The Copper & Blue - Flames v Oilers: Thumb Wrestling Championship of AlbertaA 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.jpg2015-02-01T09:45:00-07:00http://www.coppernblue.com/rss/stream/77200022015-02-01T09:45:00-07:002015-02-01T09:45:00-07:00This is your Justin Schultz.
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<figcaption>Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>We're beyond the point of making fun. Interventions are necessary</p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.coppernblue.com/2014/10/16/6988957/justin-schultz-jultz-jultzing-not-norris">Jultzing used to be funny</a>.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.coppernblue.com/2014/11/7/7172431/jultz-justin-schultz-future-norris-lol-no">Really funny</a>.</p>
<p>Making fun of Craig MacTavish's bereft-of-reality views on Schultz was also a good time.</p>
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<p>"Untapped potential, incredible potential of this player. I feel like Justin is going to be a great player and a great Oiler. What we wanted to do as an organization is buy ourselves a little bit of time to give ourselves a chance to negotiate a long-term deal."</p>
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<p>Watch Jultz gaze at the game going on around him on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.matchsticksandgasoline.com/">Flames</a> first goal:</p>
<p><iframe src="http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/embed?playlist=2014020736-720-h" frameborder="0" height="395" width="640"></iframe></p>
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<p>"I disagree with the perception that he’s weaker on the defensive side of things."</p>
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<p>Now watch Jultz have no idea what he's doing on the Flames final goal:<a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iE7ukc7MV-k"></a></p>
<p><iframe src="http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/embed?playlist=2014020736-910-h" frameborder="0" height="395" width="640"></iframe></p>
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<p>"<a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgSPaXgAdzE">I know he’s going to be a player that can be counted on in both ends. I think that Justin has Norris Trophy potential and I don’t think there are too many people who disagree with me in that regard… What Justin brings, everybody’s looking for, and we’re thankful we have him</a>."</p>
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<p>Can we end this experiment already? Will Anaheim take him back?</p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iE7ukc7MV-k" target="new">Where is that girl with the frying pan</a> when you need her?</p>
https://www.coppernblue.com/2015/2/1/7957063/oilers-justin-schultz-defense-so-so-badDerek Zona2015-01-31T23:08:09-07:002015-01-31T23:08:09-07:00Third Period Melt Down
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<img alt="Pretty much the game in one picture. The Oilers got completely pummeled by the Flames" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/6AK5yB_U6A8KoLGokXrcSFEXVQc=/0x0:3175x2117/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45601512/usa-today-8358480.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Pretty much the game in one picture. The Oilers got completely pummeled by the Flames | Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Oilers lose 4-2 in a game that they lead 2-0 in against the Flames</p> <p>How many times do I have to write this same article? The <a href="https://www.coppernblue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Oilers</a> had the lead then lost it in the third period.</p>
<h3>Highlights</h3>
<p><iframe src="http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/embed?playlist=2014020736-X-h" frameborder="0" height="395" width="640"></iframe></p>
<h4>First Period</h4>
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<li>17:17 <b>GOAL</b> - Right off of the face <span>Ryan Nugent-Hopkins</span> forces the puck to <span>Jordan Eberle</span> in the slot and he buries the puck.</li>
<li>14:42 <b>FIGHT</b> - <span>Keith Aulie</span> & <span>Brandon Bollig</span> </li>
<li>14:38 <b>FIGHT</b> - <span>Luke Gazdic</span> & <span>Deryk Engelland</span> </li>
<li>13:37 <b>4v5</b> - <span>Matt Hendricks</span> for roughing - Drawn by <span>Mark Giordano</span> (200ft away from the Oilers’ net and while the Oilers had the puck)</li>
<li>12:28 - Giordano takes a massive shot from the point. Scrivens makes the initial stop and juggles the rebound. <span>Johnny Gaudreau</span> is right there to put away the rebound but <span>Ben Scrivens</span> stones him.</li>
<li>11:37 <b>5v5</b> - Penalty expires</li>
