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Old
04-06-2012, 02:21 AM
  #1
LoudmouthHemskyfan#1
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LMHF Report - Game #41

EDMONTON 2

VS.

ANAHEIM 3
-----------------

And so, mercifully, it ends.

While it was hard for my fellow fans and I to watch what was going on down on that ice tonight (I dare not call it hockey), we stuck it out and were there pretty much to the bitter end. Many even sat around much longer to wallow in the sadness of another lost season, and dream of what might be come next September. Of course, the thing is that we won't get near as excited as we did this past September, when a young team appeared to be ready to take a large and important step forward, but was left without reinforcements and quickly began taking on water under the assault of the more veteran and experienced squads they were facing. It didn't last and we were again stuck in the mud.

Tonight was sad for another reason. It is customary for the home team to acknowledge the home fans, even if very briefly, at the conclusion of the final game of the year. Our team, whose fans cheered through all the junk games where no effort was given and were loud for every goal that was scored, rarely booing, waltzed to the dressing room without so much as a raised hand or a nod. It doesn't bother me too much, as I believe they'd deserved a hearty booing reserved for those who feel so secure in their jobs that they spend the whole time doing them badly, but many others were quite offended by the fact that the team didn't stay around for even a small encore. Not a smooth move from either the players or the coach, who should have been directing such an effort. The excuse that they were upset after losing is not valid, as then they would have cared during the actual game and put forth a much stronger effort.

I was glad to be there for what may be the last time we see Teemu Selanne in Edmonton. Along with Pavel Bure, he was the guy that shaped in my young mind what a pure goal scorer was, ripping through defences and terrorizing netminders with a blazing shot. He wasn't able to find the scoresheet tonight, which is surprising considering he regularly lit us up like a cheap pinball machine over the years, but he was still there, finding the lanes and firing away. I'll be sad for the people of Winnipeg if he doesn't give it one last go in Manitoba next year, though I will certainly understand if he concludes things and sails off into a long-since-earned sunset. He's always been a fabulous player and by all accounts I'm aware of, a gentlemanly one as well. That I got to see one of the best at putting the puck in the net so many times is something I really appreciate.

There were no such legendary stories to tell about our team tonight. It was obvious from the get-go that this was a team that knew its season was over and didn't feel the need for even friendly competition. You'd think a home team facing another team with nothing to play for could at least put on a show, try some things and maybe entertain. When Eric Belanger came out to take a defensive zone faceoff in the third period with absolutely no relevance to the season, I was utterly bewildered. The lineup decisions and no alterations to any of the game plan were less inexplicable, but still very strange to me.

I'm honestly surprised no one tried to grab the spotlight. Our two goals were interesting but not really when put into context. Both were scored off the rush as we tend to do. One on a recovery from a miss and one by possibly the finest breakaway deker in the game. We were beat on a play which, due to its simplicity and finality, was one of the saddest plays I've had to watch. I can't help but think we may have witnessed the metaphorical end to another career on that play.

I know a lot of this isn't specific to the game that just happened, but you tend to reflect at the end of the season and this is as good a place as any to share those reflections. Please add any if you have them and wish to share.
----------------

Dubnyk
- Well, I suppose there wasn't much he could have done on the second Ducks' goal. I have a problem with the Bobby Ryan shot, even though Sutton was screening him because Dubnyk went and made himself small again. That should have been a simple, positional save. One thing that Dubnyk will have to learn is how to avoid the deer-in-the-headlights look he has on breakaways like Getzlaf's to close it out. I loved his aggressiveness to stop Bobby Ryan's chance in the first, and he was solid most of the night. Just some small, yet important mistakes. Then again, he would've had to throw up an SO for us to win the game. Not happening.

