widget_boundry_marker">
<div class="pane sports_data_widget player_info clearfix">
<img src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/player_photos/l.nhl.com/xt.fss.l.nhl.com-p.647.jpg" height="114" width="84">
<h2><span>Nikolai Khabibulin</span></h2>
<h4 class="player-position">#35 / Goalie / <a href="https://www.coppernblue.com/">Edmonton Oilers</a>
</h4>
<div class="player_info_body">
<p><label>Height:</label> 6-1</p>
<p><label>Weight:</label> 206</p>
<p><label>Born:</label> Jan 13, 1973</p>
</div>
</div>
<hr class="widget_boundry_marker">
<p></p>
<hr class="widget_boundry_marker">
<div class="pane sports_data_widget player_stats clearfix">
<table class="zebra">
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th> <th>GP</th> <th>MIN</th> <th>W</th> <th>L</th> <th>EGA</th> <th>GA</th> <th>GAA</th> <th>SA</th> <th>SV</th> <th>SV%</th> <th>SO</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="td-name td-first">2012 - <span>Nikolai Khabibulin</span>
</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>222</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>2</td>
<td></td>
<td>7</td>
<td>1.89</td>
<td>120</td>
<td>113</td>
<td>.942</td>
<td class="td-last">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<hr class="widget_boundry_marker">
<p>The start isn't logical, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.mc79hockey.com/?p=5583">according to Tyler Dellow</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>All of which is to say, I tend to think that it’s not unreasonable to think that Edmonton, which is a fringe playoff team with one goalie who we have every reason to think is significantly better than the other, would start that goalie as much as NHL coaches have deemed wise in the past. Absent injury, that number seems to be north of 40, with the backup goaltender almost exclusively starting in back to back situations.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Edmonton Coach Ralph Krueger is more riverboat gambler than tactian, and will ride his hot hand. The move is certainly drawing rave reviews from Todd Pipella:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>@<a href="https://twitter.com/edmontonoilers">edmontonoilers</a> makes sense to start Khabi!!! Go Oilers!!</p>— Todd Pipella (@Toddpipella) <a href="https://twitter.com/Toddpipella/status/306100879583502336">February 25, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
https://www.coppernblue.com/2013/2/25/4028600/nikolai-khabibulin-draws-start-against-blackhawks-oilers-refuse-tylerCopper and Blue Staff2013-02-25T08:30:05-07:002013-02-25T08:30:05-07:00Oilers @ Blackhawks Lines and Pairings
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/SohqEJF0UbWr8k7rMplVk2hYGds=/0x0:4000x2667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/8680181/162461591.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Derek Leung</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Lines and pairings for the road trip opener in Chicago</p> <p>Check back throughout the day as we'll post updates when they become available.</p>
<p>The Oilers expected lineup based on recent practices and team updates:</p>
<hr class="widget_boundry_marker">
<div class="pane sports_data_widget injuries clearfix">
<h3>
<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.coppernblue.com/">Edmonton Oilers</a> Lineup</h3>
<div class="pane-body">
<h4>FORWARDS</h4>
<table class="zebra" cellspacing="0">
<thead><tr>
<th class="td-first">LW</th> <th>C</th> <th>RW</th>
</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">
<span>Ryan Smyth</span><br>
</td>
<td class="td-middle"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Ryan Nugent-Hopkins</span><br></span></td>
<td class="td-last"><span>Jordan Eberle</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">
<span class="sbn-auto-link"></span><span>Magnus Paajarvi</span><br>
</td>
<td class="td-middle"><span>Sam Gagner</span></td>
<td class="td-last"><span>Ales Hemsky</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">
<span>Ben Eager</span><br>
</td>
<td class="td-middle"><span>Eric Belanger</span></td>
<td class="td-last">
<span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Ryan Jones</span></span><br>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">
<span>Nail Yakupov</span><br>
</td>
<td class="td-middle">
<span>Chris VandeVelde</span><br>
</td>
<td class="td-last"> <span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Lennart Petrell</span></span><br>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h4>DEFENSE</h4>
<table class="zebra" cellspacing="0">
<thead><tr>
<th class="td-first">LD</th> <th>RD</th>
</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="td-middle"><span>Ladislav Smid</span></td>
<td class="td-middle">
<span>Jeff Petry</span><br>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-middle"><span>Nick Schultz</span></td>
<td class="td-middle"><span>Justin Schultz</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-middle"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Mark Fistric</span><br></span></td>
<td class="td-middle"><span>Corey Potter</span></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h4>GOALTENDER</h4>
<table class="zebra" cellspacing="0">
<thead><tr>
<th class="td-first"><br></th> <th>G</th> <th><br></th>
</tr></thead>
<tbody><tr>
<td class="td-first"><br></td>
<td class="td-middle">
<span>Devan Dubnyk</span><br>
</td>
<td class="td-last"><br></td>
</tr></tbody>
</table>
<h4>SCRATCHES</h4>
<table class="zebra" cellspacing="0">
<thead></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="td-middle">
<span>Ryan Whitney</span><br>
</td>
<td><br></td>
