32% in the faceoff dot
38-22 shots (for LA)
Oilers PP goes 0-6
Shocking prediction coming from you.
Anyway.... This will be a real test for this group coming off of an emotional high and with L.A. coming off of a loss and looking for revenge after losing the last one against the Oilers.
This is the type of team that the Oilers usually have trouble with and they have followed dominant performances the last 1+ seasons with clunkers so i'm curious to see how they come out of this game.
It'll be a struggle because the Oilers have the Kings attention but i think that they'll put up a good fight, the top line is really starting to come around and i think it's only a matter of time until the floodgates open for them. I'm not a fan of Yakupov playing on the 3rd line especially after he clearly played better with Gagner and Hemsky in the 3rd period of the Avs game so i'm worried that the secondary scoring will be lacking.
I'm a Paajarvi fan but where is he going to run with it? Hall, Eberle, Hemsky, and Nail are all better offensively than Magnus. At best he pans out and makes Hemsky a little easier to move, IMO if he stays with us most of his career will be as a bottom 6 forward.
I interpret the move as being more about getting Yakupov onto a different line. The kid is -8, and really isn't getting enough quality scoring chances playing with Hemsky and Gagner.
In theory, he should be getting lots of chances on that line playing against easier opposition, but, I'm sure you'll agree that neither Gagner, nor Hemsky, are getting the puck into his wheelhouse.
The kid only has 26 shots on net, compared to 57 for Hall, and 48 for Eberle, and, let's face it, Eberle and Hall have missed the net a bunch this year (don't know where the stats on that would be found).
I just don't see the chemistry, so it's best to move Yakupov and see if he can take offensive charge on a different line.
I expect a tight game tonight so hopefully hall line continues to dominate, but are more effective !
Paajarvi could be the answer to stop the bleeding in 2th line, his defensive game has taken a big step.
We cant give away a headstart against teams like LA, full focus from start!
Yakupov on the third line is the best option to spread offence around. He's got two capable veterans to help him. It's not like the past where the third line meant Toby Peterson and Patrick O'Sullivan as line mates. Gawd awful days they were!
Also, Belanger has really impressed me lately. He is defensively solid, and his offensive numbers are where they should be. He is contributing in the ways he ought to.
As an aside, Willis' work (and the other stats guys) suggests that faceoff percentage is really irrelevant to a team's overall winning percentage. Lose all the face-offs you want, but if you generate 56 shots on goal per game, you will own the league.
The bigger concern is the lack of shots and assists coming from any d-man not named Justin Schultz.
great chance for a young team to generate some mementum after an epic win. If they can get 2 goals by quick, they have a great chance to win. Cause LA isn't gonna score 3.
Missed you last game when the Oilers won. Where were you?
he had a whole article and 90 paragraphs written when it was 4-1 and was just salivating at the thought of posting it and getting to bash the oilers first chance he got..........then they came back and won and in a fit of rage he slammed his fists onto his keyboard and yelled "I WILL GET YOU NEXT TIME OILERS YOU CANT WIN THEM ALL !!!!!!!"
I interpret the move as being more about getting Yakupov onto a different line. The kid is -8, and really isn't getting enough quality scoring chances playing with Hemsky and Gagner.
In theory, he should be getting lots of chances on that line playing against easier opposition, but, I'm sure you'll agree that neither Gagner, nor Hemsky, are getting the puck into his wheelhouse.
The kid only has 26 shots on net, compared to 57 for Hall, and 48 for Eberle, and, let's face it, Eberle and Hall have missed the net a bunch this year (don't know where the stats on that would be found).
I just don't see the chemistry, so it's best to move Yakupov and see if he can take offensive charge on a different line.
Maybe he's deferring too much to the veterans.
I get where you are coming from but I don't think that playing with Belanger will cure what ails him on the offensive side of the puck. Why not try something like this instead?
Kid line
Nail-Belanger-Hemsky
Hartikainen-Gagner-Paajarvi
Eager-Vande Velde-Smyth
This would give Gagner a pair of big bodied wingers and in the case of Paajarvi a defensive presence to help him in that area. Gagner is pretty good at cycling the puck and the Nordic pair have been getting better and better at cycling as well. The biggest issue for me is having Belanger start the breakout to Hemsky instead of Gagner as obviously Gagner is the much better passer.
Quote:
Originally Posted by McClelland
I expect a tight game tonight so hopefully hall line continues to dominate, but are more effective !
Paajarvi could be the answer to stop the bleeding in 2th line, his defensive game has taken a big step.
We cant give away a headstart against teams like LA, full focus from start!
2-1 oilers Hall and Eberle scores!
The only issue I'd have with Paajarvi on that 2nd line is if he could provide enough offense to justify playing there. If his role is strictly puck retrieval, playing in front of the net, and defense I think that he could thrive in that role.
__________________ Treat Others As You Would Like To Be Treated
That just about sums up what I think of the roster setup.
Belanger is a vacuum for everything that is offence. Yakupov is pure offence.
Worst..combination...ever.
Worked last time. Don't see a real probably especially sometimes he's on with Hemsky and Gagner if Paajavi is gassed from the PK or something. He'll get his time.
I get where you are coming from but I don't think that playing with Belanger will cure what ails him on the offensive side of the puck. Why not try something like this instead?
Kid line
Nail-Belanger-Hemsky
Hartikainen-Gagner-Paajarvi
Eager-Vande Velde-Smyth
This would give Gagner a pair of big bodied wingers and in the case of Paajarvi a defensive presence to help him in that area. Gagner is pretty good at cycling the puck and the Nordic pair have been getting better and better at cycling as well. The biggest issue for me is having Belanger start the breakout to Hemsky instead of Gagner as obviously Gagner is the much better passer.
The only issue I'd have with Paajarvi on that 2nd line is if he could provide enough offense to justify playing there. If his role is strictly puck retrieval, playing in front of the net, and defense I think that he could thrive in that role.
Cause gagner and Hemsky have been good together. Belanger's defensive presence will help nail. He will be ok I promise. Let it roll
I wonder if we'll see Harski or Paajarvi as the net front presence on the top PP unit? IMO Paajarvi looked pretty good there in the one shift that he had last game after Harski got hurt.
Hall and Eberle scores!