<li>8:19 <b>GOAL</b> - Eberle tries a sharp angle shot but it goes off the side of the net. Eberle then grabs the puck and goes behind the net. Meanwhile Benoit Pouliot is all alone in front of the net, Eberle gets the puck to him and he puts it away.</li>
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<p>This wasn’t a great period for the Oilers by any stretch of the imagination but the Oilers’ first line of Pouliot - Nugent-Hopkins - Eberle got good match ups. As long as they didn’t meet up with Giordanon and Brodie they were pretty much golden.</p>
<h4>Second Period</h4>
<ul>
<li>12:06 <b>5v4</b> - <span>David Jones</span> for cross checking - Drawn by Pouliot</li>
<li>10:06 <b>5v5</b> - Penalty expires</li>
<li>9:29 - <span>David Wolf</span> gets a pass from <span>Matt Stajan</span> and fires it off the crossbar</li>
<li>8:37 - <span>Josh Jooris</span> gets a shot off on net and the rebound bounces right out to slot but the play is blown dead beacause Gaudreau had crashed into Scrivens</li>
<li>7:09 <b>4v5</b> - Pouliot for hooking - Drawn by <span>TJ Brodie</span> </li>
<li>5:09 <b>5v5</b> - Penalty expires</li>
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<p>The second period was less exciting than the first. There was a lot of open ice play but not much in the area of shots on net. The highlight of the period belongs to David Wolf and his cross bar at 9:29.</p>
<h4>Third Period</h4>
<ul>
<li>17:04 <b>GOAL</b> - <span>Mason Raymond</span> gets the puck in behind the Oilers net and skates around front with it and puts the puck past a screened Scrivens</li>
<li>15:23 - The puck bounces down the ice and <span>Rob Klinkhammer</span> races for it. He gets to the puck but can’t get a good angle on the shot and puts it right on <span>Jonas Hiller</span> </li>
<li>13:44 <b>GOAL</b> - A bad turn over by <span>Derek Roy</span> leads to <span>Mikael Backlund</span> being able to gain the zone. Backlund feathers a pass over to <span>Lance Bouma</span> who puts it past Scrivens.</li>
<li>11:33 <b>4v5</b> - Roy for hooking - Drawn by Bouma</li>
<li>11:21 <b>GOAL</b> - <span>Sean Monahan</span> puts it in off of Aulie’s skate because Aulie is the guy you want on the ice in PK situation</li>
<li>7:09 <b>4v5</b> - <span>Matt Fraser</span> for slashing - Drawn by <span>Raphael Diaz</span> </li>
<li>5:09 <b>5v5</b> - Penalty expires</li>
<li>3:33 <b>GOAL</b> - Derek Roy turns the puck over again and once again Backlund gets the puck and its a 2 on 1 for the <a href="https://www.matchsticksandgasoline.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Flames</a>. Backlund gets the puck over to Bouma who puts it past Scrivens.</li>
<li>2:30 - Oilers Empty Net</li>
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<p>Well it was bound to happen. The Oilers didn’t play a great game and we all know how the Flames play in the third. The Oilers could’ve been up 5-0 and still lost the game based on the way they played the third. It was a brutal period that was accentuated by some poor on ice decisions.</p>
<h2 id="thoughts">Thoughts</h2>
<p>What else is there to say? The Flames have had the Oilers’ number this season. Even in games the Oilers looked good they still couldn’t win. Tonight the Oilers looked bad and were lucky to get into the third period up by 2 goals.</p>
<h2 id="up-next">Up Next</h2>
<p>The Oilers head to San Jose on Monday to finish off this quick road trip.</p>
https://www.coppernblue.com/2015/1/31/7958709/third-period-melt-downOilFanInYYC2015-01-31T13:54:45-07:002015-01-31T13:54:45-07:00Oilers @ Flames Game 50 Preview
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<figcaption>Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Winners of three of their last four, can the OIlers knock the Flames down a peg?</p> <p><a href="https://www.coppernblue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link"></a></p>
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<td style="text-align: center;"><b>13-27-9, 35 points, .714 p/g</b></td>
<td>Ranks</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>26-20-3, 55 points, 1.122 p/g</b></td>
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<td style="text-align: center;">Western Conference - 14th</td>
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<td style="text-align: center;">Western Conference - 8th</td>
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<td style="text-align: center;">29th</td>
<td>P/G</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">18th</td>
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<td style="text-align: center;">25th</td>
<td>ST</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">28th</td>
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<td style="text-align: center;">28th</td>
<td>ES</td>
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<td style="text-align: center;">27th</td>
