Stan Weir would have fit in just fine with this Oilers team that, as was (apparently) predicted by many, still have a shot to make the playoffs on the strength of their fifteen SO wins.
Also: I have yet to see mice on the ice in Rexall. The Leafs got another nineteen years out of the Gardens after this.
Unless I’m wrong - and I’m putting my figuring out here for people to poke holes in - the Oilers now control their own destiny. If they win their remaining games in regulation, it doesn’t matter what else happens - even if Nashville wins out and every other NW game is a three pointer, the Oilers are in. No scoreboard watching necessary.
Amazing stuff.
Update: Thanks to noted Stanley Cup losing beard shaver sacamano who points out that I’m wrong - I’d forgotten that they need to pass two of these teams. (In my head, I’ve already counted Nashville out, as they’re now behind the Oilers.) Props also to the guy who points out that I’ve got one game finishing in a tie. So, a little early for this…maybe, if things go well, Wednesday night.
I don’t recall the last time that I did this, but with this being the biggest game since June of 2006, I think that it’s pretty much obligatory.
First Period
18:00 - Kid line out for a faceoff in their own end. Looks like MacT will be matching lines tonight; the Canucks had tossed Cowan/Linden/Rypien out on the ice.
16:49 - Sedins against GlenX and the Stortziaks. I know that MacT has talked about how he’s willing to play them against anyone but I’m still not buying it; a couple of chances and the puck spent the whole shift in the Oilers end before Pitkanen iced it.
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This is from a few days back but I didn’t see it posted anywhere else and it warrants some attention and discussion, given that there’ve been many trying to explain away his loss on behalf of Kevin Lowe. Per Matty, a few days back:
Former Oilers defenceman Jan Hejda, who signed a one-year,$1-million US free-agent deal last July, might just be the Blue Jackets’ top defender.
“He plays against the best players and he’s a plus player (plus-12),” said Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson.
Hejda said the Oilers were interested in re-signing him last summer, but Oilers GM Kevin Lowe asked the Czech defender to wait a couple of weeks because he had some things in the works and had too many defencemen.
“Then Scott called and said he had exactly the same contract as the Oilers were thinking of and gave me two hours to make a decision. I took five,” said Hejda, who played alongside Jason Smith until separating his shoulder last year.
What do you know - it is possible to have a more embarrassing press conference than the one that John Ferguson held when the Leafs fired him. I didn’t think of the possibility that some political leader, famed for cracking down on crime, including prostitution rings, would bring his wife to the press conference where he announces that he’s been caught with a prostitute. Well played Mr. Spitzer. Well played.
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Truth be told, Marc Pouliot isn’t the biggest fugazi - glove-tap to Lefty from Mullberry St. - of the undeniably fruitful ‘03 draft.
At least not yet.
Right now, that tag belongs to the Rangers and their selection of Hugh Jessiman at 12th.
The Oilers had the 17th selection in 2003 but swapped first round picks with the Devils in return for New Jersey’s second round selection and it was with the 22nd pick that the Oilers took ultimately took Pouliot. Between their original seeding and their ultimate landing place of 22nd, names like Zach Parise, Ryan Getzlaf and Brent Burns went off the board. In hindsight, it was a mistake to swap because those first two guys are soft minutes monsters and the last guy plays the most EV min for the Wild and has the best Desjardins numbers while doing so.
Additionally, and in the interest of full disclosure, all of Ryan Kesler, Mike Richards and Corey Perry would go off the board shortly following the Oilers selection of Crosby’s old running-mate so there’s no doubt the Pouliot pick wasn’t a good idea.
But, even if he looks hard-pressed to duplicate - and we know he most likely won’t - the counting stats of some of his draft class, does that mean he’s still without some use to his organization?
Pouliot was recalled last Tuesday before a 5-1 loss to the Preds on the condition he play only if the wonky back of Geoff Sanderson kept the vet out of the lineup. Sanderson went on to be deemed fit and Pouliot jetted back to Springfield before turning around to come back and finally replace Sanderson on Friday night in Columbus. Since he’s returned he’s played an average of 11:24 and would’ve most likely seen expanded ice-time last game in Chicago if not for the Oilers high number of penalties. Sanderson’s still unfit to play so right now Pouliot’s battling Geoff for the last forward spot in the starting lineup.
That’s a much easier battle then he’ll have next year but now isn’t the time to get into just how many guys will battle for spots this coming September.
I’ll simplify it and make it Pouliot vs Brodziak and I’ll use the Desjardins numbers from Pouliot’s ‘07 season and Brodziak’s ‘08 campaign thus far.
Pouliot: In ‘07, Pouliot played 46 games and was 14/16, even-strenght goals for/against, according to the numbers at behindthenet.ca. He was also 1.71/1.96 in terms of GF/GAON per 60 min and had a QualComp of 0.04. And this while playing on a terrible team. He also played 10.66 min/60.
Brodziak: In ‘08. Brodz has thus far played 68 games and is 25/39 in terms of BTN numbers. He’s running at 2.25/3.51 in terms of GF/GAON and has a QualComp of -O.O3. He’s played 9.81 min/60.
There are some people who extol the virtues of a guy like Stortini for being able to keep the goals against down but a guy like Pouliot’s been there, done that but somehow in the fall of ‘07 lost the tee-shirt. But I’ll leave Stortini out of this as he brings an element to the guy that’s replicated by neither of my test subjects.
Brodziak has extra value because he kills penalties but Pouliot’s even strength season of ‘07 has thus far bested the albeit incomplete ‘08 Brodziak session. I can’t be sure if draft order has influenced the way the Oilers look at Pouliot and what’s an acceptable level of production to warrant his staying in the big league, but the latest comments by MacTavish indicate he’s been given a clean slate
“He’s been OK defensively and OK offensively,” MacTavish said.
“But you have to excel at something and find a niche and we all know what the qualifications are to be on your team.
“He’s just been unable to grab a specific role for himself and I think that’s what players need to do to expand their role.
“They need to grab a lesser role and fill it, then expand it.”
For his part, Pouliot seems to have taken this to heart as his latest segment with the Oilers, albeit in a sparse segment sample, has been spotted and defined by physical play and rapt attention in his own zone. He appears to be willing to try and establish himself as a guy who isn’t easy to score up and then build from there. My point is that he was that doing that before and I hope that’s remembered when the next training camp comes around.
That’s not to say I’m not a Brodziak fan as well. Kyle works hard, occasionally shows a physical edge and has good penalty killing numbers. I’m not advocating throwing him to the pile as I’d have a spot for both kids come the ‘09 season.
But, for now, I look at what Pouliot did last season in his second season in the AHL and what he did plus/minus wise in his first expanded go-around with the big club and I still think he can contribute a the top level.
He may never shine like others who came out of the same mine but I still hold the opinion that he has value.