<td class="td-middle">D</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-middle">
<span>Taylor Hall</span><br>
</td>
<td><br></td>
<td class="td-middle">F</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-middle"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Theo Peckham</span><br></span></td>
<td><br></td>
<td class="td-middle">D</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
<hr class="widget_boundry_marker">
<p> </p>
<p>The Blackhawks expected lineup based on recent practices and team updates:</p>
<hr class="widget_boundry_marker">
<div class="pane sports_data_widget injuries clearfix">
<h3>
<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.secondcityhockey.com/">Chicago Blackhawks</a> Lineup</h3>
<div class="pane-body">
<h4>FORWARDS</h4>
<table class="zebra" cellspacing="0">
<thead><tr>
<th class="td-first">LW</th> <th>C</th> <th>RW</th>
</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="td-first"><span>Brandon Saad</span></td>
<td class="td-middle"><span>Jonathan Toews</span></td>
<td class="td-last"><span>Marian Hossa</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first"><span>Patrick Kane</span></td>
<td class="td-middle"><span>Marcus Kruger</span></td>
<td class="td-last"><span>Patrick Sharp</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first"><span>Bryan Bickell</span></td>
<td class="td-middle"><span>Andrew Shaw</span></td>
<td class="td-last"><span>Viktor Stalberg</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first"><span>Daniel Carcillo</span></td>
<td class="td-middle"><span>Jamal Mayers</span></td>
<td class="td-last"><span>Michael Frolik</span></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h4>DEFENSE</h4>
<table class="zebra" cellspacing="0">
<thead><tr>
<th class="td-first">LD</th> <th>RD</th>
</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="td-first"><span>Duncan Keith</span></td>
<td class="td-last"><span>Brent Seabrook</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first"><span>Nick Leddy</span></td>
<td class="td-last"><span>Michal Rozsival</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first"><span>Niklas Hjalmarsson</span></td>
<td class="td-last"><span>Johnny Oduya</span></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h4>GOALTENDER</h4>
<table class="zebra" cellspacing="0">
<thead><tr>
<th class="td-first"><br></th> <th>G</th> <th><br></th>
</tr></thead>
<tbody><tr>
<td class="td-first"><br></td>
<td class="td-middle"><span>Ray Emery</span></td>
<td class="td-last"><br></td>
</tr></tbody>
</table>
<h4>SCRATCHES</h4>
<table class="zebra" cellspacing="0">
<thead></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="td-first"><span>Sheldon Brookbank</span></td>
<td><br></td>
<td class="td-middle">D</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first"><span>Brandon Bollig</span></td>
<td><br></td>
<td class="td-middle">F</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first"><span>Dave Bolland</span></td>
<td><br></td>
<td class="td-middle">C</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
<hr class="widget_boundry_marker">
https://www.coppernblue.com/2013/2/25/4027156/blackhawks-oilers-lines-and-pairingsCopper and Blue Staff2013-02-25T06:30:04-07:002013-02-25T06:30:04-07:00Oilers @ Blackhawks Preview: Omar Comin'
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/HO8H-DmCewRguIjyJxywcKhQI2I=/0x0:600x400/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/8680201/gyi0062250350.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jonathan Daniel</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Oilers start a nine-game road trip tonight - they get the Blackhawks twice. Ouch.</p> <center>
<table style="text-align: center;" align="center" border="2"><tbody>
<tr>
<td><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2046303/Edmonton_Eskimos_Away.GIF"><img class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2046303/Edmonton_Eskimos_Away.GIF" alt="Edmonton Eskimos" height="125" width="208"></a></td>
<td><center> <b></b>
<h1 align="center">@</h1>
</center></td>
<td><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2230711/chicago_cougars.png"><img class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2230711/chicago_cougars.png" alt="Chicago Cougars" height="125" width="176"></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>7-7-3, 1.0 p/g<br></b></td>
<td></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>15-0-3, 1.833 p/g</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">Western Conf: 12th</td>
<td></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Western Conf: 1th</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">
<a target="_blank" href="http://nhlnumbers.com/2013/2/23/nhl-power-rankings-predictions">NHLN Share</a>: 16th</td>
<td></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">
<a target="_blank" href="http://nhlnumbers.com/2013/2/23/nhl-power-rankings-predictions">NHLN Share</a>: 2nd</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</center>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br><b><b>1:30 p.m. MST</b><b> | Sportsnet</b></b>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><b>Rexall Place</b></b><br><a target="_blank" href="http://www.tiqiq.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers-tickets/?brandid=sbnation_coppernblue">Tickets</a><br>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>The opposing view</b>: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.secondcityhockey.com/">Second City Hockey</a>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"></div>