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<td style="text-align: center;">15th</td>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>8 PM - CBC</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Scotiabank Saddledome</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">The opposing view: <a href="http://matchsticksandgasoline.com" target="_blank">Matchsticks and Gasoline</a>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.tiqiq.com/tickets/calgary-flames-vs-edmonton-oilers--01-31-2015/12036243060" target="_blank">Tickets - TiqIQ</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">Don't breathe too hard, but the Oilers are winners of three in their last four. Edmonton's latest victory comes over a <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.diebytheblade.com/">Sabres</a> team that's been designed to fail. Edmonton handed Buffalo their thirteenth consecutive regulation loss in a contest that saw Buffalo register just twenty shots on goal. Anton Lander had a hand in all three Oiler goals (1-2-3), including the <a href="http://video.oilers.nhl.com/videocenter/console?id=2014020720-530-h" target="_blank">eventual game winner</a>. A great game for the fourth line overall. They did it without <span>Taylor Hall</span>, and if the Oilers want to entertain thoughts of winning tonight, they'll likely need to do it without him tonight.</div>
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<p style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.25em;">The Oilers are saying</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p style="text-align: left;">"He feels very comfortable. More comfortable. When he looks behind and sees me, I think that helps. But he's just improved with his game. He's getting some opportunity on the power play, on the penalty kill. He's feeling very comfortable and confident. Now he's getting a great opportunity here. Tonight I thought he was outstanding".</p>
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<p>That's Oilers interim head coach Todd Nelson on <span>Anton Lander's</span> <a href="http://oilers.nhl.com/gamecenter/en/preview?id=2014020736" target="_blank">three point effort against the Sabres.</a></p>
<p>Lander's been playing well for quite a bit of time now, and he was rewarded with a three point night on Thursday against Buffalo. Granted, this year's Sabres are equivalent to a poor man's beer league outfit, but it's good to see Lander get his name in lights on three separate goals. How much does Todd Nelson being behind the bench help Anton Lander? It surely can't hurt any.</p>
<p><b style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.25em;">The Opponent is saying</b></p>
<blockquote>No magic potion or anything, we just have to be hard working and maybe simplify things and try to take some pressure of (Hiller) because he's been the guy that's showing up right from the start of the game and we've got to change that"</blockquote>
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<div><a target="_blank" href="http://video.oilers.nhl.com/videocenter/console?id=648509&catid=4">
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<a href="http://oilers.nhl.com/gamecenter/en/preview?id=2014020123"></a>
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<div>That's <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.matchsticksandgasoline.com/">Flames</a> forward <span>Joe Colborne</span> on how the Flames <a href="http://flames.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=751204&navid=DL%7CCGY%7Chome" target="_blank">need to take some pressure off of goaltender Jonas Hiller</a>. Hiller has turned aside 48 of 50 shots in his past two games.</div>
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<div><b>PAYING DIVIDENDS</b></div>
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<span>Jonas Hiller</span> has been a pleasant addition to this year's Calgary Flames. He's got a .914 SV% to show for it. That's a lot better than I think most would think any Flames goaltender would be sporting at this point of the season. Flames are only allowing 28 shots per game, which puts them in the top ten in fewest shots against. They're also sitting eighth in the West, which (as much as I hate to say it) is a pretty enviable place to be.</div>
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<div><b style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.25em;">Have some of this</b></div>
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<script charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<li>
<b>UPDATE ON NIKITIN - </b>Jack Michaels <a href="http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nhl/3317/nikita-nikitin" target="_blank">tweeted that Nikita Nikitin will be out 4-6 weeks</a> after sustaining a shoulder injury in Thursday's game versus Buffalo. <span>Keith Aulie</span> will replace him in the lineup. Taylor Hall is travelling with the team, but will not dress tonight. </li>