Hartikainen-Hopkins-Eberle
- The line of the future? At least one of them? Quite possibly. Despite what was a sort of off-night from Eberle and Hopkins, these guys looked like they fit together quite well again. #14 and #93 still need to get more used to passing to #56, but other than that they add up fairly well. Eberle's goal was indeed a beauty, and came after a shift with #83 taking Teemu's place on the wing. They had strong chances earlier that shift and the one after. It's possible THAT is actually the line of the future...though maybe just at crunch time. Eberle almost deked himself out before vanquishing Deslauriers. Amazing. And a good play by Hemsky followed by a great pass by Hopkins. Aside from that, I thought Eberle and Hopkins looked a little too much like guys who know the season's over rather than a couple guys trying to get each other some hardware. While this doesn't mean they played badly, they were missing that little extra step. Hartikainen was one of the few who did in fact play like he wants a job. I hope management is watching because I have a feeling more of them than the coaches will be around next year. Teemu drove the net, hit people, took a couple really good shots and did a very solid job of identifying and picking up his check on the back-check. Very mature plays from a young guy. He has to make this team next year.

Jones-Gagner-Hemsky
- Flawed from the start but they tried to get something done. Jones, aside from driving the net and a couple hits, was a passenger yet again and got caught staring at the play multiple times. I honestly hope he's traded in the offseason. Going forward it is important to have leaders, but they have to be good enough hockey players to be part of a championship squad. He's just not. Similar to when Jones played with the kids, this arrangement allowed the opposition D to key on Hemsky and Gagner. The result was somewhat odd. Despite scoring a solid goal on a follow-up play (I'm surprised Hemsky didn't get an assist as well, as he made a little play near the net to set it up), Sam got boxed in by defenders all night long and often stopped skating. This meant it often fell to Hemsky to go one-on-two and one-on-three all night with no passing options. The result wasn't great but the effort was there. He made a very nifty spin pass in the second to set up a chance, and really flew when he got bumped up to play with #s 14 and 93 as noted.

Smyth-Horcoff-Belanger
- I said during the game that I've never seen a line of veterans with decently proven track records who are so incapable of scoring. Sure, Smyth is on a tier above the other two because he's actually gotten a few things done this year and especially 5-on-5, but even he has to be a lot better to remain on this team. I counted a couple tips and a couple chances generated from plays below the red line as positives for him. I could see him not coming back this year though, as the early season fairy tale gave way to sloppy, tired play late in the season. If a coach can figure out how to deploy him and not pay him more than 3 mil, you think about it. Otherwise the story book doesn't end happily. Belanger somehow got out with Gagner and Hemsky, and missed one of the easiest chances I've seen a while. This man is the epitome of how comfort can be a bad thing for some players. We heard before the season about how he was so happy to have security...apparently he needs to be constantly playing for a contract because there were so many nights this year like tonight, where not only was he bad offensively, but he made key mistakes such as on the second Ducks' goal. He and Horcoff both blew that one terribly. I don't think Belanger can bounce back for this team. I'm not sure Horcoff can either. Aside from some small sparks early in the year, the fire was totally put out this year. He had absolutely nothing to give in the offensive zone and tonight was no different. No speed. Constant missed chances. Bad passes and bumbled pucks. It was tough to watch.

Petrell-VandeVelde-Hordichuk
- #37 laid some hits and played his position as usual. I don't suspect he'll be back next year as a new coach won't see him in the same way this one did. I hope for his sake that he's able to catch on in the NHL, as there's a balanced player there but not one that we need sadly. Just not quite good enough. Hordichuk did his job I suppose, engaging Parros (who is as we know actually a half-decent player) and having a fight as well as throwing a couple hits. I still hope he's gone. VandeVelde didn't do anything of note.

Whitney-Schultz
- Is this the end of Whitney? I've gotten to thinking that it is possible we should deal him for next to nothing and take our chances spending some dollars in the offseason. Watching a guy who was a Norris trophy candidate on a horrid team for a decent part of last year, not even come close to being able to hold off Getzlaf in OT was just sad. I'm not sure he could have played a worse game if he tried. I get that it is hard to bring max intensity, but you'd think he'd want to accomplish SOMETHING. I'm supposing that Schultz got a star for not allowing multiple goals while lugging around a boat anchor. I didn't see a ton from him, but he plays a quiet game. So sad about the state of Whitney. I want to hope, but I'm so damn tired of hoping rather than seeing and knowing.

