Ales Hemsky‘s first period goal very much pleased HorseHead. Photo courtesy Sportsnet West

The Oilers had a two goal lead in the second period last night, but Vancouver was able to charge back, knotting it up with under three minutes remaining in regulation. Vancouver’s Chris Tanev was able to win it in OT with less than 30 seconds remaining on his first career NHL goal.

That’s a bitter pill to swallow, but losing two players to various injuries is quite the more bitter.

INJURIES

• The Oilers are already down a faceoff guy in Eric Belanger (broken toes), and now they’re down Shawn Horcoff (busted knuckle).  Horcoff took a shot off his hand, and it depressed a knuckle down into the hand.  That’s no good.  Coach Krueger said that Horcoff’s injury will be “long term”.
• Oilers defenceman Mark Fistric went to the dressing room after running into the boards from missing a check.  Gene Principe says that it looks “day to day“.

And those are just the injuries.  There was a game as well.

Ales Hemsky does “the Hemsky” putting the Oilers up 1-0. Photo courtesy Sportsnet West

• This team loves to come out swinging.  Ales Hemsky had a first period power play goal that was straight Hemsky.  Nail Yakupov dumped the puck shallow into Vancouver’s zone, when Hemsky picked it up about five feet in front of Roberto Luongo.  Hemsky took it to Luongo’s right and deposited the goods.
• Justin Schultz played nearly 28 minutes last night.  28 minutes is forever in a hockey game.
• Sam Gagner also had an assist on Hemsky’s first goal, giving him his tenth point in nine games.
• Ryan Smyth had a shorthanded goal (!?!) for his first of the season.  This goal put the Oilers up by two goals with just over half of the game remaining.  Things were looking up.
• UNTIL the same things crept up.  The Oilers gave up 40 shots this game while amassing only 25.  The Canucks tallied 15 shots in the second period while Edmonton tallied only four.  Vancouver had seven shots in OT, while Edmonton had just two.
• The Oilers got absolutely blastedin the faceoff circle (44-19).  That ratio is likely an anomaly, but with Horcoff and Belanger gone for some time, the Oilers will have to be real good, real quick.
• A rare penalty shot was awarded in OT as Daniel Sedin hooked Taylor Hall on a breakaway.  Hall was unable to convert the attempt.
• Devan Dubnyk was once again relied on heavily to keep this game close.  Dubnyk turned aside 37 of 40 shots.  I can’t say enough about Dubnyk right now, as he’s surpassed my expectations by a considerable margin.  There’s no way that Edmonton takes a point in this game if Dubnyk is average, and there’s no way they take a point in the San Jose game last week if Dubnyk is average.  Guy is playing out of his mind right now.  I don’t know how long it can last.

drumroll please…

10. Pierre McGuire’s Monster Mania

Now, we can argue about Pierre’s (aka Soccer Mom) knowledge of the game, but I’m certain we can all agree that his man crushes on certain NHL players as well as sports media members tend to not only get out of hand, but seem rather, umm, awkward? I’m looking forward to not having to hear who Pierre’s Monster of the Game is every other night on TSN, well, not unless he’s referring to this.

9. Player Interviews About Edmonton Arena Deal

The NHL lock-out is convenient as I for one would’ve felt real sorry for guys like Nail Yakupov having to awkwardly answer any questions regarding this ordeal. Imagine, the 9675 different ways his comment would be deciphered by the blogosphere due to his poor english? I’m just hoping the arena deal comes to an end before the lock-out ends, the players don’t need that distraction. As a fan of the Oilers I’ve been distracted enough by the decisions made on & off the ice by this organization as it is, so by adding in a continuously altered arena deal, would’nt help that cause.

8. Oklahoma City Barons Will Be Stacked

With the additions of Jordan Eberle, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins & Justin Schultz to the roster of a team that made the Final Four of the Calder Cup Championship last spring will be most exciting for fans of the Oilers farm club in Oklahoma City. Here’s a word of warning to fans of the Barons, try not to get too attached, because any day now the NHL season will start, you guys.

7. Oil Kings Will Get Attention

Hey Edmonton hockey fans, remember the other oil in town? The Edmonton Oil Kings are defending their 2012 WHL Championship this year, led by 2012 4th overall draft pick & newly appointed team captain, Griffin Reinhart. Also in the mix are Oilers draft picks Mitch Muroz (32nd overall in 2012) along with Travis Ewanyk (74th overall in 2011) &6’5″ Slovak defenseman Martin Gernat (155 overall in 2011)  Rising prospect Curtis Lazar who is 9th on Bob MacKenzie’s early 2013 Top 10 Draft Prospects List who will be looked at to carry the team offensively. Also returning is goaltending standout & 2012 WHL Playoff MVP Laurent Brossoit, a Flames prospect.

6. Making Fun of NFL Replacement Refs on a Weekly Basis

Well, as bad as things are in the hockey world, they pale in comparison to what’s happening in the NFL. If the latest edition of Monday Night Football is any indication, let’s keep these refs around. The entertainment value that these incompetent officials have showed is nothing short of a travelling circus act & who wouldn’t enjoy a $10 billion circus act. You know it’s ironic when the WWE can take a shot at the NFL after Paul Heyman presents a sleep mask to a referee at 6:45 (NFL patch included), prior to the controversial end of the Seahawks vs Packers game. That kind of irony is so unbelievably delicious, never mind the foreshadowing. That being said, we all remember an NHL officials strike that took place back during the 1988 Stanley Cup Players. After a 6-1 loss to the Bruins in game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final, Devils coach Jim Schoenfeld lost his mind on referee Don Koharski in the hallway behind the dressing room. To Jim’s credit, he did offer Koharski a donut.

5. No Oilers Management Screw Ups, Yet

When you’re a bottom feeder of the NHL for 6yrs running, you just know taking heat as a GM, coach, player etc comes with the unenviable territory. The shining light in this is that by not having to play games, it definitely takes the heat off the management group, for now

4. Belanger Won’t be on the Powerplay

Nothing else to say here.

3. Horcoff Will Only Have 2yrs Left on His Contract

Hallelujah

2. Mark Lee on CBC

Ok, some enjoy Mark Lee as play by play man for HNIC, but I’m not one of them. He seems to yell constantly into the mic & it drives me absolutely bonkers. Jim Hughson is the best CBC has to offer, however, if you prefer some old school, Newfy play by play there’s the iconic Bob Cole, who can be a treat to listen to, even through all the grammatical errors. My favorite Bob Cole mistake being here at 4:12. However, I did manage to find a clip of Mark Lee’s best work right here for your enjoyment !

Umm, you didnt actually believe there was any “best work by Mark Lee”, did you?

1. More Saturday Date Nights

No more Saturday Night BBQ’s with the boys just in time for Coaches Corner, nope. If I’m not taking my bride to a romantic dinner I’m officially handed over the remote to my lovely wife while investing 90mins watching What To Expect When You’re Expecting. Isn’t love grande?

Please NHL, hurry back, PLEASE!