Saturday, October 24, 2009

 

Battle Gameday: Sailing

"Fantasy, it gets the best of me
When I'm sailing, all caught up in the reverie"


I've being listening to Yacht Rock all day. Hence the Christopher Cross reference. Even made a Yacht Rock mix. Got me some Cross, the Michael McDonald-led Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan, Hall & Oates, Boz Scaggs, Toto, Kenny Loggins...all of it. So white. So smooth. So wonderful.

So far so good with the Oilers this year. 6-2-1 on the season. 2nd in the NW, 4th in the Western Conference. 36GF. 26GA. Dustin Penner tied (with Ryan Smyth) for 4th in league scoring with 14 points. And all this with a bunch of key players (Fernando Pisani, Sheldon Souray, Steve Staios, and Marc Pouliot) injured. Not too bad, right?

Nope, not too shabby. I'm the biggest cynic in the world when it comes to this hockey club, and even I'm impressed. At the same time, there are concerns. They've only played two games on the road. They've only beaten two teams with a winning record (Dallas and Columbus). The injuries, and a crazy case of the flu, have exposed the lack of depth at forward. They still look really bad in their own end, continually failing to clear the zone. They like to give up goals in the last minute of periods. The starting goaltender plays rebounds like he's playing a game of Pong. The coach isn't Bill Walsh. And Dustin Penner isn't Frank Mahovlich. So, you know, some perspective is probably in order.

As Matt so kindly pointed out, the 2006-2007 Oilers started out 6-2. That was the year of "The Vaunt." They beat some good teams to start the season, too, including the Flames, Sharks, Canucks and Red Wings. Then the wheels came off (on October 25th they were hammered 6-2 by the Ducks and their new defenceman, Chris Pronger). My shrink has advised me to not spend too much time dwelling on that season, but let's just say that it didn't end on a high note.

I'm not saying this season is going to go off the rails like the 06-07 season did (may the Good Lord have mercy on our souls if it does). But there's still a lot of hockey to be played, and this team hasn't really been tested. Tonight's a good test. So too are the next 12 games, 9 of which are on the road. If they can avoid a late-game screwup against the Flames tonight (wouldn't that be nice?), and go even 6-6 over the next 12, I'll be a lot more convinced that this team is the real deal. Right now it's all just a fantasy.


Prediction: What this fool believes is that Oilers ride like the wind in a 5-3 victory. Minute by minute, they take it to the streets, cycle the puck lowdown, and make my dreams come true. Ya mo be thinking Hemmer gets the hatty, and Chopper reels back the years with a pair. Sarah smiles, and the boys Lido shuffle all the way to Margaritaville to meet Rosanna for some post-game celebrations.

GOILERS

Comments:

What's Penner's shooting percentage? Wait, Forget it.

I too, am skeptical. Right now one eyebrow is raised, but it might take more than 10 games to raise the other one.
 


Your music preferences are a tad modern for your new coach (and, obviously, a tad gay for everyone else). Buddy Holly craps bigger than Christopher Cross.
 


Oh wait, Tyler has more emotionally-detached pessimism here:

http://www.mc79hockey.com/?p=3231
 


McLean just mentioned Corsi. Let the light shine in!
 


McLean just mentioned Corsi. Let the light shine in!

Ron MacLean has long been a God on this site, and not just because he said kind words about Matt and I. :)

Thanks for that link to Ty's newest, Mike. Hadn't seen it yet.

What's Penner's shooting percentage?

Isn't it like 25% or something? I totally expect that to hold. Just like I expect him to score 62 goals. He's on pace, you know.

EYEROLL.
 


Your music preferences are a tad modern for your new coach (and, obviously, a tad gay for everyone else). Buddy Holly craps bigger than Christopher Cross.

Judging me gay based on one type of music I listen to would be as irrational as judging you dumb for the one hockey team you cheer for. :)
 


Watching the Leafs game and I just noticed that Wayne Primeau is still in the league! Why? HOW?

I'm also not surprised that the team he plays for hasn't won a game yet.
 


I'm also not surprised that the team he plays for hasn't won a game yet.

I just wish it had been the case from 2006-2009.
 


I actually called your music preferences gay, but, protest as loud as you want.
 


I actually called your music preferences gay...

And that affects the logic of your statement how?
 


Gagner, Penner and Hemsky matched up early against Iginla. I'm terrified.
 


Every time Visnovsky scores an angel gets it's wings... and I also get closer to earning my Fantasy Pool deposit back.


GOILERS!
 


Good stuff Andy.

Penner, Hemsky and Gagner - I think they're actually the real deal. Penner is just playing out of his fucking mind right now. Its completely bizarre.

So with him and Gagner actually looking good then you can cobble together three other lines. Well maybe two.

What can I say? My early season pessimism has been replaced by glorious optimism.

(Does a little dance, makes a little love, gets down tonight.)

The next stretch is going to be tough but I think .500 is reasonable.
 


Guess who else I have in my pool? Rene Bourque. A good night so far.

I can't figure out this Penner fellow. He seems to be about 100 IQ points smarter with the puck. Those little between the leg drop passes being a prime example.
 


Nice to see Jerome in the box. He'll spend a lot of time there if that's his reaction to being body checked...
 


I take it all back, every single word!

;)
 


Feel free to take your helmet off, Giordano.
 


A handful of players have looked good tonight. Penner, Vish, Smid, Stortini and Khabibulin. Gilbert and Grebeshkov have looked awful. Everyone else has been totally flat. And yet two posts have prevented this from being a tie game. Weird night. Should be an interesting 3rd period, anyway, if for no other reason than Calgary keeps taking stupid penalties.
 


A handful of players have looked good tonight. Penner, Vish, Smid, Stortini and Khabibulin. Gilbert and Grebeshkov have looked awful.

Now there's two sentences I thought I'd never see together.

It's a Bizzaro Oilers world we live in now.
 


So, when is this blog finally being renamed to "The Shitkicking of Alberta"?
 


Now there's two sentences I thought I'd never see together.

Tell me about it. Other than Vish, I'm completely surprised.

Well, that was a whupping. Lots of guys out, but still. Far too little effort from far too many guys (Yes, I'm looking at you, Ethan Moreau).
 

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