Barker-Sutton
- Yikes, scary! Sutton was weak on the puck all night, didn't move it effectively and didn't really hit that much. Barker couldn't seem to remember where the opposition blue line was and kept neglecting his duty to hold that line when we needed an offensive chance. I'd really love it if both were gone before the start of next year, but it appears we're stuck with Sutton.

Teubert-Petry
- At this point I realize I'm not sure if Petry played with Teubert...oh well. It is hard to watch D at the moment. I liked the physicality that Teubert was able to bring and really want him to be able to take the next step in terms of using his talent by the fall. We could use a #7 next year like the player he is capable of being (better than Andy Sutton in most ways). Didn't get his shot through, which is too bad because he had chances. Petry was okay. He joined the rush and made some solid defensive plays.
------------

Well, last one for the year. I don't know where we're going from here, to be honest. I thought last year was as low as it gets but maybe I was wrong. This year was horrible to take, because we saw what could be from time to time. There is so much that needs to change around this team right now and those that can't see that should be turfed. The journey from losing to winning is a tough road, and it doesn't seem as though we've even begun. What the future holds? Who knows. I just can't see how this all will be worth the pain without a repeat of the show we saw in the 80s. Those things don't happen anymore. Why is this necessary?

Let's end this on a positive note. Thank you to everyone who took the time to read, comment and otherwise participate in the game reports this year. The readers are what keeps me going during these darkest and loneliest of evenings as a fan of the Oilers. You make this worth doing. Thank you very very much.

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Old
04-06-2012, 02:47 AM
  #2
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I have to say, as a season ticket holder, that it was a very tough year. Sadly Like I have the past 8 years as a season ticket holder I waited after the game for them to come out (as they do every year) and acknowledge the crowd. When they didn't it left a bitter taste in my mouth.

I am pretty sure that a Hall led team would never disgrace itself like the oilers did tonight. Hopefully there are some sweeping changes next year.

Thanks for these write ups LMHF and hopefully next year will be much more pleasant.

Vancouver game then the draft lottery. Tambo or whoever better get this crap turned around.

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04-06-2012, 02:49 AM
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Thanks for the all the reporting this year LMHF. You've shown a consistency greater than most of the players you were watching every home game!

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04-06-2012, 02:56 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OILERS91 View Post
I have to say, as a season ticket holder, that it was a very tough year. Sadly Like I have the past 8 years as a season ticket holder I waited after the game for them to come out (as they do every year) and acknowledge the crowd. When they didn't it left a bitter taste in my mouth.

I am pretty sure that a Hall led team would never disgrace itself like the oilers did tonight. Hopefully there are some sweeping changes next year.
Riiiight. Like Messier never led the Oilers to an embaressment on the ice. Puhleeze. I watched Messier develop, there were games where he WAS the embaressment on the ice.

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04-06-2012, 03:52 AM
  #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OILERS91 View Post
I have to say, as a season ticket holder, that it was a very tough year. Sadly Like I have the past 8 years as a season ticket holder I waited after the game for them to come out (as they do every year) and acknowledge the crowd. When they didn't it left a bitter taste in my mouth.

I am pretty sure that a Hall led team would never disgrace itself like the oilers did tonight. Hopefully there are some sweeping changes next year.

Thanks for these write ups LMHF and hopefully next year will be much more pleasant.

Vancouver game then the draft lottery. Tambo or whoever better get this crap turned around.
I blame that on Horcoff. he's the captain. He should be getting the guys together to do this. The fact that he didn't tells me he as bad of a captain as he is a hockey player for the money we're paying him.

Heck, if I was captain; after the season we just finished I would've been screaming at the guys to be giving their equipment away to the fans in the stands.

If the players don't appreciate so many people going to Oilers games when they stink, I guess they don't deserve our attendance. This seriously needs to be addressed. It would be a much bigger deal a financially struggling hockey market.

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04-06-2012, 04:16 AM
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@LMHF
Why do you want Sutton, Hordichuk, and Jones gone? They fill their roles admirably. Some people's expectations for them are too high but I think they do their jobs fine when given the correct roles. Same thing for Petrell but I wouldn't mind losing him if Tyrvainen can replace him next season because I really like Tyrvainen's game.

