The Copper & Blue - Jets @ Oilers: Season Opener NewsA 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.jpg2013-10-02T06:30:05-06:00http://www.coppernblue.com/rss/stream/45551032013-10-02T06:30:05-06:002013-10-02T06:30:05-06:00Oilers - Jets, Oilers Show both Promise and Holes
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/eWUkQSQkgftsk-Sa8GiCUD7ZRGI=/0x0:3990x2660/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/20516903/182619718.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Derek Leung</figcaption>
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<p>Oilers blow a 4-2 lead but it's a loss they can take a lot of positives from.</p> <p>Losing sucks.</p>
<p>Blowing a 2 goal lead and losing sucks more.</p>
<p>Losing a game you should have won is the worst.</p>
<p>The first 2 are familiar for Oiler fans from the last few seasons, but the last one is a pretty rare occurrence. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.coppernblue.com/">Oilers</a> made mistakes, but played well enough that they should have won the game.</p>
<p><iframe src="http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/embed?playlist=2013020003-X-h" frameborder="0" height="395" width="640"></iframe></p>
<div align="center"><b><a target="new" href="http://www.extraskater.com/game/2013-10-01-jets-oilers">Corsi/Fenwick</a></b></div>
<p>Yup, that's right, the Oilers finally out-corsi'd an opposition. Further to that, they did most of the damage while either in the lead or tied. That right there is a heck of an opening night step for a club who managed this feat approximately 5 times last year (according to the memory of our own Michael Parkatti). These are all important steps, but more need to be taken. The Oilers, as a team, are still making strange shot blocking decisions. All but one of the goals against were stoppable, but several were made far more complicated than necessary. Despite the Oilers overall performance, there were some issues. <span>Andrew Ference</span> -6 (21/27) corsi and <span>Nick Schultz</span> -9 (6/15) corsi both struggled getting the puck out of the Oilers zone. <span>Will Acton</span> ended up in the red as well. He played limited minutes with Brown and Gazdic, and struggled with his spot duty elsewhere in the lineup.</p>
<p>The game started off with a pair of own goals as <span>Jim Slater</span> tipped home a <del><span>Luke Gazdic</span></del> <del><span>Mike Brown</span></del> (for Pete's sake, even Hrudey figured out it was Gazdic's goal) Luke Gazdic backhand that he took from just outside the Oilers change room. <span>Anton Belov</span> would give that one back, tipping home a <span>Mark Scheifele</span> shot from an awkward angle. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.arcticicehockey.com/">Jets</a> would take the league after a bad read by Belov (he joined the rush as Hall turned the puck over on a 1 on 3), leaving <span>Justin Schultz</span> to defend <span>Bryan Little</span> (who he was totally going to get to after he picked up his contact lens off the ice). <span>Boyd Gordon</span> would tie the game on the strangest bank shot I've ever seen. I thought it was an excellent tip on a shot off the net, but I'm not in the HHOF.</p>
<p><span>Ales Hemsky</span> would score the most Ales Hemsky goal you could think of. He makes a quick move in the zone and then slows the play right down before burying the 3-2 goal. <span>Jesse Joensuu</span> (who is probably seconds away from being Derek Zona's new favourite player), would park himself in front of the net and bury a <span>Jordan Eberle</span> rebound for a power play goal. The Jets would come back. Belov and Gordon both tried to block a shot from a bad angle and the puck eluded Dubnyk. Trouba would score later in the 3rd, firing a shot that Dubnyk should have stopped (but again, made more difficult by Petry's block attempt). The final Jets goal saw Ference and Justin Schultz blow their coverage and allowed an easy tap in by Frolik.</p>
<p>The Oilers lost a winnable game. The good news is that you'd expect Dubnyk to be better (despite the cries on twitter to upgrade the goaltending after 1 game) and that the Oilers were able to do this without 2 of their better forwards. There are concerns though. The Oilers may be relying too heavily on their top players. <span>Taylor Hall</span> played a team leading 23:30 (yes, even more than any defenseman on the team), including time on the PK along with his regular ES & PP ice time. The lack of forward depth (especially with the Gagner and Nugent-Hopkins injuries), could end up being a problem. He seemed to struggle in the 2nd half of the game in terms of his decision making (especially in regards to his pass selection). I suspect that will improve over time as he gets more comfortable at his new position, but it's still an issue over the near future.</p>
<p>Twitter was all abuzz last night over new analytica stat <a target="new" href="http://www.extraskater.com/">The Extra Skater</a>. Think Vic Ferarri's timeonice, but with an easier interface. You can also follow him on <a target="new" href="https://twitter.com/ExtraSkater">Twitter</a>.</p>
https://www.coppernblue.com/coverage/2013/10/2/4793866/oilers-jets-pgt-oilers-show-both-promise-and-holes-in-lossdawgbone982013-10-01T16:30:06-06:002013-10-01T16:30:06-06:00Oilers v. Jets - Zephaniah 3:14-17
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Cbe-UaTbVSY9ypT0kCsyH9uruzY=/259x37:764x374/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/20491015/20120227_kdl_af3_373.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Bruce Fedyck-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>Sing, O Daughter of the Oilfields!<br> Scream and shout, you sons of Hunter!<br> O, people of Edmonton,<br> may your joy completely overwhelm you!</p>
