Friday, December 08, 2006

 

Oilers Game Day-Stars

Record: 15-10-2Record: 19-9-0
Preview


Key points are as follows:

1) Both teams have significant injuries (Smyth and Hemsky; Morrow, Modano, Lindros).

2) Both starting goalies are coming off shutouts (Turco's coming off two).

3) Edmonton is 7-2-1 in their last ten games, but are still just 4-6-1 on the road this season.


Dennis has an excellent preview up at Irreverent Oil Fans. I suggest checking that out.

Prediction: 3-2, Oilers. San Fernando, Torres, Lupul. GOILERS!!!!!!!

Comments:

I say 5-3 for the Stars. Pisani, Reasoner and MAB for the oil, with ratboy Ribeiro and Lehtinen netting two apiece. McGeough ices it with the empty netter.
 


I say 6-0 Pisani. The rest of the team can't make it to the rink because they are mesmerized by Stoll's induction into the HHOF (to be announced at 7pm on TSN by a buck naked fully erect Pierre Maguire) but Pisani takes on the Stars by his lonesome, scores the double natural hat trick in the first two minutes of the game and spends the remainder of the game stoning the Stars by snaring pucks in his gigantic newly grown red beard.

It could happen.
 


You should be inducted into the Hall of Fame for that comment alone, BD.
 


Thank you Andrew.

So kind of you to say.
 


Let's hope the blender stays in the cupboard tonight.
 


Agreed. The lines that had going the other night were solid, even though I was initilly horrifed to see Lupul and Sykora on the same line.
 


I really think Pisani should just grow out the beard for the whole season.

As far as I can tell...

Goals per game when shaving: 0.22
Goals per game not shaving: 0.58
 


As far as I can tell...

Goals per game when shaving: 0.22
Goals per game not shaving: 0.58


Well, it's well known that I'm a big believer in beard mojo, so I'm all for it.
 


Can one of the IOF guys confirm that number?

I have a gpg of 0.36 when not shaving, and most of that difference is due to increased pplay time.

Bare EVGPG: 0.14
Hairy EVGPG: 0.16

Anyone?
 


What are the odds that Barnaby stuck his stick in Roli's mask like that on purpose?

5 on 3. Oh my.
 


Andy Grabia said...
Agreed. The lines that had going the other night were solid, even though I was initially horrified to see Lupul and Sykora on the same line.


You think Sykora has looked out of place defensively, Grabia? I dunno, I haven't really noticed him in his own end and I usually take that as a good thing.
 


Hey, Traktor Boy is in, but will he play?
 


I think Sykora is reasonable defensively. Those years drinking the koolaid in NJ - you don't play for that squad if you can't handle your own end - or at least not back then you didn't.

1-0, huh?

How do the lads look tonight, Andy?
 


Who's sitting?
 


How do the lads look tonight, Andy?

Ya pops, TVU seems down and out, so we need you man. I don't trust Rod and Morley.
 


Real time info seems unreliable as well tonight. CBS, Yahoo, NHL, all of them. TOI, Shots, shift charts all really behind. Clocks are working though. Anyone else having problems?
 


Yep, I saw the same everywhere I went.
 


You think Sykora has looked out of place defensively, Grabia? I dunno, I haven't really noticed him in his own end and I usually take that as a good thing.

I agree RiversQ. I was more worried about the offensive end. I just imagined Horcoff doing all the work, while Lupul and Sykora sat in the slot with their sticks on the ice.
 


Raffi on a tear. Terrific.
 


Boys look good. Playing very similar to two nights ago. Torres just made it 2-0. Man, when that guy is hot...

I didn't hear Traktor Boy's name once.
 


Mikhnov isn't playing.
 


I didn't hear Traktor Boy's name once

When I first tuned in, CBS had credited a shot to him, they have since taken it away. As well both the NHL and Yahoo have him on the scoresheet. dennis' comment above make me think he's in the PB though.

People in TV land probably know better.
 


Oh yeah, TVU-NHL is done. I'd imagine, and hope, that the NHL would start streaming off NHL.com some time soon.
 


Yikes. That was scary. Both d-men got penalties. Guess which two?
 


What a fucking gong show those two guys can be!

Jesus.
 


And now the NHL has him off too. But I see the blender hasn't touched 22-78-20, how are they looking tonight?
 


At least Roli didn't get his knee ripped up on the play.
 