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04-06-2012, 04:21 AM
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thadd
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Boco View Post
@LMHF
Why do you want Sutton, Hordichuk, and Jones gone? They fill their roles admirably. Some people's expectations for them are too high but I think they do their jobs fine when given the correct roles. Same thing for Petrell but I wouldn't mind losing him if Tyrvainen can replace him next season because I really like Tyrvainen's game.
Well whoever is coaching next year I'd like Hordichuck gone if they're more going to give him more minutes.

Sutton. Would you be surprised if he didn't get suspended next year? Isn't it embarrassing when that happens? It is for me.

I don't want to see Jones gone unless Pajarrvi has a very convincing playoffs. If he's awesome in the playoffs... and by that I mean scores a bunch of goals, then I'd like to see him playing on our club next year. I'm not holding my breath, though. I don't think he's ready and because of that we'll probably need Jones back.

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04-06-2012, 05:05 AM
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LMHF, thank you for your efforts throughout another tough season.
There have been many nights where your reports showed more effort and passion than any of the players.
I am already looking forward to next years' games and reports! Cheers.

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04-06-2012, 06:51 AM
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Very well written as usual. I hope as the Oilers evolve back to an average hockey club that you're still able to do these reports. I, like you, am not really sure what is waiting for us. We talk about changes that need to be made, like we have talked about for years now, and it worries me that many of those question marks were JUST brought in... I think pro scouting is one of our deepest issues, and even though a lot of what was brought in was decent hockey player, it's evident that the intangibles in their games just wilted away very early on in the year.

Just like the last few years, the list of guys we need to hang on to is short, and the list of uncertainties is much too long.

If we don't see substantial improvement next season, I worry that all this invested agony will bare little fruit.

Thanks for the reports, the fan base deserves them, the organization is lucky to have you on their side.

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04-06-2012, 07:10 AM
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Yet another great report LMHF.

A big thanks from those of us that live in other parts of the world and can only get our "Oilers fix" from internet streams. It's great to hear what players are doing, especially things the video feeds don't pick up.

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04-06-2012, 07:56 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LoudmouthHemskyfan#1 View Post

Dubnyk
- Well, I suppose there wasn't much he could have done on the second Ducks' goal. I have a problem with the Bobby Ryan shot, even though Sutton was screening him because Dubnyk went and made himself small again. That should have been a simple, positional save. One thing that Dubnyk will have to learn is how to avoid the deer-in-the-headlights look he has on breakaways like Getzlaf's to close it out. I loved his aggressiveness to stop Bobby Ryan's chance in the first, and he was solid most of the night. Just some small, yet important mistakes. Then again, he would've had to throw up an SO for us to win the game. Not happening.
I've been as harsh a critic of Dubnyk's game as you'll find on the board but I would say that his improved play down the stretch has to be one of the few positive thing we can say about the team as they battled their way to the bottom of the league again .

For the most part he's been making those simple positional saves you mentioned above because he's staying on his feet in a much more alert crouch stance instead of constantly going to his knees and getting beat like an AHL goaltender to both glove and stick sides . That Cogliano goal was terrible but it was the first one like that he's given up in awhile and he used to be good for one like that every game earlier in the season . Sometimes two or three .

I like the way Dubnyk is playing right now and I'd even go so far as to say that I'm cautiously optimistic to see what he can do next season ... we all know the team is going to roll with him no matter what .


Quote:
Jones-Gagner-Hemsky
- Flawed from the start but they tried to get something done. Jones, aside from driving the net and a couple hits, was a passenger yet again and got caught staring at the play multiple times. I honestly hope he's traded in the offseason. Going forward it is important to have leaders, but they have to be good enough hockey players to be part of a championship squad. He's just not.
Jones has been off there's no doubt , but he's been used over his head all season . I mean putting Jones on the first line or giving him PP minutes is what a coach who doesn't have the personnel to compete is required to do. I think Jones has a place on this team but he's a third/fourth line guy who will PK, hit (though not hard enough) and provide very acceptable secondary scoring . You still don't want him even if he's off the top six and say playing on a third line with Horcoff and Smyth ?