<p>For God's judgment against us will soon come to an end,<br> and our enemies will be utterly destroyed!<br> Yes God himself, the Creator of this great game,<br> will wrap himself in Oiler colours and live in our midst!<br> Our time of trouble will finally be over,<br> and we will have no more need to fear disaster!</p>
<p>On that day we will hear God's voice:</p>
<p>"Don't be afraid, Oil Country!<br> Today, you have no need for mourning!<br> For Yahweh, your God, wears your colours,<br> and dwells within you.<br> I am delighted by this team and by the joy they bring;<br> I will show my love for you through their victory,<br> and will rejoice with you in your songs of celebration."</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b></b></p>
<h4><b><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.arcticicehockey.com/">Winnipeg Jets</a> @ <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.coppernblue.com/">Edmonton Oilers</a></b></h4>
<p><b>Rexall Place, 8:00 p.m. MDT</b><br><b>Television: CBC</b></p>
<p><b>Visiting Team Scouting Report:</b></p>
<p>In my preview of the Central division, I noted that the Jets have a significant unresolved problem in goal, with <span>Ondrej Pavelec</span> signed for four more seasons as the team's starting goaltender despite performing at about the level of an average NHL backup. But Pavelec aside, the Jets have some nice things. The top nine looks solid with <span>Mark Scheifele</span> being the one big question mark. He's going to have terrific support from his linemates, and they'll likely get plenty of offensive opportunities. Corey Pronman has picked Scheifele to win the Calder Trophy this year, so there are at least a few folks out there who believe he'll succeed. If he does, the Jets are going to be solid up front. He's likely to see plenty of either <span>Boyd Gordon</span> or <span>Taylor Hall</span> tonight, and things won't get any easier once he's playing teams that haven't lost their two best centers to injury. It's a tough way to break in a rookie.</p>
<p><b>Expected Lineups:</b></p>
<p><b>Edmonton Oilers (0-0-0):</b></p>
<p>Smyth - Hall - Hemsky<br> Perron - Arcobello - Eberle<br> Joensuu - Gordon - Yakupov<br> Gazdic - Acton - Brown</p>
<p>Smid - Petry<br> Ference - J Schultz<br> N Schultz - Belov</p>
<p>Dubnyk</p>
<p><b>Winnipeg Jets (0-0-0):</b></p>
<p>Ladd - Little - Wheeler<br> Kane - Scheifele - Setoguchi<br> Wright - Jokinen - Frolik<br> Tangradi - Slater - Thorburn</p>
<p>Enstrom - Byfuglien<br> Bogosian - Trouba<br> Stuart - Postma</p>
<p>Pavelec</p>
<p><b>By The Numbers:</b></p>
<ul>
<li>People keep saying that there are questions about Devan Dubnyk's ability to be a starting goaltender in the NHL, but decision-time is coming and coming fast with Dubnyk scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after this season. Unfortunately for the Oilers, the questions are warranted. Over the last four seasons, Dubnyk has posted a .920 even strength save percentage, which puts him 26th out of 40 goalies with at least 100 starts over that time. That's good enough to be a starter in the NHL, but it's not so good that you'd want to spend a lot of money on it.</li>
<li>No one played more five-on-five minutes on Winnipeg's blueline last year than <span>Ron Hainsey</span> (he played 882 minutes), and yet the Jets decided to let Hainsey go for nothing during the off-season even though he's clearly a better bet than, say, Paul Postma. It was a very curious choice. That said, one of the reasons he played so much was injuries to some of Winnipeg's key players; <span>Tobias Enstrom</span> played in just 22 games and <span>Zach Bogosian</span> just 33. If the Jets get better health from their blueline, and <span>Jacob Trouba</span> proves to be a capable replacement for Hainsey, their blueline could actually be better despite the loss.</li>
<li>I understand that playing <span>Mark Arcobello</span> on the second line probably isn't a very good idea, but I also think there's a non-zero chance for it to work. Arcobello was a dominant offensive player last year in the AHL. He led the Barons in points (68) and shots on goal (236) during the regular season and led the Barons in goals (12) and points (20) during the playoffs, totals that left him second and fourth league-wide even though the Barons didn't make the Calder Cup Finals. I know that it's rare for an AHL player to suddenly become a quality NHLer, but every once in a while, a team finds <span>Rich Peverley</span> when they give a player like that quality ice time and strong linemates. Here's hoping.</li>
</ul>
https://www.coppernblue.com/2013/10/1/4791508/oilers-v-jets-zephaniah-3-14-17Scott Reynolds2013-10-01T12:30:00-06:002013-10-01T12:30:00-06:00Jets @ Oilers Lines and Pairings
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<img alt="At least that guy's not around to hit Dubnyk in the face anymore." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vxqF0Eok3o93D9imkYcHVU2Y8pk=/1x0:998x665/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/20450675/20120227_kdl_af3_374.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>At least that guy's not around to hit Dubnyk in the face anymore. | Bruce Fedyck-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Lines and pairings for the season opener - can the undermanned Oilers get off on the right foot?</p> <p>Check back throughout the day as we'll post updates when they become available.</p>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.coppernblue.com/">Oilers</a> expected lineup based on recent practices and team updates:</p>