22-78-20

Barely played. Pouliot has 1:53 of ice-time, and that includes some PP time.

Atta boy, Gator! Big block. Come one, boys. Kill this one!
 


Radio sucks, I miss TVU already.
 


That was a MONSTER faceoff win for Jarret Stoll. He is a HERO.

Wow. Dallas looks awful. Not a single shot on the 5 on 3. Zubov seems lost without Modano.

Big play by Shaggy there, lifting Lehtinen's stick and saving a sure goal.
 


Andy Grabia said... I agree RiversQ. I was more worried about the offensive end. I just imagined Horcoff doing all the work, while Lupul and Sykora sat in the slot with their sticks on the ice.

Ah, gotcha. Yeah I could see that. Lupul does seem to be working a little harder lately though. It's funny he seems to go in streaks kind of like Torres where it's not just streaky results but also effort. I thought his first 3-4 games looked pretty good and then he went into the crapper and now he's come back out again. He's like Mr. Hankey.
 


Radio sucks, I miss TVU already.

It's not that radio is terrible necessarily. TV is definitely preferred. I just think it's time to start letting Morley call the play, and have the man whom I wish was my grandpa add the colorful tales of yesteryear in between whistles.
 


I think Lupul was all afire to start the year and then just reverted to his old habits.

And now MacT has nagged him into some semblance of a guy who can do more then be a one trick pony?

Let's hope that's the case.
 


I'll keep the commentary going then.

Stoll broke another stick on the PP. Ferraro is telling an interesting story about Souray getting a stick custom made this summer because his broke so much last year.

Ferraro is making another good point about MAB needing to skate harder on the PP, to make Dallas work more. A couple secs later, he drew his second penalty in a row. No shots on the last PP, though.

Java Geek has a new page up, btw, and on it he confirms that the Oilers do have the wors PP in the NHL.
 


This 34-16-14 line has been fantastic. They keep the puck in the opposing team's zone, create some chances, and cause turmoil.

The defence has looked excellent as well, that one gaffe by MAB and Greene aside. I'd be surprised if Roli has even faced 15 shots. I can't verify, because every site in the world seems to be down. That or the scorekeepers in Dallas have been grassy-knolled.
 


Small Sample Size!! :)
 


Andy Grabia said...

Java Geek has a new page up, btw, and on it he confirms that the Oilers do have the wors PP in the NHL.


Uh Andy, that's not what it says. They're 18th in the league by GF/hr.
 


Uh Andy, that's not what it says. They're 18th in the league by GF/hr.

Really? Ah. Sorry. I was looking at EGF. Damn! I thought I had you!

But... as Java Geek says, they are succeeding despite taking very few shots and very bad shots.

Only two shots for the Oil in the second. Didn't feel like we were getting manhandled until the last few minutes. But we have the lead, and hopefully we can take it to them in the third.
 


Andy Grabia said...

Really? Ah. Sorry. I was looking at EGF. Damn! I thought I had you!

But... as Java Geek says, they are exceeding despite taking very few shots and very bad shots.


Funny what he says is not exactly what his data shows. His data shows they have average shot quality but don't generate nearly enough shots. I guess his retelling makes good copy. Especially for a Canucks fan.

My data over the past two seasons suggests the Oilers lean heavily on Hemsky for PP production. He had a slow start and now he's hurt. They aren't going to get demonstrably better until he returns.
 


Jim said...
You have your math. I have THE math.


Heh. That's good. Where's that from again? Karl Rove?
 


They aren't going to get demonstrably better until he returns.

Based on what, the way he was driving the PP before he got hurt?

We really should have just made a bet at the beginning of the year. The amount of time we spend arguing about this is crazy.

And yes, it was Rove.
 


That Rove line could have been uttered by any political strategist, or anyone working for the Red Sox or A's, for that matter. Different math is readily available when you can afford it, or not afford to look at everyone elses math.
 


Yahoo is up and running. Shots after 2 were 14-12 Stars. It's like watching the 2005 Flames and Wild.
 


I had no idea that Torres goal was on the PP. 2-5 on the night.
 


Not much happening. Kinda boring. But Dallas is just starting a PP.

You have to think the inability to get shots on net is going to hurt the Oil eventually this season.
 


Man, Dallas stinks. You can really see their lack of depth. Such a contrast to the Oilers, which is nice for a change.

