Edmonton Oilers Suffer Through Wild Night
The Edmonton Oilers played poorly against a Minnesota team that looked like they really wanted the two points more, tonight. I’m going to be pretty brisk in assessments 9 through 2, tonight, as there is something else I need to get off my chest. And I’m saving that for #1.
9 Things;
9. The Edmonton Oilers looked for all the world like a team that had played 8 games in 14 days. Matt Hendricks is right, that is not an excuse. It is merely a fact that was visible at Rexall Place Friday night.
8. When one states that the Oilers had “one of those nights”, it’s easy to assume from the recent past that Nail Yakupov was one of the culprits. Actually, on this night, no…he probably had the most jump, save for his partner Derek Roy.
7. I felt bad for Ben Scrivens, as the well-deserved 1st Star from Wednesday’s game was left all alone to fend for himself, numerous times on the night. He deserved better for his effort but did not receive as such.
6. Devan Dubnyk is a super-nice guy to whom I mean no disrespect whatsoever. But how does anyone get 1st Star for a 15-shot shut-out, only 3 of which came from the slot or closer? Seriously, was that some pissy joke by whomever chose them? Wow.
More from Editorials
- Three Battles To Watch At Edmonton Oilers Training Camp
- Keys to Success: What the Edmonton Oilers Need to Focus on for a Successful Season
- The Edmonton Oilers Mean Business This Season
- Are The Edmonton Oilers Better Than Last Season?
- Analyzing the Importance of Preseason Games for the Edmonton Oilers
5. There is a reason why the Wild allow fewer shots on net than any other team in the NHL. They play a suffocating defensive game, and Ryan Suter is some kind of NHL defenceman. The Edmonton Oilers can only hope that’s who Oscar Klefbom turns out to be.
4. Derek Roy was the one Edmonton Oiler who did not take off a single shift tonight, even if he didn’t end up with much to show for it. He was perhaps the team’s best fore-checker, maybe it’s only offensive creator, and yet was consistently back in his own zone, helping out. He did mis-read one play, but considering the fire drill going on around him, it’s difficult to crucify him for it.
3. This evening was a very good illustration for Craig MacTavish what kind of a blueline his Edmonton Oilers have without Jeff Petry. They really struggled to effectively break out the puck, and too often, it was just chipped out to center, into the waiting hands of a hungry opposition. Justin Schultz was the only rearguard to have any success at all in this area, but that is faint praise.
Live Feed class=inline-text id=inline-text-11
Bleedin' Blue
2. I hope to see young Jordan Oesterle in the lineup Saturday afternoon against the Anaheim Ducks, if only so that Keith Aulie does not play another shift for this team. I’m not questioning Aulie’s work ethic or his desire. He just flat-out does not have the skill to take a regular shift in the National Hockey League.
Andrew Ference competed hard, as he always does, but had his hands full covering up for his partner, and from the wrong side, no less.
1. Just a day or two ago, a very thoughtful blogger in this town wrote an article on the informal survey taken of 10 or so player agents around the NHL. The main gist of the survey was that a lot of NHL players do not care to play in Edmonton. The reasons varied, from the weather to the Won-Loss record.
In the article, the writer proceeds to take to task the players, well-paid as they are, for not sticking up for the home town. And honestly, I thought he was making a defensible point…up until what I witnessed on Friday night, that is.
I don’t know the name of the lower life form that tossed the Edmonton Oilers jersey on the ice Friday, but he’s a big part of the problem. What a classless thing to do, the FIRST time, yet alone…what is it now…3 or 4 jerseys? I can’t say that I did not applaud when another fan promptly doused him with beer, and then soundly thumped him when the ‘chucker’ took offence to the drenching. In fact, most of the arena applauded.
I can hear you now, saying “they paid their admission, they can do what they want”. Sure they can. But they are only contributing to a toxic atmosphere that will make this city even less attractive to play in, and as a result…make it that harder for anyone to pull this team out of the funk that keeps serving up efforts like the one on Friday night.
So…keep your shirt on, please? Or just stay away.