<p><b>Top Story:</b> <span class="sbn-auto-link">The Oilers begged, borrowed and stole two points from Phoenix in the final game of the homestand to salvage something from the homestand. The Oilers begin a nine game road trip against Chicago tonight, the first of two meetings with the Blackhawks on this trip.</span></p>
<p>The Blackhawks are off to a ridiculous start, thanks to the hottest start in the careers of <span>Ray Emery</span> and <span>Corey Crawford</span>. The two have combined for an even strength save percentage of .940. That number will start to fall as the season wears on, but it won't matter. Chicago can go 11-19 the rest of the way and still make the playoffs. They can go 15-14-1 the rest of the way and probably still win the conference!</p>
<p>The Blackhawks are a juggernaut, but the Oilers desperately need two points.</p>
<p><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/iMm1Wih0kug" frameborder="0" height="360" width="480"></iframe></p>
<p><b>The Oilers are saying</b>:</p>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote>
<p>"What’s going on with Whitney?" asked an NHL executive before Saturday’s game. <br> "He’s not even 30 and and he’s sitting out?" said the long-time NHL observer. <br> "Is his game that bad?"</p>
</blockquote>
<p>--<a target="_blank" href="http://blogs.edmontonjournal.com/2013/02/23/ryan-whitney-situation-getting-very-dicey-for-edmonton-oilers/">Edmonton sports writer Jim Matheson</a> quoting an NHL executive and observer in his story on <span>Ryan Whitney</span>.</p>
<p>Who does Matheson hang out with? How can two people so closely tied to the NHL be so shocked that Whitney's play has been atrocious, when it was just as bad last season?</p>
<p><b>The Opponent is saying</b>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"It seems like things haven't changed. Everyone's playing hard and making the right plays, not turning pucks over and guys are coming back to help out our 'D.' It's just another solid victory for us."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>--<span class="sbn-auto-link"><span class="sbn-auto-link">Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford, on his win over Columbus yesterday.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="sbn-auto-link">Crawford just returned from an injury and played yesterday against Columbus, so it's likely that Chicago will play Ray Emery in goal against the Oilers. It won't matter that much - the Blackhawks are the second stingiest even-strength team in the league and the Oilers are the worst even strength scoring team in the league. Unless the dam finally breaks for Chicago, this game is going to be rough on Edmonton.</span></p>
<p><b>Key matchup:</b> <span>Nail Yakupov</span> vs. Ralph Krueger. When the superstar is on the left wing with <span>Sam Gagner</span> and <span>Ales Hemsky</span>, the latter two are okay. When anyone else is there, Gagner and Hemsky have been a mess. Get Yakupov up to that line and give the Blackhawks something to worry about.</p>
<p></p>
<hr class="widget_boundry_marker">
<div class="pane sports_data_widget injuries clearfix">
<h3>
<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.coppernblue.com/">Edmonton Oilers</a> Injuries</h3>
<div class="pane-body">
<h4>Out (IR / Out / Suspended / Physically unvailable)</h4>
<table class="zebra" cellspacing="0">
<thead><tr>
<th class="td-first">Player</th> <th>Injury Type</th> <th>Injury Date</th>
</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="td-first"><span>Andy Sutton</span></td>
<td>knee</td>
<td class="td-last">01/16/2013</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first"><span>Shawn Horcoff</span></td>
<td>other-excused</td>
<td class="td-last">02/05/2013</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first"><span>Anton Lander</span></td>
<td>foot</td>
<td class="td-last">02/07/2013</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first"><span>Lennart Petrell</span></td>
<td>concussion</td>
<td class="td-last">02/13/2013</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
<hr class="widget_boundry_marker">
<p><br id="1361769500115"></p>
<p></p>
<hr class="widget_boundry_marker">
<div class="pane sports_data_widget injuries clearfix">
<h3>
<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.secondcityhockey.com/">Chicago Blackhawks</a> Injuries</h3>
<div class="pane-body">
<h4>Out (IR / Out / Suspended / Physically unvailable)</h4>
<table class="zebra" cellspacing="0">
<thead><tr>
<th class="td-first">Player</th> <th>Injury Type</th> <th>Injury Date</th>
</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="td-first"><span>Steve Montador</span></td>
<td>concussion</td>
<td class="td-last">01/14/2013</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first"><span>Rostislav Olesz</span></td>
<td>knee</td>
<td class="td-last">01/18/2013</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
<hr class="widget_boundry_marker">
<p><br id="1361769470163"></p>
<div class="pane widget freeform_html clearfix">
<script src="http://widgets.twimg.com/j/2/widget.js"></script><script type="text/javascript"><!--
new TWTR.Widget({
version: 2,
type: 'list',
rpp: 30,
interval: 30000,
title: '',
subject: 'Edmonton Oilers on Twitter',
width: 'auto',
height: 340,
theme: {
shell: {
background: '#cc6600',
color: '#ffffff'
},
tweets: {
background: '#ffffff',
color: '#444444',
links: '#948219'
}
},
features: {
scrollbar: true,
loop: false,
live: true,
hashtags: true,
timestamp: true,
avatars: true,
behavior: 'all'
}
}).render().setList('CopperandBlue', 'oilers-on-twitter').start();
// --></script>
</div>
<p><br id="1361001004183"></p>
https://www.coppernblue.com/2013/2/25/4026602/chicago-blackhawks-at-edmonton-oilers-game-18-preview-omar-cominDerek Zona