Lots of blocked shots for the Oilers, and the centres are winning all the draws. I hope in the future they can generate some more shots and offence. But tonight, I can't blame them for playing a tight defensive game. They haven't really had to worry about Dallas at all.

Minute and change left. Hope I didn't jinx things.
 


Andy Grabia said...
Based on what, the way he was driving the PP before he got hurt?

His PP numbers were coming around before he got hurt and they're respectable now anyway. He had a terrible first 7 games or so. It's based on his last couple of years of PP production.

Andy Grabia said...
You have to think the inability to get shots on net is going to hurt the Oil eventually this season.


This is the 2nd best team in the league in terms of SA/game. I do agree with you in general though.
 


Sweet. GOILERS!
 


I was referring to Dallas there - they don't give up many shots.
 


Beating Dallas is so gratifying, isn't it?
 


Roli with his 2nd straight shutout. Only 1 goal allowed in 3 games for the Oilers. 26 blocked shots tonight. Reasoner won 74%. of his faceoffs.

Oil win, I'm two wins away from winning the Supebowl in Madden, and the Canucks are beating the Canes. What a great Friday night.
 


I was referring to Dallas there - they don't give up many shots.

Good to know. I was getting worried. I still am, but...

Thoughts on the game, RiversQ? Or anyone else who saw it?
 


And where the hell did BD go? Past your bed time, Pat?
 


and the Canucks are beating the Canes.

Goals scored by Jan Bulis and Marc Chouinard.

Are those horses I see coming over the horizon?
 


I dunno, I'd kinda rather see Vancouver vanish into oblivion. One less divisional opponent to vanquish later, and all that.

As for the game, it was boring as shit from my perspective after the Torres goal. Edmonton spent waaaaay too much time in their own end in the third. Lucky it didn't bite them on the ass like against Anaheim.
 


I'll take a Canucks win tonight, if only to see the Canes humiliated out West. One goal in three games so far?

I agree that we didn't play enough in Dallas' zone after the Torres goal, but it wasn't like playing Anaheim. Were you worried at any point? I certainly wasn't.
 


True, I wasn't as worried, but then, Dallas is the only team in the West with a bigger injury problem than the Oilers. Plus, with Edmonton in full-on playoff mode ATM, it's a lot more difficult to worry. That being said, it's still not the sort of thing one likes to see; no matter how not-worrisome it is, it's frustrating and annoying to watch.

Oh, and it's now two. Craig Adams just scored. Took 'em 46 minutes to get it done, mind you.
 


frickin luongo.
 


Vancouver pulls it out in OT. I have no idea how to feel about this.
 


It seemed the only real threatening presence on the Stars roster tonight was Zubov.

I was really excited around the 5 minute mark of the second period about the Oiler's chances of finally out shooting a team. Oh well.

This might be the most convenient point in Edmonton's schedule for the injury bug to strike. They seem to be responding by playing a little more responsible and safe. So hopefully the Underacheivers begin to respond and play consistently and then when Smyth and Hemsky return it'll be like acquiring two insane scorers to an already decent team for nothing! The Oilers will be a behemoth of a team from there on in.
 


Can fans like our "exciting games". You Oilers can take your silly shutouts... we want excitement.

Now if you'll excuse me, I've got a bottle of Pepto Bismal and some Rolaids that have my name written all over them.

Yergh.
 


Bottom line- we came out of the one of the most difficult away barns in Oilers history (now 4-19-2) with a win. We were missing three of our best players. It was a calculated effort by team, coaches (Simpson PK) and Roli. Maybe it was boring/trappy but all the rides were running tonight. Big win and big start to the road trip.
 


Actually, I didn't see Simpson on the bench tonight. It was Billy Moores. I meant to ask people about it. Did anyone see Simpson on the bench?
 


Long hard week + we're hosting our Christmas party tonight + this morning is my morning to get up with the kids = early bedtime.

Hey, 2-0 win in Dallas. Take it. Three in a row and a little cushion if/when they lose a few in a row.

Dallas can shut it down on D, Andy. Combine that with Smyth and Hemsky being out and a conservative gameplan and you're not going to generate a lot of shots I think.

Seriously though, another game in that winning style. Boring but it works. Watching the third period highlights this morning - the two saves that they showed Roli making to preserve the shutout - a wrister from the point and about a 25 footer from the boards. I kep waiting for the danger.

And yeah, Dallas is hurting but we all know the Oilers' propensity to take such a situation lightly in the past.

Banking points.
 

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