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<b>WHAT DO YOU DO? </b><span>Nikita Nikitin</span> hasn't been a very good player this year for the Oilers. Now, I think he's a better player than Keith Aulie and half the farm, but that's not saying a whole lot. Now that he's out for 4-6 weeks, do you call up <span>Brandon Davidson</span>? <span>Brad Hunt</span>? Someone else? Or, do you send <span>Jeff Petry</span> to Detroit for a second round pick and go head first into the McDavid Sweeps?</li>
<li>
<span>Ben Scrivens</span> (9-16-7 .895 SV% / 3.01) will start his second consecutive game for the Oilers. Jonas Hiller (14-14-2, .914 / 2.37) will get the nod for Calgary. </li>
<li>Derek wants more new wave videos in the game preview. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raostGmaOdA" target="_blank">Who am I to argue?</a> </li>
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<b>SMALL VICTORIES - </b> We're 50 games into this year, and it's going to be another non-playoff year. The Oilers have won three of their last four. Beat Calgary, it's feels good. Not only would it be four wins in the last five, it'd also be against those stupid Flames. Score early and score often.</li>
<li><b>GOILERS</b></li>
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https://www.coppernblue.com/2015/1/31/7957067/oilers-flames-game-50-previewJeff Chapman2015-01-31T07:00:00-07:002015-01-31T07:00:00-07:00Predict the Final Score: Oilers at Flames
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<figcaption>Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Edmonton is locked on Jack Eichel, Calgary is sliding out of the playoffs.</p> <h3>
<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.coppernblue.com/">Oilers</a> at <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.matchsticksandgasoline.com/">Flames</a>
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<p class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph2"><b>Today's Goaltenders:</b></p>
<p class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph3"><span>Ben Scrivens</span> (2,008 minutes played ESSvPct: .900 SvPct: .895) vs. <span>Jonas Hiller</span><span class="sbn-auto-link"></span> (1,794 minutes played ESSvPct: .930 SvPct: .914)</p>
<h3>Please <b>put your prediction in the subject line</b> like this: Oilers n - <span class="sbn-auto-link">Flames</span> n</h3>
<p class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph5">Please list the Oilers score first, regardless of the team being home or away.</p>
<p class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph6">Make your own prediction and do not comment on anyone else's prediction. Any comments that are not in the format above, or in response to someone else's comment will be deleted.</p>
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<p class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph7"><b>Points distributed as follows:</b></p>
<p class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph8">Predict both teams correctly: <b>5 points</b></p>
<p class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph9">Predict the Oilers score correctly: <b>2 points</b></p>
<p class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph10">Predict the opponent's score correctly: <b>1 points</b></p>
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<p class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph11"><i>Your prediction must be submitted by game time. Submissions posted after game time will be deleted.</i></p>
<p class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph12">Points will be tallied throughout the season, and at season's end, we'll award a prize package to the winner. The prize package consists of:</p>
<p class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph13" align="center"><i><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Jeff Petry</span></span> autographed puck<br>Edmonton Oilers puck-shaped rug (pictured below)<br> A set of (4) Edmonton Oilers draught glasses<br> Edmonton Oilers reversible knit hat<br> A set of (2) Edmonton Oilers knit can koozies</i></p>
<p class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph14">*Official rules for this contest can be viewed by <a href="http://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/2332192/The_Copper_n_Blue_Predict_the_Final_Game_Score_Contest.0.pdf" target="_blank">clicking on this link</a>.</p>
<p>Good Luck, Go Oilers!</p>
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https://www.coppernblue.com/2015/1/31/7953221/predict-the-final-score-game-50-edmonton-oilers-vs-calgary-flamesCopper and Blue Staff