<p> </p>
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 408pt;" border="2" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="543">
<colgroup>
<col style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 3584; width: 74pt;" width="98">
<col style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 4132; width: 85pt;" width="113">
<col style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 3949; width: 81pt;" width="108">
<col style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 4132; width: 85pt;" width="113">
<col style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 4059; width: 83pt;" width="111">
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<tbody>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td colspan="5" class="xl67" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 408pt;" align="center" bgcolor="ff6600" height="20" width="543"><font color="0024ff" face="Calibri">Edmonton Oilers Expected Lineup</font></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20"><font face="Calibri"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><font face="Calibri"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><font face="Calibri"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><font face="Calibri"><span class="sbn-auto-link"></span></font>Ryan Smyth</span></font></span></font></span></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><span> </span><span class="sbn-auto-link">Taylor Hall</span><span> </span></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><font face="Calibri"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><font face="Calibri"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><font face="Calibri"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><font face="Calibri"><span class="sbn-auto-link"></span></font></span></font>Ales Hemsky</span></font></span></font></span></font></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20"><font face="Calibri"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><font face="Calibri"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><font face="Calibri"><span class="sbn-auto-link">David Perron</span></font></span></font></span><span> </span></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><span> </span><span class="sbn-auto-link">Mark Arcobello</span><span> </span></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><font face="Calibri"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><font face="Calibri"><span class="sbn-auto-link">Jordan Eberle</span></font></span></font></span></font></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20"><font face="Calibri"><span class="sbn-auto-link">Jesse Joensuu</span><span> </span></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><span> </span><span class="sbn-auto-link">Boyd Gordon</span><span> </span></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><span> </span><span class="sbn-auto-link">Nail Yakupov</span></font></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20"><font face="Calibri"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span class="sbn-auto-link">Luke Gazdic</span></span><span> </span></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><span> </span><span class="sbn-auto-link">Will Acton</span><span> </span></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><span> </span><span class="sbn-auto-link">Mike Brown</span></font></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td class="xl66" style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"><font face="Calibri"><span>Ladislav Smid</span><span> </span></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><span> </span><span>Jeff Petry</span></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"><font face="Calibri"><span>Andrew Ference</span><span> </span></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><span> </span><span>Justin Schultz</span></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"><font face="Calibri"><span>Nick Schultz</span><span> </span></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><span> </span><span>Anton Belov</span></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td class="xl66" align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><span>Devan Dubnyk</span></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20"><font face="Calibri">Scratches:</font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Ben Eager</span><br></span></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><span>Steve MacIntyre</span></font></td>
<td colspan="2" class="xl67" align="center"><font face="Calibri"><span>Denis Grebeshkov</span></font></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p> </p>
<p>The Oilers have six guys playing their first game at Rexall. Expect Taylor Hall to get penalty kill time. Expect Anton Belov to get power play time.</p>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.arcticicehockey.com/">Jets</a> expected lineup based on recent practices and team updates:</p>
<p><font face="Calibri"> </font></p>
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 408pt;" border="2" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="543">
<colgroup>
<col style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 3584; width: 74pt;" width="98">
<col style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 4132; width: 85pt;" width="113">
<col style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 3949; width: 81pt;" width="108">
<col style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 4132; width: 85pt;" width="113">
<col style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 4059; width: 83pt;" width="111">
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td colspan="5" class="xl67" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 408pt;" align="center" height="20" width="543"><font face="Calibri">Winnipeg Jets Expected Lineup</font></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20"><font face="Calibri"><span>Andrew Ladd</span><span> </span></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><span> </span><span>Bryan Little</span><span> </span></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><span> </span><span>Blake Wheeler</span></font></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20"><font face="Calibri"><span>Evander Kane</span><span> </span></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><span> </span><span>Mark Scheifele</span><span> </span></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><span> </span><span>Devin Setoguchi</span></font></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20"><font face="Calibri"><span>James Wright</span><span> </span></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><span> </span><span>Olli Jokinen</span><span> </span></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><span> </span><span>Michael Frolik</span></font></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20"><font face="Calibri"><span>Eric Tangradi</span><span> </span></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><span> </span><span>Jim Slater</span><span> </span></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><span> </span><span>Chris Thorburn</span></font></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td class="xl66" style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"><font face="Calibri"><span>Tobias Enstrom</span><span> </span></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><span> </span><span>Dustin Byfuglien</span></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"><font face="Calibri"><span>Zach Bogosian</span><span> </span></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><span> </span><span>Jacob Trouba</span></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td class="xl65" align="center"><font face="Calibri"><span>Mark Stuart</span><span> </span></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><span> </span><span>Paul Postma</span></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td class="xl66" align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
</tr>
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<td style="height: 15.0pt;" align="center" height="20"><font face="Calibri"><br></font></td>
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<td align="center"><font face="Calibri"><span>Ondrej Pavelec</span></font></td>
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https://www.coppernblue.com/2013/10/1/4773890/jets-oilers-lines-and-pairings-season-opener-game-1Copper and Blue Staff2013-10-01T06:00:06-06:002013-10-01T06:00:06-06:00Jets @ Oilers : Season Opener Preview
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<img alt="I don't have a caption, I just love this picture." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/VyKy1HYIgU03rXBTzJPoCftLJTU=/1x0:998x665/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/20203201/20120227_kdl_af3_384.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>I don't have a caption, I just love this picture. | Bruce Fedyck-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>The Oilers kick off their playoff march against an old rival.</p> <center>
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<td><center><a href="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1827229/200px-Winnipeg_Saints.png"><img alt="Winnipeg Saints" src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1827229/200px-Winnipeg_Saints.png" class="photo" height="100" width="199"></a></center></td>
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<h1 align="center">@</h1>
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<td><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2042661/Edmonton_Flyers.gif"><img alt="Edmonton Flyers" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2042661/Edmonton_Flyers.gif" class="photo" height="125" width="169"></a></td>
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<td style="text-align: center;"><b>0-0-0, 0.00 p/g</b></td>
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<td style="text-align: center;"><b>0-0-0, 0.00 p/g<br></b></td>
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<td style="text-align: center;">Western Conf: T-1st</td>
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<td style="text-align: center;">Western Conf: T-1st</td>
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<br><b><b>8:00 p.m. MDT</b><b> | CBC</b></b>
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<b><b>Rexall Place</b></b><br><a href="http://www.tiqiq.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers-tickets/?brandid=sbnation_coppernblue" target="_blank">Tickets</a><br>
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<b>The opposing view</b>: <a href="http://arcticicehockey.com/" target="_blank">Arctic Ice Hockey</a>
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<h3><b>Top Story:</b></h3>
