Winner of this game takes over the lead in the Northwest Division. Ok I don't care how early it is in the season, is this really a sentence anyone expected to read 9 games in? The Oilers start one of the biggest and toughest tests of the season tonight as they take on the Avalanche, the start of a 8 games out of the next 9 games on the road true test.
If the Oilers get around 9 points in that stretch, I will be convinced that this team is on the cusp of being a possible playoff team. There are some encouraging signs. Last night was a fire drill in the 3rd period but this is a game that the Oilers would have lost last year and so was the one against the Canucks a few days earlier. They are bending in their own zone but not breaking. Teams are getting fewer grade "A" chances.
Horcoff/Smyth/Jones
Impressed with this trio, getting all the tough assignments, most of the d-zone face-offs, they have been remarkable. Oh the Kids and the Hall line is getting all the press but they owe some of their success to the before mentioned trio because Renney can shelter them, get them some easier minutes. Do not misunderstand me, I am not knocking the kids, they will be the best line in Hockey sooner than later. The fact that Renney has been able to rely on a more experienced line has helped the Oilers immensely.
Dubnyk
The Oilers are playing their backup tonight, a backup with a stellar .920 save percentage. Somehow I think they may be ok tonight. Goaltending has stopped being a question mark to a strength in this young team.
Gagner, Belanger, Paajarvi and assorted others
Calling any player not on the first two lines, the Oilers need some production and need it soon! Perhaps the Kids and the Hall line and the goaltending can carry them through this stretch but I am not really that confident. When is Hemsky back again? (just read on twitter from Jason Gregor that he is expected to play in the 2nd week of the trip, great news for the Oilers)
Petry and Peckham
I said in an earlier blog that Peckham would get another opportunity, but he didn't make much of it last night. Time could be ticking on his career as an Edmonton Oiler. Petry will most likely draw in, his test will be moving the puck quickly and consistently forward.
RNH
Read many an article and blog today about how the Oilers did the fans and RNH a great disservice by not announcing it early. Balderdash! I didn't write about him making the team in the last few blogs as I really didn't want to insult anyone's intelligence. It was as obvious as the Sun rising in the morning and as much as that is a glorious spectacle every morning, I don't get all giddy that it happens.
The Oilers do not need some huge ceremony proclaiming he isn't going back to Red Deer. They did not do one for the kids last year. A simple announcement and a press release is enough! It is not the Oilers fault that the media made it a story by asking every day. It really stopped being one the minute the hats poured down at Rexall Place.
There is no story here and no controversy, besides that the media need a new story!
Enjoy tonights game!
No comments:
Post a Comment