Quote:
I don't think Belanger can bounce back for this team.
No he can't . Was he any better than Fraser ?

Quote:
I'm not sure Horcoff can either. Aside from some small sparks early in the year, the fire was totally put out this year. He had absolutely nothing to give in the offensive zone and tonight was no different. No speed. Constant missed chances. Bad passes and bumbled pucks. It was tough to watch.
Yet there he was out on the PP again tonight . He has a poor shot , can't take a pass or handle the puck and isn't a particularly strong net presence .... why is he out there on the PP again ? I imagine at this point its getting embarrassing for him.


Quote:
I just can't see how this all will be worth the pain without a repeat of the show we saw in the 80s. Those things don't happen anymore. Why is this necessary?
I hear you and its not necessary . I'd take the 80's again of course but personally I don't feel any amount of winning is worth what Tamby and Katz have been allowed to do with this franchise .

Quote:
And so, mercifully, it ends.
Thanks for the reports all season .

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04-06-2012, 08:03 AM
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Originally Posted by thadd View Post
Well whoever is coaching next year I'd like Hordichuck gone if they're more going to give him more minutes.

Sutton. Would you be surprised if he didn't get suspended next year? Isn't it embarrassing when that happens? It is for me.

I don't want to see Jones gone unless Pajarrvi has a very convincing playoffs. If he's awesome in the playoffs... and by that I mean scores a bunch of goals, then I'd like to see him playing on our club next year. I'm not holding my breath, though. I don't think he's ready and because of that we'll probably need Jones back.
I read some place yesterday that the only team without at least one suspension this season was Vancouver?? In any case, suspensions happen to every team so no, Andy getting a suspension is not embarassing. Especially when they were weak suspension like this season. If there is any embarassment wrt suspension it is those silly videos the Head of player safety puts out to justify his bull ****.

I like Sutton, I like he at least brings an element of toughness to this team that we sorely lack.

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04-06-2012, 08:29 AM
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RIP 2011/2012 Oilers season. Another year to forget. Oh we have one more game? Don't even matter. That was a weak send off for the last home game.

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04-06-2012, 08:33 AM
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So the team is a mess, coaching ineffective, and management completely incompetent and players not coming out to salute the fans at the final home game is what gets season ticket holders upset?

Holy moly.

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Old
04-06-2012, 09:56 AM
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[QUOTE]
Quote:
Originally Posted by LoudmouthHemskyfan#1 View Post
EDMONTON 2

VS.

ANAHEIM 3
-----------------

Dubnyk
- Well, I suppose there wasn't much he could have done on the second Ducks' goal. I have a problem with the Bobby Ryan shot, even though Sutton was screening him because Dubnyk went and made himself small again. That should have been a simple, positional save. One thing that Dubnyk will have to learn is how to avoid the deer-in-the-headlights look he has on breakaways like Getzlaf's to close it out. I loved his aggressiveness to stop Bobby Ryan's chance in the first, and he was solid most of the night. Just some small, yet important mistakes. Then again, he would've had to throw up an SO for us to win the game. Not happening.
The Cogliano goal was brutal, Dubnyk down and deep on a routine shot from a terrible angle. How does an NHL goalie give up that goal? Then on the Ryan play Dubnky again deep, again down, instead of simply closing on Ryan or poke checking the puck away.

I'll mention as well some brutal miscommunications. On one play theres heat from two ducks, its a play where Dubs clearly needs to be careful, and he hands it right to one of the ducks. How that didn't result in a GA is beyond me. Many times in the game where his setup with the puck was weird and defenders not knowing what he's doing with it. How many times do we see Dubnyk passing to an opponent?


Quote:
Jones-Gagner-Hemsky
- Flawed from the start but they tried to get something done. Jones, aside from driving the net and a couple hits, was a passenger yet again and got caught staring at the play multiple times. I honestly hope he's traded in the offseason. Going forward it is important to have leaders, but they have to be good enough hockey players to be part of a championship squad. He's just not. Similar to when Jones played with the kids, this arrangement allowed the opposition D to key on Hemsky and Gagner. The result was somewhat odd. Despite scoring a solid goal on a follow-up play (I'm surprised Hemsky didn't get an assist as well, as he made a little play near the net to set it up), Sam got boxed in by defenders all night long and often stopped skating. This meant it often fell to Hemsky to go one-on-two and one-on-three all night with no passing options. The result wasn't great but the effort was there. He made a very nifty spin pass in the second to set up a chance, and really flew when he got bumped up to play with #s 14 and 93 as noted.
Disagree, Gagner was making some plays. It was a good pass breaking Jones resulting in Gagners goal from the slot. Anotehr play was Gagner perfectly setting up Belanger for a goal but he fires it high. Gagner setup a D pincn as well.
What you apparently forget is Hemsky failing to get the puck to a wide open Gagner in the slot as Hemsky for some reason does a toedrag and fails instead of just getting Gagner the puck. Tonight it was painful, not just for Hemsky, how many times we could work the puck freely to an open player and didn't.

Quote:
Smyth-Horcoff-Belanger
- I said during the game that I've never seen a line of veterans with decently proven track records who are so incapable of scoring. Sure, Smyth is on a tier above the other two because he's actually gotten a few things done this year and especially 5-on-5, but even he has to be a lot better to remain on this team. I counted a couple tips and a couple chances generated from plays below the red line as positives for him. I could see him not coming back this year though, as the early season fairy tale gave way to sloppy, tired play late in the season. If a coach can figure out how to deploy him and not pay him more than 3 mil, you think about it. Otherwise the story book doesn't end happily. Belanger somehow got out with Gagner and Hemsky, and missed one of the easiest chances I've seen a while. This man is the epitome of how comfort can be a bad thing for some players. We heard before the season about how he was so happy to have security...apparently he needs to be constantly playing for a contract because there were so many nights this year like tonight, where not only was he bad offensively, but he made key mistakes such as on the second Ducks' goal. He and Horcoff both blew that one terribly. I don't think Belanger can bounce back for this team. I'm not sure Horcoff can either. Aside from some small sparks early in the year, the fire was totally put out this year. He had absolutely nothing to give in the offensive zone and tonight was no different. No speed. Constant missed chances. Bad passes and bumbled pucks. It was tough to watch.
Yeah, offensively one has to feel sorry for Smyth playing with two guys that play like they're 9 above par on a hole and can't putt in a 3 footer. Horc and Belanger have basically snakebit themselves. Neither thinks they can score. The line worked and cycled well but you rarely thought they would score.
On a positive note Smyth has bagged 38EV pts this season playing largely with clowns.

Quote:
Whitney-Schultz
- Is this the end of Whitney? I've gotten to thinking that it is possible we should deal him for next to nothing and take our chances spending some dollars in the offseason. Watching a guy who was a Norris trophy candidate on a horrid team for a decent part of last year, not even come close to being able to hold off Getzlaf in OT was just sad. I'm not sure he could have played a worse game if he tried. I get that it is hard to bring max intensity, but you'd think he'd want to accomplish SOMETHING. I'm supposing that Schultz got a star for not allowing multiple goals while lugging around a boat anchor. I didn't see a ton from him, but he plays a quiet game. So sad about the state of Whitney. I want to hope, but I'm so damn tired of hoping rather than seeing and knowing.
You should hear Whitney's post game quotes. He doesn't even get that he made a brutal error not covering up high. He calls it a bad bounce, unlucky.
I'm thinking the trade was.

Quote:
Well, last one for the year. I don't know where we're going from here, to be honest. I thought last year was as low as it gets but maybe I was wrong. This year was horrible to take, because we saw what could be from time to time. There is so much that needs to change around this team right now and those that can't see that should be turfed. The journey from losing to winning is a tough road, and it doesn't seem as though we've even begun. What the future holds? Who knows. I just can't see how this all will be worth the pain without a repeat of the show we saw in the 80s. Those things don't happen anymore. Why is this necessary?

Let's end this on a positive note. Thank you to everyone who took the time to read, comment and otherwise participate in the game reports this year. The readers are what keeps me going during these darkest and loneliest of evenings as a fan of the Oilers. You make this worth doing. Thank you very very much.
Thanks for your posts and enduring a long long season. Can't imagine what it feels like to go out to around 45 games like this. Can't imagine how many nights when you drag yourself there.

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04-06-2012, 10:05 AM
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ekcut
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Hmmm...I didn't see the game as being that bad.
It wasn't exciting, but other then a few brain farts, the Oilers played pretty good, dull, hockey.
We controlled the play, even dominated at times. Heck even the Horcoff line got applause leaving the ice after one shift in which they kept the ducks pinned, and outworking them for an entire shift.

Ya we lost, but we were the best team on the ice last night for 61 of the 62 minutes in the game last night.

Some things I noticed last night.
Nick Schultz and Seleane don't like each other! All night they were battling!


Hordichuk has big brass ones, and if he wasn't an Oiler I'd effin hate him!!! That cocky smile in the box after the scrap with the much bigger Parros would drive me insane if he were on any other team! But he's an Oiler...and I love it!

Jason Blake is a little punk. Spearing, goading, diving, i cant beleive he has never played on the Canucks. I would at least 'respect' Hordi if he was on another team...I'll never respect a player who looks around to see where the refs are and spears an unsuspecting player between the shoulder blades behind the play.

Fans...Wow...There were some real idiots out last night. I'm glad I took my wife, and not my kids last night.

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04-06-2012, 10:26 AM
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Yeah I gotta hand it to Hordi. Took on the much bigger Parros and went looking for him a couple more times (who would want to do that?) Hordi gets rewarded with 6mins in game 81 for playing like it matters.

Eager a healthy scratch because he lacks any of Hordichuks physical sense and call to duty.

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04-06-2012, 10:31 AM
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Riiiight. Like Messier never led the Oilers to an embaressment on the ice. Puhleeze. I watched Messier develop, there were games where he WAS the embaressment on the ice.
I was not pointing out how they played my reference was more against Horcoff. I was saying Hall as Captain would have made the boys come out and salute the fans where Horcoff simply did not care enough to do that. And you know that Messier would have also.

Obviously we shell out a pile of money and are most disappointed in the product. That goes with out saying. The non salute was just an extra jab at the fans that should never have happened.

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04-06-2012, 11:00 AM
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Thanks for these reports!

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04-06-2012, 11:02 AM
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Thanks for all the reports LMHF!

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04-06-2012, 11:08 AM
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So the team is a mess, coaching ineffective, and management completely incompetent and players not coming out to salute the fans at the final home game is what gets season ticket holders upset?

Holy moly.
Yep, that is the only thing that upsets us sheep, that we didn't get a salute from the players...

Good god, man, anything to stir the pot, eh?


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04-06-2012, 11:16 AM
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glad of what you said about our Teemu. I'm becoming a fan of his and he's exactly the type of player the oilers need more of.

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04-06-2012, 11:20 AM
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Other than the goal, Gagner was a passenger. He made a nice set up to Getzlaff though, for the winner in OT. Yet another year where he fails to take the next step. He makes no one else around him better. Jones was hitting people all night and digging pucks out and Hemsky was flying, but the line did very little, orchestrated by Gagner. This team badly needs more scoring on the top 6 and I sincerely hope they do something about it this June by taking one of the Russian centres.

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04-06-2012, 11:22 AM
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Originally Posted by Ol' Jase View Post
Yep, that is the only thing that upsets us sheep, that we didn't get a salute from the players...

Good god, man, anything to stir the pot, eh?

Apparently you didn't read the other guys post that he was responding to.

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04-06-2012, 12:11 PM
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Ol' Jase
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Originally Posted by Stoneman89 View Post
Apparently you didn't read the other guys post that he was responding to.
Of course, mentioning that the Oilers didn't acknowlegdge the fans after the game gives people carte blanche to take pot shots at season ticket holders.

Forgive me for ruining a perfectly good and correct critique at those who pay to see the team. I'll step back in line now with the rest of the idiots who pay to see this team and are only upset that our do no wrong Oilers didn't wave goodbye to us.

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