<div class="floated-video"><img alt="Stabbing' time!" src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/assets/3316929/Roberto.png"></div>
<p>There are faces to be punched in the NHL and the Oilers are going to punch them. The current roster is a dream come true for many - kids, kids, everywhere with goons galore. The question, clearly, can this lineup hang with a decent team? For the first time since 2009, fans don't have to fret about the defense, but now the concern over depth has shifted to the forwards.</p>
<p>And let's' not get started on the centres. I wish someone, sometime said something about the centre depth. <span>Taylor Hall</span> out of position, an AHL guy on the second line, a legitimate top nine centre on the third (yay) and the first base coaches son on the fourth line. It's not good.</p>
<p>But when it comes to fighting, no one, and I mean no one, in the NHL can match the Oilers in a line brawl.</p>
<p>Now get out of here, so we can practice our facepunching.</p>
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<b>The Oilers are saying</b>:</h3>
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<p>"It is my belief that the Oilers would have claimed Gazdic even if MacIntyre hadn’t suffered a lower-body injury, ironically running Gazdic Friday night in OKC.<br>...<br>At 24, Gazdic has a chance to play as a regular fourth line winger providing the Oilers with functional toughness. I do not see Gazdic as a short term solution here. He has definite opportunity to secure long-term full-time NHL employment with the <a href="https://www.coppernblue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Edmonton Oilers</a>."</p>
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<p>--<a href="http://oilers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=684794" target="_blank">Bob Stauffer on the Oilers' and their waiver wire moves</a>.</p>
<p><span>Luke Gazdic</span> scored 5 goals in 58 games in his draft year. He's topped out at 11 goals in 72 games in the AHL. <a href="http://www.100degreehockey.com/2010/07/luke-gazdic-hit-everything-that-moves.html" target="_blank">Gazdic </a>says about his game: "<i>I'm not a skilled hockey player...</i>" This is dysfunctional toughness.</p>
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<b>The Opponent is saying</b>:</h3>
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<p>""We have to kind of wait for that. I have a vision to where they are going to be and to play and we'll just have to wait until that plays out"</p>
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<p>--<a href="http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/hockey/jets/scheifele-trouba-sure-as-death-taxes-225686821.html" target="_blank">Claude Noel</a>, on Mark Scheifele and Jacob Trouba. By the way - the headline for that article is really bizarre.</p>
<p>That line is going to find a number of opportunities to score tonight.</p>
<p><b>Key matchup:</b> Arcobello vs. Scheifele. It's a battle of guys who are shocked to be playing in their spots. The top sixes are evenly matched, down to these two. Don't look at the bottom six.</p>
<h3><b>Expected Lines & Pairings:</b></h3>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Dallas Eakins watching pre-game skate from stands. Interesting to see whether it's Eager or Gazdic at 4th line LW tonight.</p>— Jack Michaels (@EdmontonJack) <a href="https://twitter.com/EdmontonJack/statuses/385080867548196865">October 1, 2013</a>
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<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p>The lines are going to be pretty interesting. Eakins has held firm with his lines through the pre-season, but the sports writers in Edmonton insist that he uses the MacBlender™ and to expect the unexpected. In Eakins is smart he'll go power versus power and see if Bryan Little can stop Taylor Hall. (He can't)</p>
<p align="center"><span>Ryan Smyth</span> - Taylor Hall - <span>Ales Hemsky</span></p>
<p align="center"><span>David Perron</span> - <span>Mark Arcobello</span> - <span>Jordan Eberle</span></p>
<p align="center"><span>Jesse Joensuu</span> - <span>Boyd Gordon</span> - <span>Nail Yakupov</span></p>
<p align="center"><span>Ben Eager</span> - <span>Will Acton</span> - <span>Mike Brown</span></p>
<p align="center"> </p>
<p align="center"><span>Ladislav Smid</span> - <span>Jeff Petry</span></p>
<p align="center"><span>Andrew Ference</span> - <span>Justin Schultz</span></p>
<p align="center"><span>Nick Schultz</span> - <span>Anton Belov</span></p>
<p align="center"> </p>
<p align="center"><span>Devan Dubnyk</span></p>
<p align="left">For Winnipeg, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/TJ%20Maughan" target="_blank">via TJ Maughan</a></p>
<p align="center"><span>Andrew Ladd</span> - <span>Bryan Little</span> - <span>Blake Wheeler</span></p>
<p align="center"><span>Evander Kane</span> - <span>Mark Scheifele</span> - <span>Devin Setoguchi</span></p>
<p align="center"><span>James Wright</span> - <span>Olli Jokinen</span> - <span>Michael Frolik</span></p>
<p align="center"><span>Eric Tangradi</span> - <span>Jim Slater</span> - <span>Chris Thorburn</span></p>
<p align="center"> </p>
<p align="center"><span>Tobias Enstrom</span> - <span>Dustin Byfuglien</span></p>
<p align="center"><span>Zach Bogosian</span> - <span>Jacob Trouba</span></p>
<p align="center"><span>Mark Stuart</span> - <span>Paul Postma</span></p>
<p align="center"> </p>
<p align="center"><span>Ondrej Pavelec</span></p>
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https://www.coppernblue.com/2013/10/1/4773850/winnipeg-jets-edmonton-oilers-season-opener-previewDerek Zona