GDT Thread Edmonton @ Anahiem (10/10) - Smyth Update

[PDO]

MacT thinks he could miss up to a month. Said Rita isn't Ryan Smyth, but he thinks he can play some good minutes. Should be an interesting game; this is Rita's chance, and he needs to be huge. Harvey is questionable tonight, and if he can't play Winchester will.

Torres - Peca - Hemsky
Rita - Horcoff - Dvorak
Moreau - Stoll - Pisani
Winchester - Reasoner - Laraque

No word on Semenov yet, but you have to imagine he'll get his chance sooner rather than later.

[Newfie John]

Tough blow for Edmonton to lose Smyth.

[slapshot™]

Jussi will get the start between the pipes. He has played against the Ducks 3 times and his GAA is 0.00. <- yes, you read that correctly.

Jussi Markkanen is 3-0-0, has two shutouts and hasn't allowed a goal in 168 minutes through three career starts against Anaheim and will start tonight ... the Finn became the 14th goaltender in NHL history to record a shutout in his first start with a 27-save collar at The Pond on Nov. 28, 2001
Game Day Notes (http://edmontonoilers.com/news/index.php?id=117)

[Canadian26]

Tough to lose smyth, Oilers top line had some great chemistry right at the start of the season. Hopefully its sooner than later he returns. This is rita chance to show that he deserves to be a regular in the line up, he hasnt really lived up to expectations hopefully he can make and impact tonight.

I like that fact that both goalies are ready to go at any time, and both are very relable. Looking forward to another good game hopefully.

[PDO]

Oilers down 2-0...

And the PP bails them out?

What was it Bob Dylan said again? The times, they are a changing?

Pronger commands so much respect on the PP, it's stunning. Hemsky has without a doubt turned the corner. He's shooting the puck, he's making world class passes, he has that extra gear and he's not afraid to get hit. Big season for the kid.

[J.R.]

Pronger commands so much respect on the PP, it's stunning.I love when Pronger just fires it towards the net. That's what got Edmonton their tying goal in the second. It was great movement between him, Horcoff and Dvorak, then the blast from the point from 44 gets a rebound and Reasoner puts it in. It's great to have the special teams doing what they're suppose to be doing. The third is going to be fun. Both teams have much more in them.

[J.R.]

The Oilers just scored another the exact same way.

Pronger with the shot from the point, a big rebound and Dvorak burried it this time.

3-2 Edmonton with about 11 minutes to go.

[PDO]

Oilers win.

What's more amazing, Hemsky being on the ice on a MacT team with us trailing by 1 and less than a minute to go or our PP scoring 3 goals and being among the leagues best? Dare I say it.. an elite PP thus far :boogie:

[Canadian26]

The first period oilers looked flat to me. The D-men where just standing around, it wasnt until the last 5 mins of the period did the Oilers get any momentum it seemed like. Looks like simpson has had some effect on the PP, we where 8th in the league going into this game which is amazing. PK looking awesome to.

It was good see some scoring from other areas of the team. Stoll and pronger are a wicked combination on the PK, they looked great out there.

[J.R.]

That's a solid win over a team that has a lot of talent. The start was horrible, but that's kind of expected for a team's first road game. I was a little worried after one, wondering how the OIL would respond, not having that early lead. Things worked out for the best, with Edmonton scoring four unanswered goals, winning this one going away. They're at the LAK tommorow night. That won't be easy either.

[PDO]

Don't give credit to Simpson. That PP is all Pronger. He commands the respect and runs it like Douggie Weight used to.

It's only 3 games, but our PP looks like it could go from the 2nd worst in the league to the a top 5. Stunning.

[slapshot™]

What was Jussi thinking on that second Ducks goal? Brain fart, or what? Chalk it up